refusing to receive and submit to the contrary Doctrine which is according to the Scriptures and the only Doctrine which designs the Destruction of Sin in the Hearts and Lives of true Believers and the Promoter of true Holiness God most Justly punisheth such People with a giving them up not only to believe the most Nonsensical Lyes for true Religion but even to wallow like Swine in the Mire of the grossest Immoralities even to an excelling the very Pagan World To illustrate the point I am now defending against the Quakers and Arminians viz. That God in Electing some and Reprobating others doth Act therein most freely as an absolute Soveraign Let them give me leave to put this Question to their Reason and Conscience such as it is suppose that all the several Parties in the City who differ in their Mode or Way of Worshipping God should in their respective Meetings instead of Worshipping God lay all their Heads Hearts and Hands together to contrive and carry on a Plot against the King and the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom with a full intent to destroy both the one and the other to which Plot all the several Parties do as one Man harmoniously and unanimously agree the Law condemns not only the Practice as Traiterous and Treasonable but Sentences the very Persons all and singular who are prov'd to have had any hand in such a Plot to a shameful and cruel Death The Plot comes to be Discovered upon Discovery the King who hath the Executive Power of the Law in his own hand he considers the matter and finding that all these several Parties whom he took to be Loyal Subjects are turned Rebels as most evidently appears by the unnatural Plot lately engaged in by them all against both his Person and Government for which both he and they know full well the Law condemns them all alike The King to whom the Executive Power of the Law belongs according to his Prerogative he Nominates two Select Parties out of all the rest viz. Quakers and Arminians to whom he resolves to extend his Favour in giving to them his Royal Pardon the other several Parties distinct from them he resolves to leave them to the Sentence of the Law to undergo the deserved Penalty thereof for that horrid and unnatural Rebellion I would fain know what the Quakers and Arminians could object against the King of England for passing an Act of Indemnity or Free Pardon on the People called Quakers and Arminians and leaving all the other Parties to suffer Death Seeing that herein the King Acts by Prerogative not according to Desert for the Quakers and Arminians deserved Death as well as the rest who are excluded out of the Pardon My reason tells me that the Quakers and Arminians would be so far from charging the King with Injustice or Partiality that they would rather sound forth his Praise for saying them by his Favour and Mercy no way deserved whom in strictness of Justice he might have left to the Sentence of the Law And in case any of the Criminals condemned to Die should offer to murmur against the King for making such a Difference between his equally guilty Subjects would not the Quaker and the Arminian both Plead the Kings Prerogative for saving themselves when at the same time and by the same Soveraignty he past by the rest and shall the King of Kings be Disputed against and Reflected on for Acting in matters of the like nature by his own undoubted Prerogative If any should be so saucy and bold as to demand a reason why or wherefore the King of England should leave seven or eight several Parties out of his Royal Pardon and extend the Benefit thereof only to two Select Parties who were both as liable to Death by the Law as the others the Answer is ready it is the Kings Soveraign Will and Pleasure to make the two Select Parties Nominated in his Pardon Objects of his Pity and Mercy and the rest to be the Objects of his incensed Justice to undergo that Death and Misery which they by Rebeilion brought upon themselves Now in all this hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one Vessel to Honour and another to Dishonour Rom. 9.21 Reader I pray consider that the lump in the place now quoted intends no other than Men and Women whom God the absolute Soveraign of the World Decreed to Create The making Vessels is Gods Creating Mankind with a purpose to permit their Fall His making one Vessel to Honour and the other to Dishonour is Gods Creating one with a sixed purpose to recover him out of that fallen State into which he was to fall and that by Soveraign Grace the other he leaves to Die and Perish in that wretched State into which he of his own default fell In this Procedure God is altogether free neither can the Creature so left by God any way reflect on God as dealing unjustly or unequally with him and the reason is because God is under no Tye or Obligation to give Grace to that Creature who of his own accord did abuse and throw away that stock of Grace whereby he was rendred capable of keeping the Law of his Maker and who by the Instinct of his vitiated and corrupted Nature doth obstinately oppose and resist the means of Cure propounded and tendred in the Gospel So that the point in Controversy between me and the Adversaries already Named is in this comparison propounded in the Verse last quoted lively set forth from which it is apparent that the design of the Apostle is to prove that God as the undoubted Soveraign of the World who Acts what him pleaseth and that according to the Counsel of his own most Holy Will decreed to make some of the corrupted Mass to be Vessels of Mercy and of the rest Vessels of Wrath and that by Electing some unto himself upon whom he purposed to bestow his Love with all the means tending to fit and prepare those Persons so Elected and Chosen for the actual enjoyment of that Love Such as a Redeemer to Die for them Faith whereby they should be made Partakers of that Redeemer with all the saving Graces of the Spirit promised in the Covenant of Grace with final perseverance in Grace to the end the rest as hath been before observed he left or passed over purposing to leave them in that wretched and deplorable Condition into which they causelesly plung'd themselves Neither is God therefore the cause why the Reprobate is Sinful and Wicked but his own Will which being left to its own natural freedom did most freely and readily choose that which was by Gods Law forbidden upon pain of Gods Displeasure and Curse The second Property in Gods Act of Election is its unchangeableness and therefore most certain it is that he or she whom God hath once purposed to Love and Save shall never finally or totally fall away from Grace or miscarry eternally Psal 33.11 The
and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World even as I am not of the World Here are two distinct Partys described by Christ the one is Prayed for the other is not the one is hated the other hates the very Practice of the latter denotes the Persons to be Children of another Father distinct from those they hate There is nothing more discovers Men to be the Children of the Devil than their hating Righteousness and not loving those who appear to be Godly 1 Jo. 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doeth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother As Love to God his Truth and such as bear his Image is an infallible Character of an Elect Child of God Jo. 13.35 1 Jo. 3.14 1 Jo. 4.7 So to hate God his Truth and such as bear his Holy Image is the indelible Character of a Reprobate designed for Eternal Destruction 1 Jo. 3.10 The second thing in the Proposition to be considered is the End and Design of God in that Act of his in Electing and Choosing which is twofold First as it respects the Creatures Elected viz. that they might partake of the Special Grace of God here on Earth and of Eternal Glory in the Kingdom of Heaven through Christ his Son according to that of Paul Ephes 1.4 According as he hath Chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without blame before him in Love 2 Thes 2.13 Because God hath from the beginning Chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Vers 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.9 For God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ Secondly with respect to God Electing viz. That the Glory of his Soveraign Free and rich Grace might be Extolled and Praised for ever according as the Apostle expresseth it in Ephes 1.6 To the Praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Vers 11 12. In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinate according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will that we should be to the Praise of his Glory who first trusted in Christ The third thing in the Proposition to be considered is to take Notice of the Properties in that Act of God Electing Those Properties are in number three First God in Electing and Choosing some Sinners to himself out of the corrupted Mass of fallen Mankind on whom he purposed to shew Mercy He did Elect and Choose them most freely there was nothing at all in the Objects Elected and Chosen that could move God wherefore he should Elect one Sinner more or sooner than another for as fallen into Sin and equally obnoxious to the Curse of the Law and the Wrath to come were all the Sons and Daughters of Adam lookt on by God when he fixed his Electing Love on some and actually rejected and passed others by on whom the most High God as an uncontrolable Soveraign purposed to execute the fierceness of his Wrath for Sin The reason or impulsive cause of this Difference which the tremendous God saw fit to make between Sinners equally guilty and obnoxious to the Curse and Wrath of God is not to be sought out of God himself An Example and lively Instance hereof we have in Rom. 9.11 which the Wise God hath seen sit should be recorded on purpose to stop the mouth of Carnal reason which is so wretchedly prone to Question and Dispute against his Soveraignty over his Creatures The Children being not yet Born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger As it is Written Jacob have I Loved but Esau have I Hated The Wise God foreseeing the purblind Reasonings and Cavillings of Carnal Mens unsanctified Brains against the Doctrine of Gods absolute Soveraignty in disposing of the Eternal concerns of his rational Creatures fallen by Sin into a state and condition of Misery through their own default hath seen good for the vindication of his own Prerogative to make known to the Sons of Men and that by the unerring Wisdom and unquestionable Authority of so great a Man as Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles the reason of Gods Method in proceeding to Elect some of fallen Mankind to a state of Life and Salvation through a Redeemer and Reprobating others leaving them for ever to perish in that Sin and Misery into which they did without any constraint wilfully plunge themselves to be no other than his own most free and holy Will seeing that he alone is the undoubted Soveraign of the World who hath an indisputable right to determine what to do with or how to dispose of Sinning Rebels without being any way liable to the controulment of any of his Creatures especially such of them as by Sin have forfeited their very Being to the Divine Justice and who while in an unreconciled State are not capable of knowing him or of being subject to his Divine Law The good Will and Pleasure then of the Blessed God is the Source and Fountain whence the great Disparity between the Elect and the Reprobate World doth spring not any thing in the Creatures themselves as Arminian Cavillers dream and conceit it doth This will evidently appear if the Reader will but with a becoming modesty and unprejudic'd judgment read the whole Chapter at length and with fervent Prayer to God for the Wisdom of his Spirit look narrowly into and with sobriety consider the 11th and the 16th Verses where it plainly appears that the two conceited Qualifications of which the Enemies of Election are usually proud and which they hold and teach are the procuring cause of the Difference between the good and the evil Men on Earth viz. the Free Will in Man and the good Works which unregenerate Men do but conceit they do they are both met with and equally discarded by God from having any room or place among the causes which put God either upon Choosing the Elect or rejecting the Reprobate Mark the 11th Vers That the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth With this agrees Ephes 2 8.9 For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works least any Man should boast And Tit. 3.5 Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he hath Saved us c. Vain unregenerate Man would fain perswade himself that he is worse than Threadbare Rags of his polluted Morality negative and positive is a covering sufficient
on directing and sending the poor sin-sick wounded Sinner to the Son of God with his Wounds and Plague-sores to be healed pressing him to believe in the Son of God out of whom no Salvation is to be found Hereto I add the peremptory Command of God himself that the poor despairing Soul believe on the Son of God 1 Jo. 2.23 Mark 16.16 By these Methods and Ways of God's own appointment God is pleased to work saving Conversion and effectual Faith in the Souls of elect Sinners To what hath been offered out of God's own Word to prove the Doctrine of Particular Election before time I here set down the Judgment of the most Orthodox Protestant Churches concerning the same Not that I think the Word of God stands in any need of Humane Testimony to help it out but rather to shew forth the sweet Harmony which is between the Holy Scriptures and the Saints of God in their Holy and Orthodox Confessions of their Faith concerning the present so much controverted and impugned Doctrine of Election and Reprobation before time As also to shame those nominal Protestants both Non. and Conformists who have so apparently turn'd the back upon their own Articles of Faith whereby both the one and the other Party hath not a little strengthened the Foundation of the Jesuits hope of bringing England's Neck once more under the Papal Yoke From which I heartily wish and sincerely pray that God will ever keep us I begin with the Church of England Predestination to Life is the everlasting Purpose of God whereby before the Foundations of the World were laid he hath constantly decreed by his Counsel secret to us to deliver from Curse and Damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of Mankind and to bring them by Christ to everlasting Salvation as Vessels made to Honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a Benefit of God be called according to God's Purpose by his Spirit working in due season They through Grace obey the Calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by Adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ they walk religiously in good Works and at length by God's Mercy they attain to everlasting Felicity See 39 Articles of the Church of England Article 17th of Predestination and Election Secondly The Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster By the Decree of God for the Manifestation of his Glory some Men and Angels are predestinated to everlasting Life and others to everlasting Death 1 Tim. 5.21 Mat. 25.41 Rom. 9.22 These Angels and Men thus Predestinated and fore Ordained are particularly and unchangeably design'd and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either encreased or diminshed Those of Mankind that are Predestinated unto Life God before the Foundation of the World was laid according to his eternal and immutable Purpose and the secret Counsel and good Pleasure of his Will hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting Glory out of his meer free Grace and Love without any foresight of Faith or good Works or Perseverance in either of them or any other thing in the Creature as Conditions or Causes moving him thereunto and all to the praise of the Glory of his Grace As God hath appointed the Elect unto Glory so hath he by the eternal and most free Purpose of his Will fore-ordain'd all the means thereunto 1 Pet. 1.2 Ephes 1.4 5. Ephes 2.10 2 Thes 2.13 Wherefore they who are Elected being fallen in Adam are Redeemed by Christ are effectually called unto Faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due Season are Justified Adopted Sanctified and kept by his Power through Faith unto Salvation 1 Thes 5.9 10. Tit. 2.14 Rom. 8.10 Ephes 1.5 1 Pet. 1.5 Neither are any other Redeemed by Christ effectually Called Justified Adopted Sanctified and Saved but the Elect only Jo. 17.9 Rom. 8.28 Jo. 10.26 The rest of Mankind God was pleased according to the unsearchable Counsel of his own Will whereby he extendeth or withholdeth Mercy as he pleaseth for the Glory of his Soveraign Power over his Creatures to pass by and to ordain them to Dishonour and Wrath for their Sin to the praise of his glorious Justice Mat. 11.25 26. Rom. 2.12 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Pet. 2.8 See The Assemblys Confession of Faith Chap. 3. of the eternal Decree of God To this the Church of Scotland hath fully agreed With this also agrees the Articles of Faith of the Church of Ireland in Bishop Vsher's time See those Articles And Vsher's Body of Divinity Quest What are the parts of Predestination Answ Election and Reprobation 1 Thes 5.9 Rom. 9.13 22 23. Quest What is Election Answ It is the everlasting Predestination or Fore-appointing of certain Angels and Men unto everlasting Life and Blessedness for the praise of his Grace and Goodness 1 Tim. 5.21 Jo. 15.16 Rom. 9.22 23. Ephes 1.4 5 6 9. Quest What is Reprobation Answ It is the eternal Predestination or Fore-appointment of certain Angels and Men unto everlasting Dishonour and Destruction God of his own freewill determining to pass them by refuse or cast them off and for Sin to Condemn and Punish them with eternal Death Prov. 16.4 Exod. 9.16 Rom. 9.17 22. 2 Tim. 2.20 Mat. 25.41 See Vsher's Body of Divinity pag. 91 92. The Church of France in the 12th Article of the Confession of her Faith hath these words viz. We believe that God out of that Corruption and general Curse into which all Men were plung'd doth free those whom in his eternal and immutable Counsel he elected of his meer Goodness and Mercy in our Lord Jesus Christ without the Consideration of Works leaving the rest in the same Corruption and Damnation to shew forth in these his Justice and in them the Riches of his Mercy for none of them are better than others because God hath separated them c. The Synod of Dort in the 7th Canon doth lay down this plain and clear Definition of Election thus viz. Election is the unchangeable Purpose of God by which before the Foundation of the World according to the free good pleasure of his Will of his meer Grace he hath chosen out of all Mankind to Salvation in Christ a certain and set number of Men neither better nor more worthy than others but lying in the common Misery with others and fallen from original Righteousness into Sin and Destruction by their own fault c. And in the 15th Canon of Reprobation they say thus viz. The Holy Scripture doth manifest and commend unto us this eternal and free Grace especially when it doth farther witness That not all Men are elected but that some are not elected or are passed by in the eternal Election of God viz. Those whom God according to his free just unreproveable and immutable good Pleasure decreed to leave in the common Misery into which they had cast themselves by their own fault and not to