in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe Isa 53. 6. He laid upon him the iniquity of us all And Christ died for all for every man for the world for the whole world for the unjust and disobedient finally such 1 Pet. 3. 18 with the 20. for the ungodly for sinners for his enemies as was said above 2. Also for as many as died in Adam Rom. 5. 12 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As by the offence of one man c. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 3. For as many as are bound to believe in him as was declared above 4. For as many as are bound to adore and serve him 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your c. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. with Rom. 14. 9. We thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that he might be Lord of all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them See Eph. 1. 12. 5. For as many as we are bound to pray for in Christs name 1 Tim. 2. 1 5 6. I exhort that supplications be made for all men For there is one Mediator who gave himselfe a ransome for all 6. For such as crucifie him a fresh to themselves Hebr. 6. 4 5 6. c. 10. 29. For such as deny him and finally do perish 2 Pet. 2. 1. See Rom. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 8. 11. II. They do utterly deny that the immediate fruit of the death of Christ is the actual pardon of sins or which is the same in effect that sins are pardoned unto sinners before they do actually believe in Christ The Reason Rom. 10. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness See Gal. 3. 22. Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Marke 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Iohn 3. 18 36. He is condemnâ—d already the wrath of God abideth on him See proofes for the affirm III. They do utterly deny that Reprobates as some call them for whom Christ died not if there were any such are bound notwithstanding to believe in him and to believe that they are elected unto glory and that therefore those that believe not shall be condemned justly yea shall therefore be punished with more grievous torments by Almighty God The Reason 1. Iob 13. 7. Will ye speak wickedly for God And talk deceitfully for him Ier. 10. 1â— He is the God of truth Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. that cannot lye All his Commandements are truth righteousness and faithfulnesse Psal 119. 86 151 172. And Rom. 15. 8. Christ was a Minister for the truth of God and no lie is of the truth 1 Iohn 2. 21. 2. If we meet with false Prophets and dissemblers for all their fair speeches he bid us Believe them not Ier. 12. 6. Mat. 24. 23. Prov. 26. 25. 3. He denounceth grievous judgments against such Prophets as go about to induce the people to trust in a lye Ier. 28. 25. chap. 29. 31. 4. It is a sore judgement inflicted only upon the obstinate and refractory and therefore certainly no duty of them that are not such to be given up to such Errours 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness So that the God of truth and righteousness doth not binde men as a part of their duty to believe falshood much less punish them with more grievous torments for not believing it 5. Iob 8. 3. Doeth God pervert judgement or doth the Almighty pervert justice Ioâ— 34. 10 12. Yea surely God will not doe wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgement and ver 23. He will not lay upon man more then is right that he should enter into judgment with God The state of the Controversie touching the Universality of Christs death Whether Christ Jesus out of a serious and gratious purpose and decree of God the Father suffered that most bitter and shameful death that he might bring into favour with God onely some few and those formerly and in particular chosen to eternal life by an absolute decree or that he might merit and obtain reconciliation with God for all and every sinner without difference by doing and suffering those things which divine justice by sin offended did require to be done and suffered before he would enter a new gracious Covenant with sinners and open the door of salvation to them The decision is conteined in the former Assertions and Negations The Third and Fourth Articles Controverted which are touching the grace of God in the Conversion of Man What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that a man hath not saving faith of himselfe nor from the power of his own free will seeing while he is in the state of sin he cannot of himselfe nor by himselfe think or will or do any saving good in which kinde faith in Christ is eminent but must needs by God in Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost be regenerated and renewed in his minde affections will and all his powers that he may aright understand will and meditate and do that which is savingly good Proofs out of Holy Scripture Not faith or any saving good of himself c. Ephes 5. 8. Ye were sometimes darkness Rom. 7. 5. When we were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 11. 32. God hath concluded all in unbelief Ephes 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Phil. 1. 8 9. To you it is given to believe 1 Cor. 12. 3. None can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost who is therefore called the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiencie is of God Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Iohn 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing Iohn 6. 44 45 65. No man can come to me except the Father draw him Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Must needs be regenerated c. John 3. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and this I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15. Iohn 3. 3 5. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Not
priests mouth Mal. 2. 7. Hence we have these Caveats not only take heed how you hear and what you hear but also whom you hear for many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 4. 1. and therefore try the spirits whether they are of God ibid. What need all these caveats and so much ado if the ministery of the word hath no influence or energie into our faith and regeneration and the work of grace in us Mr. Knowlittle But we see the Scripture every where ascribes the work of faith conversion and regeneration in us to the power and gift of God to Christ and to the Holy Ghost Mr. Takeo'trust The Scriptures do attribute to Almighty God that which he doth mediately by any of his creatures or Ministers Joh. 4. 1. Jesus is said to have baptized moe disciples than John yet in the next verse 't is said that Iesus baptized not but his Disciples See Iohn 6. 45 46. with Luke 10. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 1 Thess 4. 8. Heb. 12. 25. Act. 5. 39. ch 7. 51. Though the ministery of the word be instrumental in the work of grace in us yet must we acknowledge the blessed Trinity the chief cause and author thereof and are bound alwayes to render them the honour of that efficacy that is wrought by this instrument because all the light force and efficacy which appears therein flowes from God alone and had not been in it at all if He had not as it were implanted it therein We have this treasure in earthen vessels as the Apostle in a like case 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. 2 Cor. 3. 3 4 5. Certainly there we have it and God associates what other divine internal aids he pleaseth with it Mar. 16. 15 20. Rom. 15. 16 19. To Him therefore we must ascribe the glory who hath annexed such an excellency of power to such otherwise weak and feeble instruments 2 Cor. 10. 4. Dr. Absolute Leave your wrangling Gentlemen that we may dispatch Mr. Tilenus one may or other Have any of you any more objections against him Mr. Indefectible He holds the possibility of the Saints Apostacy notwithstanding the decrees and promises of God to the contrary and concludes David's Adultery and Murder to be wilfull wasting deadly sins and inconsistent with the state of Regeneration so that should a godly man through the frailty of the flesh suffer the like infirmity he would be ready to discourage and grieve his spirit telling him he had forfeited his interest in Gods favour and lay under a damnable guilt liable to the wrath of God and the torments of hell and so in danger to bring him to desperation if he does not forsak his sin and mortifie his lust and bring forth fruits meet for repentance upon his admonition Mr. Narrowgrace Which was worse then that to my minde he flouted the Divines of the Synod saying if their doctrine were well improved it would prove an Antidote against the power of Death and teach a man how to become immortall even in this life Mr. Impertinent That slipt my Observation I pray' what was it he said Mr. Narrowgrace It was to this purpose If the Elect cannot be cutt off in the state of impâ—nitency notwithstanding they fall into most grievous sins then saith he let them abandon themselves to some horrid lust or course of impiety and they shall be sure to be immortal Mr. Indefectible But we know the Elect cannot do so They have a principle within them and a guard without them to defend and secure them from such courses They are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. There is their guard and their inward principle that inclines and moves them you have 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Dr. Dubius Under Correction Sir I conceive man is never immutably good till he arrives in heaven As long as he converseth here below he is like other sublunary things subject to change Quod Angelis Casus hominibus mors The reason is besides temptations from without to allure and draw him He hath a twofold principle a new or an old man within him the flesh and the spirit in Con estation Gal. 5. 7. The flesh lusteth against the sp it and the spirit against the flesh This Conflict is in the regenerate And that he hath liberty to side with either of these parties and so to change I think cannot be denied He hath a liberty through Gods grace to side with the spirit against the flesh and hereupon he is exhorted to abstain from fleshly lusts to mortifie his earthly members and to walk in the spirit his liberty to side with the flesh is but too evident And therefore the words CANNOT SIN must be taken not Physicè but Ethicè Not for a natural impotency but a moral one he cannot do it Legally or at averseness of minde which notwithstanding is capable of being altered 'T is said of Christ sometimes that Id possumus quod jure possumus He could doe no mighty work Mark 6. 5. and so 't is said that the brethren of Joseph could not answer him Gen. 45. 3. And the Angel could doe nothing against Sodom till Lot were escaped into Zoar. Gen. 19. 22. See Ios 24. 19 21. And 't is usual in our common speech to say we cannot do a thing when the thing is not impossible to be done but only it is unlawful or inconvenient for us to do it If we set aside the inconvenience and step over the hedge of the law as many times we do we can finde power enough to do it And so it is here Therefore to that of our Saviour Mat. 7. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit S. Hierome addeth Quamdiù in bonitatis studio perseverat as long as it perseveres in the study and love of goodnesse Thus he that is born of God whiles he acteth according to the nature of the principles of his new birth and studies to follow and resemble his heavenly Father He cannot deliberately yield to any kinde of sin Haec non admittet omnino qui natus è Deo fuerit non futurus Dei filius si admiserit saith Tertullian He that is born of God will not at all admit such sins as these he shall not be a childe of God if he doth admit them As for that guard you mention out of St. Peter They are kept by the power of God We must consider that we are to add a guard of our own to it as is required Jud. ep ver 20 21. But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost Keep your selves in the love of God And S. Peter addes through faith 1 Pet. 1. 5. The Psalmist saith Except the Lord keepeth the City the watchman waketh but in vain but he doth not say the
them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Prov. 1. 28. Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not finde me Numb 14. 40. c. They rose up early in the morning saying we will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised for we have sinned viz. in refusing to go up at his command see 1 Cor. 10. 6 11. Heb. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 11. And Moses said it shall not prosper But they presumed to go up and were discomfited Heb. 12. 17. Afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance in his Father who had past away the blessing from him though he sought it carefully with tears If these places do not make a saving repentance especially after grievous sins see Acts 8. vers 22. and an obstinate continuance in them somewhat doubtful yet doubtless they implie a difficulty and the more difficult the more doubtful So do the places following Mat. 12. 43 44 45. He taketh seven other spirits more wicked then himself and they enter in and dwell there And the last state of that man is worse than the first 2 Pet. 2. 20. Compare this with verse 1. c. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning Heb. 6. 4 5 6. For it is impossible i. e. very difficult as Luke 17. 1. or Luke 18. 27. If they fall away to renew them again unto repentance See the last Negative precedent Ecclus 5. 5. Concerning propitiation be not without fear to adde sin unto sin Rom. 2. 4 5. Despisest thou the riches c Luke 13. 24. Strive to enter in at the straight gate for many I say unto you will strive to enter in and shall not be able V. They hold that the true believer may for the present be assured of the integritie of his faith and conscience and for that time may and ought to be assured of his salvation and the saving love of God towards him Proofs out of holy Scripture 1 John 1. 7. If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all our sin 1 John 2. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandements 1 John 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren 1 John 5. 2 3. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his Commandements and his commandements are not grievous Gal. 6. 4. But let every man prove his own works and then shall he have rejoycing in himself 1 Iohn 3. 21. If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our reâ—oycing is this the testimonie of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Rom. 5. 1 2 5. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us 1 Ioh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because He hath given us of his spirit Rom. 8. 16. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God ver 13 14. Isa 32. 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietness and assurance for ever VI. They hold that the true believer may and ought to be assured for the time to come that in the use of watching and prayer and other holy exercises he may persevere in faith and that Gods grace shall never be wanting thereto But how he may be assured for the time to come that he himselfe shall not be wanting to do his duty but that he shall in the actions of faith piety and charity as beseems the faithful persevere in this school of Christian waâ—â—â—re they see not nor think it necessary that a believer should be assured thereof Proofs out of Holy Scripture In the use of watching and prayer c. Eph. 6. 11 13 to 19. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil having done all to stand 2 Thess 5. 17. pray without ceasing Watch and pray Matth. 26. 41. ch 24. 13. with the 42. Luke 12. 35 36 37. Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord. Luke 21. 34 36. Take heed lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeting and drunkenness and the cares of this life Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the faith James 4. 7. Resist the devil and he will flee from you 1 Iohn 5. 18. He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not Heb. 6. 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That Gods grace shall never be wanting Psal 23. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Rom. 8. 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. shall separate us from the love of God Phil. 1. 6. He which hath begun a good work in you Iohn 15. 2 7 10. Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall aske what ye will and it shall be done unto you See Luke 11. 13. Acts 5. 32. ver 10. If ye keep my Commandements ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my fathers Commandements and abide in his love Rom 6. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee 1 Iohn 4. 4. Ye are of God little children and have overcome them the false teachers because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world But how assured for the time to come that he himself shall not be wanting c. For 1. Man is many
God Rom. 5. 1. Tilenus Tentatus Sir I know these are excellent Cordialls to the soul that is perswaded she hath a reall interest in them but they are designed onely for a very small number as the doctrine of the Synod hath determined For those Divines tell us that Almighty God did by an absolute decree elect certain particular persons to salvation neither considering the death of his Son nor the faith of those elect in that decree but then decreed to give his Son to die for them and irresistibly to work in them a saving faith to lay hold upon that his Son and actually to apply all the said benefits to themselves for whose salvation only they were all prepared and designed Now all the promises of salvation in Christ how universally soever propounded being by your Doctrine restrained onely to these Elect amongst whom that I should reckon my self neither any particular mention of me in Scripture nor any revelation by Angel or Prophet out of it doth assure me and the number of them according to your computation being so small in proportion to the Reprobates there is so much odds against me that I have reason to be afraid that I am inlisted under the greater multitude When Christ said to his Apostles One of you shall betray me though the odds were eleven to one on the Innocent parties side yet it raised so much scruple and suspition in all their bosomes as made them very anxious and inquisitive Matth. 26. 22. Master is it I Were the number of the Reprobates for whom you say Christ died not far more disproportionable to the elect yet the sad apprehension of those eternal torments fatally link'd to the end of that horrible decree would prompt me to entertain fears jealousies more than enough lest I should be filed upon that chain having no assurance to the Contrary How much more should fearfullness and trembing surprize me when I consider how few the Elect are even amongst the vast multitudes of such as are called Mr. Simulans Seeing it hath pleased the wisdom of Almighty God to keep his immutable Decrees as well that of Reprobation as that of Election locked up in the secret Cabinet of his own unsearchable Counsell we are to govern our judgment by the rule of Charity which beleeveth all things and hopeth all things 1 Cor. 13 Tilenus Tentatus I confesse the judgement of Charitie is a try'd and equall beame in many Cases but if you extend it generally and apply it unto all particulars it must needs be very false and I am confident you dare not avouch the trueth of it in such a latitude or if you dare you are no more able to maintaine it than I can beleeve these two contrary propositions at once that Jesus Christ died for all and yet that he died for a very small number 2. It is not the judgement of my Charity but the certaintie of my faith that must give me assurance and comfort in this particular 3. Charitable judgement is a fair standard to measure the doubtfull actions of our neighbour by and commands us to cover his infirmities and stifle the too light conception of suspitions and sinister opinions touching him but bindes us not to preach falshood to him to induce him against his own reason to foster too good an opinion of himself When I see a man present himself to the Holy Sacrament the judgement of Charity perswades mee knowing nothing to the contrary that he addresses himself to it with that preparation of heart that becomes a good Christian But that such as are rightly prepared and qualified do partake thereof to their salvation this I beleeve by the judgement of faith which admâ—tteth nothing that is or can be false So when I see a sick man render his soul up with much devotion and resignation into the hands of Christ I beleeve charitably that he dies as becomes a faithfull Christian But that God communicateth his salvation to such as die in the profession and obedience of the right faith this I beleeve by the certainty of faith wherein it is impossible I should be deceived though the judgment of Charity deceives us very often In a word the judgment of charity is a good standing measure betwixt man and man but it is not current betwixt man and his own Conscience much lesse betwixt him and God I know I am not to be relieved but by such succours as are levied upon the divine promises and those promises having their foundation and infallibilitie in the undeceivable truth of God they require such a certaintie of faith as will admit no mixture of any thing false or doubtfull Besides when I do inquire which act of faith hath the prioritie viz. to beleeve in Christ or to beleeve Christ to be my Saviour in particular I am taught by some of your Divines Maccovius by name that I must in the first place beleeve that Christ is my Saviour and that is the cause of the other act or the reason why I place my faith in him Now if Christ died only for a few particular persons and all the promises made in him belong to those few onely unlesse I could find some mention of my name amongst them or receive some revelation from heaven to that effect how can I with any certainty or assurance build my faith upon it that I am one of them Mr. Tako'trust We are bound to think every one is of the number of the Elect till it appears to the contary Tilen Tentatus This is but singing the old note ever again This is still your judgement of Charity which though it suppresseth all suspicion in you towards me yet can it not cure those feares and jealousies which I have but with too great reason conceived of my self As for your appearances to the contrary I cannot understand them much lesse set any value upon them for by such outward things the Synod is ready to tell us we can never perceive any thing of what belongs to the state of Election or Reprobation I am beholding to you that waving the severity of your reason you will make use of a charitable supposition to flatter me into an opinion that I am one of that little Flock for which Christ dyed But there is nothing can secure and comfort me but a full and certain perswasion that I am one of them which you will never be able to work in me denying that Christ died for all unlesse you can find some particular and undeniable evidence of my interest in him Mr. Indefectible You should reflect upon your former experience of God's gratious work in you That spirit of adoption sent out into the hearts of Gods Elect to bear witness to their spirits though he may become silent and not speak peace to them in such an audible language of comfort as is alwayes apprehended by them yet he abides with them for ever Spiritual injoyments are different from these outward and carnal ones we
out quickly and compel them to come in Rev. 22. 17. The spirit and the Bride say come And let him that heareth say come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Isa 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock Prov. 1. 20. c. Wisdome crieth without she uttereth her voice in the streets How long ye simple ones Turn you at my reproof Behold I will pour out my spirit unto you c. 3. His reception Iohn 6. 37. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Mat. 11. 28. Come and I will refresh you Rev. 3. 20. He shall sup with me 4. His options 1. For the time past Psal 81. 9 10 11 12 13 14. But my people would not hear O that my people had hearkned unto me Isa 48. 17 18 19. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest goe O that thou hadst hearkened to my Commandements then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the Sea 2. For the future Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them Deut. 32. 29. O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their later end 5. His precations and beseechings Isa 65. 2. Rom. 10. 21. I have spread out my hands a posture of prayer Exod. 9. 29. Psal 63. 5. all the day unto a rebellious people 2 Cor. 5. 20. God doth beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead Be ye reconciled unto God 6. His obtestations Deut. 30. 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed mayest live Isa 1. 2. Hear O heavens and give eare O earth c. 7. His complaints Micha 6. 3. O my people what have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me Ier. 2. 5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity and are become vain Ier. 2. 31. Have I been a wilderness c. 8. His Lamentations Ier. 4. 14. O Ierusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Mat. 23. 37. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Luke 19. 41 42. He beheld the city and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace 9. His expostulations Ezek. 18. 31 32. Cast away from you all your transgressions and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel Ier. 13. last 10. His increpations and exprobrations Iohn 5. 40 with 34. These things I say that ye may be saved And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Rom. 2. 4. Despisest thou the riches of his goodnes not knowing that the goodness of the Lord leadeth thee unto repentance Ier. 13. last Woe unto thee O Jerusalem wilt thou not be made clean When shall it once be 11. His Comminations and threatnings Ezek. 18. 30. Therefore will I judge you O house of Israel every one according to his wayes saith the Lord God repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Ier. 18. 10 11. Now therefore go to speak to the men of Judah saying thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a device against you return ye now every one from his evil way and make your wayes and your doings good 12. His oath and Protestation Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye die O house of Israel Are not these arguments of seriousness Judg. 13. 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things nor have told us such things as these See the Reason of the fifth Negative What the Remonstrants do not hold touching the said Articles viz. Gods grace and Mans Conversion I. THey do not hold that all Zeal Care and Study for the obtaining of Salvation which a man shall use before he hath faith and the spirit of renovation is vain and to no purpose much lesse that 't is rather hurtful than profitable and fruitful to him The Reason 1. The neglect hereof is complained of Isa 64. 7. There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee Isa 44. 19. Iob 35. 10 11. But none saith where is God my maker Who teacheth us more then the beasts of the earth and maketh us wiser then the fouls of heaven See Ier. 5. 24. ch 8. 6. No man repented him of his wickednesse saying what have I done 2. This neglect is threatned Luke 16. 10 12. He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore you have not been faithful in that which is anothers c. Rom. 1. 21. Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God 3. This is a duty expected even of the Heathens Act. 17. 27. That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and finde him 4. And 't is commanded He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Isa 46. 8. Remember this and shew your selves men Jam. 1. 5. If any of you lack wisdome let him aske of God Strive to enter in at the streight gate Ier. 4. 3. Luke 3. 4 6. Prepare the way of the Lord. Hos 10. 12. 5. This is commended as a disposition and preparative to faith in Christ and the spirit of renovation Mat. 13. 10 11 12. To him that hath shall be given To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 11. 5 25 26. Thou hast revealed them to babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Iohn 10. 27. Iohn 3. 21. But he that doth truth cometh to the light Luke 8. 15. That on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Mark 19. 14. Of such is the kingdome of God 6. This care and study is incouraged Mat. 12. 20. He will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed Isa 55. 1. Mat. 11. 28. Ho
every one that thirsteth that labours Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh unto God and he will dnaw nigh to you Neh. 1. 11. They that desire to fear thy Name Psal 38. 9. 7. He adjourns the judgment upon Ahabs humiliation 1 King 21. 27 29. See 2 Chr. 12. 12. Exod. 1. 17 20 21. 8. He sends direction to such as are pricked to the heart and inquire after him Acts 2. 37 38. To the Publicans and Souldiers Luke 3. 8 10. To the Jailor Act. 16. 29 30. To Cornelius after a most eminent and extraordinary manner Act. 10. 1. to 35. 9. He gives persons of such study and inclinations satisfaction and a blessing Mat. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled See Luk. 1. 53. Mat. 11. 28. God is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee 1 Chr. 22. 16. II. They do utterly deny that effectual grace whereby a man is converted is an unresistible power The Reason 1. Conversion is injoyned us as our duty and we are exhorted to it with promises and threatnings Prov. 1. 22. Ezek. 18. 30 32. Ier. 7. 3. Turn ye turn ye 2. 'T is a matter of Choice Deut. 30. 19. Jos 24. 15. Chuse whom ye will serve chuse life 2 Cor. 5. 20. Isa 1. 19 20. 3. The duty and the grace enabling to it may be neglected 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 2. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Jer. 36. 6 7. Therefore we are admonished Hebr. 3. 7 8. Psal 95. 7 8. Harden not your hearts Some temper of minde better qualified See the 1. Negat 4. God requires our endeavours 1 by way of preparation laying aside the vail 2 Cor. 3. 15. prejudice John 7. 3. 4 5 52. ambition Iohn 5. 44. ch 12. 42 43. all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all superfluity of naughtiness See Act. 13. 45. Luke 16. 14. that we may with meekness Psal 25. 9 12 14. See Acts 2. 41. as new born babes receive the ministeries of grace Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. And as many as being in pursuit of the world to come were thus ordained addicted disposed to eternal life believed Acts 13. 48. 5. When being wrought into this temper and frame of spirit by Gods preventing grace we are fit for the kingdome of Christ Luke 9. 62. God requires our endeavours by way of cooperation to make his saving grace effectual which argues 'tis not an unresistible power Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door Which doore turns upon two hinges faith and obedience Rom. 1. 16. 1 Thess 2. 13. Ephesians 3. 17. Romans 6. 17. I will come in to him c. 6. That this grace is not unresistible appears further By Gods option O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me c. as above 7. He complains also of mens perverseness and contumacy obstructing the work of grace in themselves See Mark 6. 6. Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it Mat. 3. 15. Ezek. 12. 2. They have eyes to see and see not they have ears to hear and hear not for they are a rebellious house Isa 63. 7 8 9 10. But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit Zech. 7. 10 11 12. But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear Yea they made their hearts as an Adamant-stone lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former Prophets 8. Some are captivated to the obedience of this grace whiles others stand out in rebellion against the power of it Act. 2. 41. ch 13. 48 with 45. Some gladly receive it others do thrust it from them contradicting and blaspheming See 1 Thess 2. 13. with 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Ezek. 3. 5 6 7. Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech surely had I sent thee to them they would have hearkened unto thee but the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee Mat. 11. 20 21 22. Tyre and Sidon and Sodome would have repented but you will not Matth. 12. 41. The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonas but you resist a greater light and force of grace behold a greater then Jonas is here 2 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. To the one we are the savour of life unto life and to the other the savour of death unto death 9. The Lord punisheth the refractary for resisting the work of his grace and spirit Heb. 6. 7 8. For the earth which drinketh in the rain and bringeth forth fruit receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Prov. 1. 24. c. Because I have called and ye refused c. Zech. 7. 11 12 13. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord. Iohn 3. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Ezek. 24. 13. See Mat. 13. 15. c. Acts 28. 24. c. 2 Chron. 24. 19 20. In thy filthiness is lendness because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee James 4. 6. God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble See the 4. and 7. Affirmatives III. They do utterly denie that God doth bestow grace sufficient for faith and couversion only upon those whom according to the decree of his Election he willeth to convert unresistibly and that he neither doth nor willeth to bestow on the Reprobates grace necessary to faith and salvation The Reason 1. Psal 145. 8 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works 1 Tim. 2. 3 4. He will have all men to be saved 2 Pet. 3. 9. He will not that any perish Mark 16. 15. with 20. Go preach the Gospel to every Creature and they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more See Mark 6. 6. Jer. 36. 6 7. Ezek. 18. 31. Why will ye die Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked c. See the proofs for conditionate Election Administration of necessary and sufficient means and the seriousness of Gods call being the 7. affirm propos above 2. He threatens to withdraw his grace from men only for their stubbornness and rebellion against him and it Mat. 21. 41 43. Therefore the Kingdome of God shall be taken from you Rev. 2. 5. Or else I will remove thy