God and verily there is a greater and more eminent appearance of Gods power in converting such a man who by improvement hath made himself righteous as to the Law than in converting him that is a greater sinner which is clear from these Scriptures Matth. 11. 21 22 23. Luke 10.13 14. chap. 11.32 The case you may see in the proud Pharisee Luke 18.10 11 12 13. But this doth not arise so much from the nature of the righteousness as from the corruption in the creature who doth sinfully improve the righteousness endeavouring to finde the way to Heaven without CHRIST though they do use the Name and Title of CHRIST in what they do therefore I would not have any neglect to improve their Talent though I would have you and all know when you have done all as to the work of Grace and procuring Heaven you are unprofitable servants and far below the work of Grace and so far from being able to perform it till Grace comes in a Gospeâ— sense that nothing can be done and when it is come though it doth teach you to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts which fulfills the Law in answering the Gospel yet it doth teach you to deny and loath all your former improvements and righteousness according to these Scriptures Phil. 3.4 5 6 7 8 9. Gal. 3.10 11 12 18 21. Ephes 2.8 9. Tit. 3.5 6 7. And so much in answer to these Queries onely dear Friend that we may understand Truth truly let us draw up the result thus when the Scripture speaks of any power in the creature before the new Birth it is onely that small proportion of power which is to be improved in answer to the righteousness of a moral Law so far as the discovery of it is retained in nature and when I declare this Truth which the Scripture owns to wit that the creature hath no power that is to a work of Grace in a Gospel sense which is Gods peculiar work not in a common but in a special and Gospel account which work the former ability is far below and in the highest improvement is not able to perform Peradventure you may make a second Query which you were pleased to express when I saw you which is Query What is done before this new Birth and that which is done since is all by the power of God if by the power of God why make we distinction Answer We do not make any distinction of power as it is considered in God for the power of God is individable in himself but our discourse relates to the exercise of Gods power as to us and that is distinguishable and is to be considered either higher or lower either common or special according to these Scriptures Deut. 9.29 Job 23.6 chap. 26.14 Psalm 79.11 Matth. 9.8 Luke 9.43 Ephes 1.19 Col 1.11 Besides we see clearly that some acts of Gods power are universal and communicable to all and some are peculiar as gifts of grace to some and not to all and they that have the former may and do many times want the later for your better understanding of that Truth do but mind Deut 29 v.2 And Moses called unto all Israel and said unto them Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eys in the Land of Egypt unto Pharaoh and unto all his servants and unto all his Land in vers 3. The great temptations which thine eys have seen the signs and those great miracles Now all that Moses discovers there is to manifest the exercise of Gods power in a common or general sense but doth not at all include the peculiar exercises of Gods power as to Grace which we have been all this while a speaking of therefore he saith v. 4 Yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive nor eys to see and ears to hear unto this day The same you may understand in these Scriptures Matth. 11.25 applied to Matth. 13.11 ch 19.11 John 6.65 Pâ—â—â— 1.29 All which I entreat you in the fear of the Lord to minde and not to conclude any thing in opposition to this Truth from the unity of power that is in God but seriously minde the exercise of his power as to us and then you will finde that you have no ground to propound such a Query or to stumble at your apprehensions of the unity of the power in God but I shall say no more as to that Query Now I should come to the eighth Particular which is that it is Gods minde and way and therefore of necessity it must be so for the advancement of his Grace and the accomplishment of Faith in the hearts of his own that this Gospel is to be presented or discovered to all without any exemption as to the declaration it self to which I shall say little it being so clear onely refer you to the Scriptures which declare 1. Gods will so present or declare Christ to all according to these Scriptures Matth. 26.13 chap. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. 2. That Gods end is for working of Faith in the hearts of this own or the gathering his own to himself according to these Scriptures Rom. 10.14 15. 1 Cor. 4.15 Col. 1.5 1 Thess 2.13 1 Pet. 4.6 This is all I shall say to this eighth Position Now I know there are some that will make some Objections further to what hath been said which I desire to mention and give my Answer to Obj. It is clear from what you have said that Christ is to be presented to all and that he is enjoyed by none but through believing and you say the power of believing is soly of God and not by any improvement of the ability of nature before the new Birth if so how can it be just with God to condemn them that do not believe seeing the power is not of them but in God Answer I judg this very mistake to be a chief ground of your stumbling and therefore for the clearing up of that according to the third Particular in my writing wherein I promised to clear up the Justice of God in this case I shall desire you not to stand upon curiosity of words but in singleness of heart owning the Truth of God to consider with me these Particulars following 1. That Christ is to be presented to all that 's not disputable that Faith is the way or condition of the Gospel to entertertain Christ and salvation by Christ that is clear 2. That this Faith thus considered is not in the power of the creature to perform by its ability from Gods authority in a common sense but it is a peculiar gift in a Gospel sense by the grace of God given to some and not to all that is clear from these Scriptures Matth. 13.11 16 17. 1 Cor. 2.14 Matth. 11.27 John 15.15 Phil. 1.29 3. Minde that notwithstanding all this Gods justice is clear not onely as to the prerogative of his will which we have no ground to dispute against but is also clear
appear when we shall speak to them now to speak to your Queries one by one as they are there laid down will neither be proper nor profitable because the foundation of the most of them is from a groundless supposition to wit That I and the rest do not hold that CHRIST died for all which is contrary to our judgments for we do hold that CHRIST did die for all but not for all alike therefore the very foundation of your Querie which relates to the Death of CHRIST will appear groundless and seeing that your Queries want foundation and besides I judg some of them contain contradiction I shall not speak to them one by one now that we may not uphold contention but in the fear of the Lord speak for information knowing where the difference between us and you lieth which gives you advantage to put so many forms upon Queries and faces upon Absurdities to present your opinion though groundless yet pleasing I shall according to the small ability the Lord gives me in answer to my relation to truth lay down and speak to these things following and so in the close answer your Queries and Absurdities First wherein you and we do seem to be one in judgment as to the Death of CHRIST Secondly where we differ Thirdly the ground of your mistakes as to the Death of CHRIST the ability of the Creature and the clearing up of the Justice of God Fourthly the sad Absurdities which of necessity must follow your opinion not that which is to be discovered but which is already discovered in your profest position in your Query and then you will see the necessity of the retorting of the most of the Absurdities upon your self and the residue of them must needs fall as to us they having no foundation from us First to the first First I do judg that CHRIST died for all though not for all alike Secondy that his Death without any exemption is to be presented to all First that he died for all I shall prove it by Scripture and then shew you how to prove this truth that CHRIST died for every man I shall not prove it from these Scriptures John 3.16 chap. 6.33 2 Cor. 5. 19. 1 John 2.2 1 John 4.14 and my reason for it in those Scriptures though they speak out the word all and the word world yet there is no safety to make positive conclusions upon doubtfull expressions I mean as to the nature and measure of the word all or world for sometimes the word world includes the whole as Job 34.18 Psalm 24.1 Psalm 50.12 98.7 Jer. 10.12 Acts 17.24 Secondly the word world is taken for a part as well as the whole as in these Scriptures John 13.1 chap. 14.17 chap. 15.18 19. chap. 17.6 9. Acts 17.6 Acts 19.27 Rev. 13.3 Thirdly as the word world doth include sometimes a part so sometimes of that part it doth intend properly the wicked of the world as Acts 17.31 Rom. 12.2 1 Cor. 3.19 chap. 4. 9. chap. 6.2 Hebr. 11.7 2 Peter 2.5 1 John 5.19 Again in other places it doth also properly intend onely the Professors or Believers in CHRIST as in these Scriptures John 12.19 Rom. 11.12 15. John 17.21 23. Now all that can be said or declared from these fore-mentioned Scriptures where the word world or all is expressed where the Death of CHRIST is declared or Reconciliation by him is to you very doubtfull whether it be to every one or onely Believers and therefore seeing that a doubtfull supposition is no foundation for infallible conclusions nor to end any controversie in discourse because supposition is as strong in the one as the other and convinces none but produceth disputes in all therefore I shall in my Answer not possitively conclude from but set them aside in this discourse and draw my proof as I told you before either from Scripture or Reason that doth arise no other way then from an absolute necessity So now to my Affirmation which is that CHRIST died for every man but not for alike First that he died for every man for the proof of that see 1 Tim. 4.10 he is the Saviour of every man but especially so there is a common salvation by CHRIST intended to all This truth is also made good in 2 Pet. 2.1 where he declares some men to be men of destruction and tells them that they had denied the Lord that bought them so that wicked men and men of destruction were comprehended in the purchase of CHRIST further see Heb. 2.9 Now I shall shew you what I do intend in it and my Grounds for it besides what already hath been said consider all men were comprehended in Adam according to Scripture Rom. 5.12 And what God speaks as to blessing and cursing when he speaks to Adam Gen. 2.17 saying In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death now Adam when he eat fell all men fell in him and came under this curse according to these Scriptures Rom. 5.12 15 17. 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Now what the Lord saith must be true and exactly performed which was in the very day when he eat he must die which word death doth comprehend death in every sense Now had not JESUS CHRIST been brought forth by the Lord to step between the pronunciation of the curse and the act meriting and the execution of the curse man must immediately have died or else God had not been exact in his Word but we know he is Now CHRIST was brought forth to bear the wrath of the Lord and the satisfaction of his Justice in that great breach and gap that man had made and so CHRIST was the Saviour of every man from the execution of that curse and they have some time to live here in the world or else their destruction had been in their conception either of all or so many as CHRIST did not undertake for for Gods Word is exactly true in all things So that in the first sense CHRIST is the Saviour of all men from the execution of that curse at which time and in which purchase the world is no longer Gods upon the old account but as it is the inheritance of JESUS CHRIST according to Psalm 1.8 Heb. 1.5 6. Matt. 22.3 8. applied to the 42. where God hath given the utmost part of the earth and Nations of the Heathen to CHRIST for his portion so it comes to pass that mercy is extended according to these Scriptures both to the just and unjust Matth. 5.45 Psalm 145.9 Eccles 9.2 Psalm 36.6 Secondly CHRIST by his Death doth not onely free the Creature from the immediate execution of that curse but he hath also taken them from under the dreadfull killing power of that state which man was in when he fell which was to lie under the fire and killing appearances of God in that killing Law nothing standing between God as fire and they as stubble but he hath brought them into a state and under the authority of himself
second Scripture is Ephes 1.4 acording as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love that shews that election was in Christ and was before the foundation of the world and it further sheweth that holiness and love in Saints was then determined not as causes of the former but as consequences that must needs follow Acts 13.48 when the Gentiles heard they were glad and glorified the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternall life believed this declares that they that have eternal life were ordained to it and that faith was not the cause but an effect of it therefore ordination must be before there are many more Scriptures but these are sufficient now to the reasons First Reason whatsoever is made good by God in the conclusion of time must needs be concluded of God before all time but the election of his own is made good in the conlusion of time Ergo. The Minor none will deny but the Major which is whatsoever is made good in the conclusion of time it must needs be concluded of God before all time my reasons to prove that are these First whatsoever comes to pass was before determined of God according to these Scriptures Acts 2.23 Job 14.5 14. chap. 20.29 Isai 46.10 Luke 22.29 2 Tim. 1.9 Acts 17.31 1 Thess 3.3 chap. 5.9 Heb. 9.27 Rom. 9.11 Secondly whatsoever before was determined of God doth and must come to pass which is clear from these Scriptures Psal 33.11 Prov. 19.21 Ch. 21.30 Isa 46.10 Act. 5.39 Job 23.14 Ch. 30.23 Dan. 11.27 29 35. Besides that minde this Reason God who comprehends all from whence all things take their Rise admits of no alteration or change in him self but what is before was and what was must be and whosoever saith the contrary must prove these 3. things 1. Ignorance in God 2. Mutability 3. Weakness Ignorance not knowing mutability altering weakness in being moved by causes before unknown and without himself which were Blasphemy for any to aver Reason 2. Whatsoever God doth do for us in relation to Heaven before grace was wrought in us is done before time but Election or chusing of us is done for us before grace is wrought in us Ergo. I need not stand to prove the Major it is so undeniable the Minor is proved from these Scriptures Rom. 5.8 10. Ephes 2.4 5. 1 John 4.10 19. Ezek. 16.4 5 6. Isai 43.23 24. Acts 9.3 4 5 6. Isai 56.1 Rom. 10.20 John 10.16 And so much for the first particular Now to the second which is that he had a special designe for the advancement of his Grace and love to carry on by Christ for them and them onely what the great designe is I have in some part told you but if you would further know the great Design of God for his People and for the advancement of his own glory and grace and would understand the time way and means and the truth of the thing that there is such a thing as a great design of God minde well these Scriptures Isai 53.10 Chap. 63 1 2 3 4. Psal 89.19 Daniel 9.24 25 26 27 Isai 42.15 16. In all which Scriptures the particular will clearly be discovered if you question the singularity of the designe in this word for them and them onely for the manifesting of that mind this reason Reason what is good in Gods sight must be done by him but singularity in his love to some or his manifestation of his love in Christ to some and not to others is good in Gods sight ergo The Major none will deny the Minor is proved from the Scriptures Matth. 11.25 26. The third thing that this great design of Christ for them was and must be accomplished that is clearly made good from these Scriptures Isai 59.1 10. chap. 55.11 John 19.51 If you desire any Reason besides what is brought minde this suitable to the Author must the Act be but he that carrieth on this design is God whose power is infinite whose determinate counsel is unalterable whose intents are undividable whose will considered in himself must stand all which you may plainly see if you minde these Scriptures Psalm 33.11 Prov. 19.21 Chap. 21.30 Isai 44.26 Isai 46.10 Acts 2.23 chap. 4.28 The fourth particular which is that the design of God in CHRIST for them was satisfaction for all sin and the purchase of salvation and eternal life by him according to these Scriptures Isai 53.45 46. 1 John 3.5 Col. 1.14 Ephes 1.17 ch 5.25 26.27 And further to manifest this Truth minde these three Particulars First God ordained Christ to that end 1 Pet. 1.19 20. Luke 1.68 69. Secondly God fitted Christ for that end Heb. 10.5 Isai 42.1 2 3 4. Psalm 89.19 Thirdly what Christ was ordained to and fitted for was finished by him John 19.28 30. 17.30 Now if any should say that Christ did accomplish the same design for all as well as for some they do exceedingly abuse Gods intent in Scripture and lay weakness upon God as if he could not carry on what he did intend and in sufficiency upon Christ or else you must deny these three things to wit First that God ordained Christ to it Secondly Gods fitting of Christ for it Thirdly that Christ did accomplish what he was ordered and fitted for which to deny is very sad Now though what hath been said is sufficient to prove this fourth thing yet to satisfie you that this privilege that we have been now speaking of is for some and not for all I beseech you in tenderness to God and love to your own soul and the honor of Truth minde these Particulars First though this Scripture which is Gods Word doth declare what God says and what at present God doth yet it is his essential will that doth declare fully and exactly what God is which will is in himself and himself so in that will that his will is and must be himself which self is not so much discovered in the form and face of present things as by the conclusion of things Secondly if the truth of Prophesies by Prophets be to be judged by the conclusion or making good what they declare Jer. 28.7 8. applied to the 15. then much more this truth we have been a speaking to is to be judged of by the conclusion which if you do you must of necessity hold that the great design of God and CHRIST which was satisfaction for all sin and purchase of salvation and everlasting life must be for some and not for all or else this Scripture must be needless Matth. 25.41 Thirdly though in the declaration of the Gospel it be said that whosoever believes shall be saved which is a truth yet there is no Scripture that declares either by Prophesie or Promise that every one in the world doth or shall believe and though the Commandment be universal that doth not decide the controversie for Gods authority extends
or virtue of the promise the fruit of the promise and the form of the performance which is but the mouth and language to speak out the life by which was made good when Isaac and his seed successively took place so in CHRIST he was a Lamb slain from the beginning of the world the life or virtue of the act which was the efficacy of Christs Death which did arise from the Author and life of the act that took place so soon as ever God did promise CHRIST the form of the act which is the language as I told you before to speak out the life that takes place in time and is not formally presented till lively performed but the life or virtue of the form that takes place for us when first promised and so the Death of Christ was effectual so soon as ever the promise was propounded or else Adam must have died and none could have been saved till CHRIST had come and suffered in the flesh the very same we are to minde in election the life of the act which is the essence took place from the beginning as to the form we shall minde it in the second Particular Now as to the discovery and the fruits of the act that takes place in forms as forms are presented but the act is as truly alive before the form appears as it is afterwards and the truth is every act takes its denomination from the life and the antiquity is derived from thence and so Abrahrm was a father of Nations when the promise was first propounded and so CHRIST was really slain as to the life and virtue when he was first promised and election was then done when it took place in its rise which was Gods singular love and good will to chuse some to be vessels of glory now when the Apostle saith that God calls things that are not as if they were he doth not intend the life or virtue of the act but the form of the act and he that denies it endeavours to overthrow the whole tenure of Scripture for in this sense we are to understand our fall in Adam and our rise in Christ according to the tenure of the Gospel and so also the promise to Abraham and so we are to understand the intent of the Law Matth. 5.28 which declares lusting after a woman to be Adultery 1 John 3.18 that hatred is murder which declares the act to live in the life and virtue though it wants its outward form and is so really before the form is brought forth and in this sense we are to understand Christs love and rejoycing in the sons of men before the world was Prov. 8.31 Secondly consider as the life and virtue of some acts take place before the form and is really in being before the form appear either of our acts or Gods So further minde that whatsoever is done not onely of God but also in God for us the life and form of that act as to God takes place together and both is in being before it doth appear though the discovery of that is not till the Object to which the Action relates be brought forth and this is true election for that is an act done as well in God as by God and so life and form take place together as to God though as to the form of the discovery to us it is not till formably we are brought forth so this act is not to be paralleld with such acts that God doth for us though by himself yet our of himself as Redemption or the promise to Abraham is and therefore what is said from the words of the Apostle Rom. 4.17 is not sufficient to overthrow this truth to wit that election is before the beginning of the world according to these Scriptures Ephes 1.4 1 Pet. 1.2 2 Thess 2.13 1 Tim. 1.9 A second Objection that is made against this Truth by the fore-mentioned party and some others is from these words in 1 Peter 1.2 Elected according to the foreknowledg of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience And in 2 Thess 2.13 We are bound to give thanks always to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth whereunto ye were called by the Gospel From whence they reason thus If we are chosen through sanctification of the Spirit then none are chosen before they have the Spirit and are sanctified by the Spirit and if Saints are chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth and were called to believe that through hearing of the Gospel Then say they men are not chosen before they did believe the truth and before they did hear the Gospel by which they were calld to believe Answer That kinde of reasoning is very sad and unsuitable to the intent of the Apostle in those expressions and that their Arguments have no foundation from thence seriously view the words the Apostle saith in both the places that we are chosen to salvation through sanctification unto obedience and belief of the truth whereunto we are called by the Gospel All that can from thence be gathered is thus much that sanctification and belief of the truth or obedience is the way to accomplish that end unto which election doth intend for there are three things to be considered 1. The act of Election and that hath been punctually proved both to matter manner and time 2. The end of Election which is the advancement of Gods grace in bringing vessels of mercy to glory 3. The way or means to accomplish the end which is by or through sanctification or believing the truth But it is no other way discovered but as the way and means no where as the cause or foundation therefore there is no ground from thence to prove that sanctification and election must be both at one time no more than the people of Israel going through the Wilderness to Canaan to be a discovery that God did not ordain them for Canaan or give them promise of Canaan before they came into Wilderness which was the way to it The Scripture declares that without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12.13 But I know no Scripture that declares that man shall not nor is not elected till he be holy though they that are elected must and shall be holy and they that are holy shall see the Lord and live with him in glory not as the efficient and meritorious cause but as the way and means to such an end If men will draw Syllogisms from such corrupt apprehensions of such divine expressions as the Apostle useth in those Scriptures they may as well prove from thence and with as small a Paradox that sanctification is before men are born as to prove from them Scriptures election which is before the world to be not till men are sanctified but to exercise wit to prove either of these two things is
Fourteen Queries and ten Absurdities about the extent of CHRIST'S Death the power of the Creatures the Justice of God in condemning some and saving others presented by a Free-willer to the Church of CHRIST at Newcastle and answered by Paul Hobson a Member of the said Church In which Answer is discovered the extent of Christs Death the nature and truth of Election the condition of the Creature both before and after conversion c. Published in tenderness of love for the good of all especially for the Churches of Christ Matth. 22.19 Jesus answered and said unto them Ye do err noâ— knowing the Scripture nor the power of God Gal. 1.8 But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed LONDON Printed by Henry Hills for William Hutchison Bookseller in Durham 1655. The Epistle Dedicatory To the Church of Christ at Newcastle these THe grace of our Lord be multiplied upon you all and strengthen you in every good word and work Beloved in the Lord you may remember that one William Pedelsden who professes and preaches the universal point at Sheels did present to me and some others in the face of the Church certain dangerous Queries requiring our Answer and for truths sake there being other business lying upon Brother Gover you desired me to write and publish an Answer to them and though I am sensible that in my appearing publickly I am called rather to manifest the present dealings of God with me and my former unkinde dealings with him but being sensible how much this opinion spreads and what dangerous consequences are produced by it I could not but after a serious seeking of God endeavour to answer your desires herein and the rather knowing that it is one of the general ways wherein the Devil deludes poor souls for I have found by experience that these two ways are the general Heads the Devil commonly goes upon and gradually proceeds in to draw away souls from the good way of the Lord first perswading men under specious pretences to allegorize Scaiptures and turn all into a more spiritual understanding and enjoyment than at present they have attained to who stand by the Rule of Truth in the practice of Gospel order and ordinances and this is backed on as I told you before with specious pretences of spirituality though in truth it is that which ends in carnality though at the first it doth not so appear which I can sadly witness the Devil commonly imploys this way with such spirits that are taken with curiosity of words and notions leaving the wholesom Word of the Lord. The second general way the Deluder takes is by discovering the way of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel under a greater way of rationality though it be but that which doth answer that reason which indeed is carnal which the Apostle speaks of in 1 Cor. 2 3. ch at large this second way the Devil takes many who are not capable of the first but both are very dangerous and though the first was my proper snare yet I judg it not amiss to let some part of my imployment be also to discover the second which according to my weak ability in this writing I have endeavoured desiring the Lord it may accomplish that end which you and I desire to wit the putting a stop to that opinion which the Author of those Queries doth hold forth which in many places doth so sadly spread and for the establishing of the weak that are ready to stagger so desiring the Lord in his power and presence to own it I shall say no more as to the matter nor end but commend you to God and the Word of his grace I remain Your poor Brother in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospel P. Hobson From Sagerstonehugh the 9th day of the 12th Moneth 1654. To the Reader COurteous Reader I am sensible the Devil never wants cunning inventions to court men to the imbracement of evil and wants no ability to mannage his wiles to take mens hearts off from owning good and I am sensible that he needs go no further to incense thee against this matter than his using Arguments from the former miscarriages and present insufficiency of the Author But it is the desire of my Soul to the Lord that though I have formerly stumbled and not stood steadfast in the truth yet my unsuitableness may not stave you off from a serious consideration of the matter that is here exprest I must confess that I am not apt to think it may do so because the same temptations have been in mee by which I had been almost taken off from ever appearing publickly bearing my Testimony for truth having been for a long time such a cloud to truth yet being as you will see by the insuing matter so providentially put upon it and besides seing that great necessity for it this opinion of free will with the rest therein exprest do increase so much in these Northern parts and it comes with such a face of rationality that many poor precious hearts who are weak in the faith are apt to stumble and in an especiall manner some about Hull where I was an eye and eare witness not long since of the sad disaster that is befaln the Church of Christ there upon that account therefore in tenderness of Love to them and answering the Desires of the People with whom I walk and for the prevention of this opinion spreading further here I could not but break over the difficulties I mean the sence of my own insufficiency and the great objections that will endeavour to be made by men opposite to the truth against the matter from the insufficiency of the Author but I trust the Lord or at least I desire it that he will give you a heart to look above the instrument to him who is the Author and fountain of truth it self considering that it is not the excellency of means but the truth of the matter that we are to mind it was I Cor. 27.28 and still is Gods way to manifest truth by weak and contemptible means that so truth may be entertained upon its own naked account sure I am we have too long imbraced truth upon confidence of the instrument or Author not Saint-like examining the matter or else concluding our judgment upon all when we have seen or read but part all which I desire thee to avoid in reading this small Treatise which though the dress is such that will not court mens fancies it was not for that end intended but that truth may be entertained in thy affections that it may appear to be so both in you and me it is ihe desire of my Soul that we may live in the power life and spirit of Truth and so be sure we can bear a Testimony in our lives to what our words or lines do discover lest we be found in the day of the Lord too
light which day is a coming and will not tarry And even Sion it self cannot be a shelter to cover Hypocrites but in the day of the Lord their fear will be fearfull Isai 33.14 A virgins state with light in our Lamps without oyle in our vessels will not make way for entainment in that day Mat. 25.11 12. neither will preaching nor prophesying Mat. 7.22 23. neither will our being calld by the name of Israel nor passing through the waters of Judah nor swearing by the name of the Lord nor calling our selves of the holy City Isai 48.1 2. do it without a real oneness with Christ which is alwayes accompaned with soundness of principle and suitableness in practice not in bare words and formes but in power and life in each performance that it may be thus with you and me it is and shall be the earnest prayer of him that is Courteous Reader one that desires to appear before men as to approve himself to the Lord and be found saithfull at his coming P.H. To all that love the Lord in sincerity and are called according to his purpose BEloved it is wonderfull to consider how far Antichrist hath darkned the Glorious and pure truthes of Jesus Christ with his vails vizards and covers so that it is hard to find out their face or form as also to restore any one truth to its primitive institution and being though God is pleased many times by an eminent hand to bring truth to light notwithstanding these false covers which do yet lye upon it as to many though much discovered by others yet when I consider where the cause of all this is not in the truth it self but in mens blindness and darkness in their understanding of it and which is yet worse it being like so to remain till the glorious Gospel of Christ shall take hold of them therefore the consideration of this should stay our spirits when we see such contendings oppositions and carnal reasonings against the clear and pure truth of God in the Scriptures and now seeing our dear Brother the Author of this Treatise hath endeavoured to bring forth his Talent in the behalf of truth in answer to those Queries wherein I judg that God hath in a good measure inabled him to give a clear answer to the satisfiing and confirming of them who are or have been apt to scruple or stagger at the truth which is here affirmed by him and owned by the Saints I judg that this light of of his should not be put under a Bushell but he brought forth to publick view so that if there be in it that which may give satisfaction to one it may be usefull the rather when I consider what necessity there is of it in other places where the words of such kinde of persons are like the words of Hymeneus and Philetus which will eat as doth a Cancer this is the ground of his so appearing in a publick way yet what room and entertainment it may have or meet withall among the sons of men I know not because we know that wisdome is onely justified of her children if it be so among wisdomes children it doth accomplish wisdoms end and therein we have ours Possibly it may meet with reproches and scorns either in respect of its dress and habit it appears in which was minded to the Author but could not well be avoyded it being the onely suitable way to him to make out his mind in namely Syllogisms and the rather because Haggers book which he answers runs in the same strain or in relation to the Author against whom some may be ready to cavil and so slight and undervalue the truth possibly conceiving him to have been formerly dead if not twice dead as to such appearances yet not pluckt up by the roots I know it may seem strange to many that he should now appeare in the house of God the strangeness of which hath been beheld as much by me as by any and wee have been ready to wonder at the admirable rich grace patience and long-suffering of God towards him who formerly walked in notions and pretences of spirituality though in wantonness against Christ Were it not that the Lord is mercifull because he delighteth to be mercifull we had not known how or where to have centered our judgments and understandings concerning him in that condition yet knowing there is no difference where God makes none I cannot but be satisfied the rather I being an eye witness of the Authors great alteration and change not onely in reference to a gratious frame of heart and a close walking with God daily but also in respect of those his many principles as to notions which were imbraced by him and I fear too much by many now to the turning of their minds aside from the simplicity of the Gospel and the truth as it is in Iesus if the truth here affirmed shall take place in any hearts to the securing of their judgments and keeping their consciences free from error and pollution we wish the Lord may have the praise and we shall have cause therein to reioyce Friends I judg that now things will no longer go upon trust as formerly the truthes of God have too much gone upon the leggs of humane testimony now therefore it is our desire it may go upon tryal Gold loseth nothing by its tryal but its nature is discovered more excellent to the Law and to the testimony there must be a day of fining and trying Gold must appear to be Gold and Dross to be Dross it will no longer pass for current with god though it doth with men therefore it behoveth all the people of God to have their loynes girt about with truth this is all at present I shall say either in behalf of the Author or matter or persons to whom it is to be tendered and so shall desire daily to pray for your furtherance in the Gospel labouring while I am in this tabernacle on this side glory to approve my self in the sight of God Your unworthy yet faithfull Companion through grace in Gospel-service Tho Gower DEar Friend I received fourteen Queries from you destring my judgment about the Death of CHRIST the ability of the Creature and the Justice of God relating to the Condemnation of the Creature c. and with them ten Absurdities which you are pleased to annex to the Queries but as for the Absurdities I shall leave them till seasonably I may answer them and come to shew you the fallacy of them onely one or two things first as to them minde First to draw Absurdities from the cross Answer of your Queries before your Queries are answered is but a fallacy Secondly the drawing Absurdities from the Answer of your Queries or what you judg will be the Answer doth shew that you do not propound Queries to be informed because you conclude your Answer before you propound them or elseyour Absurdities be but the fruit of fancy the truth of which will
wherein there is a cessation from that fiery appearance of God and they are now under the tender of life and salvation by JESUS CHRIST according to these Scriptures Matth. 13.38 chap. 24.14 chap. 26.13 Mark 10. ch 14.9 chap. 16.15 Rom. 10.18 Col. 1.6 And this is to be done for the gathering out the chosen of God from the world till CHRIST hath brought his Enemies under his feet and then resign up the Kingdom to his Father and God become all in all 1 Cor. 15. 24 25. Besides the Scriptures which I have brought which are sufficient to prove what I affirmed yet for your further satisfaction minde my Reasons to prove that every one hath the benefit of Christ's Death in those two things before exprest The first Particular First Reason that which was included in the curse must needs be in the immediate execution prevented by CHRIST But the immediate execution of a temporal death must needs be included in the curse therefore The Major is not questionable the Minor Proposition is proved by this Reason Reason That which was a fruit of sin must be comprehended in the curse but a natural death is a fruit of sin therefore The Major Proposition none will deny the Minor is proved from these Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.21 56. 2 Kings 14.6 2 Chron. 25.4 Job 24.19 Rom. 6.23 ch 8.10 Besides these Scriptures I prove the Minor Proposition thus Reason If any thing that is a part of a temporal death be a fruit of sin then is the whole but afflictions and pains in men and women which is a part of a temporal death is a fruit of sin therefore None can deny the Major the Minor is proved from these Scriptures Gen. 3.16 1 Kings 8.33 35. Psal 38.3 Jer. 8.14 Isai 3.10 Jer. 50.7 Now as the freedom from any thing of this temporal misery is a fruit of CHRIST so what comes instead of that as the enjoyment of life with other mercies of this world with the Sun shining and the Rain falling upon the just and unjust must needs be a fruit of CHRIST which extends to all Matth. 5.45 Eccles 9.2 Psalm 145.9 36.6 Now my Reasons to prove this second thing to wit that all men are by CHRIST brought under the authority and power of CHRIST and discoveries of Life by him are these Reason First that which the Scriptures declares to be a truth we must believe but that all men in that state are under the power and authority of CHRIST and discoveries of Life by him the Scriptures declare therefore a Truth The Major Proposition none can deny the Minor is proved from these Scriptures Matth. 28.18 John 17.2 Mark 2.10 Luke 5.24 Ephes 1.19 Secondly if mens sins be aggravated by the abuse of the mercies they enjoy in being under the authority and discoveries of CHRIST then to be under the authority and discoveries of CHRIST must needs be a benefit but mens sins are aggravated by their abusing of mercies that they enjoy under the authority and discoveries of CHRIST therefore The Major is proved by this Reason Reason Sin is never aggravated but either by the extent of a Law or discoveries of Love and if sin be aggravated as before exprest then it must be either by the extent of the Law or discoveries of mercy and if either it discovers the truth of the Major to wit that they are under the authority and discoveries of Christ by whom now all Law and Love is handed out to poor creatures they being all under his power the Minor Proposition is proved from these Scriptures John 15.22 24. Matth. 11.21 22 23. I shall say no more as to the business concerning the extent of Christs Death to every man but shall now speak to the second part of my Affirmation to wit that CHRIST did not die for all alike now that I may not speak to maintain that corrupt way of mens exercising wit to conquer one another but shall desire in the fear of the Lord and the love of his truth to speak to inform you about the difference relating to you and others about the Death of Christ and to maintain my Affirmation to wit that CHRIST died not for all alike Now judging that these Proposals following will help forward that work I shall in this part of my Affirmation propound them and speak to them which are as followeth First that there is a people that God hath chosen and elected in his Son before the world was Secondly that he had a special design for the advancement of his grace and love to carry on by CHRIST for them and them onely Thirdly that this great design of CHRIST for them was and must be accomplished Fourthly that this great design of God in CHRIST for them and onely them was satisfaction for all sin and the purchase of salvation and everlasting life by him Fifthly that faith which is required of all them that enjoy him is not a cause but an effect of the fore-mentioned privilege Sixthly that the publishing or declaring the fore-mentioned privileges which is the Gospel is Gods way or means to effect or produce faith or other Gospel-obedience in the heart of his own Seventhly that that faith which is produced in obedience to truth by the discoveries of the Gospel of Christ is not the bringing up of some thing that is in men before conversion But it is a peculiar work of God which nature in the highest improvement is not capable of till conversion or the new work of grace be wrought which work is Gods not upon a common but a special and Gospel account wrought by him Eighthly that it is Gods minde and way and a necessity it must be so for the advancement of his Grace and the accomplishing begetting of faith in the hearts of his own that this Gospel is to be presented or discovered to all without any exemption as to the declaration of it self Now I shall speak to these eigth particulars orderly which when I have done then that part of my affirmation will appear to be true to wit that Christ dyed not for all alike First to the first which is that there is a people that God hath chosen and elected in his Son before the world was the proof of which I shall make good so clearly from Scripture and by the truth of such reasons by Scripture that I hope through the Grace of God it may be a means to inform you the first scripture is the 2. of Timo. 1.9 where the Apostle declares this truth who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began I need not paraphrase upon the expressions they are without all controversie that truth that God will owne which is that saving and election was determined by God for his people before they were called or did any works suitable to the worth of that mercy The
saith in his Book he declares a cause in all the seven things yet he shews you no cause why God should love us Now election or chusing is so considered in the singularity of his love and doth so live in the bowels of it that there is no more cause for the one than there is for the other and he requires nothing without himself to beget or maintain that in himself for us And now the thing I would have you consider followeth Thirdly consider what we minde by election it consisteth in Gods foreknowledg wherein he was pleased from all eternity in the riches of his grace and love to pitch upon and make choice of some in a peculiar sense to be vessels of glory whom he elected in the election of his Son who was the publick person comprehending the whole and this prerogative of God and privilege to us is not to be decyphered or discovered like as other privileges are for the death of Christ and our faith in Christ these have the time of their rise reign and perfection but for the other privilege it is done in God and with God without relation to any thing without himself it onely depends upon the prerogative of his will and his good pleasure according to these Scriptures Rom. 9.16 18 21 22. Matth. 11.16 Luke 10.21 Therefore when we speak of causes we must make a distinction between what is done by God out of God and what is done by God in God and whatsoever is done in the last sense hath no rise but himself and his own pleasure and if you give not God this you must deny his Prerogative and prove that he may not do with his own what seems good unto him which is contrary to these Scriptures Matth. 20.15 Exod. 33.19 Rom. 9.15 16 18 20 23. Now besides what hath been already said to prove that faith is but an effect and not the cause of election minde these Reasons First if election be before men have faith then faith cannot be a cause but it must be an effect but election is before we have faith Ergo. The Major is not to be questioned The Minor which is that election is before faith is proved from these Scriptures Acts 13.48 1 Tim. 1.9 Ephes 1.4 5. Reason 2. God is the first cause of causes and whatsoever doth take its rise or is immediate from him hath no other cause the truth of that you will see from the Scriptures before mentioned therefore faith must needs be an effect But besides all the Scriptures and Reasons I have brought Do but consider that election is not capable of being caused by any causes out of God for we are elected in the election of Christ and Christ did not merit his own election for his Death is not the cause of election though it be the meritorious cause and Gods great way to accomplish life and salvation If so be that faith is a cause of our election then election is subject to a cause and if in the lesser then in the greater but we know that in the greater which is the election of CHRIST in which general all particulars are comprehended it is not caused nor depends upon no condition or causes out of God but immediately flows from him and all other works and acts of grace and mercy done by God in CHRIST for us or by God in us towards CHRIST are the fruits of this fountain I mean Gods love in which Gods owning or chusing is so involved in it as it is one with it and both arise from one and the same fountain which is his own will and pleasure Now there being some that make Objections against this truth which peradventure may be the cause of your stumbling I shall in faithfulness to CHRIST and love to your soul mention some of them and give my answer to them First some there are as Henry Hagar in particular that do acknowledg this truth from these places of Scripture Ephes 1.4 where it is said that God hath chosen us in Christ before the world was And also the same in 1 Pet. 1 2. 2 Thess 2.13 Now though they acknowledg these words yet they endeavour to evade or turn the meaning another way by giving this answer from Rom. 4.17 where it is said that God declared unto Abraham that he hath made him the father of many Nations And in Rev. 13.8 CHRIST is said to be a Lamb slain from the beginning of the world Now from thence they reason thus The Apostle in Rom. 4.17 declaring the promise of God to Abraham saith that God calls those things that are not as though they were for saith he Abraham at that time was not the father of Isaâ—â— in whom the Nations should be blest and yet God saith I have made thee the father of many Nations but saith he It was not so for the Apostle doth declare it saying he calls things that are not as though they were and so CHRIST is said to be a Lamb slain from the beginning of the world though he was not slain many thousand years after So saith he are we to understand election for the Scripture saith that he did chuse and elect us before the world was yet it was not so onely God calls things that were not as if they were therefore men saith he are not elected till they are called Now dear friend in the fear of the Lord as you tender the information of your own soul seriously consider what an evasion here is without any way in truth discovering what the Apostle intends in these expressions for without controversie when God said I have made thee a father of many Nations he spake truth without any such evasion as our carnal wits will prompt us to believe But that I may give an Answer to this Objection judging that if that cover were removed the truth would lie naked I desire you to minde in Answer to it these Particulars First in every action there is these three things to be considered 1. The life or virtue of the Act. 2. The fruit of the Act. 3. The form of the Act. The life of the Act is that which produceth the form the fruit of the Act lives in the life and is spoke out or brought forth by the form had not this bin so the sin of Adam could never have brought a curse upon his posterity for the life of his act was in unity in all that were comprehended in his person and the evil fruit of his act took place upon all in that sense when it took place upon him but the manifestation or execution of this took place successively as Creatures were brought forth and so it appears the form of the act was to be made manifest according unto the succession or appearance of forms in Creatures but the life of the act from whence the denomination of the act comes was really acted and executed in Adam so in the promises of God to Abraham you are to look upon the life
sophistry and no Reason and not becoming a Saint to meddle with Objection 3. No men can be elected in CHRIST till they be in CHRIST but no men are in CHRIST till they believe or trust in CHRIST for the elect Ephesians were once out of CHRIST chap. 2.11 12. Answer Men are said to be truly and really in CHRIST two ways First by election and so we are all in CHRIST he being the publick person in whom all elections were comprehended and all the elect are really in him before they are brought forth as every man is in Adam before they are born this last affirmation they themselves do grant and so they must the other if they do but truly view the minde of God in his Word and not draw Reasons from bare Expressions without discovering the true intention now if they could prove that no man in no sense is in CHRIST till he doth believe then they say something or else their Argument is of no force for we are one with them in their second being in CHRIST which is when we are called and in that sense even the elect of God till they are converted they are without God and without hope and by nature the children of wrath as well as others Ephes 2.3 But before ever they are brought home to CHRIST in the second sense they were in CHRIST in the first sense or else CHRIST would not have said John 10.16 Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them will I bring in so that they did belong to CHRIST as his particular Sheep before he brought them in and that there is such a property and unity before conversion you will see if you seriously minde these Scriptures John 10.16 Acts 18.10 2 Tim. 1.9 Ephes 1.3 Now there is an outward being in CHRIST which is onely the outward profession of CHRIST that men may be in and fall according to these Scriptures John 15.2 6. 1 John 2.10 1 Tim. 1.19 20. But I shall not speak to that They have some other Objections about trusting in CHRIST and believing in CHRIST but we have said enough to that already shewing that faith and all other obedience is not a cause of but flows from that privilege according to these Scriptures Acts 13.43 Joh. 15.16 1 Joh. 4.19 There are some other Objections that do arise from some other mistakes of Scripture which I shall take an occasion to speak something to in my declaring the third thing I promised you to wit your mistakes which are the cause of your stumbling The sixth thing which is that the publishing of the fore-mentioned privilege which is the Gospel is Gods way or means to effect or produce faith or other Gospel obedience in the hearts of his own as to this there being but little difference between you and I and the speaking much to it will not upon that account add much to the deciding the controversie between you and others therefore I shall onely set down the Scriptures to prove it and so leave it 1 Cor. 4.15 Rom. 10.17 2 Thess 2.13 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 4.6 Gal. 3.2 I shall say no more to this but come to the seventh Particular Seventhly that faith which is produced in obedience to truth by the discoveries of the Gospel of CHRIST is not the bringing up of something that is in men before conversion but it is a peculiar work of God which Nature in the highest improvement is not capable of till conversion or the new work of grace be wrought which is Gods not upon a common but a special and Gospel account wrought by him Now dear Friend before I speak to this particular give me leave to speak two or three words to you relating to some things that do very much trouble me in relation to the abuse of this truth for there are two truths miserably abused even by them that do profess the Lord the one is that all the power we have to act or do things in a Gospel sense is produced alone by the power and Spirit of God not upon a common but a special account The second is that the best of Saints while they live here have sin now these truths are abused thus exhort those that profess the Lord to exactness in duty or reprove them for any neglect in duty presently this is replied We can do no more than we have power which is a truth in its sense but it is sadly applied for when God hath begun to work grace in us the way to increase in strength is to improve what we have by carefull watching and waiting hourly and daily before the Lord and they that do so wait and walk have experience that God will not be wanting to increase strength according to these Scriptures Isai 40.31 John 7.17 chap. 15. the later end 4. v. Isai 64.5 Psalm 9.10 Matth. 13.12 Luke 8.18 And the truth is were this practized there would not be such sad unsaintlike walkings as now appear to be among them that profess the Lord both in their pride fashiâ—ning themselves after the world covetousness frothy language wanton carriages and other unsaintlike practices that it is a hard thing to know a saint from a sinner in his daily practice and conversation unless you finde them in particular acts of worship which is that which doth sadly wound the Name of God and the glory of CHRIST among men I do not speak this for to accuse others onely but withall to bear witness against my self for my former unsuitable walkings wherein my daily watchings and waitings and exact conforming and improving faith was not kept alive and therefore I died but blessed be the Lord who hath discovered the truth of this to my soul Now they abuse the second truth thus come to some Professors and tell them of their pride fashions of the world covetousness passion or courtly complements frothy language manifesting that these things are unbecoming â—aints and inconsistent with a growing heart this presently is replied Every one hath sin Paul and the rest of the Apostles the very best of Saints had sin and so I confess have I this they answer and peradventure they will say they groan under it which is a perfect deceit for though there is sin in the people of God yet there is a daily growth and getting ground of it by improving faith in the bloud of CHRIST and by exact waiting and watching by which the sin of the heart or corruption of the will and the minde is kept under and there is not an allowance of any one sin where Christ is in truth And therefore those that do shelter themselves under truth in this sense and do not daily grow and get power against sin let them know this from a heart that knows it from wofull experience that they onely live in notions not in the power and spirit of truth to be 〈◊〉 witness of the truth of the now birth or work of grace which God hath wrought in them that
are his Now having discovered what troubles me and what makes me so unwilling to mention these truths but with discovering also wherein men do abuse them I shall now say no more but come to the proof of this seventh Particular and for the proof of that minde these Particulars 1. The whole Testimony of Scripture 2. The nature of the Work 3. The Titles that are given by God and Christ to the Work 4. The nature of every Creature before this is wrought Which four things will sufficiently prove that this work of faith is not gained by improving nature before conversion or a work before conversion that nature is capable of but is singly the work of God not in a general sense as a works ate but in a peculiar and a Gospel sense First the Testimony of Scripture to make good this truth is very full and clear see 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned Which fully declares that the receiving or entertaining through faith the truths of the Spirit of God is a work which nature or natural men before conversion are not capable of it nor able to perform it but it is a special work of the Spirit of God John 3.3 5. Verily except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And in v. 5. he saith Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Where you see the 2. special employments of faith to wit 1. The seeing or viewing the glory of Gods Kingdom 2. The entering of the Kingdom Both which are to be done through faith CHRIST doth here affirm it is a work impossible for a natural man to do or any thing in nature to perform before conversion or the new birth which appears in Paul Phil. 3.6 which work is singularly Gods by his Spirit according to his own good will and pleasure which CHRIST affirms in vers 8. of the said Chapter Jer. 31.18 19. Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after I was turned I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh and I was ashamed Ephraim's experience doth testifie this that repentance smiting and being ashamed followeth turning and that turning and instructing in this Gospel sense in the act of conversion is Gods singular work Jer. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil The comparison declares that it is impossible for unconverted man that lives in sin to do good as good that is to say to do any Gospel work Besides these testimonies which are sufficient I desire you further to minde these Scriptures Phil. 2.13 For it is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure So it is singular Gods work produced by his good pleasure Suitable to that is Prov. 16. 1. Jer. 10.23 Lam. 5.21 Now as for the second which is what the nature of the work is before I speak of the nature of faith give me leave to speak a word or two of the new birth or conversion which of necessity must be wrought before any work or employment of faith can appear and the truth is my dear Friend if we cannot witness the new birth we are not in a capacity to inform one another of the things of God for till then we are but natural and not fit for such an employment 1 Cor. 2.14 Now this work of conversion and new birth I shall present it to you thus it is by the glorious and powerfull appearance or discovery of the glory of God in CHRIST which doth so seize upon the soul and convincingly conquers the soul that the soul in the discoveries of that light is so killed and made silent and confounded in the sense of his own unsuitableness to God and undonness without CHRIST that the heart is presently made to loath and abominate it self and whatsoever was wrought or done before CHRIST came and is so restlesly carried out for CHRIST that the soul cannot rest till it doth enjoy him that is till he can see a propriety in him or enjoy him as his own which is alone done through believing Now faith is a supernatural light and life set up in the soul by Gods causing the creature to assent to and close with the authority of Gods truth and tenders â—n CHRIST upon which direct act reflection followeth which is the applying of CHRIST as his own from the truth of Gods tender which is from his peculiar love which love the heart is made sensible of in that appearance Now dear Friend do but consider this small description of the work of conversion and faith and see if any thing in nature before the new birth is wrought is capable of or able to perform such a work do but pick out some Particulars of it as 1. This appearance of God doth and will kill make silent and confound or conquer whatsoever is in the soul before Christ comes Jer. 31.18 19. Rom. 7.9 Zach. 2.13 Acts 2.37 2. The creature is so overcome with a sight of this light that he can no longer love but loath himself Job 50.3 4 5. chap. 42.5 6. Isai 5.6 Phil. 3.8 3. It is made able to go out of it self and give way for and assent to the authority and truth of Gods tenders John 3.33 chap. â—2 38 Rom. 4.18 19 20.2 Thess 1.10 4. It can finde no rest in its self nor whatsoever self did before or can do but soly waits upon and attends the authority of this discovery Acts 2.37 ch 16.30 Cant. 5.6 8. Psalm 63.1 Matth. 11.12 5. It 's made able to apply that is to say to own a propriety and to bring home that to its self as its own which is as high as Heaven and far above what nature can either reach or attain unto according to these Scriptures Heb. 11. 1 8 10 13. John 8.56 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Now I beseech you consider what hath been said and you will see that the nature of this truth as we faid before is too high for any improvement of nature to attain to before the new birth Thirdly consider the Titles that are given by God and CHRIST to the work I mean to the work of Regeneration in which faith is comprehended or included it is called a new birth John 3.3 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see or he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Now dear Friend consider what it is to be born and minde that a spiritual birth transcends a natural if you can truly witness this you will see and must acknowledg this truth 1. That it is impossible by any improvement of Nature to be performed before the work of grace is wrought 2. It is called spiritual 1 Cor. 2.14 Now
which design is directly opposed and endeavouring to be destroyed by your opinion Now your holding Election of qualities and not of persons cannot heal the lameness of your opinion nor any way maintain this great design of God for if Salvation and Damnation be carried on upon any other account relating to the creatures doing or not doing then Gods glory in his grace is not exalted but denied for if of works then of debt according to these Scriptures Rom. 4.4 Galat. 5.4 Ephes 2.8 9. And if by debt then we have wherewithall to boast and if God who might justly have condemned all doth not by his free gift and pleasure save some then the singularity of his love in the vessels of grace is denied and then for the advancement of his power and justice in the vessels of wrath according to Rom. 9.18 19 20 21 22 23 is soly overthrown and the prerogative of his will and pleasure absolutely denied the sadness of this Absurdity will look grim upon your face in the day of the Lord. 7. Your opinion is so inconsistent to truth that it destroys it self for if CHRIST died for all alike then he must needs satisfie for all the sins of all Now that he hath satisfied for all the sins of the Elect I have fully proved and if for all in that sense then all must be saved or else infidelity is not a sin for if it be a sin and Christ hath satisfied for all sin and died for all alike as you affirm then infidelity cannot destroy or else you must hold he died not for that sin then not for all sin That you may further see how absurd this Absurdity you are guilty of is I shall prove to you these things 1. That Infidelity is a sin 2. That it is a sin Christ died for First that it is a sin that is clear from these Scriptures John 16.9 Besides these Scriptures minde this Reason that which crosses the command of God must be a sin but Infidelity crosses the command of God therefore The Major is proved from this Scripture 1 John 3.4 where the Apostle saith Sin is the transgression of the Law The Minor is proved from these Scriptures 1 John 3.23 Mark 5.36 John 1.14 The conclusion followeth Reason 2. That which is to be confessed and bemoaned to CHRIST as a sin that is a sin but infidelity or weakness of faith is and was bemoaned to CHRIST as a sin Therefore The Major none will deny The Minor is proved from this Scripture Mark 9.24 That which gives God the Lie must be a sin but infidelity gives God the Lie the Major is not questionable the Minor is proved from 1 John 5.10 The next thing 〈◊〉 that Christ died for this sin and that I prove thus 1. If Christ died for all sin then he must die for this this being amongst the rest but Christ died for all sin and that is clear from these Scriptures 1 John 1.7 Heb. 10.14 Isai 53.5 Rev. 1.15 2. If men finde mercy for this sin then it must needs be that Christ died for this sin but men finde mercy for this sin according to these Scriptures Rom. 11.32 1 Tim. 1.13 Then Christ must needs die for it for mercy is given out by God through Christ and what is given through Christ is given as Remission by his bloud for without bloud there is no Remission Heb. 9.22 Lastly if infidelity is a sin that the Elect of God are subject to then Christ must needs die for it and that infidelity is a sin that the Elect of God are subject to is clear from these Scriptures Matth. 17.20 Mark 16.14 Now dear Friend in the fear of the Lord consider how inconsistent with truth your opinion is that holds that CHRIST died for all alike and yet all shall not be saved one of these things must of necessity fall upon your opinion 1. That Christ died not for all sins 2. That Infidelity is not a sin 3. That God doth condemn creatures for that sin which he receives satisfaction by Christ for All or any of which is sad to aver but one or all of them you must own and therefore in the fear of the Lord search the Scriptures and beg of God to give you light that your poor soul may not be deceived nor God so sadly dishonoured or abused by bringing him and his eminent acts of love and grace power and justice under the control of your low reason for the prevention of which it shall be the daily prayer of him who in sincerity can say he is a real lover of your soul P. Hobson FINIS