in due time inherit gloriously and are now by Faith Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ James 2. 5. And so many are Called but few are Chosen choice Ones The greatest part will be refused and disallowed of God because of their own stubborn refusal of and disobedience to Christ 4. Elect or Chosen doth signifie in Scripture Beloved or Loved with a delightful and peculiar manner of Love So it is said The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them Wives of all that they chose viz. delighted in or were well pleased with Gen. 6. 2. So these two words Chosen and Delighted in are used indifferently They have Chosen their own Ways and their Soul delighteth in their abominations Isa 66. 3 4. So whereas in the Prophet Isaiah it is thus said Mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth That Scripture is thus read and rendred by the Evangelist Matthew My beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased compare Isa 42. 1. with Mat. 12. 18. Thus again Is it such a Fast as I have Chosen Wilt thou call this an Acceptable day Chosen and Acceptable or Well-pleasing are the same And Chosen signifieth a Delight or Delightsome day unto the Lord Isa 58. 5 6 with vers 13. So chosen in the Lord and beloved or beloved in the Lord are used indifferently by the Apostle Rom. 16 8 12 13. So it is here also Many are called but few are chosen few beloved or delighted in no more than come to Christ for they are beloved in him the beloved one Rom. 16. 8. Eph. 1. 6. Indeed God loves all men while it is called to day with a love of pity and compassion with a love of mercifull kindness and hath abundantly manifested it in that he hath given his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World Joh. 3. 16. 4. 42. And as is evident in what he doth unto them thorow Christ Thus he loves them who hate him and hath therefore propounded himself as an example to be imitated by us to the end we might so see and follow him as to love and be mercifull to our Enemies and bless them that curse us c. Matth. 5. 44 45. Luke 6. 27 35 36. He so loves all men that he is not willing that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. 33. 11. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. 2 Pet. 3. 9. But yet though he love them thus and is pitifull and compassionate toward them and hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth but rather that he should turn and live yet notwithstanding he cannot delight in them that still abide in their ignorance and unbelief of the Gospel and are Enemies to his Son But contrarily he hates them with such an hatred as is opposed to a love of Well-pleasedness He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 36. He is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him The foolish shall not stand in his sight he hateth all the workers of iniquity Psal 5. 4 5. So he saith concerning Ephraim All their wickedness is in Gilgall for there I hated them for the wickedness of their doings Hos 9. 15. The wrath of God cometh and abideth on the Children of disobedience Eph. 5. 5 6. Col. 3. 5 6. And therefore none such are delighted in nor chosen while so abiding and coutinuing They wearied the Lord with their words who said He delighteth in them that do evil Mat. 2. 17. As they now do who say Such as are unbelievers Idolaters Adulterers profane persons drunkards and notorious sinners may while abiding such be the elect of God and loved of him with peculiar distinguishing love which is directly contrary to the Scriptures as hath been said which signifie that though God pity and is compassionate to foolish ones yet he delighteth not in them He hath no pleasure in fools Prov. 1. 20 22 with Eccles 5. 4. But now his Elect ones are such as he delighteth in and loves with peculiar manner of love Hence the Elect are such as are said to be beloved Col. 3. 12. All his delight is in them that are chosen out of the World and keep his Commandements and which are the excellent ones Psal 16. 2 3. They that are of a froward Heart are abomination to the Lord but such as are upright in their way are his delight Prov. 11. 20. 12. 22. All such and only such as love Christ the father loveth with delightfull love I speak of such are come to years of capacity and have the Gospel plainly declared to them As our Saviour himself signifieth saying For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God such he loveth with such manner of love as that he calls and owns them as his Sons by faith And if Sons then Heirs John 16. 27. 1 John 3. 1. And such as these Christ loveth and delighteth in As he saith I love them that love me And as the father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love Prov. 8. 17. John 15. 9. But who are they that love Jesus Christ and so are the subjects of his and his fathers peculiar love his Elect ones in whom he delighteth They are such as when called come to and are ruled by Jesus Christ such as he not only commands but also they are commanded by him and obedient to him and so chosen as in the second sense of the word chosen before spoken to So saith our Saviour himself He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him And again If any man love me he will keep my Word and my father will love him and we will come unto him c. Once more If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love even as I kept my fathers Commandments and abide in his love John 14. 21 23. 15. 9 10. 1 John 2. 3 5. 5. 2 3 2. John 6. Truly God so loveth his Son Jesus Christ because he laid down his life for us that he might take it up again that he loves all them that love him with a delightful love they are his chosen ones with whom he is well pleased He gives unto them Eternal Life John 3. 16 18. Jam. 2. 5. And he so loveth his Son that he hates and cannot delight in them that are his Enemies and hate him He will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him Psal 89. 23. John 3. 36. Psal 16. 3. 4. And therefore while they abide such being not lovers of Christ they are not of the elect or chosen Generation Job 14.
the Waters and he that hath no money c. And to move them hereto He saith Behold I have given Him for a Witness For a Witness of His Love and Faithfulness He hath so loved the World that He hath given His only begotten Son to be the Saviour of it that all men through Him might believe John 3. 16 17. and 1. 7. 1 John 4. 14. And hence exhorts men To seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near Yea The Wicked to forsake his ways and the man of Iniquity his thoughts and to return unto Him and He will have Mercy c. Isa 55. 1. 4 6 7. Here is a good account and sure ground given in the Gospel both for the Servants to Call so as they shall not run at uncertainty nor fight as those that beat the Air But may both Preach to any man or every man as they have opportunity and Pray for them Without wrath though they be their Enemies and without doubting whether God bears any good Will to them or no For they may certainly know and conclude God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth Because Christ gave Himself a Ransome and Price of Redemption to God for all a Testimony in due time And for those who are Called who from hence may be Incouraged upon principles of Certainty and Truth to come unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily and in whom is all Compleatness prepared and treasured up for us And whosoever believeth in Him shall never be ashamed nor confounded Luke 6. 27 36. 1 Cor. 9. 26. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6 8. And so much for the first Inquiry Secondly By whom are the many Called By the Servants Instrumentally and Ministerially and especially by the Apostles in these last days For as we have said our Saviour in this Parable speaketh Prophetically of the Gospels being Preached unto Jews and Gentiles after He had finished the Work the Father gave Him to do upon the Earth And after His Death Resurrection Ascension Receipt of and sending forth the Holy Spirit in His Name in and by which His Apostles were fitted and furnished to Preach the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery For until then the Servants had not Commission and Furniture to Preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ And though when Christ was risen from the Dead He gave Commission to His Apostles to go into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature of all the Nations yet they were by Him commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until they were Indued with Power from on High that they might be fitted and inabled to put in Execution that Authority and Commission they had received Mark 16. 15. Mat. 28. 18 19. Luke 24. 47 49. And then they were to be Christs Witnesses unto all men of what they had seen and heard And yet though by the Servants here are meant the Apostles principally yet not only For the Bride in general saith Come And he that heareth is commanded to say Come Rev. 22. 17. And so the many are Called by the Servants of the King indefinitly though principal Respect is had to the Apostles So much is plainly signified to us in this Chapter that the many Called are called to this Marriage and Marriage-feast by the Servants So it is said as with respect to the Jews The King sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22. 3. Again He sent forth other Servants Ver. 4. And when the first invited Guests refused and dispitefully used them he saith to his Servants The Wedding is ready but they which were bidden were not worthy Go ye therefore into the High-ways c. Sâ— those Servants went out into the High-ways and gathered together all as many as they found Ver. 8 9 10. And indeed it is the Work of the Faithful Servants of the great King not to Commend or Preach themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord 2 Cor. 4. 5. And not to Disciple men unto themselves but to call and Espouse them to one Husband that they might be presented as a chaste Virgin unto Christ Acts 20. 28 30. 2 Cor. 11. 1 2 3. Their great Business is to bear Witness of Christ of His Sufferings and of what He hath thereby done and obtained into Himself and is become and is And of what He is now doing both from Heaven in the Name of the Father to us And in Heaven with the Father for us And what He will do hereafter John 15. 27. Acts 5. 30 32. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Heb. 13. 7 8. And not to proclaim their own goodness as the most men do Prov. 20. 6. that men might admire them or have their Faith standing in their Wisdom Goodness or Holiness 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. Acts 3. 12. But to Confess Praise and Call men unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness that in coming unto and believing in Him they might of His Fulness receive and Grace for Grace But though they are called by the Servants instrumentally yet not by them only The King sends them not alone on this Errand of His but He accompanies them by the Light Influence and Power of His Blessed Spirit in their plain and faithful Ministration So much in former Times was signified to us As in that Scripture like to this and whereto it may seem our Saviour referreth in this Parable Prov. 9. 1 3. Wisdom hath Builded her House She hath hewen out her seven Pillars She hath killed her killing She hath mingled her Wine She hath also furnished her Table She hath sent forth her Maidens She crieth upon the highest places of the City c. Though She sent them forth to call others into the House yet Her Presence goes along with them And not only they Cry and Call but also She crieth Doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding put forth her Voice She standeth in the top of High places She crieth at the Gates of the City Unto you O men I Call and my Voice is to the Sons of Man She sends forth her Spirit in and with Her Servants that they might be successful Instruments in Her hand Prov. 8. 1 4 5. with Chap. 1. 20 23. So our Lord Jesus when He gave Authority to His Apostles to Disciple all Nations c. To Incourage them unto this their Service and against all their Discouragements He graciously assureth them that He would be with them always and not at some times only unto the end of the World And that He was faithful who promised another Evangelist informs us saying they went forth Preaching the Gospel every where the Lord working with them Mat. 28. 18 20. with Mark 16. 15. 20. Hence they are said to be Workers together with Him 2 Cor. 6. 1. And he that despiseth and rejecteth His Servants in their faithful Ministration of the Gospel rejecteth not Man but
these generally come and so are the Called but amongst them some are not Chosen the man was not which had not on a Wedding Garment and so all like unto him Namely such as though they come in some sort into the House as the First-bidden Guests refused to do yet they let not go their own Righteousness which are as filthy Rags that they might have the Righteousness which is through the Faith of Christ even the Righteousness of God by Faith that Robe of Righteousness Phil. 3. 9. Isa 61. 10. Or they so receive not the Grace of God as in coming to Christ to be Justified And Cleansed as Dan. 8. 14. from their Iniquities and Idols and conformed to the Mind and Image of Christ but while they pretend to seek to be Justified by Christ they themselves are found Sinners as Gal. 2. 17. And still remain altogether or in a great measure unsanctified in Heart and unreformed in Life while yet they profess to be Christ's Disciples and believe His Gospel These though of the Called as the First-bidden Guests were not so fully yet are not Chosen or Elect ones And abidâ—ng in this condition will have their portion in the Lake where their Worm dieth not and their Fire is not quenched Ver. 8. 14. By all which it plainly appears that the Elect are such as come to Christ and so come to Him as to deny themselves and prefer Him before and part with all for His sake And this is also confirmed by the like Parable and our Saviours Instructions in Luke 14. Where also after the Supper was prepared the Servant is sent forth to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready And they all with one consent began to make excuse The first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused And another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused And another said I have Married a Wife and therefore I cannot come So the Servant came and shewed his Lord these things Then the Master being angry said unto his Servant go out quickly â— to Invite others And after he had signified his great displeasedness with those who refused to come to Christ when Called saying None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper he turned and said unto the great multitudes that went with him If any man come unto me and hate not comparatively his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sister 's yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple And whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14. 16 21 24 26 33. Which confirmeth what we have said and is agreeable to the Parable we are considering and sheweth that these are the Chosen ones who so come unto and after Christ as that they sell all that they have that they may be made partakers of Him And others that so do not but prefer other things in general or something else in particular before Him however they may be Called or of the Called yet are not while so doing of the Elect of Chosen Generation or the Subjects of God's Election As we have often said But God assisting we shall speak hereto a little more particularly and shew What Election and Elect signifie in Scripture And so we say First Election doth properly and frequently signifie a Chusing out or Taking out some from others And the Elect or Chosen are such as are Chosen out of or from others and so it is here And for our Understanding and Usefulness of the proper and direct Signification of these Words and Things we shall propound and give Answer from the Scriptures to these five following Queries viz. Que. 1. What is the Argument propounded for the effecting this Election Answ The Grace or Love of God manifested and everlastingly commended to us in this that He sent the Son the Saviour of the World even of Mankind And according thereto Christ came into the World and was made Flesh and was made Sin and by the Grace of God tasted Death for every man and is raised again for their Justification And hath Redeemed them from the Curse of the Law and obtained all the Fulness of Grace and Truth into Himself for them This Grace as discovered and made known to us by the Ministry of the great Kings Servants in and by the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God is the Argument propounded for Electing men So in this Parable to the end the Invited Guests might come into Christ and so be the Subjects of God's Election the King commandeth His Servants to tell them Behold I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come to the Marriage Mat. 22. 3 4 8 9 with Luke 14. 16 17. To this also agreeth what the Apostle Paul saith even so then there is a remnant according to the Election or Out-chusing of Grace A remnant like unto the seven thousand men in Elias his days who had not bowed the knee to Baal not Idolaters and False worshippers as the Elect some men speak of may be and continue a considerable time But such as are freed from and chosen out of such polluted ones and pollutions And that not by Works of Righteousness which they had done but by the Grace of God which is Saving or bringeth Salvation to all men Rom. 11. 4 6. And so the being Saved viz. From mens Sins and Idols is the same with this being Elected or Outchosen compare and consider 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with Ver. 13. And it is by the same Means or Argument effected viz. By the Grace of God as the Apostle signifieth to the Ephesians For after he had declared what polluted ones they were in Times past namely before they heard and received the Word of Truth he then puts them in remembrance how they got an escape from their Pollutions By Grace ye are saved And again By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 1 2 5 8 9. with Rom. 11 6. Yea the Lovers of God and God's Elect are signified to be the same Persons compare and consider Rom. 8. 28. with Ver. 33. Now How come men to be Lovers of God Certainly by the Grace or Love of God even His first Love discovered to them as the Apostle John saith He that Loveth is Born of God and knoweth God for God is Love But how doth this appear and whereby iâ— iâ— evidenced that He is Love In this was manifested the Love of God because that God sent His only begotten Son into the World that we might live through Him He sent the Son the
Saviour of the World And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us God is Love c. Hereby is our love made perfect even through the Knowledg and Belief of His Love and that He is Love And what Love of God is the producer of our love to Him is also declared by the same Apostle We love Him because He first loved us It is the Manifestation and Discovery not of any delightful distinguishing Love of His but of that great Love wherewith He loved us and all Mankind whereby we are begotten to the Love of Him and therein made of the Chosen and Elect Generation 1 John 4. 7 10 16 19. with Ephes 2. 4 5. And so it appears that the Argument for effecting this Election is the Grace of God to Manward discovered in the Gospel of Christ Que. 2. What is the way owned and approved of God in or through which men are Elected Answ The way of His owning and approving is the Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth when and as discovered to them That is Men are then Chosen when they so with the Heart believe the Word of Truth and Grace of God therein discovered as that thereby they are Sanctified and Cleansed in the Spirit of their Mind and devoted unto God and not before To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh Elect according to the foreknowledg or Fore-approbation of God the Father according to that way fore-owned of Him in or through the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 2. To which agreeth also that of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians We are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning viz. of their Gospels coming to them as 1 Thes 1. 5. and 2. 13. Chosen you to Salvation through or in the Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Whereunto He also Called you by our Gospel c. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. No man therefore while he abides in his Ignorance Unbelief and Disobedience of God is Elected or Chosen nor until he be in some measure Washed and Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 9 11. Que. 3. Out of what are men Elected or Chosen Answ Out of the World which lieth in Wickedness or in the Wicked one 1 John 5. 19. And of which until they were Chosen out they were as well as others and not only in it but also of it They sometimes walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience Amongst whom we also had our Conversation in times past in the Lusts of our Flesh And were by Nature Children of Wrath even as others saith the Apostle Paul of both Gentiles and Jews who were after Chosen out of this sad condition Ephes 2. 1 3 5. To this purpose speaks our Saviour unto and concerning his Disciples Ye are not of the World but I have Chosen you out of the World And I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the World John 15. 19. and 17. 6. In both which places it is plainly Intimated that time was that they were not only in the World in their Persons for so they still were nor did our Saviour pray to His Father to take them out of it in this sense John 17. 11 15. but also they were of the World as to their State Condition Fellowship and Demeanour and during that time they were not Elected or Chosen out of it For Gods Elect and Chosen ones and the world are opposed the one to the other and the former hated by the latter As also our Saviour oft times signifieth in such expressions as these If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you John 15. 18 19. Ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce Chap. 16. 20. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me out of the world I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world Chap. 17. 9 14 16 20 21 23. 1 John 3. 1 13. And so the chosen ones are such as are seperated and severed from others in their state pollutions evil principles and manners And so Seperated and Chosen are used indifferently and put one for another in our Types whom we are instructed to behold 1 Cor. 10. 18. As whereas in Deut. 10. 8. it is said At that time the Lord seperated the Tribe of Levi to minister unto him It is thus rendred Chap. 21. 5. 18. 5. 2 Chron. 29. 11. The Sons of Levi shall come near for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him So again in one place it is said I am the Lord your God which have seperated you from other people Ye shall therefore put difference between clean Beasts and unclean And ye shall be holy for I have severed you from other people that ye should be mine In another place upon a like occasion it is thus said The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing Consider and compare Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3 c. And so they are a chosen Generation who are called not only whom God is calling but who are eventually called out of darkness out of the darkness of this world and out of their ignorance and unbelief into his marvelous light Compare 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. with Chap. 4. 3. Such as are delivered out of the power of darkness and translated or removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear sons Col. 1. 13. with Acts 13. 22. This is that out of which men are chosen even out of themselves and out of the world and power of darkness Que. Into and in whom are Men chosen Answ Into and in Jesus Christ as the Apostle saith Who hath chosen us in him Eph. 1. 4. As we have seen before The Elect are not chosen in the first Adam nor in themselves but in Christ who is the prime Elect unto whom God hath given the pre-eminence and first-ship in all things Isa 42. 1. Col. 1. 18 19. Rom. 16. 13. And who is the Root and Foundation of Election To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh To whom coming to wit unto Christ as unto a living stone chosen or elected of God Ye also as lively stones are built up a Spiritual House Ye are a chosen Generation It is here signified that in order of Nature however and of Time also Christ is first of all an Eleâ—t chosen stone an Elect foundation and Corner stone And those that
at present were none of Gods chosen ones Rom. 11. 17. 23. with ver 7. Thus also he commandeth the Prophet to proclaim these words to such as he had put away and to whom he had given a Bill of Divorce Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever only acknowledge thine Iniquity c. Jer. 3. 8. 12 13. He hath reserved this Prerogative to himself that he can righteously shew mercy where Men cannot If a man put away his Wife and she go from him and become another mans shall he return to her again shall not not that man only but also that Land be greatly polluted where such Iniquity is committed But thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord. And concerning such He as it were bethinks himself how he may againe receive his former favour and their former nighness But I said How shall I put thee among the Children and give thee a Land of desire an heritage of glory or beauty of the Hosts of Nations And I said Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turn away from me Jer. 3. 1. 19. And hence he thus expostulateth with such as had sold themselves for their Iniquities and for their transgressions were put away Wherefore when I came was there no man when I called was there none to answer Is my hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I no power to deliver Namely from all your transgressions and from that miserable condition you have brought your selves into Behold at my rebuke I dry up the Sea c. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to Him that is weary even to such also as have wearied themselves in wandring from Mountain to Hill and forgotten their resting place his hand is not shortned at all but he hath still power to help turn pardon and receive such backsliding ones Isai 50. 1 2 3 4. Such like comfort this Doctrine of Gods Election propoundeth and proclaimeth to poor sinful ones while it is called to day not to strengthen men in their Iniquity But to allure them and prevaile with them to come to him that he may take away their iniquities and receive them graciously that he may heale their backslidings and love them freely Hose 14. 1 2-4 3. This doctrine of Gods election is also a monytory doctrine to admonish and warne us all neither to reject the grace of God nor to receive it in vaine But so heartily to entertaine and retaine it and yield up our selves to the operation thereof that we may now be saved from our evill thoughts and wayes And bring forth fruit meet for him by whom we are dressed that we may receive further blessing from God In the former use we have shewed that though at present we be not yet we may be chosen But here we have to shew that we must of necessity receive the grace of God to this end and purpose or else we shall be excluded the kingdom of Christ and of God To this end Christ gave himselfe for our sins that he might deliver us from or pluck us out of or Chuse us out of this present evill World according to the will of God and our father Gal. 1. 4. with Matth. 5. 29. and 18. 9. with 2 Thes 2. 13. The whole world lieth in wickedness or in the wicked one and will be hereafter condemned and all that remaine of it needfull therefore it is that we be saved from and chosen out of this untoward generation 1 Joh. 5. 19. with 1 Cor. 11. 32. God indeed so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten son But it was not with a delightfull well pleased love as is before said nor so as he ever intended that it or any abiding in the state and fellowship of it should partake of eternall life and salvation But to this end he so loved it that whosoever of it beleiveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3. 14 15 16 17 18. But unless men so receive the love of the truth as to be saved and Chosen thereby while the day of Gods grace and patience is vouchsafed and continued to them they will be damned hereafter not because they were reprobated from eternity for so no man was in a personall consideration nor because they had no true and saving grace afforded to them and for want thereof thereof they could doe no better then they did For the saving Grace of God or Grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared But because they beleived not so as to have pleasure in the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Tit. 2. 11. 2 Thes 2. 10 12 13. Oh! this will be the Worm that will never die but will gnaw upon them and torment their Souls for ever that when God so loved them as to give his Son to die for them to deliver them from that so great a death as they were fallen under the Sentence of viz. the first death And to obtain Eternal Life into the nature of man for them both which he hath done by his Blood and Sacrifice And that he gave him to be a Testimony of Gods goodness and love to them in due time and so preached to their Spirits by his Spirit that they might have been saved That notwithstanding all this they would not come unto Christ that they might have life but held fast deceit and refused to return Oh! that in due time it may be so considered by us that we may hearken diligently unto Christ and so receive the Word of God as it is in truth the Word of God that it may work effectually upon us So as we may not only be called thereby but chosen also And so may flee from the wrath to come Quest But some may say The Elected are chosen by Christ and cannot chuse themselves Is there any thing then in order to this Election or chusing required of us that we may be the subjects of it What should we do Answ It is true indeed they are chosen by Christ who are elected and cannot chuse themselves by any Wisdome Strength or Works of Righteousness of their own But it is also as true that in those things appertaining to the Salvation of the Soul in which they are Passives yet there is somewhat required of them as God is preventing them with his Grace As to say They cannot beget or bring forth themselves but the Work of the new Birth is the Work of God John 1. 13. Jam. 1. 18. But yet it is signified that something in order hereto is required of Men not in any wisdome or ability of their own for they have none But as God is preventing and assisting them with power and capacity namely to
24. Paul was not so while he was anememy unto him 〈◊〉 persecuter of them that called upon his name But he with others found favour and was made accepted in the beloved one in coming unto and believing in him Eph. 1. 6. with Luk. 1. 28. 30 5. And lastly By Chosen ones in our types are often meant and signified such as were souldiers and were pithced upon and imployed to fight the battells of the Lord against their enemies or more generally such as fought against their enemies Military men are hereby meant and sons of valour who were indued with courage and strength to go forth against and contend with their Adversaries such are often called Elect or chosen ones so Joshua Chose out Thirty Thousand mighty men of valour to go up against Ai Joshua 8. 3. So David gathered all the chosen men c. 2. Sam. 6. 1. And Abijah set the battell in aray with an Army of valiant men of warre even four hundred thousand chosen men Jeroboam also set the battell in array against him with Eight Hundred Thousand chosen men being mighty men of valour 2 Chron. 13. 3. 17. So oft time it is taken in this sense Judg. 20. 15. 16. 34. Psal 78. 31. c. And thus also this sense may be accommodated to these words few are chosen namely few there are who betake themselves unto and fight manfully under the banner of Christ against their spirituall enemies with the weapons of Gods warfarre few there are who so love and cleave to Christ as to endure hardness as his good soldiers to deny themselves and take up their Cross and follow him To watch stand fast in the faith quit themselves like men c. 2. Timoth. 2. 1-3 4. 1 Cor 16. 13 14. Rev. 17. 14. Few love his gospel so well though called by the trumpet of it as to leave the world as it were and be valiant for the truth earnestly contending for the faith 〈…〉 striving for the faith of the Gospel against the world and against that sin that dwelleth in them and those fleshly lusts after their Merchandise Farms c. And against the Devil And so in this consideration they are not chosen men But this sense may not so well as the former suit with the scope of this place And therefore it is the more briefly spoken unto Thus we have also spoken unto the Affirmative part in the first thing propounded to be considered from the latter part of this verse and shewed who are Gods elect ones namely such as are by the grace of God chosen out of the world into Christ and abide in him such as are commanded appointed and ruled by his law the law of faith such as are more excellent then others choice ones precious in his sight and account such as are the subjects of his peculiar love and delighted in by him And such as come unto and follow after the Captain of our salvation fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold on eternall life In a word his people in a peculiar consideration all hearty and unfeigned beleivers are the elect and chosen ones here intenâ—ed by our Saviour The Nation the blessed Nation whose God 〈◊〉 the Lord is the people which he hath chosen for his own Inheritance Psal 33. 12. and 105. 43. Such God hath chosen who are rich in faith as Jam. 2. 5. hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world but not all the poor nor any that have not faith but such as are rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him And as in order of nature Christ the prime elect and root of election was first Gods servant to finish the work in own personal Body which the Father gave him to do before he was his Chosen or Elect one Isai 42. 1. Phil. 2. 8 9 John 3. 35. with chap. 10. 17. So also as with respect to others who are Chosen in Christ They are his Servants before they are the Subjects of Election hence the same order of expressions is used frequently concerning them As thou Israel my servant Jacob whom I have chosen Isai 41. 8 9. and 43. 10. And again Hear O Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen thus saith the Lord that made thee and formed thee from the Womb which will help thee Fear not O Jacob my servant and thou Jesurun or righteous people whom I have chosen Isai 44. 1 2. and 65. 13. 15. And these only are Gods Elect and chosen ones and the persons intended in this Text we are speaking to and such as abiding faithfull unto the death shall in due time receive the Crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him and look and wait for the appearing and coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as his Grace teacheth and instructeth Jam. 2. 5. with chap. 1. 12. Titus 2. 11 13. And what we have said of this Electioâ— or choosing and who arâ— not and who are the subjects of Gods Election as in the Scripture of truth plainly appeareth may be of usefulness to us 1. To preserve or redeem us from that evil and hurtful Notion and Doctrine of personal Election in a personal consideration which some call the Gospel of Election In which Men think and teach that God hath from Eternity Decreed and purposed a set determinate number of Persons in a personal consideration to Believe and be saved And that all such shall in due time be brought in to Believe and be Converted by an invincible and irresistable Power And that Men may be of this number and the subjects of this purpose who are Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers Effeminate Abusers of themselves with Mankind Theeves Covetous Drunkards Extortioners c. Yea and Persecutors Blasphemers and Injurious ones while abiding such Yea that some abiding such till almost their departure out of this world are yet and continue the Elect of God and his Chosen ones This is a very groundless Scriptureless and Pernicious Doctrine And that which renders the Cross of Christ foolishness For if Men were absolutely decreed to Salvation before the consideration of Christs interposing himself and humbling himself to death the Death of the Cross This Decree might also have been as righteously put into Execution without it And so as the Apostle saith in another case which is as true in this Christ dyed in vain or without any just cause which thought and imagination is to be rejected by us as that which renders needless his precious Blood And represents Gods love to his only begotten Son to be very small or indeed none at all In that he put him to so much grief and spared not him but delivered him up to death for our offences when there was no Absolute necessity for it And blemishes his Wisdom also not to speak of his other Atributes Seeing if this Doctrine were true God could have saved those he intends
hear the Word of Truth and to be hearty Believers and doers of it John 1. 12. 13. with Jam. 1. 18 19 22 25. John 3. 3 5 7. So in the sense before spoken of Men cannot reconcile themselves to God but it is the Work of God by Christ to reconcile us to himself And yet something is required of men Hence the Apostle saith We pray you in Christ stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 18 20. So here Though God in Christ be the first chuser and by him we are chosen yet something is required of us in the strength he gives that we may be chosen out of the world ruled by him become choice ones and be the subjects of his peculiar love c. And though we find not this command any where Be ye chosen in express words given unto us yet we have the same thing in other expressions given in commandement to us As Be ye saved Isa 45. 22. And save your selves Acts 2. 40. Whereby the same thing is intended as is foreshewn in comparing 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with verse 13. And Be ye seperate which in another Scripture is rendred and read Chosen As also hath been noted by comparing Deut. 10. 8. with Chap. 18. 5. and 21. 5. And Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3. 2 Cor. 6. 17. And we may see this is required of men that they may be Chosen even to come to Christ in which doing they shall be made of the chosen Generation though formerly they have not so been As also hath been said before and may be seen in comparing 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. with verse 9. 10. And to the end we may come unto Christ and so be chosen and pluckt out of the world needfull it is 1. To hear the Word of Christ this is the first and one thing needfull unto the saving of the Soul Luke 10. 39 42. It is good and needfull for us to chuse this good part As God is speaking to us and opening our Ears even to hear in hearing For saith in which men are chosen cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God viz. by the Gospel of Peace and glad tydings of good things Rom. 10. 14 15 17. with 2 Thes 2. 13. It is the work of the Father by his Spirit to glorifie Christ and to bear witness of him He speaketh excellent things unto us concerning him and the opening of his lips are right things And together herewith he both gives unto men capacity of hearing and calls upon them to hear Prov. 8. 4 6 17 20. He saith Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self infatness Incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live Isa 55. 1 3. Let every man be swift to hear viz. the Word of Truth Jam. 1. 18 19 The hour is coming and now is saith our Saviour that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5. 25. And this is the first Branch of the description of him that passeth from death to life from an Estate of wrath and misery into a state of favour and blessedness he that heareth Christs word John 5. 24. 2. Needfull also it is that we learn of the Father that we may be Chosen not onely that we hear as that is distinguished from learning But that also we heartily embrace his heavenly lesson and doctrine So after Wisdome had called upon men first of all to hear she after saith also Receive my instruction and not Silver Prov. 8. 6. 10. Indeed God teacheth many that are not taught by him and so they deprive their soules of good Isa 48. 17 18 But it is needfull to the end we may be elected that we receive the instruction of our Heavenly father even to buy the truth and not sell it even to buy it with an undervaluing and parting with and forsaking all that we have that we may be made partakers of Christ Prov. 23. 23. with Luk. 14. 33. And every one that is taught of God every one that hath heard and learned of the father cometh unto Christ Job 6. 45. with Matth. 22. 3 4 5. And so shall be chosen and a subject of Gods election And let no man be discouraged from coming unto Christ in this way because of his former vileness and wretchedness for though he be the chief of sinners that cometh yet him that cometh he will in no wise cast out but will receive such an one graciously he will chuse him and not cast him away Isay 41. 9. with Joh. 6. 35. And as the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness so as persisting in such like iniquity he will at last reject such and give them up to a reprobate mind Reprobate Silver shall men call them who after all means used yet will not come to Christ who is the rest and way to it because the Lord hath rejected them Rom. 1. 18 28. Jer. 6. 16 17 30. So also all such as hear the joyfull sound sounded forth by the Father in the Gospel and receive his instruction so as to come unto Christ Such shall find rest Mat. 11. 28 29. Their Souls shall live Isa 55. 3. And they shall have fellowship and partnership with Jesus Christ in him be chosen and after him reckoned And shall abiding in Christ inherit the Kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him and look and wait for his coming from Heaven 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Yea this Doctrine of Gods Election may also admonish and warn them who are in Christ Jesus not to depart from him Upon this presumption that the Elect cannot possibly be deceived For certainly it is possible for them so to be and they will certainly so be if they abide not in Christ by Faith and Love As our Saviour saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and men gather them and they are cast into the fire and they are burned John 15. 6. In which words our Saviour signifieth that such as have been ingraffed into himself who is the true Vine by his Father the Husbandman may not abide in Christ but may so depart from him as not only to be cast into the fire which a man may be and yet be plucked out again as a brand out of it Jude 23. But also be burned that is he may finally perish And to the same purpose the Apostle speaketh to the believing Romans who were in and did stand in the Root of Righteousness Thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed also lest he spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also
shalt be cut off Rom. 11. 20 22. Men as before we have seen are the subjects of Gods election in coming unto and abiding in Christ And in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. And if we be Christs then are we Abrahams Seed and Heirs according to Promise And so an elect Generation Gal. 3. 29. with Deut. 7. 6 9 10. 10. 15. And they who dwell in this secret of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. 1 12. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever And the Lord will do good unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts But as for such as turn aside out of the path of the just to their crooked paths the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but peace shall be upon Israel Psal 125. 1 4 5. with Psal 73. 1. Therefore the Apostle Peter writing to them who were elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father and had obtained like precious faith with the Apostle exhorts them to give diligence to make their calling and election sure for saith he If ye do these things ye shall never fall plainly signifying to us that otherwise they might and should fall 1 Pet. 1. 2. with 2 Pet. 1. 1 10. Those that are with Christ on Mount Zion are such as are Called and not only so but Chosen yea and not only Chosen but faithfull also Faithfully following the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Rev. 17. 14. with Chap. 14. 1 4. Oh that we may never say We are the Elect of God and our Mountain is so strong setled that we shall never be moved however we demean our selves But that we may be of the Sheep of Christ and abide such hearing continually the voice of our Shepheard and following him for to such as so do he will give Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of his hand neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Nor heighth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to seperate them that love God and keep his commandments from the love of God which is for ever in Christ Jesus John 10. 27 28 29 with Rom. 8. 28 33 39. And so much to the first Particuler in which we have endeavoured from the Scriptures to shew what is not and what is Gods Election and who are not and who are the subjects of it And now we come to shew 2. That few of the many that are called are chosen as our Saviour here plainly affirmeth But few of many as Jer. 42. 2. even of the many which are called by the Servants in the plain Preaching of the Gospel as it is now revealed For that our Saviour speaks of and intends such by the Many here we have before shewn and desire that may be considered and what is contained in the three Cautions foregiven Now of these many who have the Scriptures of Truth amongst them which have been spoken and recorded by the Servants the extraordinary Servants of the great King viz. by the Holy Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And amongst whom also are some of his Servants preserved and continued even such as have believed on Christ thorow the Apostles word he here saith Few are chosen few comparatively to those so called Few to the many who say they are Jews and are not There are threescore Queens and fourscore Concubines and Virgins without number But my Love my undefiled is but one saith our Lord Jesus She is the onely one of her Mother she is the choice and chosen one of her that bare her Cant. 6. 8 9. In this sense also it is true and may be thus taken As the Lilly among the Thorns so is Christs love among the Daughters one Lilly among many Thorns one Love amongst many Daughters other Professours Churches and Societies Who swear by the Name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth non in Righteousness for they call themselves of the Holy City c. Cant. 2. 2. Isa 48. 1 2. And as was also fore-prophesied In that day seven women Churches or Congregations shall take hold of this one Man Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 2. 5. saying we will eat our own Bread and wear our own Apparell as the Man did that had not on the Wedding Garment Only let us be called by thy name Christians to take away our reproach Isa 4. 1. Many cleave unto him by flatteries Dan 11. 34. And few heartily receive or faithfully and constantly walk and abide in him unto the end So that â—…t may be applied to these chosen ones the Israel of God which was spoken of Israel after the flesh a Type of the Spiritual Seed The Lord did not set his love upon you nor chuse you because ye were more in number than any people for ye were the fewest of all people not counted worthy in respect of the smallness of their number to be reckoned amongst the Nations of Professours Deut. 7. 6 7. Christ's flock of actual believers and upright followers of Him is a little flock Luk. 12. 32. I still mean as compared with the many or multitudes which are called and in some sort also the called And so much our Saviour giveth us to understand in His Parable which He spake in His personal Ministration In one He saith The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea which gathered of every kind some good and some bad Mat. 13. 47-49 And in another He more plainly and evidently signifieth that of the many to whom the Gospel is preached but few comparatively obey it from the heart or continue so to do One sort of the hearers of the Kingdom He compareth to the Way-side ground and and like to it many abide The word hath little or no entrance into or impression on them in respect of any willing reception of it from them The sower indeed soweth his seed in the hearts of this first sort of ground And did they suffer it to take place in them and enter into and abide in their hearts they should believe and be saved But they understand it not consider it not set not their hearts to it open not to let in this blessed seed which would convert them in so doing but letting it lye above ground it is open unto and fit to be taken away by the Fowls And the wicked one cometh and catcheth away that which was sown in the hearts of such lest they should believe and be saved Of this sort so abiding it may be said It is a People of no understanding therefore He that made them will not have mercy upon them and He that formed them will shew them no favour Matth. 13. 18 19. with
Luke 8. 11 12. Isa 27. 11. Another sort of hearers He likeneth to stony places or to the rock they hear the word of the Kingdom and the glad tidings therein declared And in some measure understand it And so are not like unto the Way-side hearers for anon or immediately with joy they receive and gladly entertain it And do believe for a while what is therein reported That Christ is indeed the Saviour of the World But these have no root in themselves they suffer not the word to sink deep enough to break the stone or rock at the bottom and to effect in them an honest and good heart which it would do were it with the heart believed Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like an bammer that breaketh the rock in peices Jer. 23. 28 29. this is powerful to convert and change the Soul Psal 19. 7. But they suffer it not to take root downward but still retain some stone at the bottom some design or enterprize of theirs unbroken And though possibly in hearing this word gladly they do many things which it is effecting in them part with many things thereby reproved and do many things which are good in themselves yet there is still some one beloved iniquity or other which they will not let this good and powerful word mortifie and root up some lust or idol remains at the bottom of their hearts which hinders the seed from sinking deep enough and and so in conclusion the Word becometh unfruitful Herod knew John the Baptist was a just Man and an holy and observed him or kept him from danger and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly But when John reproved him for Herodias his Brother Philip's Wife and said it is not lawful for thee to have her he turned not at this reproof of God's instruction he suffered not the word of God to purge out and root up this iniquity but was angry with this faithful reprover and first put him in Prison and afterwards caused him to be beheaded Mark 6. 17-20 Ezekielis hearers said one to another Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord And they come unto thee saith the Lord as the People cometh and they sit before thee as My People and they hear thy words but they will not do them For with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their Covetousness And â—…e thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they hear thy words but they do them not For still from the least to the greatest of them every one was given to Covetousness Ezek. 33. 30-32 Jer. 6. 12. Thus it is with too many now in our days they hear the glad-tidings of good things brought to them in the Gospel of peace and by and by they receive them with gladness And they are perswaded that the word of Christ is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation And they marvel at the gracious words therein contained and wonder that every one doth not give credit thereto But still they believe in vain and though they have some love for what they hear yet they love some thing reproved thereby rather and better they hold fast a lye in their right hand while the truth is but in their left they set and keep up some stumbling block of iniquity in their hearts some intemperance or uncleanness or strife or covetousness or pride c. And by the deceitfulness of that sin which doth so easily beset them they harden their hearts like an Adamant stone so that the word sinks not deep enough into them And this is afterwards made apparent For when tribulation or persecution ariseth for the word by and by they are offended As immediatâ—…y at first they received the word of the kingdom with joy so immediately in time of trial and temptation they are offended and fall away Joh. 3. 19. 2 Thes 2. 10. Isa 44. 20. Matth. 13. 20 21. with Luke 8. 13. A third sort of hearers appear in conclusion to be like the thorny ground they are such as hear the word and receive the seed And it may seem for sometime receive it to purpose and it brings forth fruit in them These understand as the Way-side hearers do not These have some root in themselves as the Stony-ground hearers had not These bring forth fruit but afterward without any good reason or cause they go out and depart from Christ Jesus and from the mindfulness of His Grace and Gospel and abide not faithful unto the death These endure not unto the end though at first they did run well They continue not rooted and grounded in the Faith They abide not in Christ stedfast and unmoveable but forsake the Lord the fountain of living waters and wander out of the way of understanding and turn aside to their crooked pathes after they have escaped the pollutions of the world thorow the Knowledge and Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so are like Birds that wander from their Nests they are removed from him that called them into the Grace in Jesus Christ And after they have clean and indeed escaped from them that live in errour yet they sin willingly and erre from and forsake the right way in which abiding they should be saved But they go forth Luke 8. 14. and then the Thorns enter in Mark 4. 19. They were not there always they were it may seem rooted out and cast forth by the Plow of the Gospel And had they abidden in Christ they had been still preserved from them For Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not He keepeth Himself that the wicked one toucheth him not in whom the seed of God remaineth 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. with Chap 5. 18. But going out the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and lusts of other things enter in and choak the Word and it becometh unfruitful namely in conclusion they bring no fruit unto perfection none to the harvest And so none which will abide and appear on their account in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ These may endure some of them a considerable time and even almost though not altogether unto the harvest And how far soever they go or how long soever they continue yet not enduring unto the end not overcoming and keeping Christ's Works unto the end but going out and departing from Him and so persisting all their righteousness shall not be remembred but for their iniquity that they have committed they shall dye for it there is no reaping if men faint how long soever they have exercised themselves in well doing Matth. 13. 22. with Mark 4. 18 19. 2 Pet. 2. 18-20 Gal. 6. 9. Ezek. 33. 12 13. Rev. 2. 26-29 Now the just shall live by faith but if he at any time draw back Gods Soul will have no pleasure
Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. What a sad thing will it be for us to sport our selves in our self-deceivings as too many do 2 Pet. 2. 13. Better it is now for us to deal faithfully with our selves then to flatter our selves or be flattered by others to our endless and eternal misery and calamity Come we then to the light of the Lord the Gospel of Christ and therein and thereby we may see our selves whether we be chosen no Even he that is an hearer of the word and not a doer is like unto a man that beholdeth his natural face in a Glass for he beholdeth himself Even as a man may see his natural face in a Glass and see whether it be clean and free from spots and pollution or no so a man that is only called by and an hearer of the word of Truth may see himself and see what manner of person he is Jam. 1. 22 23 24. He may see whether he be chosen out of the World by the Grace of God or whether he be not but still remain in or be turned back again into the World and so is at present rejected of God and not loved with peculiar manner of love As the Apostle intimateth 2 Cor. 13. 5. And if by this Glass we see we are hearers and of the called only Oh let us give no rest to our eyes not slumber to our eye-lids until we so receive and retain the Grace of God which brings Salvation to us that we may be chosen out of this miserable condition and redeemed from amongst Men that it may be well with us for ever and we may not perish with the World And if it appear that we are of the number of those who are chosen that we still abide and continue in the Doctrine of Christ that we may have both Father and Son 2 Joh. 9. Inq. But some may say how may we know whether we be of the chosen number or no declare a little more particularly how we may know it Answ Those who are indeed chosen do know that they are of God and that the whole World lieth in Wickedness as 1 Joh. 5. 19. by keeping His Commandments as the Apostle saith Hereby we know that we know Him and are in Him if we keep His Commandments 1 Joh. 2. 3-5 And he that keepeth His Commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him chap. 3. 24. that is to say in more and plainer words His Commandments are That we believe on the Name of Jesus Christ and love one another as He hath given us Commandment 1 Joh. 3. 22-24 He that hath and keepeth these hath right unto the tree of life and shall enter in thorow the gates into the City even into the new Jerusalem Rev. 22. 14. that is to say they do know they are chosen 1. By this That the Faith they have received is the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and according thereto they believe with the heart that good report the Father hath given of Christ in His Word and Sayings in which He hath testified That He sent the Son into the World not to condemn the World but that the World thorow Him might be Saved And so they believe on the Name of the Son of God Joh. 3. 16-18 they have their Faith begotten by closing with and founded on not Mens Doctrines or their own Thoughts and Imaginations which they know to be corrupt and evil But they have received and retain for their Faith nothing else then the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus which was witnessed by the holy Prophets in former times and is now revealed to us by the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so they believe on Christ as the Scripture hath said and testified of Him and not as Men in their Glosses and Interpretations speak of Him They call no meer Man whatsoever their Rabbi nor own any to have dominion over their Faith but Jesus Christ and God in Him He is their only Law-giver in this respect the Father of their Spirits the Lord of what they believe And so according to His testimony they believe Him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World the only Foundation of Faith and Hope the only Fountain of all the fulness of Grace and Truth the only Bread and Water of Life the only door of approach of God the only Lord of our Faith and Consciences the only High Priest and Mediatour between God and Men And according hereto they come unto and depend on Him in His way for bottoming all upon Him for receiving all from Him for living continually by Him and to Him for approaching to God thorow Him and expecting and waiting thorow His Spirit for His perfecting all that concerns them c. And so they hold forth this word of Life in Word and Conversation And he that thus believeth on the Son hath the Witness in Himself and gives not God the lye but hath set to His Seal that God is true in all He hath testified of His Son 1 Job 5. 10 11. Job 3. 33. And in receiving this Testimony of Jesus they receive also therewith certainly and undoubtedly the Spirit of Gods Son Gal. 3. 2-5 which Spirit beareth Witness with their Spirit with their enlightened mind and judgment that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. And hereby they know that they dwell in Him and He in them because he hath given them of His Spirit And they have seen in the light and by the evidence thereof and do restifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. with 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2. They also know they are chosen by this that this Faith worketh in them by Love Gal. 5 6. and therein is efficacious in them And so they are distinguished from and preferred before such as say they have Faith and have not its works and so believe in vain But this Testimony of Jesus being received by them not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God it worketh effectually in them From the knowledge and belief of Gods love in Christ His first love they are begotten and prevailed with to love God even to love Him withall the heart and mind and soul and strength And so to love Jesus Christ as to suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung in comparison of Him It makes them willing to part with their Sins and Idols for His sake and prefer Him before all other things which they may love with a moderate affection 1 Joh. 4. 16-19 And this love of God in Christ known and heartily believed by them begetteth them unto and effecteth in them a delightful love to those who are begotten of Him and that not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth And by this they know that they are passed out of death â—nto life because
they love the Brethren And hereby they know they are of the truth and can assure their hearts before God 1 Joh. 3. 14. 18-19 5. 1. And also they are taught and led of God by this love of His to the love of all men even to love them with a love of pity and compassion and to testifie love to them according to their needs as they have opportunity Mat. 5. 44 45. He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in Him But whoso keepeth His word in Faith and Love in him verily is the Love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in Him 1 Joh. 2. 4 5. And so hereby we may know whether the Grace of God hath its electing efficacy upon us And so also on the contrary we may be assured we are not of this chosen Generation if we reject the testimony of God concerning His Son 1 Joh. 5. 10 Joh. 14. 21-24 or receive it in vain and are not saved and sanctified thereby But however we profess to believe the testimony God hath given of His Son yet while we love darkness rather then light and imprison the truth professed by us in unrighteousness we believe in vain and so persisting shall miserably deceive our selves Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 1. 18. Jam. 1. 22. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil Whosoever doth not righteousness believes not with the heart the record God hath given of His Son 1 Joh. 2. 29. with chapt 5. 1 10. 4. 6. is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 Joh. 3. 10. These two Faith and Love being had and kept by us to wit The Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and Love wrought thereby we herein keep the Commandments of God and have the new Creature and are in some measure new Creatures compare 1 Cor. 7. 19. with Gal. 5 6. chapt 6. 15. And he that is called by and an hearer of the Gospel may in the Glass of the perfect law of liberty behold himself that he is at present none of Gods elect if he have not the Faith of God and our Lord Jesus if he believe not with the heart the word of God and Testimony of Jesus so as to work effectually in him in some measure Or if he hath not this love begotten produced and continued in him by this faith as hath been said Jam. 1. 22 23-27 And hereby also we may discern and know the Election or non-election of other persons so as to have or not have delightful love towards and fellowship with them that come amongst us As the Apostle Paul saith not only of himself but also joyns with himself Silvanus and Timotheus in this knowledge of others knowing brethren beloved your Election of God to wit by their work of Faith and labour of Love c. For saith he our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost c. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost c. And they were also taught of God to love one another and all Men Hereby they knew the election of these Thessalonians first it was the Apostles Gospel which was heartily received by them and that not as the word of men but as the word of God And this wrought effectually in them to turn them and they did turn unto God from all their Idols 1 Thes 1. 3 4-10 2. 13. 3. 12 13. 4. 9 10. And whatever zeal men may have or whatever reformation be wrought in them or whatever profession they make or conversation they have Yet if they hear and imbrace not Gods Words if they receive not the Faith of Christ as His Faith they are not of God Joh. 8. 47. 1 Joh. 4. 6. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. On though men do in some sort believe the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus yet if this be not yielded up unto and suffered to work effectually in them they do believe in vain and they are vain men 1 Cor. 15. 2. Jam. 1. 26 27. chapt 2. 14-20 22 c. Yea and by this Faith and Love and the Fruits and Effects thereof as being held forth unto and before others even those who are of the World may know that those that walk in this Faith which worketh by Love are Christs Disciples indeed and so Gods Elect ones they are Christs Disciples known and read of all Men being by these two manifestly declared so to be even to such as hate them and therefore make war with them which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. with Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. By this shall all men know that ye are My Disciples saith our Saviour if ye have Love one to another Joh. 13. 34 35. But we shall add no more to this use 3. In that the Elect and chosen ones of God are few it sheweth unto us the wonderfulness of Gods care concerning them and protection over them in preserving such an handful amongst so many enemies They are like a Lilly amongst many Thorns Cant. 2. 2. like a Turtle Dove amongst a multitude of birds of prey Psal 74. 19. And yet they are and shall be preserved because they have a strong redeemer and a careful and faithful Shepheard who will keep them and preserve them from this generation that hates them and that for ever Psal 12. 7. If it were not the Lord who were on their side they may always say if it were not Jehovah who is on their side when men rise up against them they had been often swallowed up quick when mens wrath was kindled against them Psal 124. But God is for them and who then can be against them Rom. 8. 31-33 34. The Lord is their Shepheard and they shall want no good thing And their Salvation is of the Lord He is their strength in the time of trouble And He shall help them and deliver them He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in Him Psal 23. 37 39 40. And hence also 4. This instruction contains consolation and incouragement in it against cause and occasion of fear and discouragement That the Elect are few causeth fear to them hence they are incouraged and strengthned against their fear occasioned by the smallness of their number Fear not little flock Luk. 12. 32. fear not thou worm Jacob and ye few men of Israel Isa 41. 14. But that these few are chosen chosen out of the World choice ones in Gods account and loved with delightful well pleased everlasting love this is proper and powerful to strengthen them against the fear of evil And to encourage them to lift up the hands that hang down and the
feeble knees Hence such incouragements and consolations are propounded to them as these thou art My servant I have chosen thee and not cast thee away fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God Isa 41 8 9 10-14 Hear now O Jacob My servant and Israel whom I have chosen Thus saith the Lord that made thee and formed thee from the Womb which will help thee fear not O Jacob My servant and thou Jeshurun whom I have chosen fear not neither be afraid Isa 43. 1-5 44. 1. 2-8 The smallness and littleness of their number might occasion them to think God will take no notice of them But the consideration of what is here affirmed of this small company that they are chosen chosen of God and precious in His esteem is incouraging unto them He will take them though but one of a City and two of a Family and will bring them to Zion Jer. 3. 14. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their Garments And they shall walk with me in White for they are worthy saith our Saviour Rev. 3. 4. And though He sift the Nations among whom they are like as Corn is sifted in a sieve Yet shall not one Corn no not the least Grain fall to the Earth Amos 9. 9 10. And that they are chosen may cause them to lift up their head against the evil and fear of their Enemies And assure them that God will avenge them in due time Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth c. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword nay in all these things we are more then Conquerours thorow Him that loved us and whose Elect we are Rom. 8. 33-37-39 And shall not God avenge His own Elect which cry unto Him day and night though He bear long with them I tell you saith Christ He will avenge them speedily Luk. 18. 7 8. Yea though they are few in number yet because they are chosen they may be confident God will provide what is good for them while they are here in this World And hence our Saviour saith Fear not little little flock fear not Enemies fear not Wants and Necessities for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom And therefore assuredly He will give you meat drink and cloths and no good thing will He withhold from you in seeking His Kingdom rather then any other thing Luk. 12. 31 32 33. with Jam. 2. 5. 5. Seeing that few of the called are chosen it may preserve us from being deceived by mystery Babylon and any other like her who flatters and perswades others telling them that she is the holy Catholick Church And that such as joyn themselves unto and abide in Communion with her are the true Sons of the Church and in a good and happy condition And living and dying therein shall be happy for ever Alas how plainly doth it appear that she is miserably mistaken and such as listen to her By what our Saviour here speaks and speaks Prophetically of the Gentiles also amongst whom few are chosen It may be more readily and reasonably believed That very few amongst them are called by the Servants in the plain and faithful declaration of the Gospel of Christ seeing they steal away the word of the Lord in the Records of them from the people as also others do in their vain and foolish interpretations and glosses then that many or most of them are chosen and shall hereafter inherit eternal life And it is good for us rather to mind what the Holy Ghost saith unto us then to listen to her lies dreams and delusions who saith If any man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation And he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb And the smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever c. Rev. 14. 8 9 10 11. chap. 18. 4 5 6. 6. That few of the called are chosen may be useful also to preserve us from such and such like sayings as these viz. Every man is bound by the commandment of God to believe that he is chosen in Christ to Salvation especially he that professeth Faith in Christ And when we say every man is bound to believe this we except none no not the reprobates who neither at any time do nor can believe in Christ And if the reprobate believe it not he sinneth most grievously of all Oh how Evil and Dangerous are such expressions And what occasion do such persons give to others to believe them in nothing they say These persons who thus speak deny that Christ died for all and yet they tell us every man is bound to believe that he is Elected in Christ And how falsly do such speak as will appear if we briefly consider 1. That which is to be believed in this saying is a manifest lye as with respect to the most of men even amongst the called ones also as is shewed And so such persons even say in such like expressions That most men are bound to believe a lye 2. It is supposed in this saying that every one is bound to believe that he is Elected in Christ by the command of God In which saying they first signifie That the God of truth doth command men to believe a lye Oh foolish charge And then also they belye Him in saying they are bound by His Command so to believe when as He never commanded them nor came such a thing into His mind 3. In this former saying also is intimated That if the reprobate do not believe he is Elected in Christ he sins most grievously of all And so it is signified the most heinous iniquity in the reprobates as they call them is that they believe not a lye And for this they shall be damned hereafter How contrary is this to what is spoken in the Scripture of truth 2 Thes 2. 10-12 And how contrary is this and such like sayings to our Saviours Doctrine here So that I' hope this brief mention of one will render that and its fellows sufficiently abominable and loathsome to us 7. And lastly Seeing few of the called are chosen let it provoke us all so to obey the heavenly call by the Gospel that we may come out from among men and be separate and touch no unclean thing that He may receive us and may be a Father unto us and we may be Sons and Daughters unto Him who is the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Oh let us not receive the Grace of God in vain But let us incline our Ears unto His call
after Him God hath given His Son to be the sign of His Gracious heart towards all sinners And to that End hath given Him by His Grace to tast Death for every Man and hath raised Him again from the Dead for their Justification And hath given them Eternal Life and this Life is in His Son And sent Him in the Gospel to open their Eyes and to bring forth the Prisoners out of the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house that in obeying Him they might be called out of Darkness into His marvellous Light and therein be of the chosen Generation Isa 42. 1-7 with 1 Pet. 2. 9. Oh let none of us reject His Grace nor receive it in vain But let us who are hearers of the word of truth so look into the perfect law of Liberty and continue therein that we may not be forgetful hearers but doers of the work that we may be blessed in our deed both now and unto the day of Eternity Oh! that we may not deceive our own Souls in making a trade of hearing and yet secretly prefer our Lusts and Idols before Him unto whom God hath given the preeminence in all things If we should thus do what shall we say when God riseth up And when He shall judge the World in Righteousness what shall we answer Him Others may say for themselves though unprofitably and wickedly we knew thou art an hard and austere Master Reaping where Thou hast not Sown and Gathering where Thou hast not Strawn They may say our Teachers perswaded us that Christ died not for all and we knew not whither He died for us nor was there any true and saving Grace vouchsafed to us if it had we should have done better But thus according to that judgment you profess to believe you cannot plead You have heard and been called by the Gospel of Christ the doctrine according to Godliness And if you be not also chosen you know it is only your own iniquity And therefore you know there remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour all them that obey not the Gospel Your Mouths have been already and often stopt by the Gospel so as you cannot but confess that God is not willing with your Perdition And if you Perish your Destruction will be altogether of your selves Oh then laying apart all Filthiness and superfluity of Naughtiness receive with Meekness the ingraffed word which is able to save your Souls Oh that when it is too late you may not take up that complaint How have we hated Instruction and our heart despised Reproof And we have not obeyed the voice of our Teachers nor inclined our Ears to them that instructed us If it should be so with any of us this will gnaw upon us to all Eternity that when we were assured from Gods Testimony of Gods good will towards us and that Christ wrought Redemption for us and thorow the discovery thereof was powerfully Redeeming and Choosing us from the Earth and from amongst Men yet willingly and wilfully we by observing lying vanities did forsake our own mercy Jonah 2. 8. That we for love to our sins and vanities the sinfulness and vanity whereof we saw in the Cross of Christ and when infinitely better things were proposed to us should yet in our hearts love Darkness and the Devil rather then Light and Christ How can our heart endure the remembrance hereof Or how can our hands be strong when He shall plead with us Oh consider this ye that forget God and spend your money for that which is not Bread And so consider the terrour of the Lord as evidenced in the Cross of Christ that the time past of your life may suffice you to have wrought the will of the Gentiles And that now you incline your ear and come unto Him who calleth you by His Servants that you may hear that your Souls may live and He may make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Oh! be not like to them unto and concerning whom the Lord saith stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old Paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Souls but they said we will not walk therein Also I set Watchmen over you saying hearken to the sound of the Trumpet but they said we will not hearken For be we well assured if such iniquity be found with us and persisted in by us that we will not come to Christ who is the rest nor hearken unto and obey the Trumpet of His Gospel if we will not be chosen after all means used and patience exercised He will at last say of us as He did of them The Bellows are burnt the Lead is consumed of the fire the Founder melteth in vain for the wicked are not plucked away Reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6. 16 17-29 30. Consider what is said and the Lord give us understanding in all things The END Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Southwood at the Star next to Serjants-Inn in Chancery-lane THE Brazen Serpent or Gods grand design for Mans Salvation a practical discourse according to the Primitive Doctrine in 4o. by John Horn of Linn Regis Needful Councel for Lukewarm Christians being a consideration of some part of the Message sent to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea a seasonable discourse according to the Primitive Doctrine in 4o. by Charles Phelpes of Lynn Regis The wonderful Councellor his Councel and Charge to his Disciples to have Salt in themselves that by the powerful and seasoning Efficacy thereof they might have Love Peace and Unity one with another a blessed searching Discourse according to the Primitive Doctrine whereunto is annexed some considerations on Rev. 22. 14. To do His Commandments in 8o. by Thomas Moor Sen. Englands Improvement Reviv'd a Treatise of Husbandry by Land and Sea The Planting of Trees Orchards and Gardens with the several ways of improving all sorts of barren and wast Grounds and enriching all Earths with two Chains to plant Seeds or Setts by and Hops The nature and virtue of Trees Plants and Herbs and their phisical directions Also the ordering of Cattel and observations about Sheep with many remarks never before extant in 4o. experienced in thirty years practise by John Smith Gent. The reward of the Wise and the fruitful Christians future Blessedness being a Funeral discourse at the burial of Mr. Thomas Moor Sen. in 8o. by John Horn of Lynn Regis The object of Love wherein it is manifested and wherein it is to be perceived by us at all times to the end we may love one another in 8o. by Charles Phelpes of Lynn Regis Instructions for Children into the chief Grounds of Christian Religion with the great mysteries of Redemption Faith Works Law Gospel yea and of Predestination Election Reprobation being opened therein agreeable to Scripture and most conducing to the promoting of Godliness by John Horn of Lynn Regis the second Edition somewhat abbreviated A comfortable Corroborative Cordial against the fears and harms of Death affording directions how to live and dye Run from Rome and beware of Babylon or brief notes upon the Beast his Image Worship and Mark in 8o. by John Horn of Lynn Regis FINIS ERRATA PAge 3 l. 7 r. outer p. 5. l. 13. r. made under p. 11 l. 21. r. their P. 19. 16. r. all p. 24. l. 13. r. 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