finally fall away from Grace Argument 1. The first Argument is taken from God the Father If the Love of the Father to his Chosen Ones be a Love unchangeable then his chosen Ones cannot totally and finally fail away But the Antecedent is true John 16.27 13.1 Jer. 31.3 Jam. 1.17 John 10.29 Neither the Force nor Fraud of Hell can prevail against the Father's Electing Love which runs parallel with the longest Line of Eternity therefore the Consequence must be true also This is further illustrated God is Love 1 John 4.8 Then Everlasting Love must needs flow from an Everliving God Hence Paul having spoken of some Apostates fallen away comforts the weak Minds of Believers saying that their Standing is firm because 〈◊〉 Election 2 Tim. 2.21 this he compares to 〈◊〉 Foundation and to a Seal two Things of greateâ—… Validity and Security they stand as upon 〈◊〉 stable Rock and Mountain of Brass so cannot totally and finally fall for the Father is not inconstant in his Love to love to Day and hate to Morrow Argument 2. The Second Argument is taken from God the Son in his Redeeming Love as from God the Father in his Electing Love which is Unalterable also for thereby all the Members of Christ Agglutinantur are glewed into Christ their Head 1 Cor. 6.17 and None â—an pluck them out of Christ's hands John 10.28 they shall never perish No Principalities nor Powers c. shall be able to separate them from the Love â—f God in Christ Rom. 8.38 And the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against it Mat. 16.18 If one Member may be broke off from Christ then all may be one having no more Priviledge than â—nother in respect of their State and Standing â—o Christ may be supposed upon this Hypothesis to be an Head without a Body or any Members and Christ also might have dyed in â—ain both which are grosly absurd Besides â—he Certainty of this Redemption appears furâ—her Inasmuch as Christ 1 st purchas'd Perseverance for his if he purchas'd for them all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1.3 then this great Blessing of Perseverance and Christ will not lose one of his purchas'd Inheritance the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.9 2 dly He pray'd for it Luke 22.32 that Peter's Faith should not fail and that all his Disciples should be kept from Evil John 17.15 yea and all Believers ver 20. and what Christ prays for he is always heard therein Joh. 11.41,42 3 dly Christ promises it John 6.37 That he will in no wise cast Believers out after they come in unto him Mat. 16.18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 2 Sam. 7.14,15 He will not utterly withdraw his Mercy from them under their severest Correction Psal 89.31 but his Faithfulness shall not fail towards them Isa 54.8,10 4 thly He performs it also to all those that the Father hath given him John 17.12 and loses not one of them John 6.39 13.1 1 Cor. 1.8 Eph. 5.23 He is a Saviour to all Parts of the Body Saints are in Christ's hands Rev. 1.16 and 't is as easie to pluck a Star out of Heaven as to pluck a Saint out of Christ's Hands John 10.28 Jude 1. 1 Tim. 1.12 1 Pet. 1.5 Argument 3. The Third Argument is taken from God the Holy Ghost in his Sanctification Love If the Operation of the Spirit on the Hearts of Believers be a sure and certain Operation then true Believers cannot totally and finally fall away But the Antecedent is true Ergo The Consequent The Truth of the Antecedent appears in that the Spirit 's Operation is compared in Scripture First To an Earnest Secondly To a Seal Thirdly To a Witness First To an Earnest 2 Cor. 5.5 'T is the Earnest Penny of our Salvation not the Pawn or Pledge which is to be return'd again Pignus redditur Arrha retinetur Jerom. The Earnest part of the Bargain and the first Fruits of Heaven which we have here In Pretio Promissis et in Primicijs Now the Earnest would quite be lost if the Bargain of Salvation stand not and he that hath the Earnest be not saved and if such a One be damn'd he carries the Earnest of the Spirit along with him into Hell which must needs be absurd Secondly To a Seal Assurance is God's Seal as Faith is our Seal John 3.33 Eph. 1.13 4.30 They first believed and then were sealed i. e. fully assured God honours our sealing to his Truth by his sealing with his Spirit as the Earnest makes the Bargain so the Seal ratifies and confirms it and the Broad Seal of Heaven must needs be more unalterable than that of the Medes and Persians Thirdly To a Witness 1 John 5.10 and such a Witness as cannot be excepted against The Spirit of Truth and this Witness abides for ever in the Elect John 14.16 1 John 2.27 3.9 so call'd an Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 a Witness that cannot dye nor lye so that the Temple of the Holy Ghost cannot become an Habitation of Devils this would make Satan rejoyce and insult over God as if stronger than he could he dispossess him as he is oft dispossessed by him Luke 11.21,22 Argument 4. The Fourth Argument is taken from Spiritual Enemies If no Spiritual Enemy can prevail against a true Believer totally and sinally then a true Believer cannot totally and finally fall away But the Antecedent is true Ergo c. 1. Satan cannot make Believers fall so for that Wicked One cannot touch them tactu qualitativo with any of his deadly Touches 1 John 5.18 but God treads him under their feet Rom. 16.20 The Seed of the Serpent may nibble at the Heels of the Seed of the Woman but cannot mortally wound the Heart Gen. 3.15 Christ takes his Armour from him Luke 11.21 and destroys his Works Heb. 2.14 Christ in them the Hope of Glory is stronger than he that is in the World 1 John 4.4 2. Not the World for Christ gives them Faith to conquer the World 1 John 5.4 and Overcomes the World for them in himself John 16.33 and makes them Kings unto God viz. gives them a Royal Spirit to live above the Frowns and Flatteries of the World He makes them to be higher-Region-Men above all Storms Prov. 15.24 having the Moon the Emblem of the World and All things under their feet Psal 8.6,7,8 Rev. 12.1 3. Nor their fleshly Lusts which have not Dominion over those that are under Grace Rom. 6.14 The Army of the Spirit wars against them Cant. 6.13 Gal. 5.17 so that they cannot be as sinful as sometime they would and though a Troop overcome God sometimes coming about him like Bees as David's Phrase is yet Gad overcomes at last Gen. 49. 18. and they become More than Conquerors to wit Triumphers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over all their Enemies Rom. 8.35 2 Cor. 2.14 for no Created Power can prevail against them Rom. 8.38 Argument 5. The Fifth Argument is taken from the Nature of Saintship
Christopher Nelse aetatis suae 56 1678 Minnister of the Gospel in fleet street London AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST Arminianism OR A Succinct DISCOVRSE to Enervate and Confute all the five Points thereof to wit Predestination grounded upon Man's foreseen Works Universal Redemption Sufficient Grace in All. The Power of Man's Free-will in Conversion and The Possibility of True Saints falling away Totally and Finally All which are Demonstrated here to be Damnable Errours both by Scriptures and Reason c. All Undeniable and Uncontroulable Published for Publick Good By CHRISTOPHER NESS Author of the History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament and of many more Books c. In magnis voluisse sat est Difficilium facilis est Venia LONDON Printed by R. Tookey for Tho. Cockerill at the Bible and Three Leggs over against Grocers-Hall in the Poultrey 1700. THE PREFACE Candid READER OBserve these Few Considerations Altho this Enchiridion or Small Manual and Portable Pocket-Book be very little in it Self and Substance yet ought it not therefore to be despised For First We read how the Mighty Angel of the Covenant had a very little Book open in his Hand Rev. 10.2 The Greek Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a Threefold Diminutive as Liber Libellus and Libellunculus yet this little Book did contain in it the great Concerns of the Redeemers little little Flock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a double Diminutive as Christ calls them Luk. 12.32 The Bible it self is but a little Book in comparison of those vast Folio's of School-Doctors and Popish Decretals wherewith the World is pester'd c. and that little Book was not shut or sealed but it was open by the Lamb's Purchase 'T is the Work of Antichrist to keep it shut yea and it must also be eaten ver 10. that is it must go down and be Hid in our Hearts Psal 119.11 then the simplest Soul may have right Conceptions of it Deut. 30.11 Secondly This little Book hath cost me great Study and Labour to compose it that it might contain the very Cream and Quintessence of the best Authors upon this Subject Moreover It hath cost me likewise many Ardent Prayers to God and many Earnest Wrestlings with God that I might not be one of those that rebel against the Light Job 24.13 but that in His Light I might see Light Psal 36.9 and to have my Eyes anointed with Christ's Eye-salve Rev. 3.18 that I might see more clearly into these Profound Points which hath very much puzzled so much of the Christian World Insomuch that the Orthodox do complain in our Day only with a little Difference as blessed Athanasius did in his Day who then sigh'd out those sad Words Totus Mundus est Arrianus so 't is the sad sigh of our present Times that Totus Mundus est Arminianus Thirdly Lest this overflowing Deluge should bring Destruction upon us there is great need that some Servants of Christ should run to stop the farther spreading of this Plague and Leprosie Thus Moses God's Servant stood in the Gap and stopped the Destruction of Israel Psal 106.23 Numb 14.10,11,12 to 20. And at another Time this Moses who was quick-sighted by his great Familiarity with God did soon see that Wrath was gone out from the Lord against Israel then he commands Aaron to run and take a Censer and offer up an Atonement c. all which when Aaron had done the Plague was stayed Numb 16.46,47,48 And the Neglect of this Duty the Lord complains of that He found none of his Servants to stand in the Gap c. Ezek. 13.5 22.30 While I was considering those Things the Lord stirred up my Spirit to do as is done in Common Conflagrations when every one runs with the best Bucket he can get wherewith to quench the Devouring Flames and to stop them that they may not proceed to lay all waste before them Fourthly When I had compleated this short Compendium which I drew up many Years ago I shewed it to Dr. John Owen Mr. Nicholas Lockier and Mr. George Griffith Who all Unanimously approv'd of it and wrote an Epistle Commendatory to it subscribing it with all their Three Hands which is too large here to insert because I am confined to but four Pages for my Preface c. the Truth of the Premisses I do affirm as the Phrase is In Verbo Sacerdotis c. Fifthly and Lastly As a Little Map doth represent a Large Country at one View which will take up much Time to Travel over c. So this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Multum in Parvo read it seriously without Partiality and the Lord give you Understanding in all c. So prayeth Yours in the best Bonds Christo Ness Sept. 30. 1700. AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST Arminianism CHAP. I. Of Arminianism in General IT hath ever been the Lot of Truth like the Lord of it to be Crucified at least quoad conatum between Right-hand and Left-hand Thieves As Moral Vertue so Theological also is found betwixt Two Extreams 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expellunt Medium Extremi uterque ad alterum saith Aristotle Ethic. lib. 2. cap. 8. Agreeable unto which Thucidides hath a Saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those that be in the midst are slain or at least assaulted on both sides But Veritas aeterna et valebit There is as much beyond the Truth as on this side it as much of Vain Curiosity in out-running the flock of Christ and the Lamb that leads them which exposes Men to the Watchful and Wrathful Canaanites as there is of Affected Ignorance in Straggling and Loitering behind whereby they are in Danger to be cut off by Cursed Amalek Truth hath Evermore observ'd the Golden Mean and the Poet's Counsel is good here Medio tutissimus ibis to keep a Mediocrity and the Character of the Sons of Truth is Medium tenuere beati Truth 's Enemies on all hands are Various the Anti-scripturists make the Bible a Legend of Lies and Faith a Fable The Familists cry down Ordinances as a Burden too heavey for a Free-born Conscience and too low and carnal for a Seraphick Spirit The Socinians decry the Divinity of Christ and his Satisfaction as if his Sufferings were Exemplary only not Explatory The Atheists deride all and would lay waste Religion The Romanists do turn the True Worship of God into Will-worship and teach their own Traditions for the Commandments of God spoiling God's Institutions with Man's Inventions The Arminians not the least tho' here the last of Truth 's Adversaries do call the Justice of God to the Bar of Reason and dare confidently wade in the deep Ocean of Divine Mysteries and in stating the Decrees of God where Blessed Paul could find no bottom but found it Prosundum fine fundo and cry'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh! the Depth c. They dare undertake to fetch the Apostle off from his Non plus Rom. 9.14 saying God soresaw that Jacob would
God draws us fortiter strongly yet he doth it suaviter sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostom As we are drawn we have not a Freewill to Gond for then Adam had lost in his Understanding only and not in his Will Yet are we Voluntiers Psal 110.3 not that Christ finds us so but makes us so in the Day of his Power and when he speaks to us with a strong Hand as Isa 8.11 We are Naturally Haters of God and at Enmity with him Rom. 1.30 8.7 but Divine Grace doth Violence to the Corrupt Qualities of the Soul and puts the Will on moving when its Corruptions are removed the Spirit gives a New Power and then acts that Power to Good so draws as it were a Camel thro the Eye of a Needle Luke 18.25 a God-hater to love him this is more then a bare Perswasion to a Stone to be warm and to go out of its place for God takes away the Heart of Stone and gives an Heart of Flesh Ezek. 36.26 which cannot hang on a meer Entreaty Sccrater said He was but as a Midwife to his Schollars she helps forth the Birth already conceived so he drew forth that which was Naturally in them but this is a begetting us anew in Christ Jesus through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4.15 and Christ finds nothing that is Good in us Rom. 7.18 Quis trabitur saith Austin August cont 2 Ep. Pelag. lib. 1. c. 19. si iam volebat et tamen venit nisi qui velit c. Non ut Homines quod fieri non potest nolentes credant sed ut ex nolentibus volentes fiant God gives the very Power of Coming to Christ Man's Will is made pedissequa but not praevia attending Grace but not going before it Co-operando persuit Deus quod operando incepit Austin Grace is Dux Comes and the Will a Subordinate Agent under Grace and it being moved afterwards does move it self Argument 10. If the Soul of Man be passive in Effectual Vocation then there is in fallen Man no Free-will to good but the former is true Ergo the latter The Truth of the Antecedent appears The Spirit of Grace is compared to a precious Liquor that is infused and the called and chosen of God are stiled Vessels of Mercy now a Vessel is a Passive Receiver of this precious Liquor poured into it Zach. 12.10 Rom. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poured out and infused into God's Vessels Rom. 9.21,23 2 Tim. 2.20,21 The Will of Man in respect of this first Reception of Grace hath neither Concourse nor Co-operation active but is actuated to an Obediential Subjection and is made capable and apt to receive Impression as the Air is passive when it receives an Enlightning as Adam's Body was a passive Receiver of Life when God inspired it thereinto Gen. 2.17 Though it was formed and Organiz'd yet was it lifeless and breathless And as the Soul of Nebuchadnczzir when deprived of Reason receiv'd the Impression of the Agent God Almighty in causing his Reason to return to him again so in this Case Christ infuses Grace into us against our Wills and 't is an Hell to us to be brought from Hell though it be an Hell to us to stay after God hath open'd our Eyes and touch'd our Hears Corrupt Nature cannot contribute any thing to destroy it self in its own Corruptions We are without Ability in our selves to put forth any Causal Vertue in Order to such an Effect and accordingly we have no Power to resist the Impression and Effect which proceedeth from a super-natural Cause In the first Work the Will moveth not it self but is only moved by God The Will as a Creature must obey its Creator yet as a sinful deprayed Will it obeys not God willingly till made willing so 't is not a Collateral Agent The Water descends Naturally yet Ne detur vacuum it ascends Man's Will is the Untamed Heiser or Wild Asses Colt Christ the Rider tames it and brings it to his Yoke Nolie est a Carne vells a Spiritu Luther Argument 11. To deny Grace special Grace and gracious Dispensations is abominable but the Doctrine of Free will denies these for they say If a Man improves his Naturals God is bound to give him Spirituals what is this bat a turning Grace * Non est gratia ullo modo si non sit gratuita omni modo into Debt and a Symbolizing with the Jesuites Meritum de congruo if not condigno And to say That the Reason why one believes and another does not believe is from the Co-operation of the Free-will of him that believeth is quite to destroy special Grace peculiar to the Elect * Special Grace is irresistible for 't is not two of equal force but as Michael too hard for Satan so the stronger Man Christ too hard for the strong Man our own Will contrary to these Scriptures John 6.37,45 12.39,40 14.17,22 Rom. 8.14 1 Cor. 1.23,24 1 John 4.13 and many others Neither can there be if this Hypothefis be granted any gracious Dispensation either in Respect of Person Place Time or Means all which God freely makes choice of As 1. Of Person He quickens whom he will John 5.21 Rom. 9.18 Then Wise Men would be Evangeliz'd nor the Poor and Foolish for they have the best understandings to guide their Freewilts The Heart of one Sinner melts like Wax before the Fire and receives God's Seal while the Heart of another remains as unmovable as Marble and as the Rock that cannot be shaken this is the work of Gracious Dispensation 2. Of the Place No Child can choose the Place where to be begot or born in nor We for our Conversion The Spirit blows where it listeth John 3.8 3. Of the Time A Child cannot choose the Time of its Begetting or Birth no more than of the Place so nor We of our New Birth God may drop in Grace with Life and regenerate a Babe before it be brought forth Luke 1.15 and yet that Saying hold true Christiani non nascuntur sed fiunt and others may be cast into the Womb of the New Birth when dropping out of the World even at the Eleventh Hour of the Day as the Penitent Thief Oh! who can order the Ways of Grace and set Bounds to the Spirit of God in its Breathings on Man 4. And of Means Out of the mouths of Babes God ordains Strength Psal 8.2 The Iberians were converted by a Woman the likeliest Persons have not always Children a Child cannot choose its own Father nor We who shall beget us to God All these are special Dispensations of God's Good Will to Men and so depends not on the Free-will of Man Ergo Argument 12. The Twelsth Argument ab Incommodo That which brings along with it many Absurdities may not be received but the Doctrine of Free-will to Good doth so Man's Will is the Principium quod not the Principium quo that is Grace We must