words are He hath chosen us in him before the Dejection or foundation of the World c. Ephes 1. 4. After some such consideration as Levi paid Tithes in Abraham Heb. 7. 9. It would be most absurd and ridiculous to suppose that that Individual person Levi paid Tithes to Melchisedech before he was born but he did it in Abraham So here no person is elected in a personal consideration before he is born nor otherwise elected to Salvation but in Christ to wit as considered in him who is the Root of Election and the Prime Elect That is to say God in choosing Christ before the Dejection of the World did therein choose all those who should in their several Generations through Grace believe as Believers in him and no otherwise So that the same Person who to day doth not believe and so is not in Christ nor elected yet to morrow believing is then chosen in Christ and made of that Generation or Species chosen in Christ before the Dejection of the World He is now of the elect Generation who before he believed was not of it as Rom. 9. 24-26 1 Pet. 2. 4 5-9 10. But 2. I further say That Eph. 14. speaks not of mens being chosen to salvation but of sâ—me mens being chosen in Christ to an excellent ministration or service And to a more excellent One than any before Nor were they chosen thereto in a personal consideration but as considered in Christ and as Trusters in him and as first Trusters in him as Ephes 1. 12. as plainly appears by the change of the persons In the two first Verses of Ephes 1. The Apostle speaks to the believing Ephesians and saith unto them Grace unto you c. But then from verse 3. to verse 12. he speaks not of them but changes the persons never saith You but always We and Vs to assure us he speaks of some others and not of them And having so done then in ver 13. he again returns to and speaks of them and saith In whom ye also trusted or believed after ye heard the word of truth c. So that all contained from ver 3. to v. 12. respects those that trusted in Christ before the Ephesians were in Christ and so before they were chosen And ver 4. particularly speaks also of the Apostles as Believers in Chriâ—t and Apostles being chosen to the ministration not of the Letter but of the Spirit as 2 Cor. 3. 5-10 That is to say in short God before the Dejection or Foundation of the World chose Christ to be the Mediatour Saviour and great Apostle and purposed to send him in the end of the World actually to make peace for us and to preach it to us and reserved this honour for him That the mystery which was hid from former Ages and Generations should by him be opened He then also in Christ chose the first Trusters in him to be Instruments in this choice Service and Ministration to preach the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery Eph. 1. 8-10 11. As the Apostle else-where saith We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world or ages unto our glory to wit for the Glory of the Apostles of the Lamb which place is very suitable to the other 1 Cor. 2. 7. with Ephes 1. 4. And this is the proper and direct meaning of Ephes 1. 3 4-12 Now this Election doth not suppose that all others besides the Apostles were reprobated to eternal Destruction God forbid But the very end of Gods choosing them in Christ to this excellent Ministration was That the world there-through might be saved Joh. 3. 17. with Chap. 17 18. As Paul saith Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith Rom 1. 5. and Chap. 16. 25 26. So that this Election was intended for the good of the whole world And we still conclude That God is not willing that any should perish And because he hath no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth it necessarily follows as hath been shewed That their Destruction who perish is wholly of themselves he hath no hand therein nor heart thereto while it is the day of his Grace and Patience 4. And lastly as to this seeing God swears That he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked in the death of him that dieth as is before explained Then hereby we may see and know who are like to God and Children of him and who they are that are not so 1. They are not therein born of God who privily bring in Heresies of Destruction or destructive Errors and Doctrines such as tend to the perdition of men as those certainly do who teach men to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. And do not these evil Doctrines do so which teach That Christ died not for all nor tasted death by the Grace of God for every man but onely for the Elect as they speak That though God with his revealed Will would have all men to be saved yet not so with his secret Will That though he commands all men every where to Repent yet he doth not vouchsafe such sufficient or saving Grace whereby they may so do In short That there is a certain determinate number of Mankind elected in a personal consideration before the World was and these shall be brought in to believe in due season irresistibly and so preserved that they shall not possibly fail of the Grace of God however they demean themselves and all the rest are reprobated and must necessarily or shall infallibly perish in conclusion how much soever they indeavour to fly from the wrath to come c. These and such like Doctrines yea All such as consent not to wholsome Words the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine according to Godliness are not of God Nor are such of God therefore who plead for or preach them I mean therein they are not of God as the Apostle John signifies in that Rule he gives the Believers whereby they might know which Prophets are of God and which are not We are of God saith he namely the holy Apostles were so in their Word and Doctrine for Christ gave unto them the Words which the Father gave him John 17. 7 8. He that knoweth God heareth us He that is not of God heareth us not hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of errour 1 John 4. 6. with John 8. 47. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 John 9-11 And our Saviour when he denounceth Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites the first
God hath put his Spirit upon him that he might bring forth Judgment to us and give Repentance to us from them namely That Grace and Power whereby we may Repent that he may forgive our iniquity and our sin as Jer. 36. 3. Him hath God exalted with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance to us also and forgiveness of sins Acts 5. 31. and Chap. 26. 18. Isa 42. 1. Luke 24. 46 47 48. 3. The truth of this also That God hath no pleasure in the Death of the wicked further appears and is evident hereby In that he is vouchsafing Means of Grace unto them and giving gracious Aid and Assistance in and with the Means to the end that the wicked may Repent and turn from their evil ways that iniquity may not be their ruine He doth not onely call them to Repentance with an outward Call but he also stretcheth forth his hand his Power and Spirit with his Calls that such may turn at his Reproofs Prov. 1. 21 22-24 Our Lord Jesus is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1. 9. He is the light of the world which lieth in wickedness or in the wicked One Joh. 8. 12. with 1 Joh. 5. 19. To open the eyes of the blind and to bring forth the prisoners out of prison and them that fit in darkness out of the prison-house Isa 42. 6 7. To open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified through faith in Christ Jesus Acts 26. 17. 18. And he is therefore the Light unto the Gentiles also the light of the World that he might be for salvation unto All even unto the ends of the earth that through him they might be saved Isa 49. 6. with Acts. 13. 47. And as it is the nature and property of the Light to manifest and discover all things unto men in their true and proper colours For whatsoever doth make manifest is light Ephes 5. 13. So our Lord Jesus Christ doth in and by his Testimony and Testimonis of his Goodness manifest himself and Gods Grace in himself to the Sons of Men He makes himself manifest unto them that asked not after him And as in former times Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness that the stung Israelites might look unto and behold it and live Even so the Son of Man is lifted up by the Spirit in the Gospel that sinners may look unto and believe in him And that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Rom. 10. 18-20 John 3. 14-16 Hence he who is a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides him calleth unto men and saith Look unto me all the ends of the earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 2-1 22 23. with Phil. 2. 8 9 10. And Christ as the Light doth also manifest the odiousness and vileness of our sins and what an evil and bitter thing it is to forsake the Lord and that his fear is not in men as Jer. 2. 19. And the necessity of their being turned there-from without which they must all necessarily perish as afterwards we may shew more largely All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 13 14. And this most Excellent One doth also as is before said Open the blind Eyes of the Souls of Men to see what he is manifesting to them God hath given him for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. Isa 42. 6 7. And herein he excels the Light of this World for though that doth manifest the things here below yet it will not give Sight unto those that are blind to behold what it doth manifest and discover it will not open the eyes of those that want their bodily sight But now our Lord Jesus is the true light the most excellent light who gives both light and sight he lightens every man that cometh into the world John 1. 6-9 And not only so but he gives grace unto all even that Aid and Assistance whereby they may turn from their evil and pernicious ways and live The grace of God brings salvation or is saving unto all men Tit. 2. 11. The goodness of God leadeth men to repentance even such also as are not led by it but after their own hardness and impenitent hearts treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Rom. 2. 4 5. It is true indeed No man can turn from his iniquities and come unto Jesus Christ unless it be given unto him of the Father unless he draw him John 6. 44 45. But it is as true also that God in due time doth draw all men by Jesus Christ even such also as refuse to return Hos 11. 4 5. with John 12. 31 32. Though the Spirit that dwells in us naturally lusteth to envy yet he giveth more grace That we might not follow after our own Spirit Jam. 4. 5 6. As Christ is exalted with Gods right hand a Prince and Saviour to give repentance c. So he is faithful in giving it in due season And there is good reason for us to believe he is so forasmuch as he was faithful to him that appointed him in that difficult work of humbling himself and becoming obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Acts. 5. 30 31. with Heb. 3. 1 2. Isa 50. 5-8-10 Doutbless God doth not onely afford outward Means and calls wicked Ones with an outward Call to Repentance But he is dispensing to them his Grace and Spirit to enable them to turn from their Iniquities and to exercise themselves to Godliness especially he doth so to us who have the Name of Christ called upon us and the Gospel and Scriptures continued with us And to none other can I speak And to signifie to us that the holy Spirit doth accompany the Gospel to work in men both to will and to do of good pleasure what God requires of them Therefore is the Gospel called the ministration of the Spirit Yea it is called the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6-8 And the words which Christ spake unto them that did not believe are said to be Spirit and Life John 6. 63 64. And when our Lord enlarges the Commission of his Apostles and commands them to go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature to wit of all the Nations This is that then which he promises to them and assures them of that he would go along and work with them to wit by his Spirit Lo saith he I am with you always even unto the end of the world And to assure us that he was
in which they were guilty of high Apostacy and revolt or there was in them an evil heart of unbelief in Apostatizing from the living God as Heb. 3. 12 13. And their Apostacy was first more inward and particular and then more open and general 1. More inward and particular and so it is thus exprest by the Apostle they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh Heb. 6. 6. That is by an evil heart of unbelief they inwardly look upon Christ as an Impostor and Deceiver as an Accursed one as 1 Cor. 12. 3. from whom they expect no salvation and on his Gospel as a cheat and imposture or as the Apostle in Heb. 10. 29. expresses it they tread under foot the Son of God and count the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified a profane polluted thing Thus they account it in their evil and revolting hearts and so inwardly turn from him that speaketh Heb. 12. 25. 2. More outwardly and generally to others they put him to an open shame namely they disgrace and vilifie him publickly and unto others and make him a publick example as the same word is rendred in Matth. 1. 19. or they render him to others as an infamous and accursed person as one that was such a Malefactour and Deceiver as that he justly suffered that shameful painful and accursed Death for his own Demerit and hereby as we have noted before on Matth. 12. 30 31. they scatter others abroad from Christ who were gatheted unto him and so are highly injurious to their souls And this same expression here rendred they put him to an open shame is made use of by the Septuagint in Numb 25. 4. where we read hang them up before the Lord c. They read it make them a publick example or put them to an open shame c. And so answerably in Heb. 10. 29. it is said they offer despite unto or rail upon the Spirit of Grace even the Gospel of Christ as answering unto Moses Law ver 28. and so the holy Spirit for the Gospel was with the holy Spirit sent down from heaven 1 Pet. 1. 12. And so they railed upon and reviled Christ who is the sum and subject matter of the Gospel and of whom the Spirit of Grace bears witness And one Branch of or step unto this hainous iniquity and revolt is the forsaking of the publick Assemblies of Christians Heb. 10. 25 26-29 By the greatness and depth then of their Fall and Revolt many who wrongfully charge themselves with this transgression may assuredly know they are not guilty of it for then others might know it as well as they 3. When the Apostle saith It is impossible to renew them c. he speaks not as to God but as to themselves in their ministration of the Gospel whether by word or writing And so these words are the reason of what the Apostle had been fore-saying in ver 1. viz. Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection not laying again the foundation c. For it is impossible c. As if he should say It will be a needless business for us to be always declaring and insisting upon the first principles of the Oracles of God as with respect to these Apostates for that way they will not be renewed again to repentance and so not by their preaching or writing always these things And therefore they would proceed on in speaking of or propounding in Writing the more high and mysterious things of the Gospel for the sakes of those believers who still held fast to the Lord. But yet the things which were unpossible with men are possible with God Luk. 18. 27. And therefore while these Apostates were joyned to all the living the Believers might pray for them That God would fill their faces with shame that they might seek his name as Psal 83. 15 16. and 69. 22 23. with Rom. 11. 8-11 32 33. But to this we shall have apt occasion to speak further in the next Scripture which is now in order to be considered by us Namely 3. For as to 1 Joh. 5. 16. many conceive that the Apostle there forbids that such as sin the sin unto death should be prayed for Ans 1. Suppose God should have said in that Scripture to wit 1 Joh. 5. 16. Pray not for that person that sinneth the sin unto death might not such an one have been prayed for any more had there been such a prohibition We may see that God commands Jeremiah once and a second time thus Pray not thou for this people neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee Jer. 7. 16. and Ch. 11. 14. And yet the Prophet knowing that God was gracious and merciful prays for them again Ch. 14. 7 8 9. Then the Lord a third time saith to the Prophet Pray not for this people for their good Ch. 14. 11 12. But notwithstanding all this the Prophet again lifts up his heart with his hands to God in the heavens for them Jer. 14. 19 20-22 And surely God is as gracious to sinners now and to the chief of sinners as he was then yea in these last days his grace hath been more largely exprest and more brightly manifested than in former times in that he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live thorow him 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10-14 But 2. That Scripture we are now considering 1 Joh. 5. 16. is by many much mistaken for the Apostle there doth not forbid us to pray for the person that sinneth unto death It is not there said There is a sin unto death I do not say that he shall pray for him but for or concerning it to wit the sin On which God may take vengeance as long as the person guilty thereof lived yea and after his death long and yet the soul of that sinning person may be saved in the day of the Lord. God said to Eli yea he sware unto the house of Eli that his and their iniquity should not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever 1 Sam. 3. 13 14. And it was punished long after Eli s death 1 King 2. 27. And the same may be said of the sins of Manasses 2 King 24. 3 4. and yet their souls were surely saved See also 2 Sam. 12. 10. Psal 99. 8. Isa 22. 12 14. Act. 8. 22 23. So that though the sin might not be prayed for yet the person so sinning might notwithstanding any thing there said while he was joyned to all the living for so long there is hope for men Eccl. 9. 4. Nay 3. The Apostle John doth not forbid the believers to pray for or concerning the sin unto death for the words are not I do say that he shall not pray for it but I do not say that he shall pray for it That is he doth not direct or enjoyn it upon them so to do