they who shall be damn'd might have been saved had they received the love of the truth if the Apostle may be believed 2 Thes 2 11 12. Ob. But saith M. Tro. many dangerous consequences will follow if we should grant that Christ died for all as first it riseth up against the power of God as M. Tro. says that he should give his Son to die for the salvation of thousands and yet all not be saved Ans 1. To which I answer first by waâ— of the distinction used by the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 10. he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and from hence observe that God who gave his Son and Christ who gave himself a ransome for all hath saved or delivered every man from the power of the grave but God never gave his Son to save or deliver any from the wrath to come or to bring any to eternall glory but such as believe and obey as I have often proved Ans 2. Secondly it doth not impeach the power of God in that we maintain that what God did intend to bring to passe by his own sole soveraign power through the death of his Son is effected viz. the breaking of the Serpents head the continuance of life to mankind here making way for light and salvation and the raising up all men from the grave but that God did ever purpose to bring men to eternall life whether they believe or no by an absolute power we deny for the Saints themselves are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Ob. But says M. Tro. it makes the salvation of the creature to depend on the contingency of his own will and naturall ability Ans 1. Answer first that salvation I mean everlasting glory with God or eternall life is Gods gift as I have formerly proved by the Scriptures Ans 2. Secondly that none shall enjoy this gift of his but such as walk as he hath injoyned them in that Law which he manifested to them is the eternall infringeable and unresistable Decree of God and M. Tro. page 45. confesseth that though the precepts of God do not shew what God hath done for us yet they determine mans duty and the rule of his obedience what God approves as good in it self and what is our duty to do there being a sweet harmony and connexion between the end and the means which is fully as much as I hold in this point viz. that they who would be saved which is the end they must believe and obey as God hath enabled them which is the means or at least one means But says M. Tro. it s contrary to the wisdom justice and love of God that he should give his Son to die for all and not give them faith and repentance c. Ans 1. To which I answer as before that indeed if God had given his Son to die for all with an intent to save all that is give eternall life to all or any without faith and obedience then if any had come short of it it might have seemed to reflect on the wisdom justice and mercy of Jehovah but the Scriptures never reveal any such purpose in God as you may see by Joh. 3. 16. Hâ—b 5. 9. with many other places Ans 2. Secondly so far as God did intend by his Sons death to save or deliver men he did doth and will fully effect â—t and whether men believe it or no they shall one day be saved from the grave by him that died and rose again Ans 3. Thirdly that God so put men in a savâ—â—ble condition that if any come short of eternal life their destruction is of themselves their rejecting light and loving darknesse will be their condemnation Ans 4. God doth not give faith and repentance as M. Tro. dreams viz. make men to believe by an irresistable power for I have shew'd before that God is said to give faith and repentance when by his Word or Spirit he perswadeth men to believe and repent or depart from evill when he gives the Gospell which is the Word of Faith and frequently in the Scriptures is called faith thus Faith is the gift of God and so when by the Gospel or goodnesse of God any soul is led to repentance God is said to give repentance yet the act or duty of believing and repenting is never call'd Gods gift work or act for then they that shall be damn'd for unbelief and impenitency shall perish because God gave them not the means yea because God did not perform his act or work in the creatures contrary to all the revealed will of God so that it appears to me and thousands besides that M. Tro. doctrine doth highly scandalize and impeach and restrain the power wisdom justice and love of God For if Christ did not die for all or redeem all from the power of the grave at least which is that I hold and which M. Tro. cries down under the name of universall redemption it was either because he could not or because he would not I am certain it is not the later for he will raise up all men at the last day 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 if M. Tro. says it is because he could not wise men will aâ—hor such savings both therefore are true he is willing and able and also will do it all mankind are and shall be freed in due time from whatsoever Adam brought on them and whosoever affirms the contrary debaseth the power of the omnipotent God seen â—spâ—cially in raising up Iesus from the dead Eph. 1. 20. that so he might be Lord of the quick and dead as hath before been manifelled of which domâ—nion Lordship or power M. Iro and others though I hope not knowingly have endeavoured to devest Jesus Christ except they will say that our Lord will exercise authority over those whom he never purchased the very thought whereof is abominable to every knowing sincere hâ—aits seeing the Scriptures â—re so pâ—ain that to this 〈◊〉 Christ both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living they that oppose this disparage the power of Christ scandalize his Scepter which is a Scepter of righteousness and make Christ an arbitrary usurper the name whereof 〈◊〉 amongst all and at least in words exploded by us in this Island And as for the wisdome of the Lord which is infinite Mr. Troughtons Doctrine detracts from it for he confesseth that the tenders of mercy by the Lords commands are and must be to all where the Gospel comes though not really and in good earnest as one saith yet Christ dyed not for all saith Mr. Troughton Now I beseech thee O impartiall soul that readest this judge what is right and see whether it suits with the wisdome of God to invite perswade beseech and stretch out his hands unto stubborn gain-saying wretches having never given Christ for them nor Christ any right to
according to their demands for to expound them by their corrupt glosses and theâ— also great would be the company of the publishers of the Gospell for the love of God would so fill their hearts as with new wine that they could not but declare what God hath done for their souls and this would make false teachers fill'd with the wisdome of this world fret when the mysteries of the love of God should be revealed to and by Babes in the Gospell 3. Self is much an enemy to it for most men yea all those many thousands which now own this truth of Christs dying for all do well know that not only Satan and false Teachers did secretly and openly incite them against it but their own heart corrupt through custome in fin did rise against it and that for this reason If they should acknowledge that Christ died for all and that God through him hath appointed and enabled them to do his will then they should have no liberty or leisure to linger and loiter in fin but they must appear in love to Jesus Christ to be doing his work which he calls them to there must be no sleeping nor slumbring nor folding their hands to sleep but up and be doing and as in the bodily so in this spirituall labour the creature deluded by Satan cannot endure to do his duty which the Gospell calls for and this self I mean self-love self-will self-interests and ends c. till it be subdued by the appearing and receiving the light from the Lord cannot endure to hear that there is any possibility of falling from the favour of God for this would be a mighty check to their pleasure profit and delight they have in sin fain would self even the fleshly mind root out all such thoughts that it may feed it self with lusts and take its ful swindge in sin without controule And whatever specious pretences men may cover their conceits with and cry out against this Doctrine as uncomfortable c. yet the Serpents head lies hid beneath them who prompts them to decry it that so he may keep them from that godly feare and trembling with which they ought to work our their owne salvation I know we must serve God without fear of displeasing men by obeying him and without fear of his deceiving of us of any thing he haâ—â— promised yet continually fearing to offend him who loved us and fearing lest we should come short of what is promised through our own unbelief The Apostle Paul was as eminent a Saint as most yet he kept his body in subjection lest by any means when he had preached to others he himself should be a east-away In a word if this Doctrine should be faithfully published it would wonderfully draw out mens soules after Christ drive out the power of sin carry forth mens Spirits to propagate the Gospell hurle down the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist by the mighty increase of knowledge faith and love advance holinesse sobriety and righteousnesse stir up men to diligence godly fear and watchfullnesse at least leave men without any encouragement to live in sin one moment take away all those Cob-web cloaks with which men palliate their impieties remove all excuses and even force men to confesse their destruction is of themselves and therefore is it oppos'd by Satan selfe and false teachers who would all suffer losse by the fire of Gods Word if their deceits and doctrines come to be discovered by the glorious light of these truths which men call heresie and erroneous opinions I am not unacquainted with the tossings and torments of mind which they are subject to that hold the doctrines contrary to these in the foregoing treatise insisted on their dejections of spirit and dubiousnesse of heart one while even drownes them in black despair another while their foundationlesse faith and groundlesse confidence through the exceeding subtilty of Satan makes them to dare to adventure upon a sin upon this score that if they are elected they cannot hereby fall finally and if they are not it will not be any impairing of their irrecoverable hopelesse condition I know Satan will provoke men to fret exceedingly against these things with the highest risings and liftings up of spirit But it being my owne experience in former times and of hundreds who have communicated theirs with mine since the daies of their conversion I cannot neither will I conceal the counsells and cunning of so great an enemy but speak truth to his yea to my own shame neither am I ignorant of the strong consolation in obedience the strength against temptations the heedfull diligence care and watchfullnesse against sin which they are possest with who knowingly and cordially hold and lay to heart that Christ died for all for thereby they are so sure that he died for them that it 's a hard matter for the devill and world to drive his love out of their hearts and draw them into disobedience but they that hold the contrary call the truth of many and so at length of all the Scriptures into question as the Shropshire Ministers confesse pagâ— 1. of their namelesse paper And I am confident that as the Lord hath so he will blesse this Doctrine with those that professe it and practise that holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety which that grace of God which â—ringeth salvation to all men teacheth and by his owne Spirit not the word and arme of flesh will signally appeare to the overturning of that great mountain of false doctrine that hath kept poore creatures from beholding the face of the Son of righteousnesse in the truth of the Gospell and that they who say Christ did not die for all so giving the lye to the Spirit of God and that God did absolutely appoint the greatest part of men to be disobedient not giving them ability to do what he requires and yet will damne them for not doing it that God commands men to do that which he will work in them by an irresistable power and to make as though God contradicts himselfe that the Lord that bought false Teachers was not Christ c. shall be convinced or covered with the cloak of confusion For my part if any maligne me for the puâ—â—ishing of this plaine downe-right discourse I desire the Lord to forgive them and turne their hearts and yet graciously wait to manifest to them that precâ—ous â—râ—th which they oppose that by it they may be comfoâ—ted and established in their minds encouraged to take up the Crosse of Jesus and follow him in all Gospell-obedience I desire no lesse for the greatest of my Adversaries then that they may come out of Babilon the false Church and worship one God in spirit and truth amongst such as keep the commands of Jesus as he hath given them out to us by his Spirit in the word of truth that so we may walk in the light of the Lord whilest we are here and being accounted worthy to escape all those things which shall come upon this Generation may hereafter sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the everlasting Kingdome of God our Saviour Amen FINIS * Master Trough p. 1. Isa 28. 21. Isa 29. 14. Job 38. 2 13 7. * Cap. Ever Sam. Oates Benj. Morley Mr. Prior Wil. Kendal Re. Fâ—ilding c. Mr. Troug in his Introduct pag. 1. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. Powel M. Wood others M. Powel Ma. Butler of Col Berye's Regim Mr. Rutherford Mr. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford M. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford Mr. Resbury M. Wood. Mr. Tro. Mr. Wood. Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood M. Grant M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Jam. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Syd Simpson A. M. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Batty c. The Shropshire Ministers M. John Symson Simil. Mr. Deiamain Mr. Powel Simil. M. Trough Argument M. Trough Simil. M. Trough Conclusion M. Resbâ—ry M. Owen M. Rutherford M. Staltham Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3.
we quarrel with them for praying before and after Sermon To this I have given satisfaction in my answer to his tenth charge In his thirteenth are many gross slanders together for whereas Mr. Trough chargeth us with an absolute denyal of original sin we teach that Adams offence in the garden was the first sin and that we being all in his loines who sinned became subject to corruption yea judgement came thereby on all men to condemnation And as for Gods absolute decree which he most falsly sayes we scoffe at we hold that God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation such as obey the truth through the Spirit and of old ordained to condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness even all such as by the goodness of God are not led to repentance What he means by free-will I know not But we hold that God hath given to his creatures out of the riches of his free mercy ability and liberty one time or other to performe whatsoever he requires them to believe and do And whereas he sayes we preach for falling away to use Mr. Trough own tearms it is most untrue for we preach for holding fast by Jesus Christ and warn admonish and beseech the Saints to take heed lest any of them fall from the grace of God or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him Heb. 12. 15. To the fourteenth where he taxeth us for bringing the Saints into bondage by disswading them from frequenting the Parish-assemblies and exercises I answer Most of those whom he in derision calls our followers have heard him and other Parish-preachers till they were weary of their soul-distracting and self-contradicting doctrines Neither is it we but the Lord who commands both us and them to come out from Babel to be separate and to avoid and turn away from them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine delivered by Christ and his Apostles not to receive to house nor bid such God speed yea and though he were an Apostle or an Angel from heaven to hold such accursed as bring any other Gospel or doctrine then what hath been preached by the Lord Jesus And such I am sure are our tithe-taking mercenary Parish-Ministers who teach men to sprinkle babes and to believe that Christ dyed not for all c. Gospel and Doctrine which never came out of the mouth of our blessed Redeemer yet we will hear you if you will but give a reason of what you say to dissatisfied spirits otherwise we should bring our selves into bondage if you will neither answer us nor let us go Blessed be our God we can hear Christ and his Apostles preach search the Scriptures prove their doctrine and receive satisfaction and they are not offended at us The fifteenth Article of Mr. Troughtons charge against us is a meer cavil and groundless surmise upon his own mistake for he using some vilifying and contemptful language to one that had been a souldier and commander in the States service after long silence and bearing his imperious checks the party told him he had shewed his face in the defence of his Country where Mr. Trough durst not appear But if ever I finde Mr. Trough charging an enemy for his Nations just liberty I shall assure him of all submissive satisfaction But upon this he chargeth us of giving out threatning language And by this you may see the weight of Mr. Troughtons complaints His sixteenth accusation is a gross falsity For he saith that we are ready to make insurrection upon them when they fight against our opinions with Scripture-weapons and that some of us have beaten some of their hearers which till Mr. Trough prove and bring the offender to condign punishment I shall only say this that The religion of that man who bridleth not his tongue is but vain Jam. 1. 26. The contrary to Mr. Trough 17 accusation is true for whereas he sayes our design is to pull down the powerful Ministry of Christ our desires and endeavours are and shall be by the Lords assistance to set it up even such Ministers as are obedient to every command of Christ keep the ordinances as they were delivered by him and are enabled by the Spirit of God through the Scriptures to preach the Gospel without stealing the word from their neighbors and scraping and scribling their Sermons out of Popish Postillers ancient Fathers as they call them and commentators but as for all national parochial tithe-taking hireling baby-sprinkling-Ministers we know they are plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted and will be rooted up The Lord is mercy by his word root them up out of the dunghil of their errors that they may be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ In the last place Mr. Trough accuseth us for holding the truth in love though he alter our expressions For t is true we do deny that any can infallibly prove that Christ dyed for him or her in particular but by the testimony of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures if they can let them bring forth their witnesses I am sure that 's an infallible evidence being the witness of God and all other spirits qualifications and witnesses are fallible false without foundation and are built upon the bottomless pit And we do affirme that they who can and do by the Scriptures prove that Christ dyed for them are built upon a sure foundation even the Doctrine of the prophets and Apostles They may by such a Testimony if profane come to be convinced and converted if of a sadned spirit to be comforted some come thus to be delivered out of the bondage of sin others out of the bands of sorrow It puts a check to the presumptuous sinner and lifts up the head of the despairing soul and though Cain Pharaoh Judas and millions of men deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction yet that no whit abateth the comfort of the Saints who know and believe the love that the Father hath to them I'ts but a fleeting inconstant comfort for a man to believ that which he hath no assurance of to believe that Christ dyed for him before he know it beyond the reach of doubting for of necessity it must be that he believes he knows not what When we say that men cannot certainly and comfortably conclude that Christ dyed for them but by the word of the living God which says Christ dyed for all and for want of this proof are in any kinde of bondage and trepidation of spirit we do it not to upbraid them but in love and tenderness of soul to free and refresh them and therefore Mr. Trough did very ill as I judge to bring in this as a crime against us but hatred for goodwill is the portion of such as follow Christ And withall you may see the spirits of men how they seek a knot in a rush any thing to make the persons of men odious Surely they that shew their teeth
return When a Judge shall condemn a man to be burnt in the hand for some offence if the standers by shall go away and report that he condemned him to be burnt at a stake to ashes it would be both bold and ridiculous yea perhaps punishable and if so to mis-report the judgement of a man that must die how much more to mis-interpret or mis-represent the Sentence of a righteous and immortal God Thirdly we read Rom. 14. 12. Every man shall give an account of himself to God and 2 Cor. 5. 10. All must appear before the judgement-seat of Christ and receive according to the things done in their own body according to what they have done whether good or bad Read and consider Joh. 5. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Rev. 20. 12 13. Fourthly the Lord hath sworn that the childe shall not die for the iniquity of the father Jer. 31. 29. 30. Ezek. 18. 4. In the resurrection we all believe that infants even dying a day old shall have their part who cannot be said by any sober spirit to have any sin to answer for but what was through Adam imputed to them and if they shall then die the second time or second death for that sin then the Lords oath is in vain which God forbid I had rather believe the Lords oath then mans vain words yea let God be true and every man a lyer who by their ignorance hold forth as if God doth condemn infants twice for Adam's sin first to the grave then to the second death Fifthly from the second death there is no redemption or deliverance see Luke 16. 26. Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence which quite crosseth that fond opinion of some who think that at the day of judgement men shall come out of the place of torments to stand in the presence of God to receive their doom I know that hell i. e. the grave shall then give up her dead and the dead shall rise and stand before the throne but it 's not said they shall come out of the second death to be judged Sixthly if Adam and all his posterity were for the first offence by some called Original sin condemned to the second death then to redeem him from it Christ must die the second death or by his death prevent something that Adam brought upon himself and his posterity The one he could not the other he did not and I challenge the whole world to prove either of them by Scripture though I know there be that boldly affirm such things viz. That Christ to save the world endured the torments which the damned shall for ever endure in hell Lastly the Scripture doth nowhere make mention of any other death for eating of the prohibited tree but the first death and therefore the second death comes not for that transgression That which is written is for our learning but men not content with this have sought out many Arguments to prove their judgements and so have clouded up the truth from themselves and others and have affirmed that Adam was a spiritual man his paradise spiritual his state spiritual and a state of salvation the tree spiritual and many such unwritten things contrary to the Scriptures which affirm that the first man was natural or earthly 1 Cor. 15. 46 47. and that there is no salvation in any other but Christ Acts 4. 14. who was not promised when Adam fell with many other places directly opposing their fancies However some that would fain be wise above what is written have raised so much dust and darkness that they cannot see how it 's possible that Christ should die for all men seeing all receive not spiritual life and eternal salvation by his death which they think Adam lost And indeed I see not how they can until they see what Adam was a natural man and what he lost a precious pleasant garden and whither he was condemned viz. to the dust And if they would but open their eyes to see these things they might easily discern the truth of the other although spiritual life and eternal glory be not enjoyed by all Adam's posterity And for the further clearing up of this I proceed by the help of God to shew you as before resolved what the Word of Truth holds forth concerning Election Creation c. under a twofold consideration Universal and Special Cast not away these things because strange but prove them whether they be true I begin first with Election which is God's loving regarding or setting his heart upon lost mankinde and ordaining or appointing them to serve him and such as serve him to be saved and is General or Particular General thus When Angels and Men were fallen from their first estate he chose neither the disobedient Angels in whom folly was found nor any other creature but he set his heart upon man Job 7. 17. and Psal 144. 3. What is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him Now what account did he make of man Why thus he so regarded that poor lost creature that he chose or appointed him to live in this world to stand in his sight and serve him but withal mark this that the affection he bare to him and the account he made of him was by and through Christ the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world in or by whom he chose man to be holy and without blame before him in love If any shall say that that 's spoken of the Apostle Paul and the Saints at Ephesus I grant it but withal I would willingly know whether he hath chosen appointed or ordained any man to be unholy and blameable c. or whether there be a middle choice or appointment of God If there be shew it Sure I think there is no man that hath not parted with his Reason that will so far dishonour him that gave it to him as to say that God hath fore-ordained chosen or appointed any to be unholy or unclean as they were men and women onely when they reject his counsel he gives them up to their own hearts lusts and leaves them many times to themselves having waited long to be gracious yea upon some a very long time But some have I heard affirm most confidently that God did appoint men to be disobedient that as he appointed some to the means of salvation so he appointed others to the means of damnation which is sin and that all the unbelief and disobedience of men is committed by the decree and appointment of God as well as foreknown to him To whom I answer Surely these are some of those hard speeches and ungodly words spoken of Jude vers 15. which God will one day come to convince men of and punish for if they repent not For first I querie Whether unbelief and disobedience
be simply sins If they be then God hath appointed decreed and ordained men to that which is simply sin Oh horrid blasphemy and impudent impiety Secondly it will follow that men shall be damned for doing of that which God hath appointed them to do Or else thirdly they must with the Ranters say that nothing is sin or evil Or lastly they must hold that none shall be damned for he that doth the will of God must enter into the kingdom of heaven Now all conclude that they who believe and obey do the will of God and if such as refuse and rebel do the will of God also as these men say then they shall enter into the kingdom of heaven This is fine doctrine for Ranters Atheists and all ungodly men But say some the appointment decree or ordination of God are twofold Preceptive and Permissive it 's not the preceptive decree of God that men should sin but it is his permissive decree Although the distinction be groundless yet I answer First we are not speaking about what God doth permit or suffer wicked men to do but what he foreordain'd or appointed them to do Secondly A permissive decree appointment or ordination is neither Grammatical nor Rhetorical sense Thirdly If by permitting you mean that God suffers men to live or doth not destroy men whilest they are committing sin I grant it and that such as Shimei Ahab the Sabeans Judas c. men of Belial which despising the Spirit of grace have followed the Devil are justly by Jehovah left to be carried captive by him at his will so that they do the will of their Father the Prince of darkness I also grant it But doth it therefore follow that he did thus appoint or ordain them to such wicked actions as if a man having several imployments and many servants should chuse some for this service and others for that If any shall affirm that God did appoint ordain or chuse some to obey and some to disobey I utterly deny it Object But is it not so said 1 Pet. 2. 8. That they were appointed to be disobedient Answ No Neither can any humble spiritual or rational man gather up such a thing from that pretious text of truth which sayes thus That Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to such as stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed Now I would know whether they were appointed to be obedient or disobedient to the word or to disobedience I see clearly in the text that they were appointed set or put to the word and they stumbled at it being disobedient and for this they were discommended whenas rather had they been appointed or chosen to be disobedient they ought to be commended for doing that to which they were chosen Godly Tindal in his Translation of the Bible comes nearer the Original thus Being disobedient to that whereon they were set or whereto they were put They were set upon and put to Christ and the word as to the rock of Ages and teacher of truth but they stumbled at Christ and the word Being imperswasible to what they were even put saies the Original Object But some will say that God foreknew all the wickednesses that ever were are or shall be Answ I grant it but will any be so void of reason as to say therefore he appointed it and chose out or ordained one man to Adultery another to Murther c. for be it from any sober spirit thus to imagine Christ foreknew and so did the Father that Judas would betray Jesus doth it follow that God appointed Judas hereunto is it not said Ioh. 13. 2. That the Devil put in the heart of Iudas to betray Iesus and that Iudas by transgression fell Acts 1. 25. Surely it could not be a transgression if God chose or foreappointed him to do it except you will say that God preordain'd men to transgress and do wickedly Object But it is sayed Acts 4. 27 28. If a truth Lord against thy Child Iesus both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determin'd before to be done First I ask What was it that the hand and counsel of the Lord determin'd to be done or brought to pass That the Iews and Gentiles should betray and murther Christ say some But if there be no Scripture that saith so we must not believe mens sayings and expositions for as touching the treason you heard before Ioh. 13. 2. and as touching the Murder read I beseech you Ioh. 8. from 39. to 44. Ye seek to kill me says Christ c. vers 40. Ye are of your father the devil he was a murderer from the beginning c. Therefore say I that which the hand and counsel of the Lord determin'd was the redemption and salvation of mankinde the revelation of his will see Ioh. 3. 16 17. 1 Ioh. 4. 9. and 14. Ioh. 3. 34. the 12. 49. and 50. chap. and 18. 37. with many others But Secondly I answer This in Act. 4. 27 28 26. is clearly expounded in Act. 2. 23. where the holy Ghost holds forth Gods counsel and their sin in a most plain manner First his Love in delivering or giving his son Secondly their Sin in that they took him and with wicked hands crucified and slew him Object But were not these things prophesied of Answ This is the same with the former I shall onely add this that the foretelling of mens wicked actings is nowhere called the decreeing of them it shews that God who foreknowes all things foreknew them and if any shall say that his foreknowledg and decree is all one they make God the full perfect and absolute Author of sin for he fully and perfectly and absolutely foreknew all the sins that ever were are or shall be committed by the sons of men To say therefore that he predetermin'd them is not only ignorantly to confound his foreknowledge and decrees but presumptuously to belch out high blasphemy against the highest Mercy Justice and Majesty Object But yet say some did not he bid Shimei curse David Answ That doth not say that God did decree or fore-appoint him to it so David sayes I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. This was his infirmity 2. Shimei it seemes was a man of a perverse spirit 2 Sam. 19. 19. and the Lord left him to himself so he is said to harden Pharaohs heart and men have often ascribed that to God as bidding which he did not hinder men from doing which is a very sad state when Ephraim or any soul is let alone and for sin forsaken 3. David being sensible of his great sins saw a chastisement from God by Shimei's malicious tongue and that which was of punishment or correction for sin either to Shimei cursing or David cursed was from God but if you read 2 Sam. 24.
1. and compare it with 1 Chron. 21. 1. you may see the more clearly how to open such texts Lastly I answer If we shall understand this place otherwise then of Gods giving up the perverse man to the perversness of his owne counsel we must say that it's Gods preceptive decree that men should curse which the Objector would seem to shun and yet content to have granted although it be contrary to his owne distinction But if still any shall argue that God did decree his cursing by permitting of it I say he did no otherwise permit it then David did in not cutting him off and that 's far from decreeing it Object One objection more I shall answer which is this Some say that God cannot be denied to be the Author of sin in every sense because it 's say'd Amos 3. 6. Shall there be evill in the City and the Lord hath not done it and Isa 45. 7. I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evill I the Lord do all these things Answ He that will read Ier. 18. 8. chap. 21. 10. and 28. 8. with many other places may easily see that the Evil that God bringeth on a City is War Famine Pestilence c. But if wicked men could bring God to be the Decreer Commander and actor of sin they were then safe enough but all such will be found lyers in the day of the Lord Jesus These Objections are the Pillars of Atheism and Ranterism and if such as say that Christ never dyed for all and that he decreed the disobedience of the creatures follow their principles up to the height they will in time either be reconciled to such or die in despaire These things being seriously considered by humble hearts will let them see that God never ordain'd appointed or chose men to unbeliefe and disobedience nor ever left them to themselves which they call permitting of sin till their perverse hearts resisted his Spirit and departed from him but leaving or passing by the fallen Angels he set his heart upon lost man he chose or appointed that creature to live in the world to serve him in holiness and righteousness and this is that which I call the general election appointment or pre-ordination of God through and in Christ to live here to the means of grace to do well c. But will some say General election is a contradiction Election being a taking a part out of the whole Answ Election is so indeed and that which I affirm in this point is the same for out of the whole of what was fallen he chose a part viz Mankind to stand before him as when a heap of Gold and a heap of silver is before a man and he having power or liberty to make his choise takes one of the heaps chuseth all the gold or the silver as he pleaseth so it was the pleasure of Jehovah Angels and men being fallen and both before him to regard or set his heart upon or chuse poor undone man But I beseech you to consider that I never said that he chose or appointed all men as men to eternal life for there is a special election as well as a special salvation of such as believe That there is a special election or appointment of some to eternal life is agreed on by all and that this election was from the foundation of the world is denyed by none that owne the Gospel and that this election or appointment to eternal happiness is of such men and women who believe and obey him following that holy rule and light which he hath given them is as true for no rational man is so absurd as to say that he chose any others amongst grown persons to everlasting glory Yet some affirm that he chose to salvation a certain number of persons personally considered onely as creatures Of whom I would first demand Whether Election be not according to the foreknowledge of God sutable to Rom. 8. 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate and that in 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God If it be as without controversie it is then I affirm that God foreknew their obedience as well as their persons or else you maim and bound the infinite and unlimited Foreknowledge of the most High to whom not onely all his own but all our works were known from the beginning But the great question is Whether the creatures obedience foreknown did move God to give him eternal life To which I answer First that eternal life is the gift of God Rom. 6 last Secondly That election to eternal life is onely according to the purpose and counsel of his own will and what that is the Scriptures do evidently Manifest viz. that the purpose and will of God before the world began was to make Christ the Author of eternal salvation to those that obey him that such as believe should not perish but have eternal life Joh. 3. 15 16. and 6. 40. that such as do well and by patient continuing in wel-doing seek for glory honour and immortality should have eternal life read Joh. 5. 29. with Rom. 2. 7. Thirdly Election to eternal life is through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth 2 Thes 2. 13. He hath chosen to himself the man that is godly Psal 4. though not for being Godly yet it was his pleasure to chuse such Object But they are Godly and believe by vertue of their election preceding I grant it understanding it of chusing or appointing all men to live here and to live to him as I have before shew'd for had there not been such an election by the free unsought-for mercy of Jehovah no man had ever believed no nor had life or breath Still therefore it will be our wisdome to divide a right the word of truth and to distinguish between election before calling and election after caling the former of all mankinde to live here to hear the call of God and answer it both which priviledges were lost through disobedience the latter of such as live to him whilest they live here to eternal bliss Election before calling every one will grant of the other the Scripture speaks Mat. 20. 19. and 22. 14. many are called but few are chosen see Rev. 17. 14. Object But if any say The order of words prove nothing Answ Search the Scriptures and you shall see exemplary testimonies to confirm this consider Act. 9. 15. After Paul was called and come in the Lord saies to Ananias Go thy waies for he is a chosen vessel to me c. he doth say he was and compare this with the same Apostles saying Rom. 16. 7. Salute Andronicus and Junia my Kinsman who are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me Now every soul that knows any thing knows that there is no election out of Christ and it is a mans being in Christ that entitles him to that eternal life which
God hath given to his Son to give to whom he will and he will give it to such as hear his voice and follow him so that it is plain to me and many thousands more that there was before time an election or appointment of all men to the means of grace and also of such as in time do believe through the Spirit to everlasting glory Object But faith is the gift of God and men cannot believe except God give Faith Answ In this poor souls lye sadly in the dark because their Teachers have not rightly divided the word of truth to them That I may therefore shew you how faith is the gift of God I must desire you to consider that faith is taken chiefly two wayes in the Scripture First For the doctrine of Christ the Gospel so 't is taken Jud. 3. ver Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints so t is taken Gal. 1. 23. so also Gal. 3. 23. Before faith came we were kept under the Law shut up unto the Faith that was afterwards to be reveal'd Rom. 10. 8. the Apostle speaking of the Gospel sayes This is the word of Faith So it is taken Eph. 2. 8. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works c. As if he had say'd Our salvation is not by the Law of works but by the Gospel which is the gift of God and is called the Gospel of our salvation Eph. 1. 13. and salvation Act. 28. 28. God hath given three great gifts to men Christ Faith and Life and these three are as fully and freely the Gifts of God one as the other onely by faith so taken as a gift I understand the truth or Gospel of God Secondly Faith is taken for the duty of believing as Heb. 11. throughout Rom. 10. 17. Jam. 3. 2. with many other places and it imports the act of the creature enabled by the Lord to believe Obj. Is it not said To you it is given on the behalf of Christ not onely to believe but also to suffer for his sake Answ I know God doth give or grant men to believe and suffer he gives the power or ability to believe or suffer or else it were impossible that men should do either all our sufficiency is of God he gives the object of Faith Christ or the Word of Truth and he gives power or ability to believe this truth But to say that God gives the duty or act of faith is not common sense for that were all one as to say that God believes and obeys for he that acts a thing is said to do it and he that acts faith is the believer He worketh in his creatures to will and to do and then it 's their duty to work out their salvation with fear c. not with fear lest God should fail them but lest they should come short c. For the fuller discovery of this consider seriously what is said Isai 43. 9 10. Let all the nations be gathered together let all the people be assembled who amongst them can declare this and shew us former things let them bring for their witnesses that they may be justified or let them hear and say It is truth Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen that ye MAY know and believe me and understand that I am he Before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me Whence I see first when men hear truth they may and must acknowledge it Secondly that all Nations may know and believe God and that there is none but he c. Thirdly that all people are and shall be witnesses against themselves and Christ is and shall be witness that they MAY know and believe God and indeed nothing hinders men from doing these things but self-will the Devil and false Teachers who say that God hath not given all men ability and understanding to know and believe God and people are very glad of such doctrine that they may lye in their sins and yet lay the fault upon God and say that he doth not give them power to do what he requires of them and if he would give them more grace then they would do better and so blessing themseves in their hearts go on in their wickedness hoping to finde an excuse in the last day that God was wanting to them contrary to Isa 5. 4. where the Lord enquires What could have been done more to his Vineyard which he had not done for it to which Mr. Troughton and the rest which hold such principles might reply that God might have done more for he might have brought forth good grapes for them or force them to bring forth good grapes by an unresistable power which he never did nor ever will though poor ignorant creatures have so taught and believed contrary to Rom. 1. 19 20. and chap. 2. 15 16. where it's clear that God hath furnished every man with so much means for the knowledge and obeying of him as will leave them without excuse which is granted by all Object But say they though it may leave them without excuse yet it may not be sufficient to salvation Answ This is most unbeseeming the mouth of a sober man for if the means of grace extended by the Lord to men be sufficient for the glorifying of him it is not too little for the glorifying of them Againe those means which men afford their servants for the doing of their work will not leave them without excuse if not sufficient to effect that which is expected from them through those means and will men still make God an austere master reaping where he did not sow God forbid He was called a wicked and slethful servant Mat. 25. 26 27. that taxed the most High with such dealings And the hard speeches of men who say that God expects more from men then he gives them ability to do and that he will punish them with eternal damnation to whom he gives not means sufficient to salvation will one day be rewarded as that servant was Matth. 25. 28 30. if they repent not Shall not the judge of all the earth do right Gen. 18. 25. I beseech the Reader to weigh well that which the Spirit of God speaks Job 34. 23. for he will not lay upon man more then right that should enter into judgement with God Surely if all men shall be left without excuse it shall be by having sufficient means for the doing of that which God expected from them in their generation and for not doing whereof they shall be damn'd Read Matth. 25. 45 46. and 2 Thes 1. 8. chap. 2. 10. 11 12. But if they had not what was sufficient for enabling them to know God and believe the truth unto salvation they will have an excuse viz. that now they must be damn'd but it is because God gave them not sufficient means to know him and believe his
will gainesay this that Adam had his life continued through a crucified Christ or Lamb slain c. Secondly See the end why God created or made all Nations by through or of one blood or blood of one not that they should be disobedient or to damn any as some say but that they should seek him which doth further illustrate what I lately wrote concerning Gods chusing of mankinde when they were all lost in one to serve him so in this case when mankinde might have been banished for ever to the dust he found a ransome to keep him from going down to the pit and by that ransome granted life to Adam and all his posterity 1 John 4. 9. But as there is a special election of such as obey to eternal Salvation so is there a special creation in Christ of such as seek him of which I come next to speak This you may read in many places of Scripture where mention is made of the new creature the new man c. especially 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature c. Now the depth of this point lies in this to finde how a man comes to be a new creature Some hold that a man is meerly passive in this work as he was in the universal creation and some say that there are others who teach that man makes himself a new creature if there be any such I am sure that they are both in extreams and far from the truth of God That which I have found true in the Scripture and by experience is this That God having appointed or chosen and created or made man to seek or serve him when his creatures become able to understand the difference between good and evil and to be cheer'd in the doing of one and checkt in the committing of the other comes to instruct and teach them even when they are dead in sins and trespasses stretcheth forth his hands to them inviteth them beseecheth them and sheweth them his love convinceth them of sin by the light of the Lord manifest in the heart or by his word and they who learn of the Father lay to heart his love consider their misery see the filthiness of sin follow the light hearken to his voice and so receive his Son To these who were his off-spring before in the first or general creation doth he grant power to become the children of God even to such as believe on his name John 1. 12. and so become the workmanship of God created unto Christ Jesus in good works they are begotten and borne againe by the Gospel that immortal seed of the word which liveth and abideth for ever They that hear his voice and hearken to it do live and then Christ gives them life Hear and your soul shall live Isa 55. 2. Such as receive the truth in the love of it the seed into an honest and good heart become thereby quickened and in time to be born again of water and the Spirit and so are ingraffed into Christ or added to the Church old things errors in judgement and life pass away all things become new they being conformed to Christ the new Man in all obedience And thus the new Creature is formed and the new Creation framed and fitly compact to be an habitation of God through the Spirit I confess that these things to a carnal heart and a poor deluded soul will seem strange yet do but consider whether this work of special creation in which only some share hath not alwayes been thus carried on first the Lord called and spake presented light to the soul by which he discovered his love and mans enmity his purity and the creatures iniquity his goodness and sins sinfulness yet still some turned away the ear pull'd away the shoulder despised his reproof set at naught his counsel vexed his holy Spirit believed not his report but delighted in sin and so remained dead in sins and trespasses but such as hearkned and heard rejoyced in the light consider'd the word and entertain'd it though before carnal and so not discerning spiritual things became thereby spiritual as the Apostle Paul cleerly demonstrates Gal. 3. And whereas some have a fond conceit that a man must be spiritual before he can receive the word it 's a gross mistake for there was never yet a spiritual man but before he received the teachings of the Lord was carnal and by receiving the instructions of the Almighty became spiritual But their mistake is grounded upon a worse foundation even their low thoughts of the Scriptures and they reason to this effect The word say such may be preached a thousand times but except God come by the power of his Spirit to over-power our hearts we cannot receive his words not considering that the word is Spirit and life John 6. 63. and the power of God to salvation to them that believe Rom. 1. 16. Secondly Upon a conceit they have that a man is like a stock or a stone in and under the work of the new creation not considering that although God in the first creation did the worke wholly and absolutely himself yet in the second or new creation he comes to a creature that he hath furnished with abilities to do what he requires and then gives it his commands according to that ability requires them to hear know and receive his truth and they that obey him in these things live they are quickened and so the new creation is begun Object If any aske why all do not receive the truth I answer They resist the Spirit of God Act. 7. 51. But lest I should leave this obscure I desire the reader to weigh these things First That the new creation hath not it's compleatness at once Secondly That the Lord doth ever so begin the work and every part of it that what is by us to be done he leaves very plain and easie before us First It is not at once compleated for first the Lord commands to hear Isa 55. 3. Secondly to seek vers 6. Thirdly to know Act. 2. 36. Job 5. ult Fourthly to believe 1 Joh. 3. 23. Fifthly to repent Act. 17. 30. Sixthly to be baptized Act. 2. 38. and so they are planted into Christ Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 6. 3 4. Added to the Church Act. 2. 41. which is Christs body Eph. 1. 22. 23. To the Apostles fellowship Act. 2. 42. Thus souls are joyned to the Lord. And this word or doctrine which was from the beginning remaining in them they remain in the Son and in the Father 1 Joh. 2. 24. and abiding in the doctrine of Christ they have both the Father and the Son Joh. 2 Ep. v. 6. He doth not first command men to enter into Church-fellowship as the Papists Prelates Presbyterians and some others doe for the first thing that these practice is to put all those that are born in their Church as they call it into Church-membership as soon as they are born and sprinkled with
water in the face though they be but a day old Neither doth he command men and women first of all to be baptized nay he doth not expect men to repent till they are warned by his light or word discovering sin to them nor to believe before they know what nor to know any more then he declares but first hear then know after that believe repent and be baptized and by this they come out from Babel are separated and distinguished from the world and made manifest to be professors of truth and members of the body of Christ for men are not fitted for Church-membership according to the primitive pattern and Scripture-account till they are baptizâ—â— consider Acts 2. 41 42. neither are they fit to be buried with Christ in baptisme till they repent i. e. turn to God from errors in judgement and practice yea are dead to them neither will men ever do this rightly till they believe that which is written in the law and in the prophets apply it to their own souls and cast themselves upon God for life and salvation through Christ alone Neither can they ever thus believe till they know by an infallable testimony what God hath done for them by Christ and till men come to search the Scriptures and hear the Spirit there speaking to their souls and give up themselves to that eternal truth and perfect teaching of the Spirit which only is for our learning they will never know that certainly Qu. What shall they do that have not the Scriptures I answer as Christ did to Peter in another case yet much like this Joh. 21. 22. What is that to thee follow thou Christ in the light that is given thee he knows what he laid down and what to require and how to reward every man according to his works Thus as by the steps of Jacobs ladder men ascend to the Lord attaine to the measure of the stature of Christ come to have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus and to walk with God who as I hinted but even now doth begin the work and every part of the work of the new creation leaving man to do nothing but what he hath enabled him to do and so without all excuse in case of neglect yet many do neglect their duty which God hath left them to do which together with the committing of that which God hath declared to be evil is counted sin and shall be the onely cause of mens condemnation in the last day Read Mat. 25. 45. 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Doth God command men to hear which is the first duty required of us in order to the new creation he gives ears Psal 94. 9. Neither doth he call upon little Infants to hear Deut. 11. 2. to 8. Doth he command men to see consider and understand he gives eyes heart and understanding Obj. But is it not said Deut. 29. 4. that God had not give them eyes to see a heart to perceive and ears to hear unto this day It is so said and it is true as it is written onely men consider not where the sound and force of that saying is for most place it in these words the Lord hath not given and I finde by the Scriptures that it is to be placed in these words Vnto this day for once they did see the Lords wonders and sang his praises as you may prove Deut. 11. 5 6 7 8. compared with Exod. 15. Psal 106. 12. But they forgat his works and God withdrew his light they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit so he turned to be their enemy Isa 63. 10. they once knew and understood that it was the Lord that delivered them but for their rebellion he forsook them and continued not that light with them Ye have seen the wonders that God did before their eyes c. Deut. 29. 2 3. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive c. VNTO THIS DAY v. 4. And indeed God hath nowhere promised that he will continue Light and understanding to a people that still disobey him The Lord is with us while we are with him if we forsake him he will forsake us 2 Chron. 15. 2. There have been many in our age who neglecting to follow the light which they saw have been left in darkness and though God did once give them a heart to perceive and eyes to see c. yet he hath not given these to them VNTO THIS DAY By this you may perceive that God is not wanting on his part to carry on the new or special creation but men are wanting to do their duty when the Lord calls them from sin they refuse to come and delight still in their carnal state till the Lord forsakes them and will no longer wait on them nor suffer his Spirit to strive with them You may also see that the Reason why there are no more new creatures is this they hearken not to the teachings of him that gave them their being in the general creation but reject the counsel of God against themselves as the Scribes and Pharisees did Mat. 21. 31. Luk. 7. 30. And by this Lastly you may see that creation is General and special General of all men by Jesus Christ special of such as receive the word and obey it in Jesus Christ In the former is nothing required of the creature in the latter so much is justly expected as the Lord enables him to do Obj. But is it not said 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth or comprehendeth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he knew them because they are spiritually discern'd Answ For the better understanding of the minde of God in this place we must first consider what is meant here by the things of the Spirit of God which the Apostle shews us in the 9 and 10 verses to be those things which God hath prepared for them that love him even the spiritual treasures of grace and glory which shall be brought to the Saints at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 7. 13. Secondly What is meant by the natural man which also the same Apostle explains in the 15 chapter of this same Epistle vers 44 45 46. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as it is written The first Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickning spirit Howbeit that it is not first that be spiritual but that which is natural c. Adam or man as man by general creation is this natural man beware then lest you affirme that Adam was created a spiritual man Thirdly What God hath prepared and that is a Kingdome Matth. 25. 34. A place or mansion John 14. 3. A city Heb. 11. 16. an inheritance undefiled 1 Pet. 1. 4 c. Fourthly Who they are that love him such as keep his commandments Joh. 14. 21. i. e. such as observe all Christs commands and his commands onely
in the worship of God And from all these things I conclude that Adam with all his knowledge before his fall and all his posterity as they are living souls do not neither can they perceive with the eye or contain in their understandings the nature glory and excellency of that Kingdome Mansion City and inheritance which is prepared for such as obey God Nay there are many pretious Saints in our generation that apprehend little or nothing of them The Corinthians were very ignorant of these insomuch that there were some among them said there was no Resurrection Paul prays for the Ephesians that they might know this Eph. 1. 18 19 20. Nay Paul himself did not fully apprehend or receive it Phil. 3. 12 13 14. But there is a time when this natural man shall be raised up a spiritual man 1 Cor. 15. 43. and then shall we know as we are known and see him as he is 1 John 3. 2. Tell the most of men of the reign of Christ the restitution of all things the Kingdome of the Saints the paradise of God the Tree of life the new heavens and earth the new Jerusalem with its height bredth length and glory c. they will either turne it to a hidden mystery and an empty Allegory or look on it as a foolish carnal conceit though God by his Spirit in the word hath revealed these things to us for our comfort Secondly I answer that by the things of the Spirit are not here intended the duties of faith and repentance for these have been and still are received by natural men who by the receiving of them become spiritual for unnatural men are far from them and enemies to them a natural man may hear the word and come to believe and obey and yet not perceive the Kingdome and City which God hath prepared Thirdly Neither by the natural man is here meant simply a wicked man except you will say that every natural man is a wicked man which God forbid for Adam even as he was created by Jehovah was a natural man as hath been proved Again if it should be imagined that it is impossible to hear know and believe the word which is spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. then men will conclude that God commands things impossible which is also most absurd for he commands both Job 5. and last Mark 1. 9. Rev. 2. 7. He that hath an ear let him hear c. And I would further desire any sober spirited man to consider whether it shall be reckon'd to any man as his sin that he did not perceive that which was impossible for him to perceive Lastly you may see that the scope of the Apostle is to prove the Corinthians for though he had in the power of the Spirit declared to them the riches of the grace and glory of God the Resurrection of the dead and the eternal Judgement yet they were gone but very little above their natural light in these things were but babes in Christ and in some respect carnal and so could not perceive the things which God had prepared for them although by the Spirit manifested in the Gospel and to that purpose writes Epistles to them to raise them higher in spiritual light and learning that being by the truth in Christ become more spiritual they might receive and comprehend the great things which God had prepared for such as love him Thus after some little digression I come to conclude this point of Creation which is general through one blood even of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world or special of such as believe on his name and so receive priviledge to become the Children of God by adoption or the new creation as before shew'd I come now to treat of redemption or buying again which is also general or special general of all lost mankind by the pouring out of the blood of the Lamb slain from the beginning or special of such as believe on him who was slain for them For the unfolding of the truth of this point I intreat the Reader to consider First from what state with what price and to what end Christ bought or redeemed all mankind For the first they are redeemed from the suffering that came by Adams sin I mean the first death as I have before shew'd so that that punishment did not presently seize upon all mankinde and send them to the grave in one who had sinned neither shall it for ever keep any one of Adams posterity under its power but all do live by Jesus Christ here and see the goodness of the Lord and all shall live hereafter I mean rise from the dust and see his glory onely here 's the difference they who saw his goodness here yet did not imbrace it shall see his glory hereafter but shall not injoy it and this will be a never-dying worm to their accusing consciences not that they were not redeemed but that they despised the riches of his grace when they might have had it but would not and now are shut out of glory when they would have it but cannot Secondly Consider the price by which we were ransomed bought or redeemed is onely the blood of Christ though some through over-hastiness affirm the contrary and by this there was a reconciliation made for the whole race of Adam thus far that whereas they were all reputed offenders in one and justly out of favour the Lord for the sake of Christ was at one with them in reference to that sin of the world which the Lamb of God took away by whom God was so appeased that fury is not in him Isa 27. 4. except men set the thornes and bryers against him c. vers 5. according with that 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Objection But say some that 's meant of the Elect onely It s true if you mean of mankinde in opposition to the fallen Angels chosen appointed and ordain'd to live here and seek God which is the first acceptation of Election But if you mean of the Elect i. e. such as were chosen to eternal life then it seems these were once out of favour or else what need a reconciliation Though it be granted to be of the Elect yet it doth not follow that it is of the Elect onely for if God will judge men according to their works and not punish the child for the father as he hath sworn he will not then surely he is reconcil'd to more then such as you call the Elect in reference to the first sin or one offence of Adam See how incongruous it is to say that this is meant onely of the Elect or such as shall be eternally saved First in it self for if God be reconcil'd to them in respect to Adams offence then some shall not onely in the first death but also in the second death be sufferers for that one offence and how contrary that is to all the reveal'd
heareth say come and he that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely Rev. 22. 27. And if any shall say that the people who are here called upon are such as thirst after Christ and his righteousness I Answer that it is a gross mistake though by most lookt upon as clear truth for had they thirsted after Christ who is the true bread and his righteousness which filleth and satisfieth the souls of such as seek him they had never been so reproved Isa 55. 2. Why will ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not But do not we see dayly some thirst after blood and revenge some after honour some the praise of men others through luxuriant pleasure melt even as to water the very sinews of their strength and some for gain gold and profit adventure estate fame health and life yea body and soul that they may compass their end yet riches profit not in the day of wrath Prov. 11. 4. Who then is excluded from the call of God and to whom hath not his light shined To come to some instances when Adam and all mankinde being yet in him was fallen from God it pleased Jehovah to call him to preach the Gospel that is declare his goodness to him all his posterity being yet in his loines for I thinke every fober man will acknowledge that we were as much in Adam when he was restored as when he fell and were as much partakers of his mercies from God as we were of his sin consider the words of David Psal 90. 3. Thou turnest man to destruction again thou sayest Come againe ye children of men And from that very day wherein the Lord was graciously pleas'd to seek out and call back all mankind lost and fled from him in one to this hour he hath called and cryed out aloud in manifestations of love one way or other to every man and woman See his gracious call to Cain Gen. 4. 7. If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted By Henoch Noah and others his glory and righteousness was revealed and preached to the old world In the Ark there was neither man nor woman but was experimentally acquainted with the love and will of God and that Cain Cham or any others declined the way and truth of God was not because the Lord called them not or left himself without witness towards them but because they came not neither received that testimony of his love which he gave to them And if any shall say that many Nations had not or have not any discovery of the minde of God the Apostle evinceth the contrary and proveth that the obedience of the Heathens or Gentiles did declare the law of God written in their hearts Rom. 2. 15. And the word of truth tells us of Abraham amongst the Caldeans Melchizedek amongst the Jebusites Lot amongst the Sodomites Joseph and Moses amongst the Egyptians Jethro amongst the Ethiopians Job Elihu and others amongst the children the East There was Rahab Ruth Vriah Ittai amongst the Cananites Moabites Hittites and Philistims besides the constant appearances of the grace goodness or love of God which called and should have led them to repentance How evident it is that the Queen of Sheba Nebuchadnezzar Darius Artaxerxes the Ninevites yea all Nations had the word and will of the Lord made known to them by the servants and Prophets of the Lord they that read the Scriptures of the old Testament will quickly perceive When there seemed to be through their rejecting the light an almost universal deluge of darkeness or ignorance over the inhabited parts of the earth the Lord lifted up his Church of the Jews to such an eminent height upon the Pillars of truth and gave them the glory and the Oracles in such an illustrious manner that all Nations had notice of it and some out of every Nation under heaven Proselyted themselves unto it as you may gather out of Act. 2. 5. to 10. Afterward our blessed Saviour sent his Apostles and they by his Order the disciples to Preach the Gospel in all the world that so the goodness of God to and in every Creature might be more fully made known and have not men heard surely the sound is gone out into all the earth and the mercy of the Lord which is over all his works who is good to all hath been declared before the faces of all men and women And God hath so called to every one either by the law in the heart the light of the Lord by Moses the prophets and Christ all demonstrating his rich love that though all have not been led to a change yet they all shall be left without excuse in the great day In a word what Nation was there to whom he sent not his Messengers what man or woman is there to whom he hath not shew'd and offered favour in whom he hath not shin'd with â—â—ght and with whom he hath not strived with his Spirit even in such a fulness or sufficiency as to performance of those works to which they were appointed as faith repentance c. as for example when the wild Indians defile their neighbours wives or daughters or steal any thing c. there 's a light set up by the Lord in their hearts which perswades them of the evil of their wayes as you see by their endeavors to conceal their sins and what I beseech you hinders them from believing that light or dictate of the Spirit and from turning to that which the means is sufficient to effect only they reject the light follow their lust and are rul'd by the divel Obj. But will some say doth God invite all men and offer grace to all men really and in good earnest I answer He doth though there be that affirme the contrary and say that God doth not really and in good earnest or without hypocrisie offer grace to all But this is one of those hard speeches which men have ungodly spoken against God and for which he will one day call them to account as the Apostle Jude intimates to us vers 15. Object But he holds not forth his grace alike to all nor hath he given power alike to all to come to him that is to conform to his will revealed Ans This though it be a frequent yet it 's a frivolous Objection I only say this to it First that all men have not the same measure of discretion understanding or capacity nor the will of God revealed in the same manner and cleerness Yet Secondly Every one hath some portion or talent at least some favour is shewed to the wicked they that slew the Kings servants were invited to the wedding and that really Mat. 22 6 c. neither indeed doth Jehovah expect the same proportion of acting from every one in the world he doth not require every man to act as a General but to what ever he
but to such as accept it it is not so their refusal of it keeps it from being a gift or free benefit to them though it still be free on Gods part who tenders it by his instruments to them And thus you see that mans doing his duty in believing and obeying according to the Gospel doth not frustrate the grace of God no more then a mans stretching out of his hand to receive any thing doth cause it to cease from being a gift Secondly I am so far from detracting from the grace of God when I affirm that God hath of his rich and free mercy given to every man and woman power to do what he expects of them that the desire of my soul is to advance that alone and to cleer up this I desire the impartial reader to judge who doth most advance the riches of grace they who affirme with the Scriptures That Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man and that all Nations of men are furnished by the Lord with every thing necessary for the knowing of him and obeying of his commands layd on them or they that say contrary to the Scriptures that Christ did not dye for all but only for a few and that God hath not given all men ability to performe what he commands them to do that he hath appointed some to disobedience and so to damnation Who is it that speaks most to the praise of the glory of Jehovah's grace he that sayes that God doth faithfully offer his grace and call all men to him i. e. to conform to his will or law manifested giving them liberty and ability to accept his love to perform his precepts or they that say that God doth only externally call all men and not really and seemingly offer grace to all men yet hath beforehand absolutely decreed the unbelief and disobedience of many of them For my part I am fully satisfied with those sayings do most advance the exceeding riches of grace which hold forth the free and unfeigned tenders of mercy to every man so as that all are left without excuse and the Justice of God who is no respecter of persons cleared in the sight of all men What you would in words say of such a master as would bind his servant hand and foot yet beat him for not coming to him when he calls him or command him to ride a hundred miles in one hour and buy two hundred penny-worth of ware with one peny threatning him with tortures upon his not-performing such uncompassable commands those men who oppose that truth which I plead for do in effect say of our most gracious and righteous God when they affirm that he hath decreed the unbelief and sins of men and yet will condemne them eternally for these things and that he hath required them to believe and follow him according to the light he reveales yet hath not enabled them so to do which in plain English is that God exacts more of his creatures then they are able to do The Lord in mercy yet grant these men time and space to repent of these doctrines Object But we do not say God is a hard Master to us taking up where he laid not down c. Answ Then what have you to do to say that he is so to others you cannot deny but he giveth strength to his Saints to do what he requires of them and I beseech you consider whether others have not ability from Jehovah to do by him what is expected from them in their several stations Gladly would I demand two or three Questions of any sober humble soul that prefers the faithfulness and glory of God before their own fancies First Whether every Man and Woman have not ability to act something Secondly Whether that power or ability be not from God alone through Christ Thirdly Whether God did indue them with that ability to do well or to do ill or to do nothing Surely you will say not to do ill not to be idle then undoubtedly it was to serve seek and glorifie him And if any shall ask how men come to commit sin then I answer as Adam did they being men heaken to the old Serpent reject the counsel of God resist his Spirit or Teachings deny the Lord that bought them with his pretious blood and bring upon themselves swift destruction Object But surely if God did call all men really they would sure come to him and if he did invite and offer his grace in good earnest they could not but receive it if God open the heart it cannot but be opened if he purge men must unresistibly be purg'd if God freely give faith and repentance men cannot chuse but repent and believe To which I answer first If God in calling men and giving out his love did make use of an unresistible power as some fondly dream all this were true But Secondly To say that God doth not really intend that grace to men which in the means he extends to them is a doctrine which I know makes the hearts of many pretious Saints sad considering how the God of Heaven is by such sayings highly dishonour'd and abus'd by saying or implying at least that men shall be damn'd because God did not really and in good earnest call them and offer mercy to them contrary to Prov. 1. 26 27. Thirdly as I have hinted before God is said to give faith and repentance c. when he affords the means i. e. the word of faith and doctrine of repentance to men and women come to understanding and enabled every way by him to come to him in the duties by him enjoyed and to open the heart when he affords that key of knowledge his word which is spirit and life and the motions or beams of his Spirit to poor souls in a word Gods work and our endeavours in all spiritual duties must go together for God opens the heart by sending the means we open to him by receiving and applying it but as the stretching out the hand to receive a bag of gold is not that which inricheth the receiver but the bounty of him that gives it so our receiving of light and grace offered is not that which makes us rich in knowledge and spiritual treasure but the bounty of God that gives these to us yet you know these are not ours though extended by the Lord never so freely if we do not imbrace and apply them which is indeed but our duty which God himself hath enabled us to perform and no thanks to us for doing that Fourthly and lastly they that heaken to the voice of God and so come to know his love and believe it or lay it to heart cannot but come in the love of God constraineth them to live to him that dyed for them and rose again and these are they that are in a special manner the called of God called to be Saints He is not asham'd to call them brethren Heb. 2. 11. but because all will
nor for for there is a world that is not thine a world that then diâ—st not give me to die for and therefore a world that I must not pray for I wonder that any man who pretends tendernesse of conscience and love to the Scriptures should dare to add to them but they that dare to restraine the Scriptures will dare also to add to the Scriptures and in time do any thing if they repent not But Secondly though Christ prayed not for the world in the same words and at that time when he prayed for his Disciples both not being in the same capacity yet afterwards and elswhere he doth and to clear up this let us search the Scriptures Job 17. which M. Tro. says is the patern of his prayer in heaven and to prove this he quotes Arminius for my part I never read his works as the searcher of hearts doth know but seeing M. Tro. thinks him authentique in this point I shall desire to shew this patern to all those that shall read this work that so we may be as well acquainted with the intercession of Christ as his Oblation of himself to God for us Observe then first that Christ from the 6. ver to the end of the 19. makes mention only of his Disciples in being as any considerate soul may see if they do but read and mind what is written In the 20. and part of 21. he prays for all that should believe through the word of truth and in the later part of the 21. and in part of the 33. for the world that they might believe and know that the Father sent him And if any shal say as they often do that by the world is meant the Believers Saints Elect or the Disciples of Christ they mistake much for Christ sayes ver the 8. they his Disciples have surely knowne that I came out from thee and have believed that thou didst send me and besides all impartial spirits will confesse that the world and the Saints are always oppos'd to each other Secondly that Christ made intercession for the transgressors Isâ— 53. 12. and Luk. 23. 34. he prays for his persecutors Romans Israelites Jews Gentiles Father forgive them for they know not what they do and Christs precepts and practise are not contradicting one to the other nay he commands us to pray for them that persecute us Mat. 5. 44. for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. Christ did pray for his friends and he prayed for his enemies for Saints and for sinners though not in the same expressions for if he had prayed for the world I mean wicked men in the same terms as for his Disciples he had prayed rather against them then for them when he petition'd that they might be one for unity in iniquity is as bad as unity in piety is good every one that prays with understanding is apt to pray for the Saints that God would keep them in peace and unity that they may continue in the way that they are 〈◊〉 and for all people and Nations that God would disperse the beams of truth amongst them that so they may know and believe and be converted they desire that God would preserve their friends and pardon their persecutors but do not usually pray that God would keep the men of the world in the way that they are in onenesse of mind c. or that the Saints may be converted neither did our Teacher the Lord Christ do thus but that the Disciples who had known and believed might be preserv'd in one and kept from evill and that the world might know and believe him whom the Father had sent and sealed Thus you see if this prayer of Christ in the 17. of Iohn be the patern of his prayer in heaven as M. Tro. from Arminius hath asserted that then our dear Redeemer hath not left out one man or woman for there are but two sorts of people nor ever were there any more believers and unbelievers Saints and sinners the Elect and the world and for both these he prays though in different expression as you have heard before Ob. But will some say that that if Christ had ever prayed for the world that they might believe and know him then they should have so done because Christ was alwayes heard by the Father but say they we see that all do not believe and know Christ therefore he need not to pray This argument is very deceitfull and grounded upon a false supposition that because men do not therefore they cannot nor ever could know the Lord and believe him but this supposall being false the argument is so to as I have largely proved before in this discourse But secondly I answer Jesus Christ did never pray in vain but obtain'd what he prayed for the works of redemption and intercession c. being finished from the foundation of the world and all men may know and believe the Lord as the Prophets and Apostles have testified and as from them I have before shew'd out of Isa 5. 4. Isa 43. 9 10. Jo. 1. 7. Rom. 1. 19. 20. with many others I beseech you read and consider them and from them you will clearly see that God hath not been wanting to reveal light and knowledge of himself through Christ but men may know and believe 't is possible for them and nothing hinders them but the devill and themselves their self-will and their sins which cause God to leave them and hide good things from them Christ prayed that the world might believe and know him and it 's granted all men through him may believe Joh. 1. 7. 't is true as hath been formerly shew'd that God doth not enable all men to know and believe with the same measure of light but every man hath sufficient according to his ability neither shall all men be accountable for the same proportion of talents yet he that had but one must reckon for that and they that have been faithfull in a little shall be Rulers over much And let this be considered well by all men that as Christ died for all yet none that are men and women shall have eternall life only by his powring out his bloud for them without obedience to him according to what he reveals to them so though Christ prays for all men yet none are saved to the uttermost meerly through his intercession except they being invited by the spirit come to God through him as you may see Heb. 7. 25. wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them and this being true that all men may know and believe the Lord I conclude that this ability is obtain'd for them through the intercession of Christ without whom we never had enjoyed any thing no not a being and that Christ in this was heard in that he desired all men through him according to his request may know and believe the world through him may be saved yea
but to exhort such to hear to seek or inquire after God hear read and search the Scriptures that so they may come to know believe and repent is suteable to the direction of the Spirit through the whole book of God who hath enabled men and women come to years of discretion so as to discern betweene good and evil thus to do To call them to baptism and so make them members of a visible Church who never heard of God is ridiculous and M. Tro. himself in his Epistle to the Reader confesseth it under his own hand That visible title to and interest in the Covenant of Grace consisting in a sâ—rious profession of the Christian faith accompanied with a suteable conversation is that which constitutes a member of the visible Church of Christ whence two things are considerable 1. That infants are not whilest infants visible Members of the Church of Christ in that they make no profession of the Christian Faith neither is their conversation suteable to the holy precepts of the most high for they speak and act as children neither doth God require that it should be so for he speaks not to children 2. This discovers the folly of Baby-sprinklers who require more of poor creatures then they are able to perform which shews that their Ministery in this as in other things is not of God who never exacts that of any which he of his own free mercy and goodnesse hath not given them ability to bring to passe yea they are contrary to God and palpably contradict themselves After this short digression a sixth use that may be made of this doctrine is this that seeing God hath appointed set apart or chosen all men to serve him and enabled them so to do this should teach Ministers to take heed that they add not to neither diminish from the precepts which God hath given to mankind by laying more or lesse upon persons then they are able to perform which is a usuall thing for they say of infants that they must be baptized and be Church-Members though they have done neither good nor evil nay know not their right hand from their less and tell men that are 20. 40. 50. years of age that they cannot believe nor repent nay that they must not be baptized c. Lastly this may serve for a triall and examination to every man whether he hath done all that good which God enabled him to do and avoided that evill which he by the light manife-fested from God might have shunned that so he may through a certain knowledge of his actings in these things be comforted in his obedience through Christ the strength and arm of the Lord or repent of his non-performance of that which through that light or power he might have performed And now let the judicious Reader judge whether these things being very profitable do not freely flow from that doctrine which men call heresie Thirdly seeing some departed from the faith Hymeneus and Alexander put away faith and a good conscience all they in Asia turned away from Paul others deny the Lord that bought them and some tread under foot the Son of God and count the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified an unholy thing and doing despight to the Spirit of Grace and seeing the Holy Ghost sayes it is impossible to renew them again by repentance who fall away after they are inlightened and are partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come therefore we admonish the Saints in the language of the Lord nay the Lord warns them by us to beware and take heed lest they fall and leâ—t there be in any of the brethren an evill heart of unbelief to depart from the living God and to beware lest any man deceive them and lest any of them fall from the grace of God as some did Gal. 5. 4. to beware of false Prophets and take heed lest they fall away from their own stedâ—astnesse c. which precious words of the eternall God were of no use if the Saints were not in danger even in their best estate here below We exhort them to watch and pray and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free and to beg of God that he would hold up their goâ—ngs in his paths that their footsteps may not slide and to keep them from falling and turning back from him and knit their hearts to him pray one for another to him that is able to build them up that he would preserve them blamelesse in body soul and Spirit to the coming of Jesus Christ all which and thousand such like Petitions were frivolous if there were no danger and all those â—recepts and promises he that endureth be thâ—u faithfull he that overcometh 'T is true we do not exhort any to beware but such as walk in that way as those Saints of old did to whom those words we use were written and spoken that were improper and one means it hath been to deceive the poor â—ouls in this Island and make them think they were all Saints according to the Scripture account when they were exhorted not to fall away from their present sâ—ate whereas it had been happy for many thousand if they had fallen from it so they had fallen down and worshipped God according to his Word We do not exhort the Parish-Ministers of Great Britain much leste those poor blâ—nd creatures who follow them idolize them and are led by an implicite faith to hold fast their profession for it 's very bad and Antichristian or to continue in the way where they are for it is not good nor to take heed that they depart not from the way of God for they are not in it or from the living God for they are not with him But we beseâ—ch them to repent and turn to God that so they may be baptized and added to the Church and enjoy the precious priviledges that pertain to such as worship Gâ—d in spirit and truth i. e. according to his word which is spirit and truth well knowing that men may as well â—e destroyed for resisting the power of God and putting from them the Word of God and eternall life as for deserting the way of righteousnesse add turning from the holy Commandement delivered unto them and therefore they have no just cause to be angry against us as they are for the searcher of hearts is witnesse that we deâ—ire earnestly their conversion and salvation and therefore for my part I shall in love tell them this that if they shall still oppose Christ and call his way heresie take part with the Pope and Prelates in their Nationall Churches Baby-sprinkling forced maintenance c. none of which are according to the testimony of Jesus within few years they will be driven to darknesse but as many of them as imbrace the Gospell and walk in the way of righteousnesse which men call heresie whether they have
little or much life or death they shall rejoyce in the God of their salvation say to the righteous it shall be well with them And if any shall say that if they should quit their forced maintenance peoples hearts would be so hard that they would allow them nothing I answer 1. Through the power of the word many would be converted and then they cannot withhold their carnall things from those who minister spiritualls to them then the love of Christ would constrain them to do willingly that at least which before the Law of men compell'd them to by that uncouth force of treble damages And 2. They shall find that a little which the righteous hath is better then the grrat revenues that come with hatred strife and contention 't was the saying of Elies sons thou shalt give it us or we will take it by force and they were sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. I hope the Ministers of England and Scotland who term themselves the Ministers of Christ will not conforme to such Ministers if they do and resolve so to do God will cut them off as he did them And let not any ask what became of our Forefathers for God who causeth the light to shine out of darknesse hath appeared in far more translucent brightnesse of Gospell purity then they knew and therefore more is expected of us they were precious instruments in the hand of God but few years â—ince many of them and others yet are alive who were such their labours successeful and persons acceptable who neglecting to follow yea opposing another or more discoveries of divine light have been laid aside are grown dull and dead and some taken off short by the hand of divine justice Oh therefore you who are the Parish Teachers in this Isle consider that Christ died for you as well as for the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam therefore love him and shew your love by keeping his Commandements and his only do not do any more in Gods worship then Christ hath commanded you he requires you to believe or do no more then what is written do not add to your task and Christs yoke consider how the Lord will deal with such as add to or diminish from his will beware of stumbling at the word being disobedient where unto you were appointed or set they that stumble at the rock shall be broken in pieces and they upon whom that rock or stone shall fall shall be ground â—o powder God is not willing that you should perish but rather that you should turne from your own way and live I know this to be truth for he hath spoken it and Christ hath sealed it with his bloud he shed for you which he would never have done if he had not desired your welfare And thus you see how usefull the Doctrine we preach is and therefore no way to be despised or disparaged as it is by many in our Generation who speak evill of the things they understand not But I come in the last place by the blessed assistance of God to shew you by whom and why this doctrine is opposed and then I shall conclude this work 1. This Doctrine is opposed by Satan who knows that if it should be evinced that Christ died for all then men would come to see the love of God to them and would every where begin to love God and so obey his voice and if it should be published and proved that God hath of his own free mercy ordâ—in'd that all men may and ought to serve him and hath furnished them with ability to know and believe him and to do whatsoever he requires of them and that if they perish it 's their own fault then they would blesse his name and be doing his work and listen to his word all which things destroy Satans Kingdome And if it should be manifested that there is very great danger of departure from God and of being deceived then he knows that the Saints would be more heedfull and watchfull they would be fearfull of falling into sin and of back sâ—â—ding from truth which things are contrary to Satans projects and profit for he strives more to train aside one poor soul from the way of righteousnesse then to keep twenty in the way of wickednesse knowing that he can make the enemies of the truth â—riumph and blaspheme more by the fall of one that is called to be a Saint then by a thousand sins done by others 2. This Doctrine is opposed by false Teachers such as deny Scriptures Order Ordinances or such as rage and raile against the way of Christ and practise contrary to him worshipping the true God falsly yea all sorts of false Teachers as for example Christ sayes Disciple all Nations baptizing them but saith the world baptize them and disciple them afterwards for infants as infants cannot be Disciples for he that taketh not up his Crosse and followeth Christ cannot be his Disciple and that infants cannot do the Spirit of God sayes repent and be baptized the men of the world say be baptized and repent after yet they say they bring sin enough into the world to damn them eternally and they baptize them before they repent of it the Spirit sayes if thou believest thou mayest the world sayes they may be baptized who believe not the Spirit of God sayes who can forbid water that they should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost some men say that they who are baptized with the Spirit need not nay ought not to be baptized with water though they know not who they are In a word they who eitâ—â—r in judgment or practise continue contrary to light revealed oppose the doctrine and light held forth by Christ his Word and Spirit and walk by the light of their own fires fancies I may say oppose that Doctrine by me and thousands received from the Scriptures 1. Because if it should be declared that Christ died for all then people would begin to love him and to repent of sin and enquire after him and his wayes and forsake all false Teachers and every false way then they would so love Jesus Christ that they will cry out Lord what wilt thou have me to do and more or lesse they would not willingly do in his worship then he hath required not more because he hath given enough and works of supererogation and to be wise above what 's written are abominable in the sight of God not lesse because that which he requires of us is but little in comparison of the great things he hath done and suffered for us 2. If it should be published that Christ died for all then the greatest part of the Scripture must be taken as it is written and that is contrary to the profit of the Papists and all false Prophets who would fain have people believe that the Scriptures are very obscure that so they may deter the people from studying them and give them money