the Name of God Gracious and Merciful page 21. And what then are the Turks in a State of Salvation who deny the Trinity deny Christ to be God deny Christ to have dyed but one in his Room and put up Mahomet an Impostor as the great Prophet Indeed your Friend Servetus Conversed much with the Turks and would have had a Reconciliation of the Turkish and Christian Religion It may be this Author doth not understand the danger of these Opinions but they tend to the Subverting of the Christian Religion What if the Turks have a Notion that God is Merciful and Gracious They and all others will find that except they come to God by Christ the Mediator the Sacrifice for Sin they will find God to be a consuming fire to them This Authors mentioning of the Turks puts me in mind of a Discourse I once had with a Quaker one of the most knowing Men that ever I knew of that way and he said the Turks were as good Saints as any were in England Indeed the Arminians and Quakers they run all upon this that there is a sufficient light that God gives to all Mankind that if they do but heed that Light it will bring them to Salvation Ay and so our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Knowledge of him and Faith in him must be but an indifferent thing and not absolutely necessary that they may maintain their Opinion of Universal Grace What darkness is coming upon this Land that the blind lead the blind after this manner 2. Well then set that question aside for the present what that Mercy and Goodness of God is that if Men accept God from the beginning chose them to Salvation in Christ What is this the Election the Scripture speaks of Here is not a Syllable of Gods purposing of his meer Grace infallibly to give them a new Heart to give them Faith and Repentance and so they must thank themselves if they be saved The Arminians will allow God only to decree that all shall be saved that are so wise and careful as to believe in Christ by improving that common and universal Grace that is afforded to them that are damned as well as those that are saved They will not allow that God hath elected any Persons from Eternity so as that he will certainly call them and that they shall obey that Calling that those Persons from God's special and distinguishing Grace shall be infallibly saved thro' our Lord Jesus Christ If there were no other Election but this there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved but blessed be the Name of God for ever God hath from Eternity chosen particular persons to Salvation chosen them so as to give Christ for them and certainly and infallibly to give Christ with all his Benefits to them Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed they were not ordained to Eternal Life because they believed but they believed because they were ordained to Eternal Life there were some of the Hearers that God had from Eternity ordained to Eternal Life that were now to be savingly called and to them God gave a new Heart Faith and Repentance when others contradicted and blasphemed Ephes 1.3 4 5 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without blame before him in Love having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will to the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved 1. Here we see that those that God blesseth with Spiritual Blessings Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory it is by Jesus Christ all is communicated through him 2. Those that God doth in time Justifie and Sanctifie he purposeth to do it for those very persons before all Time even from Eternity 't is according as he had chosen them before the Foundation of the World was laid God from Eternity chose Christ to be their Mediator and Head and chose them to be the Members of his Mystical Body He did not choose them upon any foresight of Holiness in them but chose them to make them Holy and without Blame before him in Love 3. If any ask the Question Why God chose those individual persons and not others the Apostle shews that it was the good pleasure of his Will v. 5. to the praise of the Glory of his Grace v. 6. to the praise of the Glory of his Discriminating Distinguishing Grace who will be gracious to whom he will be gracious and will have compassion on whom he will have compassion whatsoever Men and Devils say against it Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World As Christ the Mediator was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World to be Mediator and was slain in the Decree and Purpose of God from Eternity so there were the Names of those he should be slain for in time written in the Book of Life not that God uses Books and Writing as Men do but the Persons of those that were Elected from Eternity were as certain so many and no more as if they had been written in a Book And because they were thus Elected God will not suffer them to be finally deceived to worship the Beast 1 Thessal 1.4 5. Knowing Brethren beloved your Election of God for our Gospel came not to you in Word only but in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance So far as we can know that the Gospel comes with Saving Power upon the Hearts of any so far we know their Election before the Foundation of the World Men are not elected when or because the Gospel comes with saving Power upon their Hearts but because God had elected them to Life from Eternity therefore he sets home the Gospel in due season with Saving Power upon their Hearts 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren that God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 1. God's choosing from the beginning unto Salvation is meant of his choosing them from Eternity to the End viz. to Eternal Salvation 2. Through Sanctification and belief of the Truth shews the way by which God eternally intended to bring them to Salvation 3. The Apostle shews that God did in his eternal choosing of them freely purpose to bring them into this Grace wherein they stood that is he decreed to give them that Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth which he had now actually bestowed upon them Those whom God hath chosen
her Child and she sees this simple Child running into a fire that would burn it to Death and the Mother could prevent it and pull the Child back but she suffers it to go on and Perish who will say that such a Mother had such a true and tender Love to the Child So said this Preacher If God have such great and tender Love to all Adams Posterity and sees them through their folly inadvertency and corruption of their Hearts running into Hell-fire and he could stop them and save them and doth not where is his Love and Desire to save them Though I cannot remember the very words yet it was to this purpose that he brought in an Objection he urged it very strongly I think over-ruled by God to confute himself I wondred how he would answer the Objection his Answer was this what saith he if I say God cannot that is that God could not Convert them and so left it To such Absurdities and Blasphemies doth Arminianism lead 2. Others of them say that God indeed can change the Rebellious Will of Man but they alledge two things 1. They say it is Dishonourable to God to go any further for the Conversion of a Sinner than to set before him Arguments Threatnings and Promises and urge these Arguments by inward Convictions but they say it is not for the Honour of God to put forth such irresistible power as shall infallibly change and turn the Heart to God I answer that God hath promised to some absolutely promised to the Elect that which Divines call the first Grace Jer. 31. Heb. 8. I will put my fear in their Hearts I will write my Law in their Hearts Ezek. 36.26 27. A new Heart also will I give you a new Spirit I will put within you and I will take away the Heart of Stone that is take away the stubbornness and rebellion of your Wills and Affections and I will give you a Heart of Flesh that is I will give you a penitent soft plyable Will towards me and my Precepts this God of his infinite Grace hath promised to his Elect without which not one Man or Woman in the World had ever been Converted and Saved and dare any say that 't is Dishonourable to God to shew this Grace and Favour Is it come to this that where God hath a gracious Respect to a person that though the person be ignorant foolish and desperate that it should be Dishonourable to the Physician of Heaven to cure the Man of his Spiritual Phrensy and bring him to a right mind Surely this is so far from being Dishonourable to God that the Elect and Ransomed People shall Adore him and praise him for ever for this great free and undeserved Grace to them 2. They say it is Dishonourable to the Will of Man yea impossible for the Will of Man to be forced therefore they say that all that God doth towards the Conversion of any is by Moral swasion and urging Arguments to this great Queen the Will of Man but she her self must not be touched I answer if God did not touch yea by an Omnipotent sweetness change and turn the Will of Man to himself there had never been any one Converted in this World God works upon the Will in Conversion to make it of unwilling willing and to make it as willing to turn to God as ever it was unwilling before God touched and changed the Will Indeed this Author saith you present Christ not serious because he will not save Men whether they will or no page 22. I say this is a very ignorant Speech and shews the Author to be little acquainted with the Scripture or the corruption of his own Heart for though Men when they hear of Hell and Damnation would be saved from Misery yet there is not any one that would be saved in the way that God hath appointed until God by his immediate Hand do secretly touch and change his Will i. e. that though all would be saved from Hell under the Notion of a State of Misery yet till God give special grace a new Heart put a new bent upon the Will and Affections there is no Man would be saved in Gods way in the Gospel way that is 1. To be made so poor in Spirit as to be taken off from all standing upon Terms with God but acknowledge his Soveraignty and his Righteousness that he might take Vengeance upon us for ever 2. To acknowledge that we have not the least Worthiness and Righteousness but to creep under the Robe of Christs Righteousness 3. To be willing to part with Sins that are as dear to corrupt Nature as Right Hands and Right Eyes to be willing to take up the Cross and follow Christ to be willing to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord so far as he shall please to make known his mind to us Ay it were well if in stead of this blustering about these things that all of us did examine whether we our selves have been so graciously wrought upon by the Spirit of God as that we are willing to be saved in Gods way in the Gospel way Alass Men are of this Opinion and the other and like the Pharisees are industrious to make Proselytes to their Opinions and yet know nothing of the new Birth of the work of Grace upon their own Souls Therefore let us all be much in self Examination and proving what work of Faith in Christ what work of Repentance for Sin what love to God and to his people and ways is begun in us by the Holy Spirit that so we may not think our selves something when we are nothing deceiving our own Hearts 2. Arminians turn the Covenant of Grace into a Covenant of works they quite mistake the reason why God doth work Faith and Sanctification in those whom he bringeth to Eternal Life it is not to be the Righteousness in which they are to stand Righteous before God for their Justification at Gods Bar for we are 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 Blood Rom. 3.24 25. So that the Righteousness by which we stand Righteous at Gods Bar is a Righteousness imputed to us neither Faith as in act or work nor our Sanctification and good works are our Righteousness in the Covenant of Grace as Obedience to the Law was to be our Righteousness to justifie under the Covenant of works but Faith is wrought â—n those that are saved as a passive instrument whereby they receive and embrace Christ 〈◊〉 o be the Lord their Righteousness and so are tâ—ught to know and adore the way whereby they are saved and Sanctification is wrought is to se that are saved that they may have the first fruits of Holiness here that they may in some measure walk with God and glorifie God heâ—e and be preparing for perfect Holiness and â—ommunion with God in Heaven
Saviour in that Parable is that some are affected with the Word and after a sort believe and yet never have the Root of the Matter a New Heart To explain this further John 2.23 24. It is said many believed on him when they saw the Miracles but Jesus would not commit himself to them for he knew all Men he knew what is in Man the meaning is that though they believed after a sort yet he would not commit himself to them and trust them as true Disciples and true Friends to him for he knew all Men he knew they were not sound Believers he knew they had not that precious Faith of Gods Elect. And so it 's said of Simon Magus Acts 8.13 That he believed and was Baptized and yet Peter tells him That his Heart was not right in the sight of God but was in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of Iniquity Men may be enlightened and convinced and after a sort be Believers and yet never be truly humbled for Sin as Sin never be taken off from all Confidence in their own Righteousness never rely upon Christ alone for Justification never have that Faith that worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 Those that fall away have but an Historical Notional Faith such as the Apostle James calls Faith without Works a dead Faith Saving Justifying Faith differs not only in degree but in its Kind and Nature from this Faith that they have that falls away 1 Jo. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us no doubt they would have continued with us but they went out from us that they might be made manifest they were not all of us that is that those who were Professors and Believers after a sort they went out from us they fell away because they were not of us they were not of the Elect and Ransomed People they were not partakers of like precious Justifying Faith with us for if they had been so no doubt the Apostle puts a no doubt upon it they would have continued with us and never have fallen to Judaism or Heathenism again but they went out from us fell off from their Profession and common enlightning that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us but he tells them that had true Justifying Faith they have an anointing from the Holy one v. 21. and v. 27. the anointing which ye have received abideth in you v. 27. Every one the least as well as the strongest that have justifying Faith they have The Spirit of God dwelling in them they have another manner of work of the Spirit upon them than any that fall away they are new Creatures they are partakers of the Divine Nature and this Anointing with the Spirit of Grace and with the Graces of the Spirit abideth in them against all opposition from the remainders of Corruption against all opposition from Men or Devils The Lord to humble them and to shew them that it is of his meer Grace in Christ that they are saved may leave them in part to themselves at times and they may be as a Tree cut down but yet there is the Root of the Matter the Root of Grace always in them and through the scent of the Water of Life thro' new Influences Supplies and quickenings of the Spirit they shall put forth Buds and Blossoms of Grace again God hath promised to every true Believer that he will never leave him nor forsake him Heb. 13.5 i. e. he will never leave him nor forsake him totally or finally and 't is God's not leaving or forsaking them that keeps them from not leaving or forsaking of him Let it be well observed that we all by our fall in Adam have forsaken God the Fountain of Living Waters we have left God and God hath left us as to any help by a Covenant of Works that Covenant was Mutable and Conditional God would not leave and forsake Man upon condition that Man did not leave and forsake him as to exact and perfect Obedience but Adam and all of us in him did presently leave and forsake God Rom. 5.12 and so God hath left and forsaken all Adam's Posterity as to Blessing them upon the terms of the Covenant of Works But Blessed be God for a Covenant of Grace and Jesus the Mediator whom ever the Lord takes internally into this Covenant he will never leave them nor forsake them and hath himself undertkaen to keep them that they shall never totally and finally leave nor forsake him Jer. 32.40 Hos 14.4 5. Isai 54.9.10 Isai 55.3 2. The Assembly say in their Confession of Faith That the purest Churches under Heaven are subject to Mixture and Error and have been so degenerated as to become no Churches of Christ but Synagogues of Satan Upon which this Author saith surely the purest Churches are True Believers and if these purest Churches may become Synagogues of Satan it is too much to prove the point I answer That the Point in hand is whether one whom the Lord hath endued with a lively Justifying Faith shall not be actually and infallibly kept by the Grace and Power of God unto Salvation Now this Position of the Assembly doth consist very well with that point of Doctrine which they maintained about the perseverance of the Saints The Assembly of Divines are not speaking of the Invisible Mystical Church who are inseparably united to Christ but of particular Churches and Congregations of those that are Professors of the Gospel and they say rightly 1. That the purest of these Churches of Professors are subject to mixture i. e. that there may be in the purest Churches unsound Professors that never had a Saving Work of Grace wrought in their Hearts 2. That the purest Churches are subject to Error as to lesser Errors the purest Churches in the World may be guilty before God Christ may not only have a few things but many things against the best Churches either for Errors in Doctrine or Worship or failings in Conversation in Ministers and People who can understand his Errors all his Errors the purest Churches had need to be very Humble and not boast of their Purity but pray continually that God would pardon and reform what he sees amiss in them 3. The purest Church may so degenerate as to be no Church of Christ but the Synagogue of Satan All that the Assembly of Divines here say is very true and no contradiction at all to themselves in their maintaining the certain perseverance of particular Saints for tho' the purest Church may so degenerate in time as to be no true Church of Christ but the Synagogue of Satan yet if there be any True Believers in a Church they are kept notwithstanding the Apostacy of the Church whereof they were Members tho' the Church doth so degenerate as to lose their Church state yet if there were any one sound Christian in that Church he shall hold his spiritual Estate and Vnion with
enquire in what Sense we are to understand Christ's dying that we may know what we dispute about Let us consider 1. Who it was that dyed for Sinners and this may give light into this Controversie tho' it was only the Humane Nature of Christ that dyed or was capable of dying yet the Person was God the fellow of the Lord of Hosts therefore God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. If Christ indeed had not been God by nature then People might have had such low undervaluing thoughts of his Death as that he might dye in vain as to some yea as to all he dyed for But we that do believe he was God-man cannot believe but that he will infallibly save all that he dyed for Indeed if we did not believe the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ is the second Person of the for ever blessed and glorious Trinity and that he is the Son of God by Ineffable Eternal Generation very God as the Father is and that he took upon him Human Nature that he might suffer the Punishment of our Sins and redeem and save us we would never contend about his Death who he dyed for because if he had not been the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person he could never by himself have purged away our Sins by the Sacrifice of himself It is to be feared that some Arminians are Socinians too Antitrinitarians as Michael Servetus was of whom I shall speak afterwards if God permit And indeed Arminianism prepares the way to Socinianism if God does not graciously stop Men in the way of Errour So that this I lay down as a Basis and Foundation for an Enquiry who Christ dyed for that all would consider the Eminency yea the Infiniteness of the Person that dyed for us It was he that was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God tho' he took upon him the form of a Servant and was found in fashion as a Man and was obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross to redeem his Church This was the greatest wonder that ever was done in this World It is the astonishment of Angels and Men to Eternity and can any imagin that God was manifest in the Flesh and dyed in vain for any for whose sake he bare the Punishment of their Sins and went through unutterable pain and suffering for their Redemption 2. Let us consider what is the sense and meaning of Christ's dying for us It is that Christ dyed in our stead as our Surety and as a proper Sacrifice for our Sins Christ dyed not only for our good as the Socinians speak but in our stead as well as for our good Our Iniquities were laid upon him Isai 53.6 He bare our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree 1 Pet. 2.23 He suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust 1 Pet. 3.18 for all the Sins whatsoever of them for whom he dyed Rom. 4. ult Who was delivered for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification Those for whom Christ dyed he made an absolute perfect satisfaction for all their 〈◊〉 yea purchased Converting and Keeping Grace for them here and Glory hereafter He did not do the work of Mediator and Saviour by halves He obtained Eternal Redemption for those for whom he dyed Heb. 9.12 he gave himself for those for whom he dyed to Merit and Purchase for them Faith Repentance Grace and Glory to be infallibly bestowed upon them in the Lords appointed time and season 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Titus 3.13 14. as I shall endeavour to shew in a Chapter by it self But as for this Author and those of his way though they make a great noise about Christs dying for all Adams Posterity Yet they do really deny that Christ dyed for any Man or Woman in the World in a true Scripture Sense that is that Christ so dyed for any as to make Satisfaction for all their Sins and to purchase saving Grace here and Glory hereafter to be infallibly bestowed upon their particular persons For they say that notwithstanding Christs Death there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved The truth is though some may mean well and think they exalt Christ by the Doctrine of Universal Redemption Yet they do debase and dishonour Christ and bring all at last to Mans Meriting his own Salvation 1. I say that Arminians do Debase Disgrace and Dishonour Christ and that Glorious and for ever to be adored Redemption by him They talk indeed of Universal Redemption by Christ but indeed it is an Vniversal nothing in comparison of that True Perfect and Eternal Redemption that our Lord Jesus Christ hath wrought for those for whom he dyed which shall infallibly bring them to Grace here and Glory hereafter as shall God willing be manifested afterwards 2. I say that Arminians whether they do really intend it or no bring all at last to Man Meriting his own Salvation For if God the Father did no more in Electing a particular person to Grace and Glory and the Son of God in Redemption and the Holy Ghost in infusing a new Heart for those that are Saved than for those that perish for ever Then those that are Saved it is by their own Merits Worthiness Towardliness and Goodness above others and so they are not Saved by meer Grace not by any Special Discriminating Grace from the Father Son and Holy Ghost to them and so whereas God hath ordered it so that no Flesh should glory and boast in his presence These lay a Foundation for pride and self-conceit and make poor provision for admiring free special Discriminating Grace here and to Eternity in Heaven Yea one of the Arminians in answer to that question who maketh thee to differ would not mince the matter as some others do But boldly and roundly answered to the Apostles question I make my self to differ These things being premised I shall now close with you upon the Scriptures you bring and shall make it manifest if the Lord put in by his Spirit to give Light they do not hold forth that Christ dyed for all Adams Posterity 1. The first you name is Hebrews 29. We see Jesus made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of Death Crowned with Glory and Honour that he by the Grace of God should tast death for every Man This Scripture this Author cites in the first place and Mr. J. C. in his Book called Redemption redeemed counts this Text the fullest of all other places for Universal Redemption but indeed 't is a notable Text against it and may give us much light how to understand the word all and every Man and the World in other places of Scripture 1. The Apostle shews what was the cause of Gods giving his Son to tast Death for us it was the grace of God the for ever to be Adored grace of God the exceeding
to the knowledge of the Truth those Wicked Magistrates that did then persecute the Church all those that God will have to be saved he will bring them to the knowledge of the Truth He can easily do it tho' for the present they be ignorant of the Truth therefore he would have them pray that God would convert them and whereas some Professors of the Gospel then were Jews and were much alienated from the Gentiles the Apostle would take off their Prejudice from those Kings and those that were in Authority because they were Gentiles and tells them that there is but one Mediator between God and Man and that he gave himself a Ransom for all that is for all the Elect whether Jews or Gentiles and saith I am a Preacher to the Gentiles and God hath made me an Instrument in his Hands for the Conversion of many Gentiles therefore why might not the Lord save and bring to the knowledge of the Truth these Kings and great Men as well as others if he pleases and tho' great Men have great Spirits high proud Spirits many times and say Who is the Lord yet the King's Heart is in the Hand of the Lord as well as another Man's and he turneth it as the Rivers of Water which way soever he pleases Prov. 21.1 therefore v. 8. I will that Men lift up holy Hands without Wrath for these Kings and those that are in Authority tho' they be wicked Persecutors for the present and without doubting of God's Power to Convert them if he pleases This Paraphrase upon the words may give light into the true meaning of the place 2. That which may put all out of doubt concerning the meaning of this place Let it be considered what it is for Christ to give himself a Ransom for Men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ's Ransoming Souls was not like others Ransoming He gave his Life a Ransom Matth. 20.28 there never was such a Ransom as he gave he that was God-man gave his Life a Ransom for many 't is said in that place of Matthew for all in this place to Timothy both signify the same the many that Christ gave himself a Ransom for are all the Elect Jews or Gentiles This Ransom that Christ gave was an Infinite Ransom of infinite worth and value it makes sure and certain the discharge of all those for whom he gave himself a Ransom When Men do well consider of it they will not so disparage him that was God-man as to think that he gave himself a Ransom for Men and that yet they should be Prisoners in Hell for ever If Christ had only died as an Example as the Socinians say or for Mens good some way or other it had been another case but Christ dying in the room and stead of Men and giving himself a Ransom for them this Ransom will do all for them to secure their Salvation And as to Faith Repentance and Perseverance in Grace they all follow upon Christ's giving himself a Ransom for Christ would not give himself a Ransom at random at uncertainties but made sure to purchase such inherent Grace for all those that he gave himself to be a Ransom that they shall be effectually converted adore this Grace that Christ God-man should give himself a Ransom for them and love him and live to him So that I say the very consideration what it was for Christ God-man to give himself a Ransom is sufficient to restrain and limit the word all to all the Elect to all and only them that shall be saved 4. Then this Author brings 2 Cor. 5.14.15 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 1. For the Explanation of this Text. This Text speaks only of Believers the word all is restrained and limited by the word us those that have believed in Christ or shall hereafter believe in him to life everlasting for surely the love of Christ constraineth Believers only to love him and to live unto him the love of Christ hath no such effect but upon Believers 2. The Apostle shews that they which live by Christ they were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others All dead Men as being under the Curse of the Law as well as others and that Christ died for them not only that they might be delivered from the Curse of the Law not only that they might live in that sense but that those that are alive from the Law as to Condemnation should not live to themselves but to him that died for them as to Sanctification also That is that Christ intended and purchased for all those for whom he died not only that they should live as to Justification but as to Holiness and Sanctification too he procured both for them and both shall be infallibly bestowed upon them so that the Apostle's meaning is not only that the Love of Christ in dying for us is a strong Argument why they that he dyed for should live not to themselves but to him But also that Christ both intended and purchased this grace to be certainly confer'd upon them that they should be so Sanctified that they should not live to themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again according to Titus 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar People Zealous of good works So that this Text duely considered is a not able place against Vniversal Redemption For it holds forth that all that Christ dyed for he did not only intend and purchase that they should be certainly and infallibly delivered from Condemnation but that they should also be sure to be Sanctified that they might live to Christ in Holiness and Righteousness 5. This Author mentions the words of our Saviour John 6.51 The Bread that I will give is my Flesh Which I will give for the Life of the World For the Explanation of this Text. Consider that our Saviour Preached but in that little Country the Land of Judea and at first forbad his Disciples to go and Preach amongst the Gentiles And the Jews to whom our Saviour spake these words had a strong conceit as was hinted before that the Messiah was for that Nation only Therefore now the time drew near that many of the Gentiles were to be Converted our Saviour tells them that he will give his Life for the World not only for those which the Father had given him amongst the Jews but amongst the other Nations of the World Amongst whom many now were to be Converted for this was a great Mystery that Christ was to be Preached unto the Gentiles and be believed on in the World 1 Tim. 3.15 for though there were many Prophesies of the Conversion of the Gentiles yet they were little understood and
brought to Glory 3. Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall be not with him also freely give us all things 1. Observe the all here is not all Adams Posterity but all that God hath an Eternal purpose of Grace to which are in due time called according to his purpose viz. the Elect v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Those whom he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son v. 29. 2. The Apostle makes this to be a wonderful thing that God should not spare his Son but deliver him up to Death as Mediator and Surety for us 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 1 John 4.9 God manifests his love in giving other things but in this the love of God was most of all manifested that God sent his Son to dye for us that he spared not his Son but delivered him up to bear the Curse of the Law in our stead Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift 2 Cor. 9.15 Consider the person that he delivered up to dye for us he was his own Son his proper natural Son and t is said he spared him not he spared him not from nor in dying but made him to bear unutterable grief in Soul and Body as Surety and Mediator for those for whom he dyed 3. The Apostle doth positively conclude that all those that God hath such love to as not to spare his own Son but to deliver him up to Death for them that God would certainly and infallibly and freely give them all things that is all things necessary to their Eternal Happiness Those for whom God would give his Son to them he will freely give Faith Grace and Glory The new Heart is the gift of God and a great gift but nothing to Gods not sparing his own Son but giving him to dye for us Gods giving his Son to dye for any person was the highest expression of his love to that person that ever was or ever could be If God had such a love to give his Son to dye for a Man he will stick at nothing to bring about the Eternal Happiness of that person He spared not his Son that he might spare that person He punished his Innocent Son as Surety that he might not punish that person for his Sins He was at cost indeed to Redeem a person by the price of the Blood of his own Son But as to giving that person a new Heart He can more easily do it than we can speak a word There is such strength in the Apostles arguing as carries all before it throws down all Cavils and Objections whatsoever 4. We may draw another Invincible Argument from Rom. 8.34 Who shall Condemn Christ hath dyed yea rather is risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God who also maketh intercession for us 1. The Apostle here shews that those that Christ dyed for he rose again for them he sits at Gods Right Hand for them he makes Intercession for them that they may infallibly obtain all that he Merited and Purchased for them by his Death 2. The Apostle in the Name of all that Christ dyed for makes a challenge Who saith he shall Condemn Christ hath dyed Ay but the Law and Justice may Condemn no Christ hath dyed Christ hath delivered them for whom he dyed from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for them Gal. 3.13 he hath made satisfaction for their Sins by his Death But those that hold universal Redemption may say O Paul why do you Argue thus that if Christ dyed for us we cannot be Condemned to Hell Ay but Paul knew what he said he knew how to argue from Christ dying for us that we shall never be Condemned to Hell Those that hold that Christ dyed for all Adams Posterity of which the greatest number are or shall be Condemned to Hell for ever make nothing or next unto nothing of Christs dying for a person But Paul makes it such a great thing for Christ to dye for us that he is bold to say who shall Condemn Christ hath dyed 5. John 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him Our Saviour often speaks of them that were given him of the Father that is the Elect people there was a Covenant of Redemption between the Father and Christ wherein he undertook to bring them to Glory and that he might not fail of saving every one of them Christ as the Mediator had power given over all Flesh Yea over all Devils too that nothing should hinder but that he should infallibly give Eternal Life to as many as the Father had given him to Redeem and Save Christ as God had all power of himself Christ as Mediator had power given him over all persons and things in such a perfect manner that nothing should hinder the Salvation of those that were given him Christ as Mediator hath absolute power over the Hearts and Wills of Men to alter change and frame the Wills of all that the Father hath given him to bring every thought into Obedience to him that all the Elect shall be a willing people in the day of his power he puts forth his power irresistibly so far as infallibly to Convert them and puts forth his power after their Conversion irresistibly so far as to preserve them to the Heavenly Kingdom Christ is mighty as God and mighty as Mediator Hath absolute power over all Flesh over their very Hearts and Wills to open their Hearts to receive him to work their Wills to embrace him whensoever he pleases and will certainly do it for those that the Father hath given him to Redeem and Save 6. John 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they may be Sanctified through the truth Our Saviour being now near his Death he declares who he was to dye for not for all Adams Posterity but for those whom the Father had given him to be the Mystical Body whereof he is the Head and declares v. 9. I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them whom thou hast given me for they are thine As if Christ had said I am so far from dying for all Adams Posterity that I will not so much as pray as Mediator for any but those whom thou hast given me I dye to bring the many Elect Sons to Glory and for their sakes sanctifie I my self that is I Consecrate and Dedicate my self as their High-Priest to offer my self a Sacrifice for them that they may be sanctified through the Truth that is that they may be justified and sanctified through him that they might not any one of them miss of Eternal Salvation 7. Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me The Apostle Paul
so as to get Execution against them in Hell seeing they are God's Elect and Christ hath died for them Men know not what they do when they set their Wits on work to deny that God hath set his free and unchangeable Love upon some from Eternity whereby he will certainly and infallibly bring them to Grace here and Eternal Glory hereafter through our Lord Jesus Christ For observe Take away Election and you take away Redemption for Redemption is grounded upon Election Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me Thine they were by Election and therefore thou gavest them me to redeem and bring to Glory Take away God's Eternal Election of a certain number of Persons to Grace and Glory and you take away Effectual Calling and Conversion For if God of his mere Grace and good Pleasure had not so elected them there had never been any Person effectually called 'T is God alone that doth inwardly and effectually call any so as that they are savingly converted and if he had not freely predestinated and elected them he had never called and converted them Whom he hath predestinated them he hath also called Rom. 8.30 Take away God's Eternal Special and Unchangeable Love to a certain Number that he will set them before his Face for ever and if we were in Heaven we could not be sure to continue there What a Multitude of Angels sinned and were thrust down to Hell It was Election that setled the Angels that see God's Face for ever The Angels that stand are called the Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5.15 God decreed from Eternity to determine and fix their Wills unto himself for ever It is from this Eternal and Unchangeable Love of God in Election that the Angels and Saints in Heaven are upheld in Love and Praise unto God for ever It hath been an old Objection of Arminians and revived by this Author pag. 26. That many have despaired of Mercy and have laid violent hands upon themselves and many he saith in this City He mentions it that they fall into this Despair because they are told Christ died but for a few 1. I answer This Objection useth to be brought too against Election For my part I do not remember that ever I knew any in my whole Life that laid violent hands upon themselves because they heard that Christ did not die for all Adam's Posterity or that they were not elected The truth is those that make away themselves may sometimes get such things into their Thoughts as that they have committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost and that they are not elected and Christ did not die for them But the true cause of their laying violent hands upon themselves is some extraordinary worldly Sorrow which worketh Death in that sense or Excess of Melancholy whereby they are so distracted that they are not themselves 2. As to Despair of Mercy If God give up a Man to Satan and his own Heart how easily may any Man fall into it though he hold Universal Redemption and deny Election For our Saviour saith plainly Matth. 7.14 Few there be that find the strait Gate and narrow Way Yea I will maintain that the Doctrine of Eternal Redemption and of Christ's dying only for the Elect and that the Elect whom Christ died for shall certainly and infallibly be saved is an Antidote against Despair if the Lord please to put in with it And that the denying of Election and holding Universal Redemption is the way to bring those that have a deep Sense of their own Sinfulness and Unworthiness is the way to bring such to utter Despair of Mercy I make it out thus Take a Person that is throughly convinced of Sin that sees and is sensible that he hath a Depth of Sin in his Nature that sees himself vile and abominable by reason of the universal Corruption of his Nature as well as actual Sins more than the Hairs of his Head which cannot be numbred You come to this humbled convinced Person with your Arminian Doctrine and tell him that God did not decree any Person to Salvation from Eternity of mere Grace to give them infallibly both Grace and Glory but that Christ died for all Adam's Posterity Saith the convinced humbled Sinner Shall all be infallibly saved that Christ died for You must tell him according to the tenour of your Doctrine No there were many of them in Hell when he died and never shall be set at liberty from their Everlasting Chains of Darkness Yea you can tell them according to your Doctrine that notwithstanding Christ's Death there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved Truly this Doctrine is enough to drive Men into Despair Ay but you can tell them that whosoever believeth shall be saved Ay and so can others tell them as well as you though they hold Election and that Christ died only for the Elect For if God gives Faith that is a certain sign of Election and that Christ died for that Person Well Now let us see what those that hold Election and that Christ died only for the Elect can say in a Ministerial and Doctrinal Way to keep a convinced humbled Sinner from Despair of Mercy I say in a Ministerial Doctrinal Way for it is God alone that can do it inwardly and effectually Now therefore our Doctrine can say to such a convinced humbled Sinner that is ready to despair God hath from Eternity decreed of his mere Grace in Christ to give Grace and Glory to certain Persons and some of these Persons that God intended to make everlasting Monuments of his Free Grace are not only by Nature Children of Wrath as well as others but in time are Monsters in respect of Actual Sin as Manasseh the Thief upon the Cross and Paul for persecuting the Church of God but being elected to Life and Christ dying for them they are converted and saved And who knows but that you are of that number There is a May be that you are an Object of this Special Grace and 't is certain if that you being convinced of Sin do venture and trust in God's free Mercy in Christ you shall be saved All that the Father giveth unto Christ to redeem and save shall come to him and he that cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out And if the humbled Sinner says If I should put my Trust in Christ the Arminian tells me that I may be a Child of God to Day and a Child of the Devil to Morrow Therefore why should I that know what a vile Heart I have ever think of any Hope of Salvation but sink in utter Despair Our Doctrine assures them if the Lord be pleased once to unite them to Christ by a true and lively Faith the Lord will give them from time to time such Influences and Supplies of his Spirit as that they shall be kept in the state of Grace until they come to the state of Glory Therefore let all that are wise
But this lie at the bottom of Arminianism that there is Merit the Popish Merit of Condignity or hâ—w ever of congruity in our Holiness and good Works and upon Discourse with a Minister â— great Note in the Arminian way I found him to be as unsound in the Doctrine of Justification as any Popish writer I had ever met with 3. Arminians make Conversion an easy â—ork a small matter t is true t is easie to Godâ— work in any easier than for us to speak a woâ—â— but in it self it is a great work and impossâ—â—le for any to believe and Repent except Goâ— give them a new Heart and infuse this habit and principle of Grace into them Indeed they say that the Lord doth require easie Terms upon which Men may have Eternal Life but they don't know what they say for us that are universally blinded and corrupted by the fall of Adam for us to go out if our selves to Christ for us to mourn for Sin is it's an offence to God for us to desire and endeavour after Vniversal Holiness is ten thousand times harder work than for Adam to have coninued obedient to the Law for which he had a Cncreated Principle a Habit of Holiness infused â—nto him by Creation only it was mutable and left to the Managing of his own free Will 1. Bâ—t let it be observed that the way of Salvatiâ—n by Christ seems to be Foolishness to a Naturaâ— Man that we should look to be saved bâ— one that dyed himself Paul saith this is to them that Perish Foolishness it is a great work of God upon our understandings to enlighteâ— us and convince us that this way of Salvaon is the only way and that it is a glorious â—ay that the manifold Wisdom of God the exeeding Riches of his Grace and his Revenging Justice against Sin will shine to Eterny in this way of saving Sinners by a Crucied Christ 2. â—et it be observed that when a Sinner is covinced and humbled indeed and sees what Majesty he hath offended by his Sins it is no easie thing to set his hope in Christ whoâ— he never saw but that the Holy Ghost doth ecretly and inwardly reveal him to the Soul as the only and all-sufficient Mediator and unites the Heart to him to trust and rely upon him for Salvation 3. It is no easie thing for one that hath such a corrupt Nature and hath delighted in Sin to be willing that Christ should Reign over him to desire that Christ would put down all the Rule and Authority of Sin that he might be for Christ and not for another When Christ saith his Yoak is easy and when the Apostle saith his Commandments are not grievous the meaning is not that Christs Yoak is easy to the Flesh and corrupt Nature but easy and sweet when God gives a principle of grace a new Heart and Spirit so far as we are renewed and are led by the Spirit so far Christs Yoak is easie and his ways pleasant to our Souls The truth is many take up opinions and wrangle and dispute but 't is to be feared that few have experience of a Saving work of Conversion upon their Souls they do not seem to have a Spiritual Savour in their Discourses but of these things God will Judge CHAP. VIII Concerning the Saints Perseverance as being kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation THis Author hath something about this point page 19. He saith some may depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits I answer none ever doubted but Men may fall from the Doctrine of Faith from the profession of Faith and from an Historical Notional Faith from common Grace from common Enlightning But the Doctrine maintained by the Assembly of Divines and as I have shewed by the Lambeth Articles and by the Articles of Ireland is that none that are truly regenerated that have saving justifying Faith shall be so left to themselves as to fall totally and finally but shall be preserved unto the Heavenly Kingdom Believers may be left to themselves at times as David Hezekiah Peter and others that they may fall foully to the Dishonour of God and to the wounding of their own Souls but God will graciously recover them again Grace is in a swoun in them but not dead The Doctrine of the Saints perseverance is grounded 1. Vpon the free and Eternal Vnchangeable love of God to the Elect. 2. Vpon the perfect and eternal Redemption Christ hath wrought for them and his praying as Mediator that they may be kept and that their Faith fail not 3. The Inhabitation of the Spirit who abideth in them for ever 4. The promises of God to them that they shall not depart from him the Nature of the Covenant of Grace which they are brought under is that God will guide them by his Counsels and afterwards bring them to his glory But I shall not enlarge upon these things but let us attend upon what this Author saith upon this point Truly though the Assembly of Divines had positively declared for the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance yet according to the faculty of the Man to catch at something he saith nor need any Man say more concerning falling away than they do for as they deny not but there are Temporary Believers and truly such are all that fall away so they plainly tell us that the purest Churches in Heaven are subject to mixture and Error and some have so degenerated as to become no Churches of Christ but Synagogues of Satan Now saith he surely the purest Churches under Heaven are true Believers and if these may become Synagogues of Satan it is too much to prove the point Truly either this Author is more Ignorant than I took him to be before I saw his Book or else which is far worse hath not an honest Mind but is resolved to wrest Mens words contrary to what he knows they intended as we shall see 1. He saith the Assembly deny not but there are Temporary Believers I answer what Ignorance or worse is this When Divines speak of Temporaries or Temporary Believers they call them so to Distinguish them from true Believers those that have a true lively justifying Faith I suppose the phrase was taken up from the Parable of the four sorts of grounds Luke 18.13 Our Saviour there compares some Hearers of the Word to the High-way-side that the Word doth not affect them at all a second sort to the Stony Ground that hear the Word with Joy but they have no Root of grace in them Ay and if such do abide to their Lives end with no other but such a kind of Faith as they have they could not be saved but they often especially if Persecution come lose that Historical Notional Faith and common enlightning they had the Hearts of these were never made good ground they were never ploughed up and sown with the Seed of special Grace to bring forth Fruit unto God The Scope of our
Christ for all that If Christ have a few names in a Church that degenerates those shall be safe whatsoever becomes of the rest as to their Church Estate and Eternal-state Revel 3.4 Thou hast a few Names even in Sardis which have not defiled their Garments and they shall walk with me in white i. e. they shall walk with Christ in the white of Grace here to their lives end and in the white of Glory for ever Tho' the Lord do remove the Candlestick the Church-Estate and will not own a People any longer to be a True Church yet if there be any sound Christians amongst them they shall never be cast off Therefore how vainly doth this Author say from this passage of the Assemblies Confession of Faith here is too much to prove the Point when there is not the least shadow of any thing they say to prove that any True Believer may fall totally and finally Tho' those that were Professors of the Gospel and were in Churches may so degenerate as to lose their Church-estate yet if there were any in those Churches that were True Believers the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them A Degenerate Church may Excommunicate the Sound Members may prosecute them to Death but can never separate them from the Love of Christ The truth is when a Church doth so wofully degenerate as to be accounted no longer a Church of Christ but the Synagogue of Satan the Lord is pleased many times to stir up those that are Sound Christians amongst them that they are more Lively and Spiritual than ever they were and love not their Lives unto the Death in bearing witness to the Truth Now let us hear this Author declare what his Opinion is about the Saints Perseverance Saith he Pag. 20. For my part tho' I doubt not but there is a State attainable in this Life from which by the Grace of God Christians shall not fall yet I hold it a vanity for any Man to affirm of himself or of any other person in particular that it is impossible for him to fall I hold it far better for the best as well as others to take heed lest they fall I answer This passage is very dark and ambiguous wherein this Author rather hides than declares his Judgment about the Point in hand The word Christian may be taken largely for those that are Christians by Profession only no doubt but they may fall from their Profession or the word Christian may be taken strictly for those who are Christians inwardly in the Heart and in the Spirit as well as outwardly by Profession Now this we maintain from the Scripture as hath been declared before that all such have attained such an Estate by their Vnion with Christ by their Justification Adoption and Regeneration that they shall never fall totally or finally This Author must intend some new Notion if he understand himself which must be that though every one that is Really and Spiritually in Christ is not in such an Estate as that he shall certainly persevere in Grace yet he who hath attained an extraordinary degree of Grace or to an absolute Perfection such as the Quakers talk of may by the Grace of God keep his standing This is a wondrous dark Passage and I shall leave the Author in his Clouds but we maintain 1. That none attain to an absolute perfection in this life Rom. 7. Gal. 5.17 Eccles 7.20 2. That the strongest Saints in the World cannot keep themselves one day but are upheld by the secret Influences and Supplies of the Spirit Phil. 1.13 1 John 5.5 2 Cor. 3.5 3. That the Lord who keeps strong Believers keepeth also the weakest True Believer most certainly and infallibly Phil 1.6 where he hath begun the good work of Special Saving Grace he will perform it to the day of Jesus Christ that the weakest of Christ's Sheep and Lambs shall have Eternal Life and shall never perish John 10.27 28. that Christ will not break nor suffer to be broken the bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax Matth. 12.20 that is where there is but a little Special Grace that can but smoke though it cannot flame Christ will keep it that it shall never be quenched but shall at last flame out in Love and Praise and singing in Heaven to all Eternity God keeps True Believers in a state of Grace till they come to Glory not because they are strong but because they are his Elect because they are redeemed by the Blood of his Son and at their effectual Calling adopted to be his Children and saith the Apostle If Children then Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 The least Babe in Christ is God's Child as well as the Eldest and strongest Believer and shall infallibly be an Heir of God and joint Heir with Christ For as many as believed to them he gave power to become the Sons of God John 1.12 The same Day and Hour that a Soul truly receiveth Christ the Lord doth actually adopt that Soul though it be a secret thing to the Soul yet it is as if God should say I did predestinate thee to the Adoption of my Child by Christ and now I do adopt thee to be my Child to be an Heir of Eternal Life and such shall certainly be preserved to the Heavenly Kingdom 1 Pet. 1.4 5. The Inheritance is reserved in Heaven for all that are begotten again to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and they are kept whilst they are in this World by the Power of God through Faith till they come to the Heavenly Inheritance 2. This Author saith I hold it a Vanity for any Man to say of himself it is impossible for him to fall I answer 1. It is a Vanity indeed for any Man to say of himself it is impossible for him to fall taking it for falling into Sin at all for there is no Man that liveth and sinneth not yea it would be Vanity Pride and Presumption for the best Saint on Earth to say it is impossible for him to fall into gross Sins seeing David and Peter fell so foully though they were graciously recovered again 2. It would be great Vanity for the best Saint on Earth to say in any the least Confidence in his own Strength that it is impossible for him to fall away totally and finally for indeed if they were left to themselves it is impossible that they should stand in a state of Grace one day if everlasting Arms were not underneath them if they were not kept by the Power of God If Christ did not hold them fast it were impossible that any of the Saints should stand 3. I say That it is no Vanity but a Triumph of Faith and Thankfulness to the God of all Grace for a True Christian when God sheds abroad his Love in his Heart by the Holy Spirit to say Who shall separate me from the Love of Christ Was it Vanity in David to say Surely
well that it is one part of the Corruption of our Nature by the fall to quarrel with the Great and Holy God concerning his Dispensations Gen. 3.12 Adam discovered this Temper when once his Nature was Corrupted The Woman which thou gavest me she gave me of the Tree this was nothing but quarrelling with God and Eve she said the Serpent beguiled me as if she had said why didst thou permit the Devil to tempt me Ah let there be an Holy Trembling and if the Lord do not for one as for another should Men quarrel with the Lord Luke 4.23 to 30. When our Saviour told the People that none could come to him except it were given unto him of the Father John 6.65 from that time many of his Disciples went back and walkt no more with him V. 66. In stead of being humbled at their own Impotency and Inability to come to Christ and looking to God to give them Faith by special Grace they quarrel with this Doctrine of the Effectual Grace of God and fall off We may conceive it to be the temper of the Damned in Hell to quarrel with the Holy Soveraignty of God as why did God suffer the Devil to tempt our first Parents which was the first inlet to all our Misery seeing he could have hindered it Why did God make our first Parents mutable in their Estate of Holiness and Happiness when as he fixt the Elect Angels in their Holiness and Happiness Why did God suffer the Devil and false Teachers to draw us to Errours of Judgment and Sins of Life which encrease our Condemnation when he knew how prone we were to Sin Why did God choose the other Company in Heaven and leave us to our selves Why had he not the same Love for us Why did he not give his Son to be an absolute and compleat Redemption for us and send his Spirit to turn us Effectually and Infallibly as he could have done and hath done for some as bad or worse than we by practice till the Lord turned them I say we may conceive that the Damned in Hell do thus quarrel with the Soveraignty of God in his Dispensations which should make us on Earth to have a care of all things that tend to a quarrelling with God's Dispensations for it is the Spirit and Frame of the Devils and Damned in Hell Therefore the way we are to take for our Salvation is to lay to Heart the Soveraignty and Greatness and Holiness of him with whom we have to do to be sensible of the Heinousness of Sin and to acknowledge that God is Righteous though he should take Vengeance on us to hearken to the Report of the Gospel that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners and that he that believes on him shall be sa ved and to pray and wait upon God to work upon our Hearts by an Invincible overcoming Power of his Spirit to believe that Jesus is the Son of God to rely on and trust in his Mediation and Righteousness and to give up our selves to be governed and sanctified by him 7. Consider that the Vniversal Common sufficient Grace to all Mankind which Men cry up though the Preachers of it may do it in the Simplicity of their Hearts and think they advanced the Glory of God by it yet it is Satans design thereby to rob God of the Glory of the Salvation of those that shall inherit everlasting Life and to make them their own Saviors for if notwithstanding what the Father did for any in Election the Son in Redemption the Holy Spirit in working upon their Hearts they might have perisht for ever then the chief praise must be to themselves to their ingenuity towardliness and care for themselves 8. Consider that if there were no other Election Redemption and Power of the Spirit for Conversion than Arminians speak of there had never any of the Children of Men been saved or would be 9. Consider that though the Lord do Condescend to speak after the manner of Men as for Instance Psal 81.13 Deut. 32.29 Yet all such Expressions must be understood so as to comport with the Immutability and Omnipotency of God 10. Consider that the true State of the Question between us and the Arminians is whether Christ dyed for any For whilst the Arminians make a great Noise of Christs dying for every Man and Woman of the Race of Adam they do indeed deny that he dyed for any in a Scripture Sense that is absolutely to make satisfaction for all their Sins absolutely to purchase Converting and Keeping Grace for them to be infallibly bestowed on them in the Lord 's appointed time and so indeed they make but a mock of that glorious Redemption by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they make it an insignificant thing they make little or rather nothing of it Sir I perceive you take it ill that I do not seek Acquaintance and Familiarity with you truly it is my Natural Temper to love Retirement and not to have much Acquaintance but as to your self I confess I do not desire intimacy with you because I told you the first time I ever spake with you about fifteen years since that one of your own Judgment about Baptism had charged you in Print that you set the Houses of God on fire where ever you came and that you pretended to be an Arch-bishop and to have Jurisdiction over other Churches or words to that purpose and since you came to live at Norwich you have been so quarrelsom with those of your own perswasion about Baptism and likewise with my worthy Friend Dr. Collings that I would observe the Counsel of the Scripture Prov. 22.24 make no Friendship with an angry Man and with a furious Man thou shalt not go If any of my Friends have spoken so rudely and harshly of you as you write I am sorry for it it doth not become Christians Tit. 3.23 and if you or any other that differ from me are Instruments of Real good to any I do therein rejoyce if you draw any to Error and make the weak to stumble I pray God to Convert them from the Error of their way I love all Men I hope the best of them that differ in Judgment I hope many hold some Errors but notionally and that in their dealing with God about their Eternal Conditions they make use of better Principles than they profess You find fault with Preachers having Curled Periwigs truly I am not for Preachers having frizled Periwigs or Plush Capes upon their Coats I like them not some are for a greater Latitude in these things than I am but I Love and Honour Godly Men though they can do some things that I durst not do my self Sir I pray do not trouble me with more Letters I have something else to do than to spend my time in vain janglings The God of Love and Peace be with you Your Affectionate Friend M. F. After this I Received an Answer to mine wherein he
another Sir Recollect your self I cannot remember that ever I saw your face more than three times in my Life before I saw you lately in Norwich The first time I saw you was upon the Road on Horseback I met a Friend upon the High-way that you were travelling with I saluted him and he told me your name and so after a few words you went your way and I mine The second time was about fifteen years since going to see a Neighbour that lay Bed-rid he was one of your way but I think a Godly Man and I visited him several times in Love you was there and we had two Hours Discourse and all about Controversies The third time was about eight Years since you came into a Friends House where I was upon a Journey and stayed about an hour This was all our acquaintance and as for our being Neighbours it is true that in some sence all are our Neighbors but I suppose you and I liv'd twenty Miles Distant though I am not certain where you lived for as you never were at mine House in Lincolnshire so I never was at yours What a poor business is it that the World should be troubled about our Acquaintance and Neighbourhood Sir though you and I differ in several points of Religion yet I love all Men and though I do not desire intimacy with any Man that is of a Contentious Spirit I love Peace and Quietness yet if you please to let me know when you are in any want you shall find that not only my self will relieve you but that I shall get others of my Friends to Minister unto you otherwise I do not desire Acquaintance with you whilst you are so violent and abusive Then you say that some of my Jacobs have called you Rogue and wisht that you were put out of the Town I am sorry that you should use such passionate Speeches as to call any persons my Jacobs and as to calling you Rogue I hope none of the Congregation that I belong to ever used such unseemly words of you for my part I have always spoke of you in Company with good Respect till you put forth the Book I love to speak the best I can of every Man Q. 4. You tell me that in pag. 19. God chose us so many and no more I pray who are those us whom you call us surely you speak of the Living I answer Let the Reader hear with Patience what is said Pag. 19. the words are these This is especially applied to the Father in Scripture to choose us before the Foundation of the World to foreknow us to predestinate us to be conformable to the Image of his Son therefore in that Scripture 1 Pet. 1.2 where you have the proper and distinct Work of Father Son and Holy Ghost about the Vessels of Mercy the Apostle saith We are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ observe here our Election is ascribed to God the Father he chose us so many and no more this Man and not the other Jacob and not Esau then you have the proper work of the Son in those words the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ it is he who washeth us from our Sins in his own Blood he purchaseth all good things the second Person in the Trinity He is the Lord our Righteousness he is the Propitiation for our Sins he is our Mediator it is not the Father that is Mediator nor the Holy Ghost but the Son it is he that took upon him our Nature it was the Word that was made Flesh not the Father nor the Holy Ghost it was the Son that died upon the Cross for our Sins not the Father nor the Holy Ghost then you have the special Work of the Holy Ghost about our Sanctification in these words through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience It is the Holy Ghost who in our Conversion doth Sanctifie us and bring us to the Obedience of Faith he applieth Redemption as the Son hath wrought Redemption when the appointed time when the fulness of time is come to call home an Elect Vessel he convinceth the Soul of Sin he revealeth Christ to the Soul he infuseth the Habit of Grace and after Conversion is with us to mortifie our Corruptions comfort us and lead us and to carry us to the Heavenly Kingdom Now What Cause had this Author to say Who are these Vs Surely you speak of the Living I answer I speak as the Scripture speaks in those Texts that I have mentioned of all the Elect of all the Redeemed of all that are or shall be sanctified and how strange and captious is it for this Author to go on and say You have good Thoughts of your self for you must be one of the Vs And shew me how many and no more or at least name One to make good the Word Vs and prove by the Word of God that You Two were undoubtedly chosen to Salvation Surely this Author was not in frame when he wrote thus this is just like a Woman scolding and quarrelling in the Streets I am heartily sorry for him Qu. 5. and 6. Are both about the same thing about Jacob and Esau Now concerning Jacob and Esau note 1. That Esau was not saved appears by Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or profane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right This Observation may give much Light into this Matter that when any that were real Saints under the Old Testament are spoken of in the New Testament all their sinful Failings are covered and their Grace only mentioned So it is with Abraham Sarah Job Sampson Lot though they had many sinful Failings yet I say they are covered in the New Testament and their Faith Patience and Holiness only mentioned Or if there be an hint of their sinful Failings as of Rahab and Elijah there is mention also of their Faith and Prayer and the Grace of God bestowed upon them But when Esau comes to be mentioned in the New Testament the Holy Ghost leaves him upon Record that he was a profane Person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that despised set light by and contemned holy things So that let it be observed that Esau after he had been so long dead is in the New Testament where the sinful Failings of the Saints of the Old Testament are covered is left under this black Character that he was a profane Person 2. As to what is said Rom. 9.13 As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated let it be observed that the Apostle in that Chapter from the Beginning to the End is not treating about outward things but about spiritual things and to shew them that amongst them that enjoy Church State and Church-Privileges and Ordinances some are from Eternity elected to Salvation of God's mere Grace and others are passed by And the Apostle
perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction for all the Sins of the whole World both Original and Actual They having before asserted the Doctrine of God's Eternal Election of some this Article may fairly be interpreted that Christ is a perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction for all the Sins of the whole World of the Elect or of all the Elect in all Ages and of all Nations throughout the whole World and for them only and their words being well considered will constrain such an Interpretation To be sure they did not hold that all Mankind should be saved and therefore saying that Christ is a perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction for all the Sins of the whole World they cannot be understood to mean any more than this that there is no other name under Heaven by which Men can be saved but the name of Jesus Christ there is not Salvation in any other It is he alone that is a Perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction for Sin so that whoever are saved in any Age or Place throughout the whole World are saved by him only 2. The first Articles of the Church of England being not so explicit and plain about Predestination and Arminianism being broached there was a meeting at Lambeth-house on the 20th Day of November 1595. now almost an hundred Years since There was John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of London Richard Elect Bishop of Bangor Dr. Tindal Dean of Ely Dr. Whitaker Professor of Divinity in Cambridge and sundry other Reverend and Learned Divines there present with the concurrent Approbation of of the Right Reverend and Learned Prelate Matthew Archbishop of York for the determining certain Arminian Points of Controversie they composed agreed upon and published these Nine Assertions following 1. Deus ab aeterno praedestinavit quosdam ad vitam quosdam reprobavit ad mortem 1. God from Eternity hath predestinated certain Men to Life he hath reprobated some unto Death 2. Causa movens aut efficiens Praedestinationis ad vitam non est praevisio fidei aut bonorum operum aut ullius rei quae insit in personis praedestinatis sed sola voluntas beneplaciti Dei 2. The moving or efficient cause of predestination unto Life is not the foresight of Faith or of good Works or of any thing that is in the persons predestinated but only the good Will and Pleasure of God 3. Praedestinatorum praefinitus certus est numerus qui nec augeri nec minui possit 3. There is a predetermined and certain number of the predestinated which can neither be augmented nor diminished 4. Qui non sunt praedestinati ad salutem necessario propter peccata sua damnabuntur 4. Those that are not predestinated to Salvation shall be necessarily damned for their Sins 5. Vera viva ac justificans fides Spiritus Dei justificantis non extinguitur non excidit non evanescet in electis aut finaliter aut totaliter 5. A true living and justifying Faith is not extinguished it fails not it vanisheth not away in the Elect either finally or totally 6. Homo vere fidelis id est fide justificante praeditus certus est plerophoria fidei de remissione peccatorum suorum salute sempiterna sua per Christum 6. A true believer that is such a one as is endued with a justifying Faith is certain with the full assurance of Faith of the pardon of his Sins and of his Everlasting Salvation by Christ I suppose they did not mean that a true Believer may not have doubts and fears whether he be in Christ or no but that he may have a full assurance of his Justification without such extraordinary Revelation as the Papists speak of This Article is directed especially against the Papists whose Doctrine is that no Believer can attain a full assurance of his Salvation in this Life except he have an extraordinary Revelation from God 7. Gratia Salutaris non tribuitur non communicatur non conceditur universis hominibus qua Servari possint si velint 7 Saving Grace is not given is not communicated is not granted to all Men by which they may be saved if they will 8. Nemo potest venire ad Christum nisi datum ei fuerit nisi pater eum traxerit Et omnes homines non trahuntur a Patre ut veniant ad filium 8. No Man can come unto Christ unless it shall be given unto him and unless the Father shall draw him and all Men are not drawn of the Father that they may come unto the Son 9. Non est positum in arbitrio aut potestate unius cujusque hominis servari 9. It is not in the Will and Power of every one to be saved 3. I come to the Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland in the Convocation holden at Dublin 16.5 Article 11. God from all Eternity did by his unchangeable Counsel ordain whatsoever in time should come to pass yet so as no Violence is offered to the Wills of the Reasonable Creatures and neither the Liberty nor the Contingency of second causes is taken away but rather Established Article 12. By the same Eternal Counsel God hath predestinated some unto life and reprobated some unto Death of both which there is a certain number known only to God which can neither be encreased nor diminished Article 13. Predestination unto Life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the Foundations of the World were laid he hath constantly Decreed in his Secret Counsel to deliver from Curse and Condemnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of Mankind and to bring them by Christ unto everlasting Salvation as Vessels made to Honour Article 14. The cause moving God to Predestinate unto Life is not the foreseeing of Faith or Perseverance or of good works or of any thing which is in the person Predestinated but only the good pleasure of God himself For all things being ordained for the manifestation of his glory and his glory being to appear both in the works of his mercy and of his justice It seemed good to his Heavenly Wisdom to choose out a certain number towards whom he would extend his undeserved Mercy leaving the rest to be spectacles of his Justice Article 15. such as are predestinated unto Life be called according to Gods purpose his Spirit working in due Season and through Grace they obey the calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by Adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ they walk Religiously in good Works and at length by Gods Mercy they attain to everlasting felicity but such as are not predestinated to Salvation shall finally be condemned for their Sins Article 25. The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to Faith and calling upon God wherefore we
have no power to do good works pleasing and acceptable unto God without the Grace of God preventing us that we may have a good Will and working with us when we have that good Will Article 32. None can come to Christ unless it be given to him and unless the Father draw him and all Men are not so drawn by the Father that they may come unto the Son neither is there such a sufficient measure of Grace vouchsafed unto every Man whereby he is enabled to come unto everlasting Life Article 33. All Gods Elect are in their time inseparably united unto Christ by the effectual and vital influence of the Holy Ghost derived from him as from the Head unto every true Member of his Mystical Body and being thus made one with Christ they are truly regenerated and made partakers of him and all his benefits Article 38. A True Lively Justifying Faith and the Sanctifying Spirit of God is not extinguished nor vanisheth away in the Regenerate either finally or totally I have cited these Articles to shew this Author and others of his mind that there is no cause for any to fly out against the Assembly of Divines or any Presbyterians for what they hold about Election and Reprobation and such points as if it had been some new Doctrine that they had broached but every one may now see that next to the Scriptures they learnt this Doctrine of the Episcopal Divines that were before them 2. Let us consider the Doctrine it self 1. Concerning the Doctrine of Election let us see what this Author saith page 27. 1. That God did choose in Christ unto Salvation all that part of the fallen race of Mankind that dye in their Innocency or accept of his Mercy and Grace according to the means he gives them and this Decree proceeds from his own goodness and is not built upon any goodness in the Creature 1. He saith that God did choose in Christ to Salvation all that part of the fallen Race of Adam that dye in their Innocency 1. I Answer 1. This Author quotes not one Scripture for this strange Assertion 2. I wonder who they are of the fallen Race of Mankind that can dye in their Innocency I suppose he means young Infants those that dye in their Infancy But though those be called Innocent comparatively yet besides the guilt of Adams Sin which is upon every one of his Posterity by Nature as a consequent of it all have lost the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and have contracted by Adams fall such an Universal Depravedness that they have the Root the Spawn and Seed of all Sin in them Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me This Corruption of Nature is inherent in every one that comes by Adam in a way of ordinary Generation So that not one is born without it It comes by propagation from Adam and if a Child dye the first day it is born into the World it doth not dye in Innocency but if it be saved it is washed and made white in the Blood of the Lamb and hath the habit and principle of Grace infused into it though without outward means God that formeth the Spirit the Rational Soul that the Infant hath can form Grace in the Soul of the Child as he pleases can Sanctifie it in the Womb or as soon as it is born if he be graciously pleased so to do But how doth the Infant dye in Innocency Alas there is an Universal depravedness in the Soul of an Infant which if it live to be capable to express it will discover it self A young Cub of a Fox or Wolf doth not presently discover its ravenous Nature but it is inherent in it bred with it and Men kill those young Cubs though they never yet did any mischief because it is their Nature to be Ravenous and Mischievous An Infant hath the same reasonable Soul that it hath if it live to be a Man though it doth not express it self as it doth when it lives to Age. So an Infant hath the Seed of all Sin a corrupt Nature though it doth not Act as it doth when Age comes on and I say that God may for the Guilt of Adams Sin and because there is such Enmity Rebellion and Wickedness in Mans Nature against him he may if he please glorifie his Justice upon them though they dye in their Infancy they are far from dying in Innocency I do not think God would have destroyed the old World and called them the World of the Ungodly amongst whom no doubt there were many Infants and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and made them suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire amongst whom no doubt there were many Infants if every Infant were Innocent I will not meddle to determine the Eternal Estate of those that dye in Infancy to be sure you go too far to assert what you do you are not the Soveraign Lord and Judge of all 3. You say that God did choose those that accept of his Grace and Mercy according to the means he gives them 1. I hope you mean his Grace and Mercy in Christ that they know him and believe in him for else there is no Salvation If the Gospel be hid if Christ as Mediator be not some ways made known to Men they are lost for ever 2 Cor. 4.3 He that believeth on the Son hath Life and he that believeth not on the Son hath not Life But you seem to hold that 't is not of necessity to Salvation to know Christ and him Crucified as Mediator but to have some general Notions of Universal Grace and Mercy in the Divine Essence which Men do own and accept of and truly you say that few knew the Mediator by the Name of Jesus Christ till he was born of the Virgin page 21. That is nothing to the purpose all that were saved knew the Mediator as the Seed of the Woman that was to break the Serpents Head Gen. 3.15 As he that was to offer himself a Sacrifice for Sin and therefore God taught them to offer Sacrifices presently after the fall by which they looked to Christ that was to come Jacob called him Shiloah the Saviour the Peace-maker that was to come Job called him his Redeemer All that ever were saved before Christ came were saved not by meer believing that God was Mercifull and Gracious But that he would send his Son to dye to be a Sacrifice for Sin And they embraced the promise of Christ the only Mediator and Sacrifice for Sin that was to come And all that are saved since our Saviours coming do in some measure know and believe in Jesus Christ that dyed without the Gate of Jerusalem You will leave us a strange Creed if you leave out the promised Messiah and that it is not necessary to believe in him to everlasting Lise Ay but you say the Turks themselves begin almost every Chapter in their Alcoran with these words In