Infants children of the faithful are to be accounted in the number of Reprobates The Reason Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Acts 2. 39. The promise is unto you and to your children Acts 11. 14. Words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved Acts 16. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house 1 Cor. 7. 14. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy II. They utterly denie that some Infants of the faithful departing this life in their Infancy before they have committed any actual sin in their own persons are reprobated The Reason Gen. 18. 25. That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from thee shall not the judge of all the earth do right Ionah 4. 11. Thou hast had pitty on the gourd for the which thou hast not laboured neither madest it to grow which came up in a night and perished in a night and should not I spare Nineveh wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left Ezek 18. 2. 3 4. What mean ye that ye use this proverb saying the fathers have eaten sower grapes and the câ—â—ldrens teeth are set on edge See Deut. 24. 16. 2 Kings 14. 6. As I live saith the Lord God ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb Behold all souls are mine as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine the soul that sinneth it shall die Ier. 31. 29 30. In those dayes they shall say no more the fathers have eaten a sowre grape and the childrens teeth are set on edge But every one shall die for his own iniquitie every man that eateth the sowre grape his teeth shall be set on edge III. They do utterly denie that the sacred laver of baptisme and the prayers of the Church can no wayes avail such Infants unto salvation The Reason Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and disciple all Nations baptizing them c. 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth also now save us Tit. 3. 5. He saved us by the washing of regeneration Ephes 5. 25 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Acts 2. 38 39. with Acts 22. 16. Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins for the promise is to you and to your children Gal. 3. 27. with Rom. 8. 1. As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus And the prayers of the Church c. 1 John 5. 14 15 16. This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death And shall not God hear the prayers of the Church in behalf of Infants IV. They do utterly denie that some of the faithfuls children baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost while they live in the state of their Infancy are reprobate by an absolute decree The Reason of this appears sufficiently in the Reasons of those Negatives fore-mentioned The state of the Controversie touching Predestination or Election to Eternal life or Reprobation therefrom I. Whether of divine and peremptory Election to Glory or eternal life the first and adequate object be All and only those which persevere in true faith unto their lives end as such or certain particular persons not at all considered as believing and persevering in faith as such See all the Texts alledged for conditioned and against absolute irrespective Election II. Whether of Peremptory Reprobation unto everlasting torments the first and adequated object be All and only unbelievers dying in their unbelief as such or certain particular persons the greatest part of mankinde not at all considered as impenitent unbelievers and disobedient as such See the Texts fore-cited for respective and against irrespective and absolute reprobation to which you may adde Isa 27. 11. Because this people have no understanding therefore c. Ezek. 18. 1â— 23. The second Article Controverted concerning the Universalitie of Christs death What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that the price of Redemption which Christ tendred unto his Father was not only in it self sufficient for the Redemption of all mankinde but was also according to the decree the will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man Proofs out of Scripture For all and every man 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all Chap. 4. 10. We trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men Iohn 3. 16. John 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world 1 John 2. 2. John 6. 33 51. We have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world He tasted death for every man Hebrews 2. 9. For the unjust 1 Peter 3. 18. c. For the ungodly for sinners for his enemies Rom. 5. 6 8 10. See the places cited before for Christs satisfaction According to the decree the will and grace of God c. John 3. 16. So God loved the world c. 1 John 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie that the father sent the son to be the Saviour of the world Romans 8. 32. He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all 1 John 4. 9 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 17. That he by the grace of God should tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. Col. 1.
our sins in his own blood See Revel 5. 6. 12. 1 Ioh. 1. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 18 c. God was in Christ reconciling the vvorld to himself Rom. 5. 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Having made peace through the blood of his Crosse See Col. 1. 20 21 22. ch 2. 12 13 14. and Ephes 2. 13. 18. through him we have accesse unto the father Obtain right of saving c. Isa 53. 10 11. He shall see his seed and justifie many 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a price Act. 20. 28. Which he God hath purchased with his own blood 1 Pet. 2. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Mat. 11. 27. Mat. 28. 18. All are delivered unto me of my father Ioh. 3. 35. and Ioh. 5. 22. See Ioh. 17. 2. The Father hath committed all judgement unto the Sonne Mat. 18. 11. Luk. 19. 10. The Son of man is come to seek save that which was lost See Heb. 2. 14. 15 16 17. In whom we have redemption Col. 1. 14. Eph. 1. 7 8. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 1 Pet. 1. 2 3. Rev. 3. 14. Upon terms befitting c. 1 John 3. 8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Mat. 1. 21. see Rom. 6. 1 2. Ephes 1. 4 6. For he shall save his people from their sins Mat. 9. 13. I am come to call sinners to repentance Tit. 2. 11 12 14. That he might redeem us from all iniquitie and from our vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. And purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Rev. 5. 9. He hath redeemed us unto God that we might become servants to God 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. And have our fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. And live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us Rom. 8. 3. c. 10. 4. That the Lord God might dwell amongst us Psal 68. 18. And We live to him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Rom. 14. 9. Heb. 5. 9. and set forth his praise and glorie 1 Pet. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 30. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. II. Upon the Consideration of his blood as shed he decreed that all those who should believe in that Redeemer and persevere in that faith should through mercy and grace by him be made partakers of salvation but such as would not believe in him but die in infidelitie should therefore be punished with eternal death Reprobation being decreed upon precedent infidelitie and dying therein Proofes out of Scripture His blood as shed c. Rev. 13. 8. The lamb slain from the foundation of the world Isa 42. 1. see 1 Pet. 1. 20. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth Isa 49. 3. Thou art my servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified See a Tim. 1. 9. Before the world began Who should believe c. Iohn 3. 14 15 16 36. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life see verse 47 54 58. Gal. 2. 20. I live by the faith of the son of God 1 Pet. 2. 6 7. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded see Rom. 9. 30 33. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved 1 Pet. 1. 2 5. who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Heb. 10. 38. Now the just shall live by faith Rom. 11. 20. Thou standest by faith Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace c. 1 Tim. 4. 10. The Saviour of them that believe John 5. 24. 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 to life 1 John 4. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe that ye may know that ye have eternal life Acts 15. 11. We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved And persevere c. Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing Mat. 24. 13 46. 1 Tim. 2. 15. But he that shall indure unto the end the same shall be saved Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing 2 John v. 9. He that abideth in the doctrin of Christ hath the father and the Son 1 Iohn 2. 24. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you Rom. 11. 22. if ye continue in his goodnes Col. 1. 23. Chap. 2. 5,6,7,8 If ye continue in the faith rooted and built up Heb. 3. 6 12 14. If ye hold fast-stedfastly unto the end Rom. 8. 13. If ye mortisie the deeds of the body Heb. 10. 35. ad finem Cast not away your confidence Rev. 2. 25. c. 3. 11. Hold fast till I come that no man take thy crown 2 Cor. 6. 1. Receive not the grace of God in vain 2 Pet. 3. 17 18. Beware lest being led away with the errour of the wicked ye fall from your own stedfastness But grow in grace Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 2 Tim. 2. 5 12. If a man strive for masteries yet is he not crowned except he strive for masteries yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully if we denie him he also will denie us Rev. 2. 11 17 26. Chap. 3. 12 21. To him that overcometh will I give of the hidden Manna and grant to sit with me on my throne and make him a pillar and he shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 10. Be thou faithful unto the death and I will give the a crown of life 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness see Iob 27. 3 4 5 6. Luke 8. 15. Such as would not believe but die in infidelitie c. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Iohn 3. 18 36. He that believeth not is condemned already the wrath of God abideth on him 2 Iohn v. 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrin of Christ hath not God see Isa 27. 11. Rom. 11. 20. because of unbelief they were broken off Rom 6. 23. For the wages of sin is death Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell Psal 11. 6. Vpon the ungodly he shall rain snares c. See Rev. 21. 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and abominable c. shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone
19 20 21. It pleased the father by him to reconcile all things to himself Tit. 3. 4. After that the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared Iohn 12. 47. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world Iohn 15. 13. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friend Rev. 1. 5. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. The love of Christ Constraineth us c. II. They hold that Christ by the merit of his death hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankinde that the Father by reason of his Sons merit both could and would and did enter and establish a new and gracious Covenant with sinful man liable to Condemnation Proofes out of Holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Col. 1. 21 22. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death Isa 49. 8. I will give thee for a Covenant of the people i. e. A mediator and foundation of the Covenant of grace Deodat Annot Isa 53. per tot verse 10 11 12. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Ier. 31. 31 33 34. ch 33. 8. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. with Hebr. 8. 6. c. He is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises viz. I will put my lawes into their minde and I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness c. Hebr. 9. 14 15. c. How much more shall the blood of Christ and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance See chap. 10. per totum chap. 7. 22. chap. 12. 24 25. III. They hold that though Christ hath merited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins for all and every man yet according to the tenour of the new and gracious Covenant none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ otherwise then by faith nor are a mans sins pardoned before he actually believes in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture None made partakers otherwise then by faith Romans 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Romans 9. 33. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded 1 Timothy 4. 10. He is the Saviour specially of those that believe Col. 1. 19. to the 23. For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself And you hath he now reconciled to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight If ye continue in the faith c. Heb. 3. 6 14. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast c. Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator that by means of death they which are called Cum Eventu might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Iohn 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name See Gal. 3. 22. Nor are a mans sins pardoned before he believes Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Acts 26. 18. Chapter 13. 39. See John 3. 36. Rom. 3. 21 22. The righteousness of God without the law is manifested even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Romans 4 3 24. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and it shall be imputed to us also if we believe See the whole Chapter Gal. 2 26. We have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ Gal. 3. 11. See Gal. 3. 22. The just shall live by faith Romans 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God See Acts 2. 38. Isa 53. 11. IV. They hold that only they for whom Christ died are bound to believe that Christ died for them and if there were any for whom Christ died not they should not be bound to believe he died for them or condemned for not believing yea if there were any such Reprobates they should rather be bound to believe that he died not for them Proofs out of Scripture Only they bound to believe c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with 21. ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ who was manifest for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Believe also in me Why I goe to prepare a place for you and I will receive you to my selfe See 1 Cor. 15. 2 3. with the 14 verse Whence it followes that they for whose sins Christ died not and for whose justification he rose not again to them preaching is vain and their faith is vain for they do but believe an untruth and lean upon the staffe of a broken reed Accordingly as was alleaged above Maccovius saith A man must first believe Christ to be his Saviour which he cannot be unless he hath died for him and that must be the reason why he placeth his faith in him Rather believe that he died not for them For Deut. 29. 29. Those things which are revealed belong to us And Luke 24. 25. O fooles and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken If it be a revealed truth that Christ died not for the Reprobates then are they bound to believe he died not for them But if it be not a truth revealed why is it then preached and urged as an Article of faith What they doe not hold touching Christs death I. They do utterly deny that the price of Redemption which Christ tendered unto God his Father was not according to the decree will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man that so the greatest part of mankinde should by an absolute and antecedent decree of God be precisely shut out from the participation of the benefits of Christs death The Reason 1. Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was
providence it was that being dedicated to the service of Christ in mine Infancy the Piety of my Parents took an early care that I should not be alienated from him through the allurements of the world for want of a religious education and from a childe having been acquainted as Timothy was with the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus herein I have exercised my self through the assistance of his grace to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Mr. Narrowgrace You speak as if regeneration came by nature and education Tilenus No Sir to say regeneration comes by nature were a Contradiction Mr. Takeo'-trust Do you not remember what the Apostle saith Rom. 3. 23. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God And Ephes 2. 1 2. We are dead in trespasses and sins and are by nature children of wrath Can there be so great a change wrought in a man as is a change from death to life and he have no apprehension or feeling when such a change is wrought in him Tilenus When I reflect upon the exuberance of the Divine grace under the Gospel I perswade my selfe there is some difference betwixt Christians born of faithful and godly parents and from their childe-hood educated and instructed in the wayes of faith and pietie I say we must make a difference betwixt these and those Jews and Gentiles of whom the Apostle speaks before they were made Christians I know you will not allow Heathens to stand in Competition with the servants of Jesus devoted to him from their very infancy neither is the law and discipline of Moses an equal standard to measure the dispensations of the grace of Jesus Christ by and yet if you consider Zacharie and Elizabeth who were trained up under the Pedagogie of Moses and date their practice of Pietie from their youth * See 1 King 18. 12 as you ought to do for why should we make an exception where God makes none You will finde that being righteous before God and walking in all the Commandements and ordinances of the Lord blameless S. Luke 1. 6. they were not capable of answering your question When and where and how the work of grace was wrought in them Now if the ministration of Moses which was in comparison a ministration of death was thus glorious how shall not the ministration of Christ which is the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious 2 Cor. 3. Under the Gospel that Covenant is fully accomplished wherein God bound himself to Abraham by the sacred tie of an oath to grant us a power to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of our life S. Luke 1. 74. And the conveyances of this powerful grace being all put so freely into our hands this word and Sacraments it is required of us as a duty to have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Heb. 12. 28. and doubtless 't is only our own inexcusable fault if we have not for indeed be it spoken with holy reverence the administration of our sacred baptisme were not better than a piece of solemn Pageantry if grace were not conferr'd upon us in receiving that Sacrament for therein are begg'd on our behalfe the blessings of Christ grace and pardon with the renewing and assistance of the holy spirit These the Church by prayer seeks for on our behalf by vertue of that Covenant wherein God hath promised and engaged himself to bestow them which promise be for his part will most assuredly keep and perform Then upon this we engage our vow to forsake the Devil and all his works and to keep Gods holy will and Commandements Can we think either that God in goodness or justice would require such an ingagement at our hands under peril of a greater condemnation or that the Church of God in prudence could oblige us to undertake it without good assurance of sufficient assistance and power from his gracious spirit to inable us to perform it according to the tenour of the Gospel Mr. Fribabe It seems you are for universal grace and you hold that all the children of the faithful dying in their infancie and before they have the use of reason are saved by vertue of that Covenant made Isa 49. 8. Heb. 13. 20. with us in the blood of Christ into which they are consigned at their baptisme as if all such were invested with some priviledge to exempt them from the absolute decree of reprobation Tilenus This Sir is the faith into which I have been baptized and catechized for I am taught to profess that in my baptisme I was made a member of Christ a childe of God and an inheritour of the Kingdome of Heaven Mr. Knowlittle But you know that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12. 14. Tilenus That I very well remember but withall I consider that besides that federal holiness which removes all obstacles in the children of the faithful and renders them recipients duly qualified for the Sacrament I am instructed in my Creed to believe in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me that is if I do not resist his work and quench his motions and am further directed to beg by diligent prayer his special grace to inable me to discharge my duty to God and my neighbour which grace if I be not wanting to my duâ—y I have reason to assure my self of upon the strength of our Saviours promise S. Luke 11. 13. The short is Baptisme being stiled the laver of regeneration Tit. 3. 5 6. And the children of the faithful being in no capacitie of putting a bar against the efficacie of it the learned Davenant one of the Divines of the Synod of Dort concludes that therein they are truly justified regenerated and adopted and by this means a state of salvation is conferr'd upon them suitable to the condition of their infancy and arriving to the use of reason if they walk in the strength of the Divine grace under the command and conduct of the Holy Spirit and fight under Christ's banner as generous souldiers ingaged by solemn covenant and armed with assistance from above to that purpose should do we are assured that sin shall not got the dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. for he is greater that is ingaged in them for their assistance then he that is in the world against them 1 John 4. 4. Whereupon the same Apostle is confident to conclude c. 5. v. 18. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not Mr. Knowlittle You speak as if a man might live without sin and so be saved without Christ Tilenus Sir I believe it is the duty of the children of God and therefore possible to be blameless and harmless without rebuke shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and
God Rom. 5. 1. Tilenus Tentatus Sir I know these are excellent Cordialls to the soul that is perswaded she hath a reall interest in them but they are designed onely for a very small number as the doctrine of the Synod hath determined For those Divines tell us that Almighty God did by an absolute decree elect certain particular persons to salvation neither considering the death of his Son nor the faith of those elect in that decree but then decreed to give his Son to die for them and irresistibly to work in them a saving faith to lay hold upon that his Son and actually to apply all the said benefits to themselves for whose salvation only they were all prepared and designed Now all the promises of salvation in Christ how universally soever propounded being by your Doctrine restrained onely to these Elect amongst whom that I should reckon my self neither any particular mention of me in Scripture nor any revelation by Angel or Prophet out of it doth assure me and the number of them according to your computation being so small in proportion to the Reprobates there is so much odds against me that I have reason to be afraid that I am inlisted under the greater multitude When Christ said to his Apostles One of you shall betray me though the odds were eleven to one on the Innocent parties side yet it raised so much scruple and suspition in all their bosomes as made them very anxious and inquisitive Matth. 26. 22. Master is it I Were the number of the Reprobates for whom you say Christ died not far more disproportionable to the elect yet the sad apprehension of those eternal torments fatally link'd to the end of that horrible decree would prompt me to entertain fears jealousies more than enough lest I should be filed upon that chain having no assurance to the Contrary How much more should fearfullness and trembing surprize me when I consider how few the Elect are even amongst the vast multitudes of such as are called Mr. Simulans Seeing it hath pleased the wisdom of Almighty God to keep his immutable Decrees as well that of Reprobation as that of Election locked up in the secret Cabinet of his own unsearchable Counsell we are to govern our judgment by the rule of Charity which beleeveth all things and hopeth all things 1 Cor. 13 Tilenus Tentatus I confesse the judgement of Charitie is a try'd and equall beame in many Cases but if you extend it generally and apply it unto all particulars it must needs be very false and I am confident you dare not avouch the trueth of it in such a latitude or if you dare you are no more able to maintaine it than I can beleeve these two contrary propositions at once that Jesus Christ died for all and yet that he died for a very small number 2. It is not the judgement of my Charity but the certaintie of my faith that must give me assurance and comfort in this particular 3. Charitable judgement is a fair standard to measure the doubtfull actions of our neighbour by and commands us to cover his infirmities and stifle the too light conception of suspitions and sinister opinions touching him but bindes us not to preach falshood to him to induce him against his own reason to foster too good an opinion of himself When I see a man present himself to the Holy Sacrament the judgement of Charity perswades mee knowing nothing to the contrary that he addresses himself to it with that preparation of heart that becomes a good Christian But that such as are rightly prepared and qualified do partake thereof to their salvation this I beleeve by the judgement of faith which admâ—tteth nothing that is or can be false So when I see a sick man render his soul up with much devotion and resignation into the hands of Christ I beleeve charitably that he dies as becomes a faithfull Christian But that God communicateth his salvation to such as die in the profession and obedience of the right faith this I beleeve by the certainty of faith wherein it is impossible I should be deceived though the judgment of Charity deceives us very often In a word the judgment of charity is a good standing measure betwixt man and man but it is not current betwixt man and his own Conscience much lesse betwixt him and God I know I am not to be relieved but by such succours as are levied upon the divine promises and those promises having their foundation and infallibilitie in the undeceivable truth of God they require such a certaintie of faith as will admit no mixture of any thing false or doubtfull Besides when I do inquire which act of faith hath the prioritie viz. to beleeve in Christ or to beleeve Christ to be my Saviour in particular I am taught by some of your Divines Maccovius by name that I must in the first place beleeve that Christ is my Saviour and that is the cause of the other act or the reason why I place my faith in him Now if Christ died only for a few particular persons and all the promises made in him belong to those few onely unlesse I could find some mention of my name amongst them or receive some revelation from heaven to that effect how can I with any certainty or assurance build my faith upon it that I am one of them Mr. Tako'trust We are bound to think every one is of the number of the Elect till it appears to the contary Tilen Tentatus This is but singing the old note ever again This is still your judgement of Charity which though it suppresseth all suspicion in you towards me yet can it not cure those feares and jealousies which I have but with too great reason conceived of my self As for your appearances to the contrary I cannot understand them much lesse set any value upon them for by such outward things the Synod is ready to tell us we can never perceive any thing of what belongs to the state of Election or Reprobation I am beholding to you that waving the severity of your reason you will make use of a charitable supposition to flatter me into an opinion that I am one of that little Flock for which Christ dyed But there is nothing can secure and comfort me but a full and certain perswasion that I am one of them which you will never be able to work in me denying that Christ died for all unlesse you can find some particular and undeniable evidence of my interest in him Mr. Indefectible You should reflect upon your former experience of God's gratious work in you That spirit of adoption sent out into the hearts of Gods Elect to bear witness to their spirits though he may become silent and not speak peace to them in such an audible language of comfort as is alwayes apprehended by them yet he abides with them for ever Spiritual injoyments are different from these outward and carnal ones we
and foreseeing that Adam would wilfully transgress the same and thereby make himself and his posterity lyable to condemnation though God was notwithstanding mercifully affected towards man yet out of respect to his justice and truth would not give way to his mercy to save man till his justice should be satisfied and his serious hatred of sin and love of righteousness be made known Proofes out of Scripture After his own Image Gen. 1. 26 27. So God created man after his own image See Col. 3. 10. Eph. 4. 24. An easie law c. Gen 2. 16 17. Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat See Rom. 2. 14 15. Levit. 18. 5. Ezek. 20. 11. Rom. 10. 5. Gal. 3. 12. Added thereto a threatning of death Gen. 2. 17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Foreseeing that Adam c. Isa 44. 7. And who as I shall call and shall declare it and the things that are coming and shall come See Isa 41. 22 23. Act. 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world And all mans works too Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my thoughts afarre off See Gen. 3. 6. 2 Cor. 11. 3. 1 Tim. 2 13 14. Eccles. 7. 29. See Isa 45. 21. Liable to condemnation c. Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 5. 12-18 19. By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sin is death See Act. 17. 26. Heb. 7. 10. Job 14. 1. c. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 2 Cor. 11. 3. with Rev. 2. 7. Gen. 3. 24. Deut. 27. 26. with Gal. 3. 10. Jam. 2. 10. Mercifully affected c. Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious 1 Joh. 4. 19. He loved us first See ver 11. Jona 4. 2. Thou art a God gracious and merciful slow to anger So 2 Chron. 30. 9. Psal 86. 5 15. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive a God full of compassion and gracious Psal 103. 8. 13. The Lord is slow to anger As a father pittieth his children Psal 111. 4. and 145. 8 9. His tender mercies are over all his works Rom. 2. 4. the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long-suffering Luk 6. 36. Be ye mercifull as your father is mercifull See Isa 55. 7. Jer. 31. 20. Ioel 2. 13. Num. 14. 18 19. Neh. 9. 17. Deut. 5. 9 10. Jer. 32. 18. Respect to his justice Ex. 34. 7. He will by no means clear the guilty Psal 5. 4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with the. Isa 59. 2. your iniquities have separated c. And to his truth Gen. 2. 17. thou shalt die the death and he is a God that cannot lie nor repent nor deny himself Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. Num. 23. 19. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Till justice be satisfied Isa 53. 5 6 10. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all and made his soul an offering for sin He was wounded for our transgressions Luk. 24. 26 46. Thus it behoved Christ to suffer 1 Pet. 3. 18. the just for the unjust Mat. 20 28. To give his life a ransom for many and 1 Tim. 2. 6. Psal 69. 4. I restored that which I took not away See Phil. 2 7 8. Matth. 3. 15. c. 5. 17. Gen. 3. 15. Mar. 10 45. 1 Ioh. 3. 8. Luk. 2. 14. His hatred of sin c. Psal 5. 4 5 6. Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickednesse thou hatest and abhorrest c. Psal 45. 7. thou hatest iniquity Prov. 11. 20. The froward are abomination to the Lord. Isa 59. 2. your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you See Psal 7. 11 12. Isa 65. 12. And love of righteousnesse Psal 45. 7. Thou lovest righteousnesse Rom. 3. 24 25 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation to declare his righteousnesse that he might be just c. He is the avenger of unrighteousnesse And therefore I. For the satisfying of his justice he did ordain the Mediatour Jesus Christ who should be made a sacrifice for sinfull men suffer Death for them and by his blood shed for their reconciliation obtaine right of saving them upon termes befittting mercy and justice Proofs out of Holy Scripture Ordained the Mediator Isa 9. 6. To us a son is given Ioh. 3. 16. So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son 1 Ioh. 4. 9 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his onely begotten son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to bee the propitiation for our sinnes Rom. 5. 8. c. But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all See Hebr. 12. 2. with 24 25 verses Made a sacrifice and suffered death Phil. 2. 8. He became obedient unto death Ioh. 10 11 15. 17 18. I lay down my life for my sheep Se Ioh. 15. 13. Heb. 2. 9. He tasted death for every man 1 Cor. 15. 3. Christ died for our sinnes Rom. 4. 25. c. 6. 10. He died unto sinne once 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who his own self hare our sins in his own body on the tree 1 Cor. 5. 7. Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Isai 53. 10. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin Ephes 2. 2. Who loved us and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour 1 Ioh. 2. 1 2. He is the propitiation for our sins Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood See Hebr. 5. 1. c. c. 8. 3. c. c 9. 11 12 13 14 32 26 77 28. c. 10. 5. 10. 12 14. He is the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Ioh. 1. 29. He gave his life a ransom Mark 10. 45. and purged our sinnes Hebr. 1. 3. He was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. Made a curse Gal. 3. 13. To redeem us that were under the Law and delivered us from the curse of the Law Gal. 3. 13. and the power of darknesse Col. 1. 13. and the fear of death Heb. 2. 14. Hos 13. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 55. and from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Rom. 5. 9. and obtained eternal redemption for us Hebr. 9. 12. Luk. 1. 60. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 10. By his blood shed for their reconciliation Matt. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Rev. 1. 5. and washed us from
deny that God hath destined Reprobates as they are called to infidelity impiety and sins as means and causes of their damnation The Reason 1. God himself hath stigmatized Jeroboam with this Character as a brand of infamy 2 King 23. 15. Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And Hab. 2. 15. Wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken also that thou mayest look on their nakedness 2. If a Prince should make a decree to take away the life of his subject and then necessitate him by force or winde him in by subtlety to be instrumental and subservient to his own ends in the perpetration of an act which the said Prince himself hath made to be criminal that the execution of his said subject might appear to be just this argues cleerly that his first decree against him even by the verdict of his own conscience was unjust and so is his execution also 3. It is accounted an act of horrid tyranny in Tiberius who because it was unlawful to strangle Virgins He caused the hangman first to defloure a virgin and afterward to strangle her See also the Reason of the next XI They do utterly deny that God is the Author of sin The Reason 1. Because He is Holy and a pattern of holiness Lev. 11. 44. ch 19. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. 2. His wayes are right and equal and he can do no iniquity Ezek. 18. 25 29. Hos 14. 19. Psal 45. 7. 92. 16. Zeph. 3. 5. Deut. 32. 4. 3. He hates sin Psal 5. 4 5. 45. 7. Prov. 11. 20. Isa 59. 2. Deut. 12. 31. Isa 61. 8. Zee 8. 17. Am. 6. 8. Ier. 44. 4. Hab. 1. 13. 4. 'T is a burden to him Isa 7. 13. ch 43. 24. 5. He forbids sin Exod. 20. 1. c. Iob 36. 21. Ezek. 45. 9. Rom. 6. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 34. 6. He cannot be tempted with evil Jam. 1. 13 14 15. 7. He is provoked to anger by it Isa 3. 8. Hos 12. 14. Exod. 23. 21. Mark 3. 5. 8. 'T is enmity to him Rom. 8. 7. 9. 'T is the work of the Devil Ioh. 8. 44. Gen. 3. 1. 10. He sent his Son to destroy it 1 Iohn 3. 8. Tit. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 11. He doth revenge it and punish the sinner for it Jer. 5. 25 29. Deut. 18. 12 13. Rom. 1. 18. Eph. 5. 6. Psal 11. 5 6. 12. Mans destruction is from himself Hos 13. 9. Prov. 5. 22. XII They do utterly deny that election of particular persons is made without consideration of faith and perseverance therein as the condition prerequired in him that is to be chosen unto glory The Reason Ps 103. 17 18. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him considered as such Ps 3. 3. The Lord hath set apart the man that is godly for himself Ps 50. ult To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Rev. 3. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Isa 48. 10. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Heb. 6. 12. Who through faith and patience inher it the promise See Heb. 10. 36. Rev. 7. 14 15. See also the proofes of the 2 and 4 affirmatives XIII They do utterly deny that particular men are reprobated from eternal life without consideration had of sin and infidelity and perseverance therein as going before The Reason Exod. 32. 33. Whosoever sinneth Him will I blot out See the 2 4 Affirmative Rev. 22. 15. Without are doggs 1 Cor. 6. 9. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God See 2 Thess 2. 12. Luke 14. 17 21 with 24. verse A general reason of both the former Negatives The execution of Gods decree sheweth what the decree it selfe was for God worketh in time all things according to the counsel of his own will from eternity Eph. 1. 11. So that man must be considered in the decree as he is considered in the execution of it otherwise the act decreeing and the act executing should have respect to different Objects and Consequently this act could not properly be called the execution of that Decree Ex. Gr. If a decree be past against T B as a Malefactor and R S doth arrest T B being clear and innocent this action cannot be said to be the execution of the former decree which was made against T B the Malefactor though R S pretends to do it in persuance of the same So in other Cases But in the execution of the divine decree of Election and Reprobation We see men are looked upon according to their several qualifications Mat. 25. 31. 41. Then shall the King say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat Goe ye Cursed For I was c. Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. He shall render to every man according to his works To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live See Psal 11. 5. To the end an Emphatical place Concerning Children They hold That all the children of the faithful are sanctified in Christ so as none of them departing this life before they come to the use of reason can perish Proofs out of Scripture Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head This seed which is Christ was promised before ever any seed of mankinde was conceived Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. See Mat. 18. 11 12. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 1 John 3. 8. He came to destroy the works of the Devil Rom. 5. 12 18. As by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life Hebrews 2. 14 15 17. For as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself took part of the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver and make reconciliation c. Consider 1 John 2. 12. with Mat. 19. 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God See Psal 127. 3. Concerning Children What they do utterly deny I. They do utterly deny that some