judgement was governed by his passions of love and hatred these by his lust And for his bitter Speeches Bucer gave him the title of a Fratricide Reverend Mr. Beza confesseth also of himself that per quindecim annorum Spacium quo alios docuit justitiae viam nec sobrium se factum nec liberalem nec veracem sed haerere in luto That for the space of fifteen years together wherein he taught others the way of righteousnesse himself trod neither in the way of truth nor bounty nor sobriety but stuck fast in the mire of sin Men that have had triall of the powerful workings of sin and grace and been brought upon their knees like the great Apostle with a bitter complaint O me miserum O wretched man that I am These are your None-such Divines which methinks our Saviour gave an intimation of in that passage to Peter Luke 22. 32. tu aliquando conversus confirma fratres tuos Mr. Narrowgrace He attributeth so much to the Ministery of the Gospel that he seems to be superstitiously addicted to it and turnes it into an Idol Whereas we know of it self it is but a dead letter and therefore Maccovius handling that question Whether the word God may be savingly heard before regeneration concludes negatively and to avoide his Adversaries argument he affirmes that that hearing of the word which produceth faith doth presuppoose regeneration To this agrees the opinion of some Divines who think that Regeneration is effected after another manner then faith is To which purpose Johannes Rysius in his Confession saith thus Fides Dei gratiâ per verbum concipitur Regeneratio vero a Deo per Christum sine ullius rei Creatae interventu proficiscitur Faith is conceived by the grace of God through the word but Regeneration pro-ceeds from God through Christ without the intervention of any created thing whatsoever Mr. Take o' trust I conceive Sir when we see the ministery so much ecclipsed and undervalued as it is if there were nothing else in it Christian Policy should teach us not to vent such doctrines as are apt to bring more contempt upon it But the Holy Ghost hath set it at a higher rate by cloathing it with titles of a greater reputation He calls it the word of grace the word of faith the word of life the Joh. 6. 63. Heb. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. word of reconciliation the ministration of the Spirit the word that is able to save the soul the power of God unto Salvation the word of God that effectually worketh in them that beleeve Mr. Know-little I conceive the Ministery of the word hath these excellent titles bestowed upon it in regard it is the instrument by and through which God doth infuse into the understanding and heart his special grace or rather that regenerating virtue which alone doth powerfully effect the work of regeneration so that the outward word as an instrument conferreth nothing at all to that effect but is onely as the tunnell whereby water is poured into a vessel and yet that water receives no tincture at all from the nature or quality of the said tunnell Mr. Takeo'trust I have seen this alledged But they say we should consider that the nature and propertie of the word is to be intelligible in expression and to carry such a sense as is apt to move the party to whom it is addressed by working upon his understanding and inciting his heart to love or hatred hope or fear and this is the true efficacy the word is indowed with But if the word contributes no more to our conversion or regeneration than the tunnell that only conveighs the liquor to the filling of the vessel then it matters not whether the word be intelligible yea or no for that regenerating virtue being a distinct power infused besides it the word doth not work as a verbal id est a rational instrument but onely concurr's as an instrument destitute of sense and reason And therefore as it matters not what mettall the tunnell be made of whether wood or brasse or tinn So had the word no other kinde of instrumentalitie than that hath it were all one whether the language were barbarous non-sense as is usuall amongst some Sectaries or significant And to what end then did God confer the gift of tongues upon his Apostles and they take such care to condescend and apply themselves to the capacitie and apprehension of their hearers Besides if the word hath no more to do in this work than is pretended why should it consist of precepts and those establish't with promises and threatnings For a precept so establish'd especially doth prescribe the thing under command as a duty and concurr's unto that duty as the reason moving and obliging a man to performe it But if that special grace or regenerating vertue so infused doth alone effect a mans regeneration taking nothing at all from the word how can that effect be said to be the performance of his duty and an act of obedience to the command of the word Mr. Knowlittle 'T is a question whether there be any precepts properly so called under the new Covenant yea nor no Some absolutely denie it But we confess it and they may be said to concur to our conversion and believing per modum signi as a sign or object representing what God by his free grace is said to effect and work in us Indeed they declare what man ought to do but they serve rather to discover and convince his weakness than promote his duty Mr. Takeo'trust This doctrin doth cancel the very formal reason force of all the Commands of Christ and makes the word of God intended for an instrument of mans conversion to serve only for an object and meer doctrin for his faith and repentance to converse with for they are not to be wrought it seems by this means but immediately effected and wrought of Almighty God in the heart by a special action and operation and consequently all the exhortations and precepts as such all the promises and threatnings complaints and obtestations wherewith the word of God aboundeth to be nothing else but empty signs and busie trifles if not a ludicrous stage-play conducing nothing to that effect which they pretend to be designed for But that faith and regeneration which flowes from it are both wrought in a rational way by the outward ministery of the word moving and inciting the understanding and heart of man will evidently appear to be the doctrin of Christ and his Apostles 1. For faith take that expression in our Saviours prayer John 17. 17 20. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Neither pray I for these Apostles alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word See Joh. 20. 31. 1 John 5. 13. And Rom. 10. 17. Therefore faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God 1. That he understands faith working by love which the Gospel determines
by works of righteousness which we had done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour 1 Pet. 1. 3 23. The father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath begotten us again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God c. See Ezek. 36. 26 27. Renewed in understanding will affections c. Ephes 4. 23. Renewed in the spirit of your mindes Col. 3. 10. In knowledge See 1 Cor. 1. 4 5. Tit. 2. 11. Acts 26. 18. To whom I send thee to open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 15 9. God through the Holy Ghost purifying their hearts by faith Heb. 9. 14. The blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit and the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly 1 Thes 5. 23. To do that which is savingly good c. Mat. 7. 17 18. and chap. 12. 33 34 35. Make the tree good and his fruit good Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life See verse 18. II. They hold that the grace of God is the beginning proceeding and fulfilling of all good so as even the regenerate man himself without grace preventing exciting following and co-working cannot think will or do good or resist any temptation to ill so that the good deeds and actions which any man can conceive are to be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture That the grace of God is the beginning c. James 1. 17 18. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above John 8. 36. 2 Cor. 4. 6. If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is libertie Phil. 1. 6. chap 2. 13. It is God which hath begun a good work in you which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Heb. 12. 2. The author and finisher of our faith 2 Thes 2. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel See verse 15 16 17. 1 Pet 5. 10. c. 2 Pet. 1. 1 3 His divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness Or resist any temptation to ill c. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the evil day Ephes 6. 13. Watch and pray c. Mat. 26. 41. Lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 13. The good we do to be ascribed to the grace of God c. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope c. 1 Pet. 5. 10 11. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen See Rom. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 4 5. Ephes 1. 3. c. Rom. 16. 25 26 27. Rev. 1. 5 6. III. They hold that to hear Gods word to be sorry for sin committed to desire saving grace and the spirit of renovation nothing of which notwithstanding can a man do without grace is profitable and needful for the obtaining of faith and the spirit of renovation Proofes out of holy Scripture St. Luke 19. 13 Negotiamini dum venio Trade till I come for whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance Luke 19. 26. See Mat. 13. from v. 10 ro 17. Iohn 6. 45. See Luke 16. 11 12. chap. 19. 17. Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Acts 17. 11 12. They of Berea received the word with all readiness of minde and searched the Scriptures Therefore many of them believed Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrin whether it be of God See Psal 25. 12 14. Psal 111. 10. Prov. 1. 7. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation See Acts 2. 37 38. chap. 16. 29 30 Prov. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. If thou wilt incline thine â—ar unto wisdome and apply thine heart to understanding If thou seekest her as silver Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall finde me Luke 11. 13. Your heavenly Father will give the spirit to them that ask him See the example of Sergius Paulus Acts 13. 7 12. Especially that of Cornelius Acts 10. 1 2 4 5 34 35. See also Gal. 3. 24. Prov. 3. 32. Iob 28. 28. 2 Tim. 2. 21. James 1. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. See the reason of the Negative following IV. They hold that effectual grace whereby a man is converted is resistible and though God doth so work upon the will by his word and the inward operation of his holy spirit as that he gives both power to believe and supernatural abilities and makes a man actually to believe yet can man of himself despise that grace not believe and so through his own default perish Proofs out of Holy Scripture Ezek. 11. 20. compared with the 21. verse I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh That they may walk in my statutes and keep mine Ordinances and do them But whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations I will recompense their way upon their own heads Mat. 11. 20 21 22 23. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day Ezek. 24. 13. I have purged thee and thou wast not purged Acts 2. 41. They that gladly received his word were baptized 1 Thes 2. 13 19. See v. 19. Acts 11. 21. Ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe See Rom. 1. 16. Acts 13. 46. 48. Luke 14. 16. c. Mat. 22.
4 5. He sent out his servants saying All things are ready coms unto the marriage But they made light of it Luke 10. 16. 1 Thes 4. 8. He that despiseth you despiseth me he despiseth not man but God who hath given us of his spirit Mat. 23. 37. Luke 13. 34. How often would I have gathered thy children and ye would not John 5. 34 40. These things have I spoken that ye might be saved And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Prov. 1. 24. c. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and ye regarded not c. Rom. 2. 4 5. Despisest thou the riches of his geodness and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance Isa 63. 10. They rebelled and vexed his holy spirit See Zach. 7. 11 12 13. Acts 5. 7 51. Ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost and done despight to the spirit of grace Heb. 10. 29. And rejected the Counsel of God against themselves Luke 7. 30. turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness Jude ep v. 4. We then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6. 1. Heb. 12. 15. Looking diligently ne quis desit gratiae Dei lest any man be wanting to the grace of God See Psal 78. 40. c. 2 Cor. 3. 15. chap. 4. 4. Also see the Reason of the second Negative following See Exod. 21. 5 6. compared with Isa 61. 1 2. Rom. 6. 14 16. V. They hold that though grace be dispensed in differing measure according to Gods most free will yet on all those to whom the word of faith is preached the Holy spirit bestows or is ready to bestow so much grace as is sufficient in fitting degrees to bring on their conversion Proofs out of Scripture In differing measure c. Heb. 1. 1 2. God who at sundry times and in diverse manners hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his son Mat. 12. 4. A greater than Jonas is here Iohn 10. 10. I came that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly Heb. 2. 2 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Mat. 25. 15. To one he gave five talents to another two to another one 1 Cor. 12. 4. There are diversities of gifts 1 Pet. 4. 10. The grace of God is manifold Ephes 4. 16. According to the effectual working in the measure of every part Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive you 1 Cor. 8. 7. There is not in every man that knowledge So much grace as is sufficient c. Acts 3. 26. God having raised up his son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities Acts 5. 31. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 1. 30. Christ is made unto us wisdome and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Tit. 2. 11 12 See 2 Chron. 24. 19. The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men c. Acts 26. 18. To whom I send thee to open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance c. 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. Our sufficiency is of God who also hath made us able Ministers not of the letter but of the spirit Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye and teach and loe I am with you Mat. 18. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 6. 1. receive not the grace of God in vain In fitting degrees c. St. Mark 4 33. With many such parables spake he the word unto them as they were able to hear it Mat. 25. 15. And delivered to his servants his talents to every one according to his several abilitie Agreeable to his capacitie and competent to his office and imployment and the exigence of business intrusted to him of his Lord see Heb. 5. 13 14. Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Mat. 13. 12. For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance Luke 16. 10 11 12. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches And if ye have not been faithful in that which is anothers who shall give you that which is your own If you be not faithful in the use of things temporal how shall God intrust you with things heavenly and spiritual Wherefore let us have grace hold it fast by imploying it whereby we may serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 2. 8. and grow in it 2 Pet. 3. 18. VI. They hold that a man by the grace of the holy spirit may do more good then indeed he doth and omit more evil than indeed he omitteth Proofs out of Scripture Iohn 15. 22 24. If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak excuse for their sin If I had not done among them the works which none other man did they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my father Acts 17. 30. 1 King 21. 25. Zach. 1. 15. The times of this ignorance God winked at Deut. 30. 14. with Rom. 10. 6 8. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise the word is very nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it Iohn 8. 32. with 36. 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is libertie Rom. 6. 18. Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denied my name Phil. 4. 13. I am able to do all things through Christ which strengthneth me Matthew 11. 21 23. If the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre Sidon or Sodom they would have repented See the 4. negative propositions VII They hold that whomsoever God calls unto salvation he calleth him seriously that is with a sincere and unfeigned intention and will to save him Proofes out of Holy Scripture 1. His command Acts 17. 30. But now he commandeth All men every where to repent 2. His invitations 2 Chron. 36. 14 15 16. See 2 Chron. 24. 19. And the Lord sent to them by his messengers rising up betimes and sending Mat. 22. 2 4. c. Luke 14. 21. And he sent out his servants and he sent other servants saying go
out quickly and compel them to come in Rev. 22. 17. The spirit and the Bride say come And let him that heareth say come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Isa 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock Prov. 1. 20. c. Wisdome crieth without she uttereth her voice in the streets How long ye simple ones Turn you at my reproof Behold I will pour out my spirit unto you c. 3. His reception Iohn 6. 37. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Mat. 11. 28. Come and I will refresh you Rev. 3. 20. He shall sup with me 4. His options 1. For the time past Psal 81. 9 10 11 12 13 14. But my people would not hear O that my people had hearkned unto me Isa 48. 17 18 19. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest goe O that thou hadst hearkened to my Commandements then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the Sea 2. For the future Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them Deut. 32. 29. O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their later end 5. His precations and beseechings Isa 65. 2. Rom. 10. 21. I have spread out my hands a posture of prayer Exod. 9. 29. Psal 63. 5. all the day unto a rebellious people 2 Cor. 5. 20. God doth beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead Be ye reconciled unto God 6. His obtestations Deut. 30. 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed mayest live Isa 1. 2. Hear O heavens and give eare O earth c. 7. His complaints Micha 6. 3. O my people what have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me Ier. 2. 5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity and are become vain Ier. 2. 31. Have I been a wilderness c. 8. His Lamentations Ier. 4. 14. O Ierusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Mat. 23. 37. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Luke 19. 41 42. He beheld the city and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace 9. His expostulations Ezek. 18. 31 32. Cast away from you all your transgressions and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel Ier. 13. last 10. His increpations and exprobrations Iohn 5. 40 with 34. These things I say that ye may be saved And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Rom. 2. 4. Despisest thou the riches of his goodnes not knowing that the goodness of the Lord leadeth thee unto repentance Ier. 13. last Woe unto thee O Jerusalem wilt thou not be made clean When shall it once be 11. His Comminations and threatnings Ezek. 18. 30. Therefore will I judge you O house of Israel every one according to his wayes saith the Lord God repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Ier. 18. 10 11. Now therefore go to speak to the men of Judah saying thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a device against you return ye now every one from his evil way and make your wayes and your doings good 12. His oath and Protestation Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye die O house of Israel Are not these arguments of seriousness Judg. 13. 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things nor have told us such things as these See the Reason of the fifth Negative What the Remonstrants do not hold touching the said Articles viz. Gods grace and Mans Conversion I. THey do not hold that all Zeal Care and Study for the obtaining of Salvation which a man shall use before he hath faith and the spirit of renovation is vain and to no purpose much lesse that 't is rather hurtful than profitable and fruitful to him The Reason 1. The neglect hereof is complained of Isa 64. 7. There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee Isa 44. 19. Iob 35. 10 11. But none saith where is God my maker Who teacheth us more then the beasts of the earth and maketh us wiser then the fouls of heaven See Ier. 5. 24. ch 8. 6. No man repented him of his wickednesse saying what have I done 2. This neglect is threatned Luke 16. 10 12. He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore you have not been faithful in that which is anothers c. Rom. 1. 21. Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God 3. This is a duty expected even of the Heathens Act. 17. 27. That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and finde him 4. And 't is commanded He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Isa 46. 8. Remember this and shew your selves men Jam. 1. 5. If any of you lack wisdome let him aske of God Strive to enter in at the streight gate Ier. 4. 3. Luke 3. 4 6. Prepare the way of the Lord. Hos 10. 12. 5. This is commended as a disposition and preparative to faith in Christ and the spirit of renovation Mat. 13. 10 11 12. To him that hath shall be given To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 11. 5 25 26. Thou hast revealed them to babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Iohn 10. 27. Iohn 3. 21. But he that doth truth cometh to the light Luke 8. 15. That on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Mark 19. 14. Of such is the kingdome of God 6. This care and study is incouraged Mat. 12. 20. He will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed Isa 55. 1. Mat. 11. 28. Ho
be distinguished from the exorbitancie were such a distinction allowable before God and if it be not sure 't is not to be alledged on his behalf every transgressor might shew a fair acquittance and justly plead not guilty The Adulterer might say he went in to his Adulteress as a woman not as she was married to another man and that he humbled her for procreation or for a remedie of his Concupiscence not for injurie to her husband the blasphemer might say what he spake was to make use of the facultie of speech which God had given him and to keep his tongue in ure not to dishonour the Almighty and so might every offender have leave by vertue of this distinction to separate his sinful act from the enormitie of it every sin would become a miracle that is it would be an accident without a subject If your God stands in need of this logick himself there is all the reason in the world that when he sits in judgement he should allow the benefit thereof to others But 3. the greatest Doctors of your Syned have written that God doth predestinate men as well to the means as to the end but the natural Act granting your distinction is not the cause of mans damnation as it is an Act but only as it is sin and therefore those unfortunate forlorn wretches whom the absolute pleasure of your God hath invincibly chained to the fatal decree of Reprobation can no more abstain from following sin the means than avoid damnation the woful end to which they are so peremptorily designed Mr. Fatalitie We do not desire that you should lanch out any further into that unfordable abysse of horrour and astonishment the decree of eternal Reprobation It is more for your comfort to make your calling and election sure to get an interest in Jesus Christ through faith by whose means the eternal decree of mercy may be accomplished to you Tilenus Infidelis If the decree of God be really such as you propound it my indeavours would be to as little purpose as your instruction is like to be for if every man be inrolled from all eternitie after such a sort as your Synod hath determined in one of those two fatal books of life or death t is as impossible to be blotted out of either as for God to denie himself to what end then serves all your importunitie Mr. Impertinent It were too great an arrogance in us to pric into Gods secrets 'Till he gives us a Key of his own making to unlock that Cabinet we must not undertake to read the mysteries he hath lock'd up in it There are visible marks by which we may discern the Elect from the Reprobate and those we must reflect upon to the making out of our assurance and because our vocation is the next saving benefit that result's from our Election and 't is altogether uncertain when God will vouchsafe it to us whether at the third or at the sixth or at the ninth or at the last hour of our lives therefore every one ought to keep himself in readiness to answer when God knocks and to obey when he calls What you utter in your ignorance and unbelief is capable of so much alleviation that it proceeded from you in such a state otherwise I should tell you it savours much of a spirit of Reprobation to say that men work in vain since such as God hath elected are elected to the means as well as to the end to believe and do the exercises of pietie as well as to be saved and to perform these in order to their salvation Tilenus Infidelis If it be so great an arrogance to prie into these secrets why do you so positively define in them and so peremptorily obtrude your definitions upon others But 2. If all men be infallibly inlisted under one of those two Regiments of Election or Reprobation and we be not able to distinguish to which we do belong till God be pleased to call us over and give us our special marks and cognizance and that vocation be not in our own power to procure all our works and indeavours that are brought forth before it being born in sin and children of wrath as your doctrin teacheth and so not conducible to that purpose sure it were a piece of improvidence at least if not a huge presumption to attempt thus to prevent the will of God and anticipate the decrees of heaven notwithstanding 't is a part of our faith as you define it that we must needs stay till that saving call of God doth ring so loud in our ears that 't is impossible we should be deaf or disobedient to it Dr. Confidence None but a Reprobate would argue after this manner Tilenus Infidelis If you be of that opinion I 'le hear no more of your instructions for I understand t is one of your tenents that the Gospel is preached to the greatest part of the world to no other end but to aggravate their condemnation as 't is recorded by a chief professor of that doctrin called Mr. Calvin that God doth direct his word unto such that they may become the more deaf and that he doth set his light before them of purpose to make them the more blinde Inst 3. c. 24. § 13. And if this be the infinite wisdome goodness and justice of your God those at whose ears there never arrived any intelligence of him are the more happie or at least the less unfortunate and miserable than those who are brought into some acquaintance with him and yet cannot believe because the notice they have of him through his own unprovok'd restraint is not attended with grace necessary to work belief in them Mr. Impertinent We advise you to betake your self to your prayers that these thoughts of your heart may be forgiven you and that God would put you into a better minde Tilenus Infidelis I am weary of these absurd contradictions for if the best works of the unregenerate be not only unfruitful but noxious and hurtful as they are accounted by the test and scale of your doctrin and it be impossible to please God without faith in Christ and that faith not to be usher'd into the soul but by the dead-awakening call of the Almighty my papers in this state of Infidelitie will rather provoke and exasperate that God you advise me to pray unto then propitiate and appease him That Philosopher therefore gave those wicked passengers whom the violence of a tempest had storm'd into a fit of devotion a great deal better counsel when he said Silete ne dii vos nebulones hic naving are sentiant he bid them hold their peace lest their cries should give the Gods warning to take their advantage to shipwrack and destroy them By this gentlemen you see with what success you are able to mannage your plea according to your Synod's principles in behalf of your God against an Infidel perhaps you may come off better in your attempt to correct
to the doctrin of the Synod of Dort or declared foresworn by that of Alez it follows by the same doctrin that my sin though never so abominable doth Cooperate to my salvation yea and that my pardon is sealed already and this Mr. Fatalitie you intimate your self in your exhorting me to repentance for repentance you know is of no worth without saith and faith it self is defective except it believes the forgiveness of all sins past and to come However if I be a Reprobate which no temptation shall induce me to believe contrary to my duty as I am instructed by the doctâ—in of the Synod yet unless you have a commission to disanul the decrees of Heaven your threatnings and exhortations cannot avail me but may do me this disadvantage that they may anticipate my hell terrours and beget a worm in my bosome to torment me before the time Mr. Takeo'trust I like it well you are so fully perswaded of the All-sufficiencie of the Divine grace and that you profess so much aversness to the proud conceits of the Arminians not daring to ascribe any thing to your own indeavours and that you are so careful to avoid the comfortless suspition of your being under the state of Reprobation but I much bewail your dangerous errrour in one thing and must indeavour your correction in that as the most likely foundation of all your practical miscarriages Tilenus Carnalis I beseech you what may that be I should be glad to have it discovered to me Mr. Takeo'trust Because as you argued very well according to the minde of the Synod the Holy spirit doth immediately produce repentance in the sinners heart therefore you seem to set light by the Ordinance of the word and this is a very dangerous errour in you for the word preached especially with threatnings and exhortations are the means and instruments by which the Holy Ghost worketh to the conversion and correction of a sinner Tilenus Carnalis When we take our principles without any examination upon the credit of our admired Authors we are apt to embrace their contradictions as points of faith and their absurdities as parts of our belief And so it hath happened to your self in this particular for you must observe that that manner of working only is called immediate wherein no means do concur now if the repentance and conversion of a sinner be attributed to the immediate working of the Holy Ghost it implies a manifest contradiction to say that exhortations and threatnings are the instruments and means thereof Besides the very essence and being of an instrument is placed in the aptitude and fitness which it hath for the use and office to which it is designed so a knife is a knife in that respect only that the qualitie and form of it's matter gives it an aptitude to cut an eye is therefore an eye because 't is apt to see So every instrument hath a suitable fitness to that office for the performance whereof 't is designed to be an instrument and therein lies its subserviencie to the principal efficient Mr. Takeo'trust By this very reason I conclude the Ministerie of the word to be the means and instrument of the sinners conversion and repentance for it is most apt to inform his understanding of his duty and to quicken his will and affections to pursue and follow the same Tilenus Carnalis Sir you are much mistaken indeed if a moral efficiencie would serve the turn there are most excellent arguments of perswasion to work upon a reasonable Creature but this is the very thing that the Arminians do plead for Our Synod and the Divines thereof teach us otherwise namely that the conversion of a sinner cannot be wrought but by a physical or or hyperphysical action an impression of grace that is irresistible to which effect the ministery of the word as exhortations and commands promises and threatnings can no more avail having no more aptitude thereunto then to the raising of the dead or the creation of the world Mr. Impertinent We do read at the raising up of Lazarus and the Creation of the world that God spake the word and it was done Gen. 1. 3 6. Iohn 11. 43. Tilenus Carnalis The word that produced those effects was not the word of exhortation such as we speak of no nor yet that outward word consisting of sound and syllables which did but signifie what God was about to work by his irresistible omnipotencie but it was the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. which is said to be his son verse 2. compared with Col. 1. 16 17. And as there could be no resistance made against that power exerted and put forth for that creation and resurrection so your Synod teach us to believe that that power which is imploy'd to effect the conversion of a sinner from the errour of his wayes is equally irresistible but that the ministerie of the word hath no such power or energie appears too manifestly in the frequent and almost general contempt and frustration of it This therefore having no aptitude to such an use or office which nothing but an irresistible force can accomplish it can with no proprietie of speech be said to be the means and instrument thereof Mr. Knowlittle Then you will allow the ministerie of the word to be of no use at all in the Church of God Tilenus Carnalis One function it hath and no more according to the consequence of the Synods doctrin it serves for a sign or object to represent outwardly what the spirit works inwardly as well in the will as in the understanding but because 't is like the raising of the dead and the creation of the world it requires an omnipotent and irresistible operation therefore the Scripture though it represents and urgeth so many sundry wayes as by way of command exhortation promise and threatning yet to speak congruously to our principles it can implie and signifie it but as a work of God's not as a duty of ours and then why should we trouble our selves about it any more than Adam troubled himself about the creation of Evah or Lazarus about his own Resurrection especially seeing we must believe 't is nothing in our power to help it forward and that God in pursuance of his own Deorees will infallibly perform it though we be cast into as deep a sleep of security as Adam was or lie stinking in the grave of our corruptions though insensible of it as did Lazarus Dr. Dubius Do you then think the use of the Ministery a thing indifferent and purpose to decline it Tilen Carnalis Seeing the most the word can do is to make us Morall men if yet it can do that which are of no great esteem in Gods Kingdom as our Divines generally have resolved and the spirit is no more bound to wait upon the preaching thereof than to be at our command and seeing when he does come he needs none of those auxiliary forces to atchieve his irresistible conquest
Rev 22. 15. See the place Ephes 5. 5 6. Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Be not deceived the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God See Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Luke 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Iohn 3. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light 2 Thes 1. 7 8. The Lord shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance of them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ See Mat. 13. 41 42 49 50. Chap. 25. 41 43. Wherefore if thine eye offend thee c. Mark 9. 43. to 49. See Heb. 11. 6. Ch. 12. 14. Rev. 21. the last Ezek. 18. 26. Mat. 3. 10 12. Chap. 5. 20. III. And because sinful man could not possibly of himself by his natural abilitie believe in this Redeemer and persevere in such faith he decreed to afford man means sufficient and necessary as he saw befitting his own wisdome and justice for the working of faith and repentance whereby man might be inabled to believe or more and more prepared and in certain steps or degrees brought on at length to true faith Proofes out of Scripture Not of himself c. Mat 6. 27. Which of you by taking thought can adde one Cubit unto his stature Iob 9. 19 20. If I speak of strength loe he is strong Hos 13. 9. Thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Isa 43. 1. c. 45. 21. I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Prov. 3. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thine own understanding Isa 5. 21. ch 31. 1. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes but look not unto the holy one of Israel neither seek the Lord. Not believe by his natural ability c. Rom. 5. 6. ch 8. 3. Without strength See a Cor. 4. 6. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves See Rom. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 22. Ioh. 3. 3 5. Mat. 12. 33 35. Make the tree good and then the fruit good 1 Cor. 3. 4. God giveth the increase Phil. 1. 29. Vnto you it is given Act. 16. 14. Whose heart the Lord opened Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe See Ezek. 36. 22. Mat. 16. 17. Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee Lam. 1. 17. Every good gift is from above c. Joh. 6. 44 65. Except the father draw him Mat. 11. 27. Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him John 15. 5. Without me ye can doe nothing 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God See Rom. 4. 16. ch 5. 15. c. ch 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am Gal. 2. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 1 3. Who have obtained like precious faith with us according as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness Eph. 3. 14. c. ch 6. 23. Rev. 1. 4. Grace and peace from God the Father c. 1 Cor. 1. 3. He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. See Rom. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Nor persevere in such c. Ioh. 15. 5. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing Heb. 12. 2. Jesus the author and finisher of our faith 2 Thess 2. 16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and worke 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all grace make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you See Ephesians 3. 14. c. Phil. 1. 6. Hebr. 13. 20. Means sufficient and necessary c. Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son See Rom. 10. 14. c. 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. Isa 59. last How shall he not with him also freely give us all things Eph. 1. 3. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Isa 49 6 8 9. ch 42. 7. That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth To open the blinde eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house I will give thee for a Covenant to the people To perform the promise that he would grant unto us a Power that we might serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life S. Luke 1 72 to 76. 2 Pet. 1. 3. His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godlinesse Mat. 25. 14 15 27 29. He gave unto them his talents Mat. 13. 11 12. To you it is given to know Act. 2. 4 5 39 41. The promise is to you and your children Luke 10. 9. The kingdome of God is come nigh unto you Isa 65. 1. Rom. 10. 20. I was made manifest to them that enquired not after me Tit. 2. 11 12. ch 3. 5 6. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation unto all men hath appeared the renewing of the holy Ghost which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour See Hebr. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. Iam. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 4. 15. Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace Mar. 4. 23 24 25. Luke 8. 18. To him that hath shall be given Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine Luke 11. 13. Act. 5. 32. He will give the holy Spirit to them that aske and obey him Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it Heb. 12. 28. wherefore let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear IIII. Whence ariseth the last decree concerning the salvation of this or that man in particular who by these means should be brought unto faith and persevere therein this being the condition required in every one that is to be elected unto eternal life and the consideration of this or that man in particular who should die in unbelief Proofes out of Scripture The condition required in every one that is to be elected c. Iam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith 2 Thess 2. 13 14. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth c. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Mark 13. 20 Elect according to
in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe Isa 53. 6. He laid upon him the iniquity of us all And Christ died for all for every man for the world for the whole world for the unjust and disobedient finally such 1 Pet. 3. 18 with the 20. for the ungodly for sinners for his enemies as was said above 2. Also for as many as died in Adam Rom. 5. 12 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As by the offence of one man c. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 3. For as many as are bound to believe in him as was declared above 4. For as many as are bound to adore and serve him 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your c. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. with Rom. 14. 9. We thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that he might be Lord of all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them See Eph. 1. 12. 5. For as many as we are bound to pray for in Christs name 1 Tim. 2. 1 5 6. I exhort that supplications be made for all men For there is one Mediator who gave himselfe a ransome for all 6. For such as crucifie him a fresh to themselves Hebr. 6. 4 5 6. c. 10. 29. For such as deny him and finally do perish 2 Pet. 2. 1. See Rom. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 8. 11. II. They do utterly deny that the immediate fruit of the death of Christ is the actual pardon of sins or which is the same in effect that sins are pardoned unto sinners before they do actually believe in Christ The Reason Rom. 10. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness See Gal. 3. 22. Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Marke 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Iohn 3. 18 36. He is condemnâ—d already the wrath of God abideth on him See proofes for the affirm III. They do utterly deny that Reprobates as some call them for whom Christ died not if there were any such are bound notwithstanding to believe in him and to believe that they are elected unto glory and that therefore those that believe not shall be condemned justly yea shall therefore be punished with more grievous torments by Almighty God The Reason 1. Iob 13. 7. Will ye speak wickedly for God And talk deceitfully for him Ier. 10. 1â— He is the God of truth Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. that cannot lye All his Commandements are truth righteousness and faithfulnesse Psal 119. 86 151 172. And Rom. 15. 8. Christ was a Minister for the truth of God and no lie is of the truth 1 Iohn 2. 21. 2. If we meet with false Prophets and dissemblers for all their fair speeches he bid us Believe them not Ier. 12. 6. Mat. 24. 23. Prov. 26. 25. 3. He denounceth grievous judgments against such Prophets as go about to induce the people to trust in a lye Ier. 28. 25. chap. 29. 31. 4. It is a sore judgement inflicted only upon the obstinate and refractory and therefore certainly no duty of them that are not such to be given up to such Errours 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness So that the God of truth and righteousness doth not binde men as a part of their duty to believe falshood much less punish them with more grievous torments for not believing it 5. Iob 8. 3. Doeth God pervert judgement or doth the Almighty pervert justice Ioâ— 34. 10 12. Yea surely God will not doe wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert judgement and ver 23. He will not lay upon man more then is right that he should enter into judgment with God The state of the Controversie touching the Universality of Christs death Whether Christ Jesus out of a serious and gratious purpose and decree of God the Father suffered that most bitter and shameful death that he might bring into favour with God onely some few and those formerly and in particular chosen to eternal life by an absolute decree or that he might merit and obtain reconciliation with God for all and every sinner without difference by doing and suffering those things which divine justice by sin offended did require to be done and suffered before he would enter a new gracious Covenant with sinners and open the door of salvation to them The decision is conteined in the former Assertions and Negations The Third and Fourth Articles Controverted which are touching the grace of God in the Conversion of Man What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that a man hath not saving faith of himselfe nor from the power of his own free will seeing while he is in the state of sin he cannot of himselfe nor by himselfe think or will or do any saving good in which kinde faith in Christ is eminent but must needs by God in Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost be regenerated and renewed in his minde affections will and all his powers that he may aright understand will and meditate and do that which is savingly good Proofs out of Holy Scripture Not faith or any saving good of himself c. Ephes 5. 8. Ye were sometimes darkness Rom. 7. 5. When we were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 11. 32. God hath concluded all in unbelief Ephes 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Phil. 1. 8 9. To you it is given to believe 1 Cor. 12. 3. None can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost who is therefore called the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiencie is of God Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Iohn 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing Iohn 6. 44 45 65. No man can come to me except the Father draw him Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Must needs be regenerated c. John 3. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and this I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15. Iohn 3. 3 5. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Not