John 5.8 And there are three that bear witnesse in earth the Spirit and the water and blood and these three agree in one 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ 19. Whosoever are under the Covenant of grace are not under the Law but under grace not under the jurisdiction of the devill but under the rule and command of Christ not under the dominion of sin and transgression but under the Regiment of the Spirit of life and adoption Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God 20. The faithfull after the time they are assured that God is their God through the Covenant of free grace and mercie are wholly removed from the barre of justice to heare what tydings of peace mercy and salvation shall come from the throne of grace and mercie Hebr. 12.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. 21. The Covenant of grace is smitten with the faithfull in Christ the onely and absolute Mediatour before they come to the true and effectual assurance thereof in their hearts and consciences 22. The joy of the holy Ghost doth then fill the hearts of the faithfull when in the receiving the seals of the Covenant they through the act of faith do firmly and strongly behold the marvellous and exceeding freenesse of that to them undeserving 1. Tim. 1.14 15. the 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 23. If any man would have assured confidence that he shall live immortally and that grace communicated to him shall never be removed or extinguished let him turn his eye upon the freenesse and newnesse of the new Covenant established and confirmed to him in the hand of a Mediatour Hebr. 8.6 24. The Morall Law is no part of the new Covenant in equalitie and substance it is the same which was made with Adam in his innocency and integritie Gal. 3.12 And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them 25. As the Father of admirable love and kindnesse makes his covenant with his in Christ so doth every Christian make his covenant with God in Christ sith that in himself there is nothing but indigencie want and deficiencie and that through Christ the fountaine and well-spring of fulnesse and excellencie he may receive sufficient to performe what he hath promised to God-ward for his own particular Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 26. Our covenant is an holy resignation of soule and body to serve obey feare and love God our deare and loving Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent in answer to that free Covenant which he hath made to us in Christ when he chose us to be a peculiar people zealous of good works Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Tit. 2.14 Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquitie and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Contemplation THe eye that seeth the eare that heareth the mind that conceiveth the immense and incomprence love of God to his may admire that God through grace should make a new covenant of grace to his people undeserving grace he saw them in their blood defiled stained spotted and impure yet he chose and did not refuse them in that wofull state and condition Though they were unfaithfull to God in the first covenant he is faithfull to them in the second through the breach of the first they lost all through the help of Christ in the second they recover all in that they stood not in the first they shut the gates of heaven upon themselves through or by vertue of the second heaven is open for them to have free entrance though the Law of works speak bitter heavy and terrible things to the conscience yet the second speaks not of bitternesse dreadfulnesse or terriblenesse but of favour bountie and benignitie to the soule or spirit The first was in the hand of man the second in the hand of Christ Hence it is so fast strong and permanent that neither heights nor depths principalities nor powers neither dominions nor the prince of darknesse with all his rabble can anihilate disanull or bring to nothing O Christian whilest thou art comprehended behold that which is incomprehensible whilest thou art measured behold that which is immeasurable whilest thou ponderest of something ponder of that which is unutterable Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out CHAP. IIII. Concerning Vnion Definition 1. VNion is the work of the Spirit of Christ through faith whereby the Saints are united unto Christ and to the Father in Christ to the end they may enjoy communion in the promises and benefits of Christ in the state of grace and in the estate of glory everlasting beatitude and perfection 1. Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit 1. Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 2. The faithfull are not onely united to Christ by faith as the instrumentall cause by the Spirit the cause principalliter operans but also by the blood of Christ as the cause materiall Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 3. It hath not onely been the divine pleasure or benevolence of our heavenly Father that we should be united to his dearly beloved Son by nature but that we should be united to him by a secret and mysticall union Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 4. The Son of God took upon him the humane nature of mankind through which he is joyned to all men but that is infirme and weake and not able to bring us to eternall glory without the union mysticall I in them and they in me c. Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold
convenient they should be used these presented passing thy meditation expect not the strongnesse of the aged or the boughes of a Cedar from a twig but let thy wisdome and discretion Christian Reader passe by the weaknes of the writer More must not be expected then is communicated therefore it is not meet that acceptation should be further requested yet requesting that the benefit of these may be to thy conscience sealed that thou mayst live and not die that thou mayest die and live no more to the creature but to God blessed for ever To whom be ascribed all blessednesse through Christ Jesus for evermore Thine in the Lord Christ beloved of the Father and respected of the Saints Timothie Batt The Table of the severall Heads contained in this Book 1. Of Grace 2. Of Election 3. Of the Covenant of Grace 4. Of Vnion 5. Of Vocation 6. Of Adoption 7. Of Redemption 8. Of Christs Mediation 9. Of Reconciliation 10. Of Justification 11. Of Sanctification 12. Of Glorification CHAP. I. Concerning Grace Definition 1. THe Hebrew word Chen from Chanan doth signifie to pitie The Greeke ward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from charistomaj signifies to shew kindnesse to a man immeriting or undeserving Definition 2. Grace is the free benevolence or gracious favour of God the Father in Christ through which he loves his chosen and peculiar people remitting their transgressions imputing them just and righteous and bestowing on them the spirit of Adoption and eternall hope and benediction Jer. 31.33 34. I will be their God and they shall be my people I will forgive their sin and their iniquitie I will remember no more Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ 3. The prevenient grace of God is that through which God loves his in the beloved without any respect to any merits or deservings in his own peculiar 1. Joh. 4.19 We love him because he loved us first 4. The concomitant grace of God is that whereby he doth continually supply his own with sweet communion with himself in the day of grace and perfect fruition and communion with his Christ in the eternall weight of glorie 1. Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard that declare we unto you that ye may have communion with us and our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 5. The subsequent and prevenient grace of God are all one and the same onely they differ in respect of dispensation 6. Operating grace is that which changeth the mind will and affection Cooperating grace is that which makes the Saints move to Godward when the will is changed 1. Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Phil. 4.13 I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 7. The grace of Christ is that whereby he dispenseth abundantly to the Saints from the overflowing and abundance of grace enwrapt within himself and procureth for his eternall favour through which they are ever beloved of his Father Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse all we receive grace for grace Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God waiting for the mercie of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8. The supereminencie of divine grace and bountie is declared in the redemption union and salvation of the unworthie and immeriting Ephes 2.7 That he might shew in the ages to come the supereminent riches of his grace according to his bountie towards us in Christ 9. Grace is proposed unto all in the Gospel of life and reconciliation but made effectuall to none but the Saints beleeving Hebr. 4.2 The Word profited them not because it was not mixed with faith in them which heard it 10. The fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse mediately are produced by the Saints communion with Christ and immediately by grace the cause of everlasting hope and reconciliation 1. Joh. 1.6 If we say we have communion with him and walk in darknesse we make him a lyar and there is no truth in us Tit. 2.11 The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared vers 12. Teaching us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live chastly godly and righteously in this present world 11. The collocation of inestimable and unspeakable graces abounded in Christ sith he was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows and the Spirit was not given to him by measure Hebr. 1.9 Joh. 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure 12. There is an inseparable conjunction between the grace of God and the satisfaction of the Lord Christ sith the Lord Christ hath no otherwise merited life and salvation by his merit or satisfaction save by the favour or divine pleasure of his Father Luk. 22.42 Father if thou wilt take this cup from me neverthelesse not my will but thy will be done Joh 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeved on him might not perish but have eternall life 13. There is an inseparable bond betwixt the satisfaction of Christ and the pleasure of God the Father Hence whatsoever the Lord Christ hath procured it is his Fathers pleasure to bestow it Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world 14. The inestimable grace of God which is collocated in the Lord Jesus and from him effectually bestowed on the Saints redeemed cannot utterly be abolished or extinguished Rom. 8.39 Neither height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 15. The Lord Christ by the grace of supplyment doth supplie the travellers of his hope in the estate of love and mercy and by the grace of complement doth crown his peculiar with the fruition of glorious and full communion in the estate of glory 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us wisdom of God and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Which is his body the complement of him who filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 16. Answerable to the act of faith pitching upon God the Father in his beloved Christ so is the gracious injoyment of the sence of Gods free mercie and benevolence in Christ Ephes 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith 18. That being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and the length and the depth and the height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulnesse of God 17. Pacification of spirit and peace of conscience ariseth whilest the faithfull rest on Gods fatherly indulgencie being
forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travell with child for more are the children of the desolate then the children of the married wife saith the Lord. Rom. 10.6 7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead 8. But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach 4. They had the grace of God darkly and obscurely we plainly and apparently 2. Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. The communication or gifts of the Spirit under the Gospel of reconciliation are more excellent then those which have been communicated under the Law Act. 2.17 18. the 17. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes saith God I will poure out of my Spirit upon all lesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams The 18. And on my servants and on my hand-maids I will poure out in those dayes of my Spirit and they shall prophesie 6. The old Covenant was given by Moses this by Jesus Christ Joh. 1.17 For the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 7. The old Covenant binds us over to absolute righteousnes the new commands us to seek it in Christ the Lord our righteousnesse Joh. 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 8. The old Covenant was given to impell men to Christ the new to hold forth and exhibite Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 9. The proper object of the old was to consternate and humble the new to comfort them who are consternated and humbled Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls 10. They differ by accident and through our infirmitie for the Law without the Gospel is insufficient to salvation Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in as much as it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 11. The Lord Christ is the Mediatour of the new Covenant not onely because the Covenant is made with his for his sake but because through the vertue of his mediation this Covenant cannot be disanulled Hebr. 8.6.9 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministery by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises 9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. 12. The supereminent superabundant and superexcellent grace of God our dear and propitious Father is manifested to his poore servants in that he hath established the everlasting Covenant of free grace and mercie in the hand of Christ Mediatour 2. Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Hebr. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediatour 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 eternall inheritance 13. The Covenant of grace is an everlasting and perpetuall Covenant sith the foundation of that Covenant is the free grace of God and the ratification and confirmation of the same is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Hebr. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel 14. The supereminence of divine grace and favour hath not only appeared in this that he hath established this Covenant in the hand of a Mediatour but also in this that he hath smitten a Covenant with the immeriting and undeserving Hos 2. the last And I will sowe her unto me in the earth and I will have mercie upon her that had not obtained mercie and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God 15. The grace of God is the ground the blood of Christ the matter the end eternall life and beatitude made over to the faithfull in all ages that they might be certainly and fully assured that God will be their God and Father everlasting Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercie 16. The true and solid knowledge of this free Covenant of grace bountie causeth the beloved Saints and beleevers to hate all Pharisaicall performances or the righteousnesse of Justiciaries Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God through faith 17. The benefits of the free Covenant of pitie and clemencie are the remission of sinnes and condonation of transgression the donation of the Spirit everlasting and continuall communion with the Lord Christ in the kingdome of felicitie perseverance in the state of grace by the all-sufficient hand of God our clementious and heavenly Father Jer. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more 1. Joh. 3 24. And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1. Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation to be revealed in the last time 18. The intrinsicall seal of the Covenant of grace and salvation is the Spirit of glory and obsignation the extrinsicall is the Lords Supper Baptisme 1.
A TREATISE CONCERNING the free grace of God the Father and of the love of Jesus Christ In which is contained the Fountain of precious Consolation to all the Saints beloved and redeemed PSAL. 46 4. Yet there is a river whose streames make glad the city of God even the sanctuary of the tabernacles of the most High By TIMOTHIE BATT LONDON Printed by T. P. and M. S. for Ed. Blackmore at the Angel in Pauls Churchyard 1643. TO THE BELOVED Churches in God the FATHER and in IESUS CHRIST the blessed Redeemer living in Transilvania sanctified in Christ Jesus grace and mercie be multiplied from God our Father and from Jesus Christ whom he hath sent DEarly beloved seeing we are bound by the deare love of Christ not to conceal the mind of Christ and that we are not our own but every one bound by the bond of dear affection to tender the good one of another not onely in temporall and common affairs but also in spirituall and celestiall matters and not to retain as churlish Nabal but rather dispence as Booz unto Ruth I therefore upon the aforesaid considerations am determined according to the strength and power which Christ hath given unto me to bring to the view of the Saints this heavenly Doctrine of free grace of vocation by the Spirit of Adoption of Mediation by the Lord of life and glory of Reconciliation by his blood of sanctification by the Spirit of union through faith and love and of glorification through that sweet communion which we shall injoy in him who is the Lord of life and blessednesse for ever To whom shall I present these lines except to you who know the mysterie of life and salvation who are heires and coheires with God in Christ who have interest in all that is the Fathers and Jesus Christs whom he hath sent and walke in the light as Christ is the light of truth and Redemption I am perswaded of your intire loves and affections to the Word of life and salvation and that nothing is so dear unto you as to heare of the praise of your beloved In the true knowledge of what is Christs consists the true solace of heart joy in conscience and contentment of mind What joy what peace what consolation can be without this knowledge that God communicates to his grace undeserving that they are called from the kingdome of Satan to the kingdome of Christ that they who were slaves and captives of hell are made the brethren of Christ that they are united to the beloved Christ from whom they receive their being and well-being that they are sanctified by the Spirit of life which frees them from the law of sinne and death that they are clothed with the royall robes of Christ and that they shall for ever dwell with Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem This fountain is as Gileads balme and Damascus rivers As a continuall spring of the sweetest repast as a fountaine of over-flowing pleasures and the delightsome delectation of all the faithfull Hath eyes seen hath eares heard or mind conceived the admirable joyes that God hath laid up for them that love him or hath eye seen eare heard or mind conceived the singular consolation which comes from the knowledge of these to the Saints through the hand of a Mediator Was Jacob joyfull because Joseph was yet alive was Isaac comforted because of Rebeckah his wife and may not the Saints be consolated in this divine love and favour through the testimonie of the Spirit O the height of favour O the deepnesse of love O the breadth of grace and the longitude of free immense and in comprehense mercie of God to his poore servants that the clouds are discussed the mists and foggs of darknesse dispersed and the Saints behold the mirror of divine glory in the face of Jesus Christ I confesse beloved brethren that my talents in number answereth his who had but two and the composure of these lines are as the gleanings of the vintage yet doubt I not of your loving and sweet acceptation therefore I rest upon your loving acceptance yet will I never rest nor cease day and night imploring and beseeching the Father of supereminent grace and bountie to seal these spirituall and heavenly benedictions to your souls wishing your strength like Judah's your blessing like Josephs and your triumph like Gads through the good will of him who was in the bush and the sweet pleasure of him who died on the Crosse that so you may be preserved from miserie unto eternall felicitie through the Son of everlasting righteousnesse and glory to whom be ascribed all glory and honour for ever and evermore Amen Yours in all love and dear affection in the Rock Christ TIMOTHEUS BATT TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Christian Reader THou art not ignorant that the barren ground is not answerable to the fruitfull soyle notwithstanding through the dewie drops which cometh from the clouds it yeeldeth fruits for the use of man Though that the expressions of lines do not superabound with the sweetnesse of phrase or curiousnesse of stile yet according to the strength which from Christ I have received I have not been wanting for thy use or benefit Insensible creatures expresse according to that which to them is communicated and shall not man who is a sensible creature expresse according to communication The divine and abundant love of God binds not onely life but pen to move if it may make for his glory and the honour of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Both the great and little foxes run abroad to obscure the doctrine of grace and justification It is neither knowne to the Papists nor taught in the Churches of Arminians it is our Crown and dignitie not onely to hold forth the Word of life and salvation by preaching but also by writing Light is given to the Sun that the lower region might be enlightned In the plejades is placed the strengths of influence that of inferior things it might be received The end of Gods donation to rationals is that to others it might be revealed Every element moves to its proper place the earth and water downward and aire and fire upward every good Christian moves to his proper end to wit to the glory of his Maker and the good of his brethren If a man plants a vineyard it yeelds its fruits in time convenient If we have spent our labours in studies shall it not be declared in time expedient What is hotter then fire Love Love as a fire within my breast hath burned a long season Therefore I could not chuse but set my pen to paper in the course of indictment these have I not indicted because they are not known but because they are known or that the yongnes of dayes could equall the gravest sentences of the ancient or that my ambition is to answer the meanest of Rhetoricians but because my candle is lighted and two talents must not be interred sith that for the benefit of others it is
sufficient to salvation and my Vine to make me abundantly fruitfull through fruition am I not bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Should I not enjoy the benefit of his mediation the fruit of his glorification and the priviledge of glorious and sweet Communion who shall separate me from the love of my sweet Saviour shall Satan No shall imperfections and infirmities No shall the Law or the Gaoler of hell No they are of no force to disjoyne them whom God hath joyned by a bond inseparable Now I am assured he will fill me with love confirme with his promise love me with his beloved ones watch over my soule and deliver me from the roarings of the devill though the Charets and horsemen of hell pursue me I shall possesse his glory of inheritance Though I fall I shall rise againe though I was in the vaile of death I would not be afraid for his sweet streames would comfort mee Hence will I take up the resolution of the Psalmist Psal 46.2.3 Therefore will we not feare though the earth be moved and though the hills be carried into the middest of the Sea Though the waters thereof rage and swell and though the mountaines shake at the tempest thereof CHAP. V. Concerning Vocation Definition 1. VOcation is a gathering of men unto Christ by the Gospell of life and everlasting salvation that they may be united unto him by a happie and perpetuall union 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom we are called unto the Communion of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. 2. Vocation is efficatious or inefficatious 3. Efficatious vocation is that through which the faithfull are called from Satans Kingdome to the Kingdome of grace and glory by the sanctifying Word of truth and the effectuall work of the Spirit that they may not want in the appointed time that glorious salvation which Christ their Lord hath purchased Act. 26.18 That thou mayest open the eyes of the blind and convert them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive the remission of sinnes and an inheritance amongst them who are sanctified by faith which is in me 4. Inefficatious vocation is when the sonnes of men are under the sentence of the Gospel of atonement and reconciliation yet never find the effectuall operation of the holy Spirit unto an absolute Conversion Hence many are called and few are chosen 5. Vocation is Universall or Speciall 6. Vocation universall is that whereby God invites all men through the ministery of peace and propitiation that they would come to the knowledg of himselfe and Jesus Christ the appointed Redeemer of his elect and peculiar Col. 1.23 For which cause I Paul am made Minister to preach the Gospel to every creature under heaven 7. Speciall vocation is that whereby God doth dignifie his owne peculiar whilest he doth illuminate their minds working in their hearts effectually by his Spirit Rom. 5.5 Moreover hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by his holy Spirit 8. Universall Vocation hath been shadowed out by Types or divine Oracles 9. By Types Melchesidecke although he was a Gentile and without the promises of Abraham nevertheles he was the Priest of the most high GOD Heb. 7.1 10. By Oracles he shall be the expectation of the Gentiles Mat. 12.21 And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust 11. In vocation there is Christs oblation and the Christians reception considerable 12. Christs offer is that he will be a sufficient Redemption Reconciliation and Salvation to every one who beleeveth and resteth on him as his assured refuge and eternall Sanctury 1 Joh. 4.14 Whosoever shall drinke of the water which I shall give unto him shall not thirst againe but the water which I shall give unto him shall be in him a fountaine of springing water unto eternall life 13. Christs proffer is internall and externall 14. Christs externall proffer is when by the Ministers of the Word of truth and salvation he proposeth himselfe the onely and absolute salvation in heaven and earth Act. 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other neither is there any other name given under heaven by which we must be saved 15. Christs internall proffer is when Christ proposeth himselfe effectually to the hearts of the faithfull through which they have assured confidence that Christ hath redeemed and saved them from sinne Satan the Law hell and destruction and that the Lord Christ will communicate to them eternall life peace joy and everlasting reconciliation Col. 2.2 That their hearts might be comforted and they knit together in love and in all riches of the full assurance of understanding to know the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ 16. Reception is through which the faithfull doe not refuse the proffer of grace but receiveth it through the help of the Spirit of glory Act. 10.43 44. To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his Name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sinnes While Peter spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word 17 Sometimes there is a reception of the Word of mercy and propitiation which is not operative or effectuall to salvation Mat. 13.20 21. And he that receiveth seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with joy receiveth it Yet hath not roote in himselfe but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended 18. Reception is either taken actively or passively 19. Actively when the heart resteth on Christ the blessed Redeemer of his redeemed reconciled passively when there is a spirituall being of grace in the hearts of actuall Beleevers 1 Pet. 2.2 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby 20. Sometimes the Saints are called alone by the efficacy of the Spirit of obsignation Sometimes by the Word and efficacy of the Word of Life and Redemption The Word and the Spirit are not seperated in the vocation of the Saints Ephes 1.13 In whom also yee have trusted after that yee heard the Word of truth even the Gospel of your salvation wherein also after yee beleeved yee were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise 21. All the faithfull have been effectually called from eternall by vertue of Gods decree notwithstanding the Declaration thereof is as it may make for their good and the glory of God their heavenly and gracious Father Ephes 1.11 12. In him I say in whom yee have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the councell of his owne will That we may be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. 22. God calls not all his Elect and Adopted in the same moment to the knowledge of his sanctifying truth and the sence of free and benignous favour and experience Mat. 20.5 6. 23.