is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather then Light c. John 3. 19. 20. And certainly God may Expostulate with us as He did with Israel of Old and say Oh thou who art Named the House of Jacob is the Spirit of the Lord straightned Though thou hast no power nor sufficiency of thy self as of thy self to come to Christ yet is the Spirit of the Lord shortned towards thee Are these thy disobedience and refusals to come His doings Are they His doings because He prevents thee not with power and capacity to what He Calls thee to Indeed they might be said to be His doings did He Call thee to the Feast and Threaten thee with destruction and yet not assord thee any power or ability to come As He might be said to Kill who did not what was proper and powerful to save the Life when He had an opportunity But it is not so here For as in His Hand is Power and Might so also in His Hand it is to give strength unto all He is Gracious and gives liberally unto all men without upbraiding Mic. 2. 7. with Mark 3. 4. 1 Chron. 29. 12. Jam. 1. 5. And therefore it will be found to be such an Iniquity in men as for which they will have no cloak however artificial their spiritual Taylors are that they will not come to Christ when thus Called As our Saviour signifieth when He speaketh concerning the Jews saying If I had not come Though my Servants had come never so oft and Called and Invited never so frequently and urgently Yet if I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their Sin John 15. 22. Because I have Called saith Wisdom and ye refused I have stretched out my hand my Power and Spirit in and with my Call to inable you to come and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity and mock when your fear cometh c. Prov. 1. 20 24 31. Thirdly Why saith He Many are Called and not All 1. Not because all men who are capable are not Called in due time by such means as the Great King in His infinite Wisdom is pleased to make use of For the Mighty God even Jehovah hath spoken And Called the Earth from the rifing of the Sun unto the going down thereof Psal 50. 1. Wisdom crieth without without the City without the Pale of the professed Church without where are Dogs Gentiles and Uncircumcised ones in heart and flesh compare Rev. 22. 15. with Mat. 15. 26 27. she uttereth her Voice in the streets How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge To these she calleth and stretcheth forth her hand Prov. 1. 20 23 24. Doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding put forth her Voice Can any one truely deny this she standeth upon the Top of High places by the Way in the places of the Paths She crieth at the Gates at the entry of the City at the coming in of the Doors that is she crieth and lifteth up her Voice every where without and within the City abroad and at home c. But to whom doth she put forth her Voice Surely to men indefinitely for so it followeth unto you O men I call and my Voice is to the Sons of man And not of Israel only O ye simple understand wisdom Hear for I will speak of excellent things c. Prov. 8. 1 4 6 10. and 9. 1 4 5. Christ was and is the true Light which Lighteth every man that cometh into the World And He is therefore a Light unto them that He might be for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth John 1. 9. and 8. 12 with Isa 49. 6. and Acts 13. 47. And the Gospel is Preached in every Creature or in all the Creation under Heaven Col. 1. 23. And those who have with the heart received the wholsome Words of our Lord Jesus and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness know and believe that God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth And that because Christ gave Himself a Ransome for all a Testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2. 4. 6. And though mens voices will be heard but a little way yet lo he sendeth forth His Voice and that a Mighty Voice 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. 22. Psal 19. 1. 6. with Rom. 1. 19 21. Yea and the word Many doth also sometimes signifie All. As many of them that are in the dust of the Earth shall awake Some to everlasting Life and some to shame and everlasting contempt Certainly all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of the Son of man and shall come forth compare Dan 12. 2. with John 5. 27 29. 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. So again Through the offence of one many are dead And as by one man's disobedience many were made Sinners When as it is evident that by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5. 15 19. with Ver. 12. 18. compare also Mat. 20. 28. with 1 Tim. 2. 6. Neh. 13. 26. with 1 Kings 3. 12 13. and Chap. 4. 31. Psal 32. 10. But though what we have spoken under this Head be verily true both that in due time God calleth all men as is said to the end they might come to the knowledg of the Truth and be saved And that many may signifie all Yet notwithstanding I judge 2. By many in this place we are insisting on all men are not intended nor meant Not only 1. Because all Infants are not called and commanded to come into the House and they are a very great part of the World But nothing is required of them in their Incapacity Hence when the Lord saith to Israel Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and keep his Charge and his Statutes and his Judgments and his Commandments alway He addeth And know you this day for I speak not with your Children c. Deut. 11. 1 2. God is no hard or austere Master to Reap where He hath not Sown nor Gather where He hath not Strowen though wicked Servants so say As where much is given much will be expected and where little little So by the same rule of Equality where nothing is given of such nothing will be required Indeed Infants are a part of the Nations that are to be Discipled and as a means to that end to be Baptized by the Servants in or unto the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost being brought unto them for that purpose As in former Times the Male-Infants of Israel were to be Circumcised And the Gospel
Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. What a sad thing will it be for us to sport our selves in our self-deceivings as too many do 2 Pet. 2. 13. Better it is now for us to deal faithfully with our selves then to flatter our selves or be flattered by others to our endless and eternal misery and calamity Come we then to the light of the Lord the Gospel of Christ and therein and thereby we may see our selves whether we be chosen no Even he that is an hearer of the word and not a doer is like unto a man that beholdeth his natural face in a Glass for he beholdeth himself Even as a man may see his natural face in a Glass and see whether it be clean and free from spots and pollution or no so a man that is only called by and an hearer of the word of Truth may see himself and see what manner of person he is Jam. 1. 22 23 24. He may see whether he be chosen out of the World by the Grace of God or whether he be not but still remain in or be turned back again into the World and so is at present rejected of God and not loved with peculiar manner of love As the Apostle intimateth 2 Cor. 13. 5. And if by this Glass we see we are hearers and of the called only Oh let us give no rest to our eyes not slumber to our eye-lids until we so receive and retain the Grace of God which brings Salvation to us that we may be chosen out of this miserable condition and redeemed from amongst Men that it may be well with us for ever and we may not perish with the World And if it appear that we are of the number of those who are chosen that we still abide and continue in the Doctrine of Christ that we may have both Father and Son 2 Joh. 9. Inq. But some may say how may we know whether we be of the chosen number or no declare a little more particularly how we may know it Answ Those who are indeed chosen do know that they are of God and that the whole World lieth in Wickedness as 1 Joh. 5. 19. by keeping His Commandments as the Apostle saith Hereby we know that we know Him and are in Him if we keep His Commandments 1 Joh. 2. 3-5 And he that keepeth His Commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him chap. 3. 24. that is to say in more and plainer words His Commandments are That we believe on the Name of Jesus Christ and love one another as He hath given us Commandment 1 Joh. 3. 22-24 He that hath and keepeth these hath right unto the tree of life and shall enter in thorow the gates into the City even into the new Jerusalem Rev. 22. 14. that is to say they do know they are chosen 1. By this That the Faith they have received is the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and according thereto they believe with the heart that good report the Father hath given of Christ in His Word and Sayings in which He hath testified That He sent the Son into the World not to condemn the World but that the World thorow Him might be Saved And so they believe on the Name of the Son of God Joh. 3. 16-18 they have their Faith begotten by closing with and founded on not Mens Doctrines or their own Thoughts and Imaginations which they know to be corrupt and evil But they have received and retain for their Faith nothing else then the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus which was witnessed by the holy Prophets in former times and is now revealed to us by the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so they believe on Christ as the Scripture hath said and testified of Him and not as Men in their Glosses and Interpretations speak of Him They call no meer Man whatsoever their Rabbi nor own any to have dominion over their Faith but Jesus Christ and God in Him He is their only Law-giver in this respect the Father of their Spirits the Lord of what they believe And so according to His testimony they believe Him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World the only Foundation of Faith and Hope the only Fountain of all the fulness of Grace and Truth the only Bread and Water of Life the only door of approach of God the only Lord of our Faith and Consciences the only High Priest and Mediatour between God and Men And according hereto they come unto and depend on Him in His way for bottoming all upon Him for receiving all from Him for living continually by Him and to Him for approaching to God thorow Him and expecting and waiting thorow His Spirit for His perfecting all that concerns them c. And so they hold forth this word of Life in Word and Conversation And he that thus believeth on the Son hath the Witness in Himself and gives not God the lye but hath set to His Seal that God is true in all He hath testified of His Son 1 Job 5. 10 11. Job 3. 33. And in receiving this Testimony of Jesus they receive also therewith certainly and undoubtedly the Spirit of Gods Son Gal. 3. 2-5 which Spirit beareth Witness with their Spirit with their enlightened mind and judgment that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. And hereby they know that they dwell in Him and He in them because he hath given them of His Spirit And they have seen in the light and by the evidence thereof and do restifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. with 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2. They also know they are chosen by this that this Faith worketh in them by Love Gal. 5 6. and therein is efficacious in them And so they are distinguished from and preferred before such as say they have Faith and have not its works and so believe in vain But this Testimony of Jesus being received by them not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God it worketh effectually in them From the knowledge and belief of Gods love in Christ His first love they are begotten and prevailed with to love God even to love Him withall the heart and mind and soul and strength And so to love Jesus Christ as to suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung in comparison of Him It makes them willing to part with their Sins and Idols for His sake and prefer Him before all other things which they may love with a moderate affection 1 Joh. 4. 16-19 And this love of God in Christ known and heartily believed by them begetteth them unto and effecteth in them a delightful love to those who are begotten of Him and that not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth And by this they know that they are passed out of death â—nto life because
and irrespective Predestinating or Decreeing from Eternity a determinate and set number of Persons in a personal consideration to Believe and be Saved And that these All and these Only shall Inevitably and Infallibly obtain the Salvation in Christ Jesus with Eternal Glory Nor are the Chosen and Elect ones here spoken of the subjects of such a purpose or Predetermination as this is such an Election and such Elect ones are none of God's But the Doctrines and Notions here-about proceed from the Vain Corrupt and dangerous Imaginations of mens Hearts out of which proceeds naturally all that is evil And that by God's Election and Elect ones such a thing is not meant will appear if we consider 1. That Calling in the sense intended in the Text is always placed before Election when they are mentioned together either in the Order of Expressions or however in Order of Nature So it is here in this place we are considering as also in Mat. 20. 16. For many be Called but few Chosen Thus again 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure To the former also agreeth Rev. 17. 14. They that are with the Lamb are Called and Chosen c. To the same purpose also the Lord Speaketh unto Jacob by the Prophet Isaiah Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the Earth and Called thee from the Chief men thereof and said unto thee thou art my Servant I have Chosen thee c. Isa 41. 9. Indeed in 2 Thes 2. 13 14. Chosen is there placed in words before Called But it evidently appeareth to any Judicious and Unprejudiced Reader that in that place Called goeth before Chosen in Order of Nature for thus the Words are God hath Chosen you from the beginning unto Salvation through or in the Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Whereunto namely unto which Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth in which they were Chosen He Called you by our Gospel c. It is very clear that in order of Work though not of Word Called went before Chosen For if they were Chosen in the Belief of the Truth And men cannot believe on Him of whom they have not heard nor hear without a Preacher of the Gospel then it necessarily followeth men must be Called by the Gospel before they can Believe and so before they are Chosen Rom. 10. 14 15. And so in the Order of Nature this agrees with the other Scriptures forementioned Now though the order of expressions simply when but at sometime onely so placed proveth nothing yet when the same order is alwayes or generally so observed by the Holy Ghost it is worthy our consideration and not lightly to be passed over by us Gen 48. 5. 20. Indeed ofttime in Scripture for some good reason those persons or things are mentioned last in words which otherwise should have been before spoken of because the Holy Ghost would begin with them again or speak more fully of them So Believing is put after Confessing in one Verse but then it is begun with and first mentioned in the next Rom. 10. 9 10. So Jesus Christ is placed after the seven Spirits because He is largely Described and Treated of in what followeth Rev. 1. 5 6. And thus we might shew in many other places But neither of these can be affirmed concerning the order of Words in the Scripture we are speaking to for it is the Conclusion of our Saviour's Speech in this Parable nor of the rest mentioned 2. That by Election is not meant such a Purpose or Decree as is before spoken of nor by the Elect here the subjects of such a Decree may appear further in this that those who were afterward Elected or made of the Chosen Generation were not of it in former times To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh Ye are a Chosen or Elect Generation a Royal Priesthood c. Which in time past were not a People but are now the People of God which had not obtained Mercy but have now obtained Mercy 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. Where it plainly appeareth that Ver. 10. sheweth They were not formerly such Persons as he affirms them now to be in Ver. 9. Now ye are Elected or Chosen but in times past ye were not so even in the time past when they walked in Lasciviousness Lusts excess of Wine Revellings Banquettings and abominable Idolatries Chap. 4. 3. To the same purpose also the Apostle Paul speaketh as with respect to Jews and Gentiles Rom. 9. 24 25 26. I will call them my People which not only were not called but were not my People And her Beloved or Elect compare Isa 42. 1. with Mat. 12. 18. which was not Beloved or Elect. And indeed men are Chosen in Christ as afterwards we may shew But there was a time when Paul who was after Converted a Chosen Vessel was not in Christ and then he was not an Elect or Chosen one Ephes 1. 4. with Rom. 16. 7. So the Preacher also signifieth that such as not at present Elected may be so while it is called to day in that he saith Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth or of thy Elections as others do also rightly read it that is either 1. In the days of thy Elections whilst thou mayest chuse Life chuse the best part which shall not be taken from thee Deut. 30. 19. Luke 10. 42. Or 2. In the days of thine Elections when thou mayest be Chosen though at present thou art not there are days for that in which such as are not Elected may be so while it is the day of his Grace and Patience Eccles 12. 1. Yea in our Types the very precise time is intimately set down when God chose Israel Ezek. 20. 5. Thus saith the Lord God in the day when I chose Israel And sometimes Chusing is mentioned in the present time As Blessed is the man whom thou Chusest and causest to approach unto thee Psal 6 5. 4. 3. It is further evident That God's Elect are not such manner of Persons as many would perswade us they are For they who plead for such an irrespective or absolute purpose affirm That the Elect were Chosen before the World in a personal Consideration and so remain such when Born into the World and while they abide also in their Ignorance and Unbelief and Disobedience to God They suppose though it be not manifested that prophane Persons Drunkards Whoremongers Unbelievers yea Persecutors of Christ and His People may be of the Elect. But however they are some mens Elect they are not the Elect of God For the Elect of God are such as are Holy and Beloved Col. 3. 12. The Elect Generation is an holy Nation 1 Pet. 2. 9. God's Elect are such as to whom there is no Condemnation as the Apostle intimateth when he saith Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that Justifieth who shall Condemn It plainly appeareth that God's Elect
Saviour of the World And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us God is Love c. Hereby is our love made perfect even through the Knowledg and Belief of His Love and that He is Love And what Love of God is the producer of our love to Him is also declared by the same Apostle We love Him because He first loved us It is the Manifestation and Discovery not of any delightful distinguishing Love of His but of that great Love wherewith He loved us and all Mankind whereby we are begotten to the Love of Him and therein made of the Chosen and Elect Generation 1 John 4. 7 10 16 19. with Ephes 2. 4 5. And so it appears that the Argument for effecting this Election is the Grace of God to Manward discovered in the Gospel of Christ Que. 2. What is the way owned and approved of God in or through which men are Elected Answ The way of His owning and approving is the Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth when and as discovered to them That is Men are then Chosen when they so with the Heart believe the Word of Truth and Grace of God therein discovered as that thereby they are Sanctified and Cleansed in the Spirit of their Mind and devoted unto God and not before To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh Elect according to the foreknowledg or Fore-approbation of God the Father according to that way fore-owned of Him in or through the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 2. To which agreeth also that of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians We are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning viz. of their Gospels coming to them as 1 Thes 1. 5. and 2. 13. Chosen you to Salvation through or in the Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Whereunto He also Called you by our Gospel c. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. No man therefore while he abides in his Ignorance Unbelief and Disobedience of God is Elected or Chosen nor until he be in some measure Washed and Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 9 11. Que. 3. Out of what are men Elected or Chosen Answ Out of the World which lieth in Wickedness or in the Wicked one 1 John 5. 19. And of which until they were Chosen out they were as well as others and not only in it but also of it They sometimes walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience Amongst whom we also had our Conversation in times past in the Lusts of our Flesh And were by Nature Children of Wrath even as others saith the Apostle Paul of both Gentiles and Jews who were after Chosen out of this sad condition Ephes 2. 1 3 5. To this purpose speaks our Saviour unto and concerning his Disciples Ye are not of the World but I have Chosen you out of the World And I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the World John 15. 19. and 17. 6. In both which places it is plainly Intimated that time was that they were not only in the World in their Persons for so they still were nor did our Saviour pray to His Father to take them out of it in this sense John 17. 11 15. but also they were of the World as to their State Condition Fellowship and Demeanour and during that time they were not Elected or Chosen out of it For Gods Elect and Chosen ones and the world are opposed the one to the other and the former hated by the latter As also our Saviour oft times signifieth in such expressions as these If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you John 15. 18 19. Ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce Chap. 16. 20. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me out of the world I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world Chap. 17. 9 14 16 20 21 23. 1 John 3. 1 13. And so the chosen ones are such as are seperated and severed from others in their state pollutions evil principles and manners And so Seperated and Chosen are used indifferently and put one for another in our Types whom we are instructed to behold 1 Cor. 10. 18. As whereas in Deut. 10. 8. it is said At that time the Lord seperated the Tribe of Levi to minister unto him It is thus rendred Chap. 21. 5. 18. 5. 2 Chron. 29. 11. The Sons of Levi shall come near for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him So again in one place it is said I am the Lord your God which have seperated you from other people Ye shall therefore put difference between clean Beasts and unclean And ye shall be holy for I have severed you from other people that ye should be mine In another place upon a like occasion it is thus said The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing Consider and compare Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3 c. And so they are a chosen Generation who are called not only whom God is calling but who are eventually called out of darkness out of the darkness of this world and out of their ignorance and unbelief into his marvelous light Compare 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. with Chap. 4. 3. Such as are delivered out of the power of darkness and translated or removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear sons Col. 1. 13. with Acts 13. 22. This is that out of which men are chosen even out of themselves and out of the world and power of darkness Que. Into and in whom are Men chosen Answ Into and in Jesus Christ as the Apostle saith Who hath chosen us in him Eph. 1. 4. As we have seen before The Elect are not chosen in the first Adam nor in themselves but in Christ who is the prime Elect unto whom God hath given the pre-eminence and first-ship in all things Isa 42. 1. Col. 1. 18 19. Rom. 16. 13. And who is the Root and Foundation of Election To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh To whom coming to wit unto Christ as unto a living stone chosen or elected of God Ye also as lively stones are built up a Spiritual House Ye are a chosen Generation It is here signified that in order of Nature however and of Time also Christ is first of all an Eleâ—t chosen stone an Elect foundation and Corner stone And those that
Christ shall be so raised and be ever with him And those that dye in their sins and out of Christ shall be so raised and perish for ever from his presence And the consideration hereof might awaken and Ingage us all that while it is an acceptable time and day of salvation we receive the grace of God to purpose even to be saved thereby For there is no work nor device nor Wisdome nor knowledge in the grave whither we are going Eccles 9. 10 And not to neglect the present time considering also our times are in Gods hand and we cannot boast our selves of the morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Our times are in Gods hand In his hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all mankind And Behold he breaketh downe and it cannot be built againe he shutteth up a man and there can be no opening If he cut off and shut up or gather together then who can hinder him Prov 27. 1. Job 12. 10 14. and 11. 10. Tâ—…y therefore if we will hear his voice let us not barden our hearts Hebr. 3. 7 8. But now while it is called to day and while men are joyned to all the living there is hope their states are not now unalterable but men may pass from one state to another Such are at present out of Christ and so none of Gods Elect but under the sentence of death and condemnation may be of God made in Christ and so of the Elect and chosen generation And shall so be if they abide not still in unbeleife and disobedience to God and his Gospel As our Saviour signifieth and assureth the truth of it with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Or out of death into life Out of a state of death wrath and rejection into a state of Life Justification the favour of God and Election John 5. 24. To which also agreeth what the Apostle John saith signifying that they were instances of the truth hereof We know that we have passed out of Death into Life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3. 14. Men may now be delivered out of the Kingdom of Darkness and removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son Coloss 1. 13. Men may now be turned from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God And in being so turned they shall receive the forgiveness of their Sins and Inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith in Jesus Christ Acts 26. 18. This Doctrine of Gods Election as it is declared to us in the Scriptures of truth is a sweet and comfortable Doctrine agreeing with the whole Gospel of Christ It leads us to mind and consider the preciousness and necessity of the Blood and Sufferings of Christ without which there could have been no Remission of Sins nor Eternal Life But all must have gone to Hell without difference or respect of Persons 2 Cor. 5. 14. And that if Christ had not been raised again we had been yet in our Sins and Preaching Faith and Hope had been all in vain 1 Cor. 15. 12. 20. It sheweth unto us that the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God in which his Arm is put forth for pulling men and choosing them out of the world into Christ And that such as obey it are blessed and such as reject it judge themselves unworthy of Eternal life 1 Thes 1. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. Acts 13. 46. And so leads us to glorifie the word of the Lord. It sheweth unto us that such as are Elect may possibly fail of the Grace of God if they abide not in Christ John 15. 2. 6. 16-19 And so instructeth us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear To have and hold fast Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear for our God is d consuming Fire And so preserveth us from high-mindedness presumption and licentiousness Heb. 12. 16-29 And it assureth us that such as are at present of the world and not chosen out of it and so none of Gods Elect may be chosen and shall be if they with the heart believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God Joh. 15. 19. and 17. 6. Ephes 2. 2-5-8 1. Pet. 2. 9 10. Whereas that other Doctrine that device of such mens brains as are of no judgement in that particular concerning the Truth is a most comfortless and heart-breaking Doctrine to the greatest part of mankind for it perswadeth them that mens states were fixed before they were born And the greatest part by far reprobated or past by before they had a personal being And that there is no hope for them nor possibility of their being saved And that Gods end in all the mercies he bestows on â—…en and means he vouchsafeth to them is but to leave them without excuse and to aggravate their condemnation and render their sin more sinful and their Judgement more exceeding terrible But this Doctrine of Gods Election agreeeth with and is founded upon the word of the beginning of Christ Hebr. 6. 1 2. 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. In which are declared glad tidings of great joy unto all people because Christ the Saviour hath taken the nature of Man upon him of that kind or species of Creatures not as distinguished from another part of that kind but as distinguished from the nature of Angels which he laid not hold on Luke 2 10 11. Hebr. 2. 14 16. And that be the Lamb of God bare the sin of the world of mankind Joâ— 1. 29 And by the Grace of God tasted death for every man Hebr. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14. And gave him self a ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 6. In which Doctrin we see the cordialness of Gods heart to man-ward And that he would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth The end of Christs dying for all men being that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. Tit. 2. 11-14 And so be happy for ever And to the end they might so do and be Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world And he is therefore a light to them that he might be for salvation to them that through him they might be saved from their sins and from the wrath of God and so out of and from that miserable condition and estate in which men are while they abide in ignorance and unbelief Joh. 1. 9. with Acts 13. 47. Joh. 3. 17. This Doctrine sheweth unto us that such as are not chosen out of the world at present may be so hereafter through the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men Though it also shews that it is dangerous to
they love the Brethren And hereby they know they are of the truth and can assure their hearts before God 1 Joh. 3. 14. 18-19 5. 1. And also they are taught and led of God by this love of His to the love of all men even to love them with a love of pity and compassion and to testifie love to them according to their needs as they have opportunity Mat. 5. 44 45. He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in Him But whoso keepeth His word in Faith and Love in him verily is the Love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in Him 1 Joh. 2. 4 5. And so hereby we may know whether the Grace of God hath its electing efficacy upon us And so also on the contrary we may be assured we are not of this chosen Generation if we reject the testimony of God concerning His Son 1 Joh. 5. 10 Joh. 14. 21-24 or receive it in vain and are not saved and sanctified thereby But however we profess to believe the testimony God hath given of His Son yet while we love darkness rather then light and imprison the truth professed by us in unrighteousness we believe in vain and so persisting shall miserably deceive our selves Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 1. 18. Jam. 1. 22. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil Whosoever doth not righteousness believes not with the heart the record God hath given of His Son 1 Joh. 2. 29. with chapt 5. 1 10. 4. 6. is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 Joh. 3. 10. These two Faith and Love being had and kept by us to wit The Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and Love wrought thereby we herein keep the Commandments of God and have the new Creature and are in some measure new Creatures compare 1 Cor. 7. 19. with Gal. 5 6. chapt 6. 15. And he that is called by and an hearer of the Gospel may in the Glass of the perfect law of liberty behold himself that he is at present none of Gods elect if he have not the Faith of God and our Lord Jesus if he believe not with the heart the word of God and Testimony of Jesus so as to work effectually in him in some measure Or if he hath not this love begotten produced and continued in him by this faith as hath been said Jam. 1. 22 23-27 And hereby also we may discern and know the Election or non-election of other persons so as to have or not have delightful love towards and fellowship with them that come amongst us As the Apostle Paul saith not only of himself but also joyns with himself Silvanus and Timotheus in this knowledge of others knowing brethren beloved your Election of God to wit by their work of Faith and labour of Love c. For saith he our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost c. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost c. And they were also taught of God to love one another and all Men Hereby they knew the election of these Thessalonians first it was the Apostles Gospel which was heartily received by them and that not as the word of men but as the word of God And this wrought effectually in them to turn them and they did turn unto God from all their Idols 1 Thes 1. 3 4-10 2. 13. 3. 12 13. 4. 9 10. And whatever zeal men may have or whatever reformation be wrought in them or whatever profession they make or conversation they have Yet if they hear and imbrace not Gods Words if they receive not the Faith of Christ as His Faith they are not of God Joh. 8. 47. 1 Joh. 4. 6. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. On though men do in some sort believe the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus yet if this be not yielded up unto and suffered to work effectually in them they do believe in vain and they are vain men 1 Cor. 15. 2. Jam. 1. 26 27. chapt 2. 14-20 22 c. Yea and by this Faith and Love and the Fruits and Effects thereof as being held forth unto and before others even those who are of the World may know that those that walk in this Faith which worketh by Love are Christs Disciples indeed and so Gods Elect ones they are Christs Disciples known and read of all Men being by these two manifestly declared so to be even to such as hate them and therefore make war with them which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. with Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. By this shall all men know that ye are My Disciples saith our Saviour if ye have Love one to another Joh. 13. 34 35. But we shall add no more to this use 3. In that the Elect and chosen ones of God are few it sheweth unto us the wonderfulness of Gods care concerning them and protection over them in preserving such an handful amongst so many enemies They are like a Lilly amongst many Thorns Cant. 2. 2. like a Turtle Dove amongst a multitude of birds of prey Psal 74. 19. And yet they are and shall be preserved because they have a strong redeemer and a careful and faithful Shepheard who will keep them and preserve them from this generation that hates them and that for ever Psal 12. 7. If it were not the Lord who were on their side they may always say if it were not Jehovah who is on their side when men rise up against them they had been often swallowed up quick when mens wrath was kindled against them Psal 124. But God is for them and who then can be against them Rom. 8. 31-33 34. The Lord is their Shepheard and they shall want no good thing And their Salvation is of the Lord He is their strength in the time of trouble And He shall help them and deliver them He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in Him Psal 23. 37 39 40. And hence also 4. This instruction contains consolation and incouragement in it against cause and occasion of fear and discouragement That the Elect are few causeth fear to them hence they are incouraged and strengthned against their fear occasioned by the smallness of their number Fear not little flock Luk. 12. 32. fear not thou worm Jacob and ye few men of Israel Isa 41. 14. But that these few are chosen chosen out of the World choice ones in Gods account and loved with delightful well pleased everlasting love this is proper and powerful to strengthen them against the fear of evil And to encourage them to lift up the hands that hang down and the
A Feast of fat Things of Wines on the Lees of fat things full of Marrow of Wines on the Lees well Refined Isa 25. 6. Prov. 9. 1 3. And to this Marriage-feast also are Men Called and Bidden that they might partake hereof and their Souls be satisfied here with as with Marrow and Fatness Isa 55. 1 2 3. And so that whereto men are Called is to Jesus Christ and Him Crucisied and that excellent and compleat Preparation provided in Him They are called into the Grace of Christ Jesus Gal. 1. 6. The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets did testifie before hand of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow And these things are now Reported to us in the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. with Luke 24. 25 27. To Christ God the Father was and is Calling and Directing men To the Teachers He said This is the Rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest and this is the Refreshing Isa 28. 12. 16. Behold saith he my Servant whom I uphold c. Isa 42. 1. 6 7. He hears Witness of Him and Christ is so the Sum of his Teaching that every one that hath Heard and hath Learned of the Father cometh unto Him John 5. 31 37. and 6. 45. Unto Himself Jesus Christ also calleth men He saith Look unto me all the ends of the Earth and be ye saved For I am a Just God and a Saviour and there is none beside me Isa 45. 21 23. with Phil. 2. 8 9 10. And He saith Behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by His Name Isa 65. 1. Thou shalt saith the Father Call a Nation which Thou knewest not to wit unto Thy self for so much is signified in what follows And Nations that knew not Thee shall run unto Thee c. Isa 55. 5. All things saith our Saviour are delivered unto me of my Father c. Come unto me I will give you rest Isa 49. 1. 6. Mat. 11. 27 28. John 7. 37 38. It is also the Work of the Holy Spirit to Lift up the Son of Man as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that Men might look unto and believe in Him To bear Witness of Jesus Christ To take of His things His Abasement Death Resurrection and Glory and to shew unto us And therefore also He is called the Spirit of Christ John 3. 5 6 14. and 15. 26. and 16. 14 15. Acts 5. 30 32. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Yea the one God Father Word and Holy Spirit beareth His Record of Jesus Christ and this is the Record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in His Son 1 John 5. 7 10 11. Yea to Him all the holy Ones call us the Spirit and the Bride say Come to wit unto Christ And let him that heareth say Come c. Rev. 22. 16 17. And hereby we may see the desperate folly and madness of Men who forsake or come not unto the Lord the Fountain of Living Waters but hew them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2. 12 13. And it might Ingage and Provoke us all to obey this heavenly Call and run unto Christ because of the Lord his God and for the Holy One of Israel who hath Glorified Him in Himself and displayed the Preciousness of His Blood and His Excellency and Comeliness by means thereof so our escape before us in the Gospel And is Calling and Inviting us unto Him Isa 55. 5. with John 13. 31 32. Oh! let us not turn a deaf Ear to this Call but let us incline our Ears and come unto Him let us hear that our Souls may live c. Isa 55. 2 3. Considering also that which followeth Namely The Account and Ground upon which Men are Called unto this Marriage and Marriage-feast is because it was intended and prepared for them If the Trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the Battel 1 Cor. 14. 8. But so doth not this Trumpet in the glorious Gospel of God for as it gives a joyful sound Psal 89. 15. so also a certain one Gods Mouth hath therein spoken Truth and Wickedness is an Abomination to His Lips All the Words of His Mouth are in Righteousness there is nothing froward or wreathed in them Prov. 8. 6 8. This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation it is both true and Good that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners Sinners indefinitely and without exclusion of any 1 Tim. 1. 15. This His Marriage of our Nature is and was by an Heavenly Messenger proclaimed to be Glad tidings of great joy to all people Luke 2. 10 11 14. And Christ had the Trespasses of the World imputed to Him 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. And by the Grace of God He tasted Death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And is Risen again for theâ—… Justification So that as verily as all have sinned in the first Publick Man and are come short of the Glory of God So also they are Justified freely by God's Grace through that Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 22 24. and 5. 18. And in Him there is a Feast prepared for all People Isa 25. 6. Forgiveness of Sins for all Nations Luke 24. 47. Acts 26. 17 18. Righteousness for all Rom. 3. 22. Isa 61. 11. Eternal Life for all Mankind while it is called to day 1 John 5. 10 11 12. A Salvation prepared before the Face of all People Neither is there Salvation in any other Luke 2. 30 31. Acts 4. 12. And on this Ground it is that men are Invited to come to this Marriage and Marriage-feast because it was made and made ready for them even for Jews and Gentiles and so consequently for all Mankind Mat. 22. 2. 8 9 10. Luke 14. 16. 24. On this account His Servants have been provoked and excited to Intreat and Beseech men generally to receive the Grace of God to purpose The Love of Christ did constrain them to perswade men to come unto Jesus Christ because they thus judged that if one died for all then were all dead and that He died for all c. And after they had given an account of the Ministry of Reconciliation which they had received to wit that God was in Christ when one died for all and rose again Reconciling the World unto Himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them but unto Christ they say Now therefore 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. 5. 11 14 15 19 20 21. and 6. 1. John 3. 14 16. and 4. 42. Hence the Lord maketh Proclamation and Invitation to every Thirster both to such as thirst out of necessity and to such also as thirst out of delight having tasted the Graciousness of the Lord and saith Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to
God who also hath given to them His Spirit to accompany them and make their Word powerful 1 Thes 4. 8. And hence they are in every place a sweet Savour unto God of Christ 2 Cor. 2. 14 15. He is verily and continually so present with them by the Power and Influence of His blessed Spirit in their sincere speaking the Word of Christ as that He that heareth them heareth Him and he that receiveth them receiveth Him even Christ and Him that sent Him And he that despiseth them despiseth Christ and Him that sent Him Mat. 10. 40. with Luke 10. 16. Hence the stiff-necked Jews who were Uncircumcised in heart and ears are said in opposing and rejecting His Servants the Prophets to have always resisted the Holy Spirit which they could not have done had not the Holy Spirit been always present with them and assistant to them Acts 7. 51 52. Neh. 9. 30. Isa 63. 10. And this Consideration that the many are Called by the Servants the Lord working with them may be of usefulness unto us 1. To shew unto us the evil and falseness of mens sayings in which they divide and separate the Word of Christ in the faithful Ministration of it from the Spirit and say It is true many men are 〈◊〉 Called with an outward Call but they are not Called with an inward and effectual Call The Servants speak to their outward Ears but God by His Spirit speaketh not unto the Hearts of them The contrary to what they say plainly appeareth to be true in what hath been said from the Scriptures of Truth God is certainly present in and with His own Word that it might be received by men As the Apostle signifieth I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the Increase So then neither is he that Planteth any thing neither he that Watereth But God that giveth the increase For we are Labourers together with God c. The Apostle saith not as many do in their Glosses corruptly and injuriously to the Text and Souls of Men Paul may plant and Apolla water but God must give the Increase In which saying they Imply that the former may be without the latter But the Apostle evidently assures us not that God Must only but that He doth give the Increase whether men receive it or not And therefore when He speaks in the time past of their Labouring He speaks in the time past of Gods Co-operation I have planted but God gave c. And when in the time present of the former he so also speaketh of the latter Paul planteth Apollo watereth but God giveth the Increase It is true indeed we are to distinguish between the Word and Spirit but not to divide between them as if when ever God sends His Servants to Preach the Gospel He doth not vouchsafe His Spirit to go along with them which is not true 1 Cor. 3. 5 7 9. Nor is it safe or good for any to conclude from the event that because men receive not therefore God gives not For God may give and yet men not receive God may turn men and yet men may not be eventually turned God may draw men unto Christ and yet they may not come but break his Bands asunder and cast away his cords from them God may Purge and yet men through their stubbornness may not be purged his goodness may lead them to Repentance who yet are not led thereby to it but may forsake Him when He leads them by the way Neh. 9. 20 26. Acts 26. 18. Has 11. 4 5. Jer. 5. 5. Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 4 5. Christ the Good and Faithful Sower soweth the good Seed the Word of the Kingdom in the Hearts of the worst sort of Hearers to the end they might Believe and be Saved And it would effect this in them did they not suffer the Devil to steal away that which was sown in their hearts Mat. 13 19. with Luke 8. 12. And certainly therefore also the Gospel is called The Ministration of the Spirit because it doth so infallibly accompany it in the faithful Preaching thereof that they that Preach the one Minister the other 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. Gal. 3. 2 5. And hence also the Words of Christ are said to be Spirit and Life and the Spirit is said to be the Word of God John 6. 63. with Ephes 6. 17. 2. This Consideration also may Incourage his Servants who bring good Tidings to get them up into the high Mountains to Lift up their Voices with strength to Lift them up and not be afraid or ashamed of their Message because His Spirit remaineth with them Hag. 2. 5. This is contained in Gods Covenant with Christ and them that turn from Transgression in Jacob that his Spirit that is upon Christ and his words which he hath put into his Mouth shall not depart out of his Mouth nor out of the Mouth of his Seed the Apostles and first Trusters in Christ nor out of the Mouth of his Seeds seed those that believe on Christ through the Apostles Word John 17. 20 22. saith Jehovah from henceforth and for ever His Spirit and His Words go together inseparably in the Mouth of His Servants So that while they speak His Words to the outward Ears of men His Spirit speaks to the Hearts of men And thence He exhorteth His Servants Arise shine c. Isa 59. 20 21. and 60. 1. Alas otherwise His Servants might be discouraged and ashamed and even say as He did O my Lord send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send Exod. 4. 13. For they have no sufficiency of themselves to think any thing as of themselves though they be in pain and labour to bring forth yet they will bring forth nothing but the Wind they can of themselves work no deliverance in the Earth neither will the Inhabitants of the Earth fall before them 2 Cor. 3. 5. Isa 26. 17. 18. But now this may Incourage them to Lift up the Hands that hang down and confirm their feeble Knees that the Great King will be with their Mouth in speaking His Word so as where the Word of this King is there also shall be Power going along with it Eccles 8. 4. with Luke 4. 18 32. Hence the Apostle saith I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God c. Rom. 1. 16. Go ye forth therefore ye Servants of the Lord in this your might holding forth the Word of Life hath not He sent you whose Presence shall go along with you He will not leave you nor forsake you Judg. 6. 14. 3. It may also Admonish His Servants to declare the Testimony of God without Excellency of Speech or of Wisdom Seeing He hath promised to be always with them and faithful is He that hath promised who also will do it Let them make use of quaint Language inticing Words and Excellency of mans Wisdom if they please who think they may or know not but they
do go alone But he that hath Gods Word let him speak Gods Word faithfully What is their Chaff to this Wheat Is not His Word like as a Fire And like an Hammer that breaks the Rock in pieces Jer. 23. 28 29. It argues a secret fear and jealousie in men as if the Gospel of Christ were a Weak Forceless Spiritless Doctrine and needed some what of mans to make it powerful when they deliver it in the Words or with the Arguments which mans wisdom teacheth And in thus doing they are so far from making it more Effectual or Saving to men that they render it Inforcible and Inefficacious because they thus corrupt the Word of God 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. Christ sent me saith the Apostle to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect For the Preaching of the Cross even this manner of Preaching it without wisdom of Words the foolishness of Preaching is to them that perish Foolishness but unto us that are saved it is the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 21. The weapons of their Warfare who War not after the flesh after the Wisdom or Guidance thereof are not Carnal but Mighty through God to the pulling down strong Holds casting down Imaginations c. 2 Cor. 10. 3 4 5. It is good therefore for Christs Servants in Calling men to the Marriage and Marriage-feast to beware of Philosophy and vain Deceit Yea and to chuse rather to speak five Words with their understanding that they may Teach others also then Ten Thousand words in an unknown Tongue for in so doing they do as to the Generality of men speak into the Air Yea are unprofitable to all and not understood by the most of men 1 Cor. 14. 19. And to that end its needful both to deny desires of vain Glory Aswel as also to consider that the plain and foolish Preaching of the Gospel is the Way God hath pitcht upon for Saving men And how weak or foolish soever this Way appears to the Wise ones yet the FoolishnesS of God is Wiser then men and the Weakness of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1. 21 24 25. Col. 2. 8 9 10. Oh then how doth it behove His Servants seeing they have such hope to use great plainness of Speech And not as Moses who put a Vail over his Face c. 2 Cor. 3. 6 12 13. To renounce the hidden things of Dishonesty not walking in Craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commending themselves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 1 2. 4. It may exhort us to give diligent heed to their Words and Calls and to esteem them highly for their Works sake who speak to us the Word of God because their Master also is present with them and assistant to them it might therefore Ingage us when His Servants come amongst us to say in our hearts however as the Centurian did to Peter We are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Acts 10. 33 34. The Apostle speaks this to the praise of the Churches of Galatia that when he first Preached the Gospel amongst them they received him notwithstanding his Temptation in the flesh as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 13 14. Oh! How Beautiful are and should be the feet of them that Preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad Tidings of good things Rom. 10. 14 15. Did we indeed consider that they call us unto the Fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord and into the Grace of Him 1 Cor. 1. 9. Gal. 1. 6. And that the great King of Heaven and Earth speaks by them and with them and doth as it were by them beseech us to come and Eat of Wisdoms Bread and to Drink of the Wine she hath mingled To forsake the foolish and Live c. It would certainly be powerful with us to Ingage us to receive their Word and obey their Call not as the word or call of men but as it is in truth of God 1 Thes 2. 13. And to account them worthy of double Honour who Labour in the Word and Doctrine for their Masters sake even because they belong to and are Labourers with Christ And though not to Idolize them or think of them more highly then we ought to think yet to account them as Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1 6. And to know that when in and with Preaching the Gospel of Christ they Call upon and Invite us to come unto the Feast God also Calleth us and enableth us to what He Calleth us unto And as our Saviour saith to His Disciples Verily verily I say unto you he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me And he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me John 13. 20. Whereas were the most of men Called with an outward Call only they might either receive or reject the Caller and neither receive nor reject Jesus Christ or Him that sent Him 5. This Consideration shews unto us their causless Iniquity and inexcusable folly who when they are thus Called to Christ by such a Powerful and Effectual Call yet regard not but turn a deaf Ear thereto Of such our Saviour saith Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life John 5. 32 36 39 40. This was the provoking Iniquity of Gods People in former Times whereby God was greatly Incensed against them They refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their Eaers that they should not hear Yea they made their hearts as an Adamant stone lest they should hear the Law and the Words which the Lord of Hosts had sent in His Spirit by the former Prophets Therefore came a great Wrath from the Lord of Hosts Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear saith the Lord of Hosts Zech. 7. 11 13 14. Indeed those Persons who say the greatest part of the Called ones are only called with an outward and ineffectual Call put a Plea into their Mouths and fill them with Arguments to excuse their not coming They may say they had no power of themselves and God gave them none or not that which was sufficient These teach men to lay the blame upon God and to father the brats of their disobedience on Him But alas it will appear in conclusion that such charge God foolishly And that though the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envic yet He giveth more Grace that Grace which brings Salvation to all men to enable us to come at His Calls And at last He will be Justified in His Sayings and overcome when He is Judged James 4. 5 6. with Tit. 2. 11. This is mens iniquity not that they cannot come of themselves but that they will not when God is enabling them hereto This
the Chosen But the many that are Called are such as are Called to Christ as is before said by Christ's Servants in proclaiming Christ's Gospel unto them in the Words which the Holy Ghost hath Taught As the Great King directs His Servants to Call to the Wedding so He puts into their Mouths what they should say which is Summarily the form of sound Words He sent forth other Servants saying Tell them which are bidden behold I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and Fatlings are killed and all things are ready come unto the Marriage Mat. 22. 4 8 10. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 1 John 4. 13 14. And what hath been said shall suffice to this Enquiry Fourthly To what end are the many Called Certainly They are therefore Called and Invited to the Wedding and Dinner that they might obey the Call and come and Eat of Wisdom's Bread and Drink of the Wine which She hath mingled Forsake the Foolish and Live and go in the Way of Understanding Prov. 9. 1 3 6. That they might come to the knowledge of the Truth and be Saâ—ed 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. His end herein was not nor is to leave men without excuse or to aggravate their Condemnation though this will be the Issue and Effect of mens stubborn and still continued in refusal But we may see the End of the Lord to be such as declareth that He is very pitiful or very well Bowelled and of tender Meroies to the Souls of men as James 5. 11. For as God sent not His Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through Him might be saved John 3. 17. 1 John 4. 14. And the Son of Man came not to destroy mens souls or Judge the World but to save them to save the World Luke 9. 55 56. John 12. 47. So as the Father sent Him and accordingly He came into the World He sent and preserveth His Servants in the World that they might Call men unto Himself to the end they might come and be Saved John 17. 18 22. He sendeth them to open the Eyes of the Blind and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sin and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith that is in Christ Acts 26. 17 18. We have this same Parable or a like to it mentioned in Luke 14. 16 17. And there it followeth after our Saviour's giving Instructions about an earthly Feast and was spoken as it seems at a Feast Ver. 1. 14. Now to what end doth an honest man provide a great Dinner or Supper and Invite Persons to it by his Servants Is it not that they might come and partake hereof Doth he Intreat and Beseech men to come And when they will not be perswaded and prevailed with is he very angry with them for such refusal And yet had no Cordial desire or intention they should come What should we call this amongst men Not Honesty or Sincerity but Dissimulation And shall we entertain such evil evil and wicked thoughts of God as to think That though He hath prepared a Dinner at such a dear Cost and Invites men thereto and is exceedingly and eternally Angry with them who will not come yet He never meant or intended they should come Or shall men call this an holy Dissimulation when they cannot but see it is a Dissimulation Is not this the way to make them Dissemblers also who thus think and speak of God how Holy soever they appear or would be thought to be as they were whose Leaven was Hypocricy Mat. 23. Oh! far be it from us to think thus wickedly of God! He is Perfect Upright and without Dissimulation in all His Mercy and Kindness Hence whereas in one Evangelist our Saviour saith Be ye merciful as your Father is In another it is Be ye Perfect as your ther in Heaven is Perfect And then presently warneth His Disciples to beware of Hypocrisie Luke 6. 36. with Mat. 5. 48. and 6. 1. c. To signifie to us that in all Gods Kindness and Kind and Gracious Invitations He is perfectly Merciful And hath pleasure in Uprightness 1 Chron. 29. 17. And because He knows what evil thoughts and jealousies concerning Him proceed naturally out of our Hearts and to the end they should not lodg within us Therefore He assures us of His Uprightness and Sincerity in His Calls and Invitations Unto you O men I call and my Voice is to the Sons of man O ye simple understand Wisdom and yee fools be ye of an understanding Heart hear for I will speak of Excellent things and the opening of my Lips shall be right things For my Mouth shall speak Truth and Wickedness is an abomination to my Lips All the Words of my Mouth are in Righteousness and not in Hypocrisie for these two are opposed the one to the other Mat. 23. 28. Receive my Instruction c. Prov. 8. 4 7 10. He hateth burning Lips and a wicked Heart and saith Their wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation Prov. 26. 23 26. And warns us to beware of such whose Lips drop as the Hony-comb and their Mouths are smoother then Oyl But their end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two-edged Sword Prov. 5. 3 4. And certainly He is not such an one as they are though some foolish ones so think Psal 50. 21. He doth not command the Gospel to be Preached to all and yet intendeth the most of men should not believe it But therefore He causeth it to be proclaimed that all to whom it is so published might through Christ believe John 1. 7. We may read His gracious End in His Invitation He saith Come that we might indeed come and so not only be of the Many who are Called but of the Chosen ones also And this leadeth us to the latter part of the verse But few are Chosen In speaking unto which Words we shall indeavour to shew these things God assisting I. Who the Elect or Chosen ones here spoken of are And what is the Election or Chusing the Scripture speaketh of II. That few of the many Called ones are Chosen III. That it is mens 〈◊〉 Iniquity that they are not Elected or Chosen First We shall indeavour to shew who the Elect or Chosen ones here spoken of are and what is the Election or Chusing the Scripture speaketh of And in speaking hereto we no otherwise intend to speak of Election unto Worldly things or to choice Advantages or Offices only then as may illustrate or conduce unto the Election here intimately intended to wit that which is unto Salvation In speaking then to this first Thing we shall first shew What is not the Election here spoken of and who are not the Elect or Chosen ones And then what it is and who are the subjects of it 1. Then By Election here intimately spoken of or elsewhere in Scripture is not meant An absolute
it appeareth this was His Counsel by His Work For He worketh all things after or according to the Counsel of His own Will ver 11. And that these are the Persons here directly spoken of appeareth plainly First By the Change of the Persons In the two first Verses the Apostle Writeth to the Saints at Ephesus c. And Saluteth them Ver. 2. Grace unto you But then He changeth the Persons from Ver. 3. to Ver. 12. And always saith We and Us and never You till Ver. 13. Secondly It plainly also appeareth that from Ver. 3. to Ver. 12. He speaketh not directly of the Believing Ephesians because He speaks of them that trusted in Christ before they were Believers and it was by the Means and Ministration of these first Trusters they were after brought in and helped through Grace to Believe for so He saith That we should be to the praise of His Glory who first trusted in Christ In whom ye also trusted or believed after ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation namely by those first Trusters or some of them See and consider Ver. 12 13 14. And surely this is the clear and direct meaning and intendment of the Apostle in these words But I shall add no more to this place because it hath been spoken to by my Brethren and Companions in the Faith viz. Mr. Thomas Moor senior in his Explicite Declaration of the Testimony pag. 263 274. And pointed unto by Mr. John Horn in his Open Door pag. 122. and in Reviewer Reviewed pag. 83. Object 2. If any one should further Object that in Rom. 9. 11 13. to prove their Personal Election in a Personal Consideration from I say Answ This doth not at all prove what they alledg it for And this will appear whither we consider the words Historically or Allegorically We shall speak a little to each Acceptation First Consider them Historically according to their first and plain Intendment And so 1. This was not spoken of the Persons here intended before the Creation of the World but in time and that after Rebecca had conceived by our Father Isaac And after the Children strugled in her Womb Gen. 25. 21 22 23. Rom. 9. 10 12. And so it proves not the Election of some Persons in a personal Consideration before the World was 2. Nor was this spoken of the Persons of Jacob and Esau onely but of their Posterities also as is most evident in what the Lord said to Rebecca when she went to inquire of Him The Lord said unto her two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Barrels the one People shall be stronger then the other People and the Elder shall serve the Younger Gen 25. 23. And though in Rom. 9. 11. the Translatours have put in the Children whether in favour to that device of Personal Election or no I know not Yet these words are faithfully set down in a different Character that we may know they are not a part of the Text But the Verse should thus be read For they or the Nations or Peoples being not yet born c. 3. And it therefore appears that the Election here spoken of or the purpose according to it was not an Absolute decreeing Jacob Nationally considered to Eternal Life and rejecting Esau and all his Posterity there-from for neither can we have so much faith as to believe the former Nation was all Eternally saved Rom. 9. 27. nor so little Charity as to conceive the latter was all damned seeing we read of some Good men that came from him as is probable as Job compare Job 1. 1. with Lam. 4. 21. And Eliphaz the Temanite compare Job 2. 11. with Gen. 36. 9 11. And his Posterity might enter into the Congregation of the Lord in the third Generation Deut. 23. 7 8. As well as also the Apostle saith By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come Heb. 11. 20. But this purpose according to Election was that Jacob Nationally considered should be preferred before Esau or Edom That Christ should come of them according to the Flesh and they should have the Word and Oracles and Ordinances of God committed to them which was a great Advantage Rom. 3. 1 2. And thus He dealt not with any other Nation Psal 147. 19 20. And yet in Esau's serving Jacob he or any of his Posterity might be Blessed also and might in the third Generation enter into the Lords Congregation as is said And so now notwithstanding that purpose in these last Ages because of the Jews unbelief the Kingdom of God is taken from them who were become the Elder People and given to Esau and the Gentiles Yet notwithstanding if any of the Broken-off Jews abide not still in unbelief they shall be Graffed in again Mat. 21. 43. compare Amos 9. 11 12. with Acts 15. 14 17. Rom. 11. 23. And this well agrees with the Scope of the Apostle in this place As for that which is mentioned in Rom. 9. 13. Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated It was Spoken and Written long after Jacob and Esau the Fathers of the two Nations were dead And declares how God had priviledged the former Nation above the latter according to His purpose in Answer to that Demand Wherein hast Thou loved us And that hatred of Esau was however at first but comparative or a lesser degree of Love as is signified in the Testimony of it viz. I laid his Mountains waste Mal. 1. 2 3. with Gen. 29. 30 31. Secondly Consider we these things Allegorically As the Apostle speaketh of Sarah and Hagar and their Children Which things are an Allegory Gal. 4. 22 24 31. So here As Isaac so Jacob also was a Type of Christ and those Born of Him Psal 24. 6. Gal. 6. 16. Now before men are Born this is God's purpose that whosoever believeth in Christ should not perish but have everlasting Life And whosoever rejecteth Him though he hath never so great a zeal to God otherwise and seek and take pains never so much to establish a Righteousness to himsâ—lf of whom Esau was a Type shall be rejected But this without any discriminating Eye or Respect to any man in a personal Consideration And so God's purpose shall stand according to Election Namely it shall abide and take place not in accepting men into Favour and Fellowship with Himself according to their Works of Righteousness but as the Grace of God doth chuse men out of and sever them from the World into Christ so as they are made of His Seed and reckoned after Him And this understanding of these things is sutable to the scope of the Place For in Answer to the Jews who were ready to say there was Unrighteousness with God should He reject them because they were the Seed of Abraham according to the flesh and zealous according to the Law the Apostle saith That not all Abrahams Seed according to the Flesh nor any
these generally come and so are the Called but amongst them some are not Chosen the man was not which had not on a Wedding Garment and so all like unto him Namely such as though they come in some sort into the House as the First-bidden Guests refused to do yet they let not go their own Righteousness which are as filthy Rags that they might have the Righteousness which is through the Faith of Christ even the Righteousness of God by Faith that Robe of Righteousness Phil. 3. 9. Isa 61. 10. Or they so receive not the Grace of God as in coming to Christ to be Justified And Cleansed as Dan. 8. 14. from their Iniquities and Idols and conformed to the Mind and Image of Christ but while they pretend to seek to be Justified by Christ they themselves are found Sinners as Gal. 2. 17. And still remain altogether or in a great measure unsanctified in Heart and unreformed in Life while yet they profess to be Christ's Disciples and believe His Gospel These though of the Called as the First-bidden Guests were not so fully yet are not Chosen or Elect ones And abidâ—ng in this condition will have their portion in the Lake where their Worm dieth not and their Fire is not quenched Ver. 8. 14. By all which it plainly appears that the Elect are such as come to Christ and so come to Him as to deny themselves and prefer Him before and part with all for His sake And this is also confirmed by the like Parable and our Saviours Instructions in Luke 14. Where also after the Supper was prepared the Servant is sent forth to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready And they all with one consent began to make excuse The first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused And another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused And another said I have Married a Wife and therefore I cannot come So the Servant came and shewed his Lord these things Then the Master being angry said unto his Servant go out quickly â— to Invite others And after he had signified his great displeasedness with those who refused to come to Christ when Called saying None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper he turned and said unto the great multitudes that went with him If any man come unto me and hate not comparatively his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sister 's yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple And whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14. 16 21 24 26 33. Which confirmeth what we have said and is agreeable to the Parable we are considering and sheweth that these are the Chosen ones who so come unto and after Christ as that they sell all that they have that they may be made partakers of Him And others that so do not but prefer other things in general or something else in particular before Him however they may be Called or of the Called yet are not while so doing of the Elect of Chosen Generation or the Subjects of God's Election As we have often said But God assisting we shall speak hereto a little more particularly and shew What Election and Elect signifie in Scripture And so we say First Election doth properly and frequently signifie a Chusing out or Taking out some from others And the Elect or Chosen are such as are Chosen out of or from others and so it is here And for our Understanding and Usefulness of the proper and direct Signification of these Words and Things we shall propound and give Answer from the Scriptures to these five following Queries viz. Que. 1. What is the Argument propounded for the effecting this Election Answ The Grace or Love of God manifested and everlastingly commended to us in this that He sent the Son the Saviour of the World even of Mankind And according thereto Christ came into the World and was made Flesh and was made Sin and by the Grace of God tasted Death for every man and is raised again for their Justification And hath Redeemed them from the Curse of the Law and obtained all the Fulness of Grace and Truth into Himself for them This Grace as discovered and made known to us by the Ministry of the great Kings Servants in and by the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God is the Argument propounded for Electing men So in this Parable to the end the Invited Guests might come into Christ and so be the Subjects of God's Election the King commandeth His Servants to tell them Behold I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come to the Marriage Mat. 22. 3 4 8 9 with Luke 14. 16 17. To this also agreeth what the Apostle Paul saith even so then there is a remnant according to the Election or Out-chusing of Grace A remnant like unto the seven thousand men in Elias his days who had not bowed the knee to Baal not Idolaters and False worshippers as the Elect some men speak of may be and continue a considerable time But such as are freed from and chosen out of such polluted ones and pollutions And that not by Works of Righteousness which they had done but by the Grace of God which is Saving or bringeth Salvation to all men Rom. 11. 4 6. And so the being Saved viz. From mens Sins and Idols is the same with this being Elected or Outchosen compare and consider 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with Ver. 13. And it is by the same Means or Argument effected viz. By the Grace of God as the Apostle signifieth to the Ephesians For after he had declared what polluted ones they were in Times past namely before they heard and received the Word of Truth he then puts them in remembrance how they got an escape from their Pollutions By Grace ye are saved And again By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 1 2 5 8 9. with Rom. 11 6. Yea the Lovers of God and God's Elect are signified to be the same Persons compare and consider Rom. 8. 28. with Ver. 33. Now How come men to be Lovers of God Certainly by the Grace or Love of God even His first Love discovered to them as the Apostle John saith He that Loveth is Born of God and knoweth God for God is Love But how doth this appear and whereby iâ— iâ— evidenced that He is Love In this was manifested the Love of God because that God sent His only begotten Son into the World that we might live through Him He sent the Son the
at present were none of Gods chosen ones Rom. 11. 17. 23. with ver 7. Thus also he commandeth the Prophet to proclaim these words to such as he had put away and to whom he had given a Bill of Divorce Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever only acknowledge thine Iniquity c. Jer. 3. 8. 12 13. He hath reserved this Prerogative to himself that he can righteously shew mercy where Men cannot If a man put away his Wife and she go from him and become another mans shall he return to her again shall not not that man only but also that Land be greatly polluted where such Iniquity is committed But thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord. And concerning such He as it were bethinks himself how he may againe receive his former favour and their former nighness But I said How shall I put thee among the Children and give thee a Land of desire an heritage of glory or beauty of the Hosts of Nations And I said Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turn away from me Jer. 3. 1. 19. And hence he thus expostulateth with such as had sold themselves for their Iniquities and for their transgressions were put away Wherefore when I came was there no man when I called was there none to answer Is my hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I no power to deliver Namely from all your transgressions and from that miserable condition you have brought your selves into Behold at my rebuke I dry up the Sea c. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to Him that is weary even to such also as have wearied themselves in wandring from Mountain to Hill and forgotten their resting place his hand is not shortned at all but he hath still power to help turn pardon and receive such backsliding ones Isai 50. 1 2 3 4. Such like comfort this Doctrine of Gods Election propoundeth and proclaimeth to poor sinful ones while it is called to day not to strengthen men in their Iniquity But to allure them and prevaile with them to come to him that he may take away their iniquities and receive them graciously that he may heale their backslidings and love them freely Hose 14. 1 2-4 3. This doctrine of Gods election is also a monytory doctrine to admonish and warne us all neither to reject the grace of God nor to receive it in vaine But so heartily to entertaine and retaine it and yield up our selves to the operation thereof that we may now be saved from our evill thoughts and wayes And bring forth fruit meet for him by whom we are dressed that we may receive further blessing from God In the former use we have shewed that though at present we be not yet we may be chosen But here we have to shew that we must of necessity receive the grace of God to this end and purpose or else we shall be excluded the kingdom of Christ and of God To this end Christ gave himselfe for our sins that he might deliver us from or pluck us out of or Chuse us out of this present evill World according to the will of God and our father Gal. 1. 4. with Matth. 5. 29. and 18. 9. with 2 Thes 2. 13. The whole world lieth in wickedness or in the wicked one and will be hereafter condemned and all that remaine of it needfull therefore it is that we be saved from and chosen out of this untoward generation 1 Joh. 5. 19. with 1 Cor. 11. 32. God indeed so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten son But it was not with a delightfull well pleased love as is before said nor so as he ever intended that it or any abiding in the state and fellowship of it should partake of eternall life and salvation But to this end he so loved it that whosoever of it beleiveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3. 14 15 16 17 18. But unless men so receive the love of the truth as to be saved and Chosen thereby while the day of Gods grace and patience is vouchsafed and continued to them they will be damned hereafter not because they were reprobated from eternity for so no man was in a personall consideration nor because they had no true and saving grace afforded to them and for want thereof thereof they could doe no better then they did For the saving Grace of God or Grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared But because they beleived not so as to have pleasure in the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Tit. 2. 11. 2 Thes 2. 10 12 13. Oh! this will be the Worm that will never die but will gnaw upon them and torment their Souls for ever that when God so loved them as to give his Son to die for them to deliver them from that so great a death as they were fallen under the Sentence of viz. the first death And to obtain Eternal Life into the nature of man for them both which he hath done by his Blood and Sacrifice And that he gave him to be a Testimony of Gods goodness and love to them in due time and so preached to their Spirits by his Spirit that they might have been saved That notwithstanding all this they would not come unto Christ that they might have life but held fast deceit and refused to return Oh! that in due time it may be so considered by us that we may hearken diligently unto Christ and so receive the Word of God as it is in truth the Word of God that it may work effectually upon us So as we may not only be called thereby but chosen also And so may flee from the wrath to come Quest But some may say The Elected are chosen by Christ and cannot chuse themselves Is there any thing then in order to this Election or chusing required of us that we may be the subjects of it What should we do Answ It is true indeed they are chosen by Christ who are elected and cannot chuse themselves by any Wisdome Strength or Works of Righteousness of their own But it is also as true that in those things appertaining to the Salvation of the Soul in which they are Passives yet there is somewhat required of them as God is preventing them with his Grace As to say They cannot beget or bring forth themselves but the Work of the new Birth is the Work of God John 1. 13. Jam. 1. 18. But yet it is signified that something in order hereto is required of Men not in any wisdome or ability of their own for they have none But as God is preventing and assisting them with power and capacity namely to
in him Hebr. 10. 38. with ver 26. Those that died for their unbelief and murmurings when they were almost come to the borders of the Land of Canaan fell short of the typical rest as well as they who were upon the same account cut off presently after they came out of Aegypt though they had continued longer in following the Lord and endured much more hardship then the latter Even so such as have put their hand to the Plow and continued it there a good while and suffered many things will yet-deprive themselves of the reward if they bring not forth fruit unto the end All their former hearing believing professing well doing and suffering will in conclusion be in vain to such as these Gal. 3. 4. Phil. 2. 12-16 Luke 9. 62. Oh that the consideration hereof may admonish and provoke us all To be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing in thus doing and continuing our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord But Christ will present us in the body of His flesh unblameable and unrebukeable if we continue in the faith rooted and grounded and be not moved from the hope of the Gospel c. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Col. 1. 22 23. Gal. 6. 9. so shall we not be like the thorny-ground hearers Lastly Some there are who receive the Word into the good ground even such as hear the Gospel and understand And therein they are better then the first sort of hearers compared to the way side And they receive the seed in an honest and good heart and therein they are preferred before the second sort of hearers who are compared to the stony ground Yea and also they keep it and bring forth fruit with patience and perseverance In a patient continuance in well-doing they seek for Glory and Honour and immortality And unto them in due season God will render eternal Life Rom. 2. 6 7. These all bring forth fruit unto perfection though not all alike but some an hundred fold some sixty and some thirty Yet they continue keeping the seed the good Word of God and suffering it to bring forth fruit in them and to make them fruitful even unto the end And herein they are differenced from and do more worthily then the third sort of hearers compared to the thorny ground Though they indeed for some time yea possibly for some considerable space of time some of them however did retain the word of the kingdom but before the harvest came they grew weary fainted in their minds so deprived themselves of that reward of the inheritance of which otherwise they might and should have partaken And so are compared to and in conclusion become like the thorny ground compare Matth. 13. 18-23 with Mark 4. 14-20 Luke 8. 11-15 Now in this Parable our Lord confirms the truth of what He affirms in the Parable we are considering a part of to wit that few of the many who are called are chosen Among the many hearers of the word of the kingdom there were three sorts that in conclusion received the grace of God in vain And one sort only that received and retained the love of the truth to be saved thereby Our Saviour in this Parable of the several grounds speaks not of the heathen who have not the Oracles of God committed to them nor the Gospel of Christ plainly preached among them nor of such as hear such instructions as cause to erre from the words of knowledge and such foolish ones as have not the lip of knowledge For no good fruit can be expected from such foolish persons and such Doctrines And therefore the Holy Ghost hath councelled us to go from the presence of such vain talkers and to cease to hear such instructions which are so hurtful Prov. 14. 7. 19. 27. But He speaks of such persons as were hearers of the good Word of God the word of Truth the Gospel of our Salvation which was spoken unto them and sown in the hearts of them by the good sower the Son of Man And yet amongst these hearers there are but few who are the called according to purpose Oh how few are there that are indeed redeemed from the Earth and from amongst men and who faithfully cleave unto and follow the Lamb that was slain whithersoever he goeth And the Reason why there are so few chosen is not as we have said and may again also shew because the most were reprobated or past by in a personal consideration from Eternity Or because no true and saving Grace was vouchsafed unto them for both these are false But because they strive not or abide not striving to enter in at the strait gate But against all the discoveries convincements reproofs and operations of the Spirit in the Gospel walk on in or return again unto the broad way in which there are such multitudes who hold fast deceit and refuse to come unto Christ in His way So much our Saviour signifieth when He saith unto His Disciples Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Why so Because strait is the gate and narrow it the way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it Matth. 7. 13 14. And again when one said unto Christ Lord are there few that be saved Though our Saviour gives not a direct Answer yet He signifieth in His Answer That few comparatively are so and intimately declareth That mens not being willing to enter in at the strait gate or not to do it in the present time is the Reason For He said not to him only that propounded the Question but indefinitely unto them that heard Him Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 22-24 He doth not here signifie that there was no gate for such as in the event go to destruction nor that it was not opened but plainly giveth us to understand that there was a gate and that it was so opened that any man might enter therein Joh. 10. 9. Yea that it was held open all the day of Christ's mediation in that it presently followeth when once the master of the House is risen up and hath shut to the door c. Luke 13. 25. clearly implying That the door was not shut until that time to wit while the day of God's Grace and Patience is continued and men are joyned to all the living But He evidently signifieth that the reason why few are saved is because they strive not or will not strive to enter in at this strait gate Ezek. 33. 31 32. The gate is indeed strait A Man in entring must deny and renounce himself daily his sinful and fleshly lusts that war against the Soul his wisdom righteousness will designs and enterprizes his covetousness and love of the World and the things thereof his
desires of vain-glory praise and honour of Men and friendship of this World his ease and pleasure his inordinate affection to nearest and dearest relations yea and to his own life also Yea and whatsoever doth hinder him or would turn him aside from coming unto and following after Jesus Christ And the way is narrow which leadeth unto life it is an afflicted persecuted way and those that walk in it must thorow much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14. 22. They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3. 11 12. Christs Disciples and Followers I mean such as are His Disciples indeed shall be hated of all Men for His name sake not only of profane ones though they will be the song of the Drunkards and the by-word of base nameless Men who are viler then the Earth but also the appearingly righteous and zealous ones will reproach and villifie them and the Doctrine professed by them and cast out their names as evil for the Son of Man's sake their Mothers Children will be angry with them Cant. 1. 6. their Brethren will hate them Isa 66. 5. And the Sons of the Sorceress the seed of the Adulterer and the Whore such as are begotten of divers and strange Doctrines will sport themselves against them and make a wide mouth and draw out the tongue against them Isa 57. 3 4. so that in coming unto and following after Jesus Christ they can expect nothing but frowns cruel mockings reproachful words and gestures scoffings afflictions and persecutions from all that are not of their own company He that is not with them is against them so that they that will come after Christ must not only deny themselves but also take up their cross daily and follow him For God hath predestinated and fore-ordained that all that are lovers of Him who are the called according to purpose and so Gods Elect ones should be conformed to the Image of His Son that He might be the first-born among many Brethren That as He was despised and rejected of Men a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief so they also should be made like unto Him and drink of the same cup whereof He drank Matth. 16. 24 25. Luke 9. 23 24. Rom. 8. 28 29-33 Now because most of them who are called by the Gospell when they hear this saying are offended crying out in their hearts at least This is an hard saying who can hear it as they Job 6. 60. and will not strive to enter in at this strait nor walk in this narrow way which is so persecuted hence it comes to pass that Christs flock of actual and unfeigned believers is a little flock and small amongst the thousands of such as are called and call themselves by the name of Christ And so we have seen the truth of our Saviours saying in this place else where confirmed and have considered and shewed the reason thereof why few of the many called ones are chosen And this assertion and instruction of our Saviours That few are chosen may be of usefulness unto us 1. To shew unto us how little reason they who hear and believe the Gospel with the heart have to glory or boast of the multitude of them that come amongst them and who are called thereby seeing they know from the testimony of Christ that of those many to whom the joyful sound is proclaimed few unfeignedly entertain it or yeild up themselves to the saving operations of it Indeed it may be matter of gladness to them that many do come to hear the Gospel of peace for how can Men believe on Christ if they hear not the Doctrine concerning Him But when they wisely consider That many who are called by the Gospel are only so and will not come to Christ that they may have life it occasions sadness unto them and keeps them sober and preserves them from glorying in the numerousness of them who come amongst them Other persons who glory in appearance and not in heart are apt to be lifting up and priding themselves in their great companies and in the many hundreds that come to hear the doctrines of such as consent not to wholsome words the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine according to Godliness But alas for those who are indeed the Disciples of Christ they have so many occasions of sorrow and fighing presented to them even amongst such as are professedly one with them that instead of boasting of their numbers rivers of Waters run down their eyes because such keep not Gods Law Psal 119. 136 And sometimes those who are in any good measure upright are ready to take up that wish of the Prophets Oh that we had in the Wilderness a lodging place of Way-faring Men that we might leave the generality of our Brethren professedly and go away from them as Jer. 9. 2 3. For though as the Apostle saith they have all heard and many of them oftentimes heard the Gospel of Christ yet they have not all obeyed the Gospel for Isaias saith Lord who hath believed our report Rom. 10. 14-16-18 Joh. 12. 37 38. Oh how few are there who from the heart obey that form of Doctrine that hath been delivered to them The Kingdom of Heaven in the gracious and spiritual administration of it is like to a Net cast into the Sea that gathereth of all kinds But how few are willing to be drawn out of their Elements into Jesus Christ And to forsake and go on to forsake all that they may be and continue His Disciples indeed Were this considered it would preserve them from glorying in their number and cause them rather to say Woe is us for we are as when they have gathered the gatherings of summer as the grape gleanings of the Vintage there is no cluster to eat Mich. 7. 1 2. 2. It might also awaken and provoke us all To examine our selves in the Glass of the Gospel and see whether we ourselves are only of the many called or whether we be also of the few who are chosen Indeed if all who are called by the plain and faithful ministration of the Gospel were chosen also we might save our selves this labour and rest secure and well satisfied that we are of the remnant according to the election of Grace Or if the greatest part of the called ones were elected also it might nor so greatly concern us to search and try our selves and inquire so diligently into this matter But when our Lord who is the truth it self saith few of those invited by the Servants are chosen it greatly concerns us to try ourselves that we may not think our selves to be something when when we are nothing and so deceive our selves which will be the saddest and miserablest cheat and of the most pernicious and everlastingly destructive consequence that ever was Gal. 6. 3 4. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves that