of Christ which is therefore also called the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. 12. 24. To this purpose the Apostle Paul saith How shall we that are dead to sin by the death of Christ live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were Baptized into Christ were Baptized into His Death into His personal Abasement Sufferings and Death whereto He was Abased and which He suffered for our sins 1 Pet. 3. 18. And how shall we then continue in sin God forbid let not such a thing be ever done by us The beholding sin in the Blood of Christ did fill them with an abhorrency and detestation of their sins Rom. 6. 1-3 And by the precious blood of Christ the Apostle Peter signifieth the Believers to whom he wrote were redeemed from their vain conversation in which sometimes they walked when they walked in Lasciviousness Lusts Excess of Wine Revellings Banquettings and abominable Idolatries 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with chapt 4. 3. Hereby they were called out of Darkness out of themselves who were sometimes darkness and out of their sinful and polluted condition and ways into Gods marvellous light and so were made of the elect and chosen generation 1 Pet. 2. 9. with Eph. 5. 8. Yea and in the cross of Christ the vanity and emptiness of our Idols is discovered to us and therefore it also evidenceth the great iniquity of those men who prefer vain things before the Lord of Glory Herein is made known and shewn unto us the vanity and unprofitableness of the world and the riches thereof In that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. They that trust in their Wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches none of them can by any means redeem his Bâ—other nor give to God a ransome for him Psal 49. 6-8 In the Cross of Christ is also discovered to us the bruitishness of our Wisdom and Knowledge In that this Wisdom was not found in the land of the living how we might be redeemed brought back to God from whom we were banished Job 28. 12-21 2 Sam. 14. 14. nay not only so but our judgment stood cross and contrary to that blessed way and means which God hath in His Wisdom and Pity found out and devised that His banished might not be expelled from Him Joh. 12. 31. 16. 11. And herein the Honour and Glory of this World is manifested to be vain and without â—…vail as to our acceptance with God in that Christ refused it and was made as the filth of all things His Visage was marred more then any mans and His form more then the Sons of men He received not Glory from men but He was a reproach of men and despised of the People Joh. 6. 15. 5. 41. Isa 52. 14. 53. 2 3. Bsal 22. 6 7. Herein is declared to us That the friendship of this World is enmity with God In that our Lord Jesus was hated and villified by the World disallowed rejected and refused by the men of it as one that was judged altogether unworthy and unmeet to be loved and delighted in by them Joh. 7. 7. chap. 15. 18. 17. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 4. Herein we may see the unprofitableness of our own works of Righteousness and of all we can do or perform in any wisdom and strength of our own to justifie us and render us acceptable in the sight of God in that Christ must needs have suffered For if Righteousness could have come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. The Holy Spirit in Glorifying Christ and taking of His things and shewing unto us doth convince the World of Righteousness and shews unto us the vanity and unavaibleness of ours in that He is gone to the Father and we see Him no more Joh. 16. 10. And such a discovery of the vanity of our Idols are we called unto in the Sufferings of Christ That no flesh might glory in the presence of God 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 but that thorow His Cross the World in the Riches Wisdom Honour Glory Customs Fashions Friendship Righteousness c. might be Crucified unto us and we to the World Gal. 6. 14. That we might not love the World nor the things that are in the World 1 Joh. 2. 15. And indeed in the Cross of Christ God hath wonderfully stained the pride of all our gloryings and brought into contempt all the honorable things of the Earth and World that we might not set our hearts upon them nor glory in our enjoyment of them nor covet after them nor trust in them seeing they were not crucified for us nor contributed any thing to our being delivered from that so great a Death under the sentence whereof we were fallen nor to the procuring and obtaining eternal Redemption for us 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 with Isa 40. 6-9 1 Cor. 1. 13. 2. Yea and unto Christ are men called by His faithful Servants in their preaching to them the Gospel as unto one in whom all things are ready and prepared for them Mat. 22. 4. Luk. 14. 17. Even all things appertaining unto and in which consists the Kingdom of Heaven and so unto such things as are infinitely better then our Sins and Idols unto those spiritual blessings in Heavenly things wherewith God hath blessed us in the Person of His Son Eph. 1. 3. unto Him are we called who is the desire of all Nations In whom there is that which may answer unto and satisfie all their desires And in whom is to be found by way of eminency and excellency that which they desire after and seek for in wrong objects and in such crooked Paths as in which they can find no peace Hag. 2. 7. To Him are men called in whom there is fatness to delight their Souls a river of pleasures of which they may drink and drink abundantly In whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Psal 36. 7 8. Col. 2. 3. In whom is everlasting Righteousness and Strength Prov. 8. 18. Isa 26. 4. with whom are Riches and Honour Prov. 3. 16. yea Glory and Honour that hath Immortality joyned with it Rom. 2. 7. In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And in Him is all compleatness prepared for us Col. 2. 9 10. Unto Him all things are delivered of the Father even all that the Father hath is His Luk. 10. 22. Joh. 16. 14 15. And so He is evidenced to be more precious then Rubies yea that all the things men can desire are not to be compared unto Him In whose right hand is length of days even Life for evermore And in whose left hand are Riches and Honour Prov. 3. 13-16 And therefore is the excellency of Him and the preciousness and compleatness of that provision in Him declared and made known to us To buy us off from those things which are sinful
CALLING AND ELECTION OR Many are Called but few are chosen BEING A Consideration of Mat. 22. 14. By CHARLES PHELPES To whom coming as unto a Living Stone disallowed indeed of Men but chosen of God and precious Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Ye are a Chosen Generation c. which in time past were not a People but are now the People of God 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 9 10. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Ephes 1. 11. LONDON Printed for Benjamin Southwood at the Starre next to Serjeants Inne in Chancery lane 1674. TO THE READER Christian Reader I had no thoughts of writing out the ensuing discourse until a very good friend of mine requested me that when I had opportunity I would do so much for him which I was not very forward unto not resolved against But upon further consideration I did intend according to my small ability and as I had time to satisfie his desire But before I had begun it several others also were as desirous as the former both to have it written out and also that it should be made publick The former is now done but whether the latter desire will be answered or no I yet know not That which made me the more willing to grant what was desired by my Friend and Friends was That I might in some measure discover the abuse of the Doctrine of Election by many of the Leaders of the People whereby many Blind ones being led by the Blind fall into the ditch of Errour And many others also are indangered also so to do For as it was said in former times by the Lord concerning some Teachers so surely it may be said of too many in ours Thy Interpreters have transgressed against me Isa 43. 27. What the Scriptures speak concerning Election agrees sweetly with the word of the beginning of Christ to wit That He is indeed the Saviour of the World And therefore nothing at all opposeth them who believe it But Men in their Interpretations and Glosses pervert those things which are more hard to be understood And then also they wrest the other Scriptures which are more easie to their own and others destruction that they may make them agree with their perversions of the more hard 2 Pet. 3. 16. So it is in this particular instance They first devise and imbrace a new Doctrine of Election which the Scripture knoweth not to wit An absolute Election of some mens persons in a personal consideration before the World had a being And then they deny or confess not that Jesus Christ by the Grace of God tasted Death for every Man or that the Grace of God brings Salvation to all men that they may be saved That so there may be some agreement in their instructions which cause to err from the words of knowledge But those who first begin with and learn the word of the beginning of Christ which is the foundation of other Doctrines receive light therefrom by degrees into other Doctrines which are built thereon And in following Christ therein who is the light of the World they shall not abide in darkness but the light shall be vouchsafed and shine more and more unto them until the perfect day If any should fault me for not speaking to other Scriptures which some think favour their device of personal Election as Acts 13. 48. Rom. 8. 28-30 c. Let them know I have not medled with them both because the word Election is not expressed therein And also and especially because these and other Scriptures of like nature are spoken unto already more fully and profitably then I can do by my Brethren and Helpers in the Lord as by Mr. Thomas Moor Sen. in his Book entituled An explicite declaration of the Testimony of Christ from page 354. to 372. and page 451-457 And in his Treatise of Election And by Mr. John Horn in his Essays page 24. 26 c. And therefore to them I refer them because also I have been much more large then I at first intended And let not them who believe the Testimony of God concerning Christ viz. That He is the Son of God and Saviour of the World deceive themselves in thinking that my only or principal end and aim in what I have written is to detect the errours of them who are enemies thereto for though I have endeavoured so to do in some things for their good who do so err And to preserve others from such evil and erronious Doctrines if they have an heart and opportunity to read this Yet I principally intended this discourse to discover how many vain believers of the Gospel of Christ there are who though they are called yet are not chosen And for admonition to them and instruction to all who have the form of sound words that we might all of us not only in word profess to believe Christs Gospel But so from the heart obey it that we may be and abide free from sin and become continually servants unto Righteousness that we may have our fruit unto Holiness and the end Eternal Life Consider what is said herein and compare it with the word of God and Testimony of Jesus And what agreeth therewith embrace it and yield up thereto And if in any thing I have dissented therefrom let it be rejected Try all things hold fast that which is good Charles Phelpes Feb. 24. 1672 3. Mat. 22. 14. For many are Called but few are Chosen THese Words are in General the Shutting up or Conclusion of the fore-going Parable which it may seem our Saviour speaketh directly to the Chief Priests and Pharisees though it was spoken also in the Hearing and for the Good and Admonition of others of the People then present and of the Disciples also But it appears to be spoken directly to the Chief Priests and Pharisees For in Chap. 21. our Saviour spake in Parables in which He signifieth how He should be Dealt with and Rejected by the Husbandmen and Builders Verse 28. 44. And when the chief Priests and Pharisees had heard His Parables they perceived that He spake of them Ver. 45. And this Chap. 22. thus beginueth Jesus answered and spake unto them again by Parables and said c. Ver. 1. As also and further appeareth by what is said in this Chap. 22. 15. And it appears That this Parable is Prophetical shewing before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that He should receive there-through And then God's Grace to the Jews together with their Unworthiness generally Ver. 2. 7. And on their Rejection of the Gospel God's Mercy to us Gentiles for through their Rejection of Christ when Preached by the Apostles and Fall thereby Salvation came to us Gentiles for to provoke
the Waters and he that hath no money c. And to move them hereto He saith Behold I have given Him for a Witness For a Witness of His Love and Faithfulness He hath so loved the World that He hath given His only begotten Son to be the Saviour of it that all men through Him might believe John 3. 16 17. and 1. 7. 1 John 4. 14. And hence exhorts men To seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near Yea The Wicked to forsake his ways and the man of Iniquity his thoughts and to return unto Him and He will have Mercy c. Isa 55. 1. 4 6 7. Here is a good account and sure ground given in the Gospel both for the Servants to Call so as they shall not run at uncertainty nor fight as those that beat the Air But may both Preach to any man or every man as they have opportunity and Pray for them Without wrath though they be their Enemies and without doubting whether God bears any good Will to them or no For they may certainly know and conclude God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth Because Christ gave Himself a Ransome and Price of Redemption to God for all a Testimony in due time And for those who are Called who from hence may be Incouraged upon principles of Certainty and Truth to come unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily and in whom is all Compleatness prepared and treasured up for us And whosoever believeth in Him shall never be ashamed nor confounded Luke 6. 27 36. 1 Cor. 9. 26. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6 8. And so much for the first Inquiry Secondly By whom are the many Called By the Servants Instrumentally and Ministerially and especially by the Apostles in these last days For as we have said our Saviour in this Parable speaketh Prophetically of the Gospels being Preached unto Jews and Gentiles after He had finished the Work the Father gave Him to do upon the Earth And after His Death Resurrection Ascension Receipt of and sending forth the Holy Spirit in His Name in and by which His Apostles were fitted and furnished to Preach the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery For until then the Servants had not Commission and Furniture to Preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ And though when Christ was risen from the Dead He gave Commission to His Apostles to go into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature of all the Nations yet they were by Him commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until they were Indued with Power from on High that they might be fitted and inabled to put in Execution that Authority and Commission they had received Mark 16. 15. Mat. 28. 18 19. Luke 24. 47 49. And then they were to be Christs Witnesses unto all men of what they had seen and heard And yet though by the Servants here are meant the Apostles principally yet not only For the Bride in general saith Come And he that heareth is commanded to say Come Rev. 22. 17. And so the many are Called by the Servants of the King indefinitly though principal Respect is had to the Apostles So much is plainly signified to us in this Chapter that the many Called are called to this Marriage and Marriage-feast by the Servants So it is said as with respect to the Jews The King sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22. 3. Again He sent forth other Servants Ver. 4. And when the first invited Guests refused and dispitefully used them he saith to his Servants The Wedding is ready but they which were bidden were not worthy Go ye therefore into the High-ways c. Sâ— those Servants went out into the High-ways and gathered together all as many as they found Ver. 8 9 10. And indeed it is the Work of the Faithful Servants of the great King not to Commend or Preach themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord 2 Cor. 4. 5. And not to Disciple men unto themselves but to call and Espouse them to one Husband that they might be presented as a chaste Virgin unto Christ Acts 20. 28 30. 2 Cor. 11. 1 2 3. Their great Business is to bear Witness of Christ of His Sufferings and of what He hath thereby done and obtained into Himself and is become and is And of what He is now doing both from Heaven in the Name of the Father to us And in Heaven with the Father for us And what He will do hereafter John 15. 27. Acts 5. 30 32. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Heb. 13. 7 8. And not to proclaim their own goodness as the most men do Prov. 20. 6. that men might admire them or have their Faith standing in their Wisdom Goodness or Holiness 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. Acts 3. 12. But to Confess Praise and Call men unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness that in coming unto and believing in Him they might of His Fulness receive and Grace for Grace But though they are called by the Servants instrumentally yet not by them only The King sends them not alone on this Errand of His but He accompanies them by the Light Influence and Power of His Blessed Spirit in their plain and faithful Ministration So much in former Times was signified to us As in that Scripture like to this and whereto it may seem our Saviour referreth in this Parable Prov. 9. 1 3. Wisdom hath Builded her House She hath hewen out her seven Pillars She hath killed her killing She hath mingled her Wine She hath also furnished her Table She hath sent forth her Maidens She crieth upon the highest places of the City c. Though She sent them forth to call others into the House yet Her Presence goes along with them And not only they Cry and Call but also She crieth Doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding put forth her Voice She standeth in the top of High places She crieth at the Gates of the City Unto you O men I Call and my Voice is to the Sons of Man She sends forth her Spirit in and with Her Servants that they might be successful Instruments in Her hand Prov. 8. 1 4 5. with Chap. 1. 20 23. So our Lord Jesus when He gave Authority to His Apostles to Disciple all Nations c. To Incourage them unto this their Service and against all their Discouragements He graciously assureth them that He would be with them always and not at some times only unto the end of the World And that He was faithful who promised another Evangelist informs us saying they went forth Preaching the Gospel every where the Lord working with them Mat. 28. 18 20. with Mark 16. 15. 20. Hence they are said to be Workers together with Him 2 Cor. 6. 1. And he that despiseth and rejecteth His Servants in their faithful Ministration of the Gospel rejecteth not Man but
Christ shall be so raised and be ever with him And those that dye in their sins and out of Christ shall be so raised and perish for ever from his presence And the consideration hereof might awaken and Ingage us all that while it is an acceptable time and day of salvation we receive the grace of God to purpose even to be saved thereby For there is no work nor device nor Wisdome nor knowledge in the grave whither we are going Eccles 9. 10 And not to neglect the present time considering also our times are in Gods hand and we cannot boast our selves of the morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Our times are in Gods hand In his hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all mankind And Behold he breaketh downe and it cannot be built againe he shutteth up a man and there can be no opening If he cut off and shut up or gather together then who can hinder him Prov 27. 1. Job 12. 10 14. and 11. 10. Tâ—…y therefore if we will hear his voice let us not barden our hearts Hebr. 3. 7 8. But now while it is called to day and while men are joyned to all the living there is hope their states are not now unalterable but men may pass from one state to another Such are at present out of Christ and so none of Gods Elect but under the sentence of death and condemnation may be of God made in Christ and so of the Elect and chosen generation And shall so be if they abide not still in unbeleife and disobedience to God and his Gospel As our Saviour signifieth and assureth the truth of it with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Or out of death into life Out of a state of death wrath and rejection into a state of Life Justification the favour of God and Election John 5. 24. To which also agreeth what the Apostle John saith signifying that they were instances of the truth hereof We know that we have passed out of Death into Life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3. 14. Men may now be delivered out of the Kingdom of Darkness and removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son Coloss 1. 13. Men may now be turned from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God And in being so turned they shall receive the forgiveness of their Sins and Inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith in Jesus Christ Acts 26. 18. This Doctrine of Gods Election as it is declared to us in the Scriptures of truth is a sweet and comfortable Doctrine agreeing with the whole Gospel of Christ It leads us to mind and consider the preciousness and necessity of the Blood and Sufferings of Christ without which there could have been no Remission of Sins nor Eternal Life But all must have gone to Hell without difference or respect of Persons 2 Cor. 5. 14. And that if Christ had not been raised again we had been yet in our Sins and Preaching Faith and Hope had been all in vain 1 Cor. 15. 12. 20. It sheweth unto us that the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God in which his Arm is put forth for pulling men and choosing them out of the world into Christ And that such as obey it are blessed and such as reject it judge themselves unworthy of Eternal life 1 Thes 1. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. Acts 13. 46. And so leads us to glorifie the word of the Lord. It sheweth unto us that such as are Elect may possibly fail of the Grace of God if they abide not in Christ John 15. 2. 6. 16-19 And so instructeth us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear To have and hold fast Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear for our God is d consuming Fire And so preserveth us from high-mindedness presumption and licentiousness Heb. 12. 16-29 And it assureth us that such as are at present of the world and not chosen out of it and so none of Gods Elect may be chosen and shall be if they with the heart believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God Joh. 15. 19. and 17. 6. Ephes 2. 2-5-8 1. Pet. 2. 9 10. Whereas that other Doctrine that device of such mens brains as are of no judgement in that particular concerning the Truth is a most comfortless and heart-breaking Doctrine to the greatest part of mankind for it perswadeth them that mens states were fixed before they were born And the greatest part by far reprobated or past by before they had a personal being And that there is no hope for them nor possibility of their being saved And that Gods end in all the mercies he bestows on â—…en and means he vouchsafeth to them is but to leave them without excuse and to aggravate their condemnation and render their sin more sinful and their Judgement more exceeding terrible But this Doctrine of Gods Election agreeeth with and is founded upon the word of the beginning of Christ Hebr. 6. 1 2. 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. In which are declared glad tidings of great joy unto all people because Christ the Saviour hath taken the nature of Man upon him of that kind or species of Creatures not as distinguished from another part of that kind but as distinguished from the nature of Angels which he laid not hold on Luke 2 10 11. Hebr. 2. 14 16. And that be the Lamb of God bare the sin of the world of mankind Joâ— 1. 29 And by the Grace of God tasted death for every man Hebr. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14. And gave him self a ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 6. In which Doctrin we see the cordialness of Gods heart to man-ward And that he would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth The end of Christs dying for all men being that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. Tit. 2. 11-14 And so be happy for ever And to the end they might so do and be Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world And he is therefore a light to them that he might be for salvation to them that through him they might be saved from their sins and from the wrath of God and so out of and from that miserable condition and estate in which men are while they abide in ignorance and unbelief Joh. 1. 9. with Acts 13. 47. Joh. 3. 17. This Doctrine sheweth unto us that such as are not chosen out of the world at present may be so hereafter through the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men Though it also shews that it is dangerous to
hear the Word of Truth and to be hearty Believers and doers of it John 1. 12. 13. with Jam. 1. 18 19 22 25. John 3. 3 5 7. So in the sense before spoken of Men cannot reconcile themselves to God but it is the Work of God by Christ to reconcile us to himself And yet something is required of men Hence the Apostle saith We pray you in Christ stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 18 20. So here Though God in Christ be the first chuser and by him we are chosen yet something is required of us in the strength he gives that we may be chosen out of the world ruled by him become choice ones and be the subjects of his peculiar love c. And though we find not this command any where Be ye chosen in express words given unto us yet we have the same thing in other expressions given in commandement to us As Be ye saved Isa 45. 22. And save your selves Acts 2. 40. Whereby the same thing is intended as is foreshewn in comparing 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with verse 13. And Be ye seperate which in another Scripture is rendred and read Chosen As also hath been noted by comparing Deut. 10. 8. with Chap. 18. 5. and 21. 5. And Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3. 2 Cor. 6. 17. And we may see this is required of men that they may be Chosen even to come to Christ in which doing they shall be made of the chosen Generation though formerly they have not so been As also hath been said before and may be seen in comparing 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. with verse 9. 10. And to the end we may come unto Christ and so be chosen and pluckt out of the world needfull it is 1. To hear the Word of Christ this is the first and one thing needfull unto the saving of the Soul Luke 10. 39 42. It is good and needfull for us to chuse this good part As God is speaking to us and opening our Ears even to hear in hearing For saith in which men are chosen cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God viz. by the Gospel of Peace and glad tydings of good things Rom. 10. 14 15 17. with 2 Thes 2. 13. It is the work of the Father by his Spirit to glorifie Christ and to bear witness of him He speaketh excellent things unto us concerning him and the opening of his lips are right things And together herewith he both gives unto men capacity of hearing and calls upon them to hear Prov. 8. 4 6 17 20. He saith Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self infatness Incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live Isa 55. 1 3. Let every man be swift to hear viz. the Word of Truth Jam. 1. 18 19 The hour is coming and now is saith our Saviour that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5. 25. And this is the first Branch of the description of him that passeth from death to life from an Estate of wrath and misery into a state of favour and blessedness he that heareth Christs word John 5. 24. 2. Needfull also it is that we learn of the Father that we may be Chosen not onely that we hear as that is distinguished from learning But that also we heartily embrace his heavenly lesson and doctrine So after Wisdome had called upon men first of all to hear she after saith also Receive my instruction and not Silver Prov. 8. 6. 10. Indeed God teacheth many that are not taught by him and so they deprive their soules of good Isa 48. 17 18 But it is needfull to the end we may be elected that we receive the instruction of our Heavenly father even to buy the truth and not sell it even to buy it with an undervaluing and parting with and forsaking all that we have that we may be made partakers of Christ Prov. 23. 23. with Luk. 14. 33. And every one that is taught of God every one that hath heard and learned of the father cometh unto Christ Job 6. 45. with Matth. 22. 3 4 5. And so shall be chosen and a subject of Gods election And let no man be discouraged from coming unto Christ in this way because of his former vileness and wretchedness for though he be the chief of sinners that cometh yet him that cometh he will in no wise cast out but will receive such an one graciously he will chuse him and not cast him away Isay 41. 9. with Joh. 6. 35. And as the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness so as persisting in such like iniquity he will at last reject such and give them up to a reprobate mind Reprobate Silver shall men call them who after all means used yet will not come to Christ who is the rest and way to it because the Lord hath rejected them Rom. 1. 18 28. Jer. 6. 16 17 30. So also all such as hear the joyfull sound sounded forth by the Father in the Gospel and receive his instruction so as to come unto Christ Such shall find rest Mat. 11. 28 29. Their Souls shall live Isa 55. 3. And they shall have fellowship and partnership with Jesus Christ in him be chosen and after him reckoned And shall abiding in Christ inherit the Kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him and look and wait for his coming from Heaven 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Yea this Doctrine of Gods Election may also admonish and warn them who are in Christ Jesus not to depart from him Upon this presumption that the Elect cannot possibly be deceived For certainly it is possible for them so to be and they will certainly so be if they abide not in Christ by Faith and Love As our Saviour saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and men gather them and they are cast into the fire and they are burned John 15. 6. In which words our Saviour signifieth that such as have been ingraffed into himself who is the true Vine by his Father the Husbandman may not abide in Christ but may so depart from him as not only to be cast into the fire which a man may be and yet be plucked out again as a brand out of it Jude 23. But also be burned that is he may finally perish And to the same purpose the Apostle speaketh to the believing Romans who were in and did stand in the Root of Righteousness Thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed also lest he spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also