wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered up his son Isaac Seest thou not how faith wrought with his works and by works was his faith made perfect Thirdly It serves to reprove those most sharply who after they have known the truth and walked therein having tasted the good word of God and found it sweet and pleasant to their souls and have had their hearts ravished with the powers and consolations of the world to come if they fall away and turn from the holy Commandment once delivered to them their latter end will be worse then their beginning And it had been better for them they had never known the way of truth for they chiefly shall be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. For in them is fulfilled the true proverb The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire vers 22. But it may be some will yet say All this is nothing to many thousands in the world that never hear of God nor Christ To which I answer with the words of Paul Rom. 10.18 But have they not heard yes verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world And again Act. 26.26 Paul saith He was perswaded that none of those things were hidden for it was not done in a corner And certain it is that the knowledge of God is manifest throughout the world For Psa 19. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy-work day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge And There is no language nor speech where their voice is not heard Obj. But it may be some will say But what knowledge is this Answ I answer with Paul Rom. 1.19 20. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Now if all know enough to leave them without excuse then the dispute is at an end Notwithstanding it is yet further remarkable That as we hear there is a people in the other parts of the world which worship Idols or the Sun Moon and Stars yea that worship the devil so also those people do as well hear that there is a people in this part of the world which worship God and Christ and do as familiarly call us Christians as we call them Heathens Again all that worship any thing for a God do by that acknowledge that there is a God and all that offer sacrifice to a God do by that confess there is a God offended or may be offended and is reconcilable by sacrifice and it is apparent that those which have not the Law are a Law to themselves as Paul saith Rom. 2.14 15. which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also hearing them witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another In the day when God shall judge the secrets of all men by Christ Jesus according to my Gospel saith Paul vers 16. And thus are all cavils of this nature easily answered and all men left without excuse Having thus briefly gone thorow Predestination and Election according to the foreknowledge of God I shall now speak a word or two about Christs death and the offer of grace by his death to the sons of men The main question is Whether Christ died for all or but for some To which I shall answer by the Scriptures shewing I. the testimony of all the Prophets 2. of the Angel of God 3. of Christ himself 4. of the holy Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1. The Prophet Isaiah chap. 53.4 5 6. saith thus Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisements of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have every one turned to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all Thus Isaiah sheweth plainly that the iniquities of all those that went astray were laid upon Christ And to him the testimony of all the other Prophets agreeth Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name who soever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins The same saith that great Prophet John Baptist John 1.7 who came to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe And again vers 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world Thus have all the Prophets with one consent testified that God laid upon Christ the iniquities of all that are gone astray that he was the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world that all men through him might believe and that through his name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins Likewise the Angel of God testifieth Luke 2.10 the same things in effect saying Fear not for I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people which was that there was born unto them that day in the City of David a Saviour which was Christ the Lord. By all which it still appeareth that Christ died for all men or else it could not be glad tidings of great joy to all people but rather sad tidings to all those for whom he died not if there were any such And now we come to the words of Christ himself who knew his own business better then any man else and therefore if his testimony agreeth with those that have gone before we must needs be convinced that it is a truth For which see John 3.14 15 16. in these words As Moses lifted up the serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life c. For God sent not his Son to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved Thus we see the words of Christ agree with the words of the Prophets therefore it must needs be owned for a truth that Christ died for all as aforesaid And now we will hear what the Apostles speak concerning this thing 2 Cor. 5.14 15. The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all once dead and that he died for all that they which live should not
wicked are an abomination to the Lord but it is because of works of righteousness that Christ himself hath wrought for us in his own person and doth work by us and in us by his Spirit when we are believers And though boasting in the works of the Law and boasting of works before believing be reproved yet Paul saith As the truth of Christ is in me no man shall stop me of that boasting 2 Cor. 11.10 and although be cryed down works before faith in so many places yet he preacheth up works after believing loud enough in these words Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou constantly affirm That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works for they are good and profitable c. and Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Thus we may see that although it be not for our workings without Christ that we are chosen or predestinated to life and glory yet it is by our workings with Christ when he by his Spirit dwelleth in our hearts by believing and is in us the hope of glory for then he worketh in us and our works are acceptable because he works them by us and we work them in him Therefore Paul saith We therefore as workers together with him beseech you c. Therefore if men would but open their eyes they might easily see what works the Apostle speaks of when he saith Election is not of works But of this more plainly anon Secondly I answer Although God saw Adam would fall yet he saw him a creature first or else he could not have foreseen he would fall when he was a creature therefore God is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14.33 and fore-seeth all things orderly and not confusedly So then I conclude that first he saw Adam created Secondly He saw him fallen and all his postery in his loynes Thirdly He saw Christ crucified for them Fourthly He foresaw the Gospel preached to all men in their generations Fifthly He foresaw all mens receiving or refusing believing or not believing obeying or disobeying his Gospel in their several generations as it was is or shall be communicated to the end of all ages in order at once And seeing as well then what men would do in their ages and generations to come as they do know themselves when their lives and actions are finished God could thereupon make up his Election and Reprobation chusing or electing obedient believers according to his foreknowledge to Life and Salvation and refusing and reprobating disobedient unbelievers to eternal death and damnation And thus is Election and Reprobation to be considered according to the sorekowledge of God in Christ or out of Christ from the foundation of the World according to the Scriptures Which if well considered it would put an end to all the confused and distracted thoughts in men about these things But it may be that some will yet object that I hold faith and obedience in us to be the cause of Gods electing or chusing us to life and glory Answ That faith in Christ and obedience to Christ is a cause without which God chuseth none to Life and Salvation I affirm because we never read that God chose any disobedient unbeliever to life and glory which lived and dyed so but that it is the cause for which he doth chuse any I shall utterly deny and shew the contrary in the Order of Causes thus Suppose I should affirm my obedience to be the cause of my Election to Salvation then what is the cause of my obedience Answ My love to Christ But what is the cause of my love to Christ Answ The preaching of the Gospel of Christ viz. that he died for my sins and rose again for my justification without which there could be no believers for take away Christ and take away faith and then believe who can But what is the cause of the preaching of the Gospel to us Answ Christs dying for us But what is the cause of Christs dying for us Answ Even Gods great love of pity wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.4 at that time he commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christs died for us Rom. 5.8 Thus all men may see that I do not hold that God chose any to Life and Salvation for any good in them before he put it in them as I shall now make appear more at large by the Scriptures considering the causes in order descending from God to us or ascending from us to God 1 Cause Gods love to the sons of men as they were sinners against him and enemies to him was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners for his enemies for the ungodly for the unjust as appeareth by these following Scriptures John 3.16 Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Pet. 3.18 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly And God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life For Christ also hath suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 2 Cause Christs dying for our sins and rising again from the dead is the cause of the Gospels being preached to sinners as appeareth by these Scriptures Mat. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. 1 Cor. 15.13 14. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is mine both in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations c. And again he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature c. But if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins c. 3 Cause The Gospels being preached to sinners is the cause of their believing as appeareth by these Scriptures Rom. 10.14 15 17. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent As it is written So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 4 Cause Mens believing is the cause of their justification from sin as appeareth by these Scriptures Act. 13.38 39. Rom. 3.26 28. chap. 4.3 23 24 25. Be it known unto you therefore that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins c. By him all that believe are
justified from all things c. To declare his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law For what saith the Scripture Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him for righteousness but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our sins and raised for our justification 5 Cause Our knowing our selves justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ according to these Scriptures Joh. 4.10 19. Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins Therefore we love him because he loved us first 6 Cause Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ according to these Scriptures 1 John 5.3 John 14.15 21 23. If ye love me keep my Commandments And he that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me And if any man love me he will keep my words For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 7 Cause Our obeying of Christ is the cause of his giving us eternal life as it is written Mark 16.16 Rev. 22.14 Heb. 5.9 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved And blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the City And Christ being made perfect through sufferings he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Thus are the causes of Gods Election and mans Salvation laid down in order so clearly that the meanest capacity may understand them which more briefly are thus 1. Gods love was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners 2. Christs dying for sinners and rising again for their justification is the cause of the Gospels preaching 3. The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing 4. Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin 5. The knowing our selves justified from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 7. Our obeying of Christ is the cause of his becoming the author of eternal Salvation to us and all them that obey him Now if we consider the causes in order from us to God it is as clear beginning at the last 7. Our obedience is the cause of our salvation 6. Our love is the cause of our obedience 5. The knowing of our selves justified from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to him 4. Our believing is the cause our justification 3. The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our faith 2. Christs death and resurrection is the cause of the Gospels preaching 1. Gods love is the cause of sending his Son to die for us Thus it appears that it is not for any works of righteousness that we have done but of his love and mercy he saved us by sending a Saviour Titus 3.4 5. From all which these following things are considerable and ought to be considered of all that desire to fear God a right 1. There was a necessity of Gods love in sending his Son to die for us without which he had not come to die 1 John 4.10 2. There was a necessity of Christs love in dying for us without which the Gospel could not be preached 1 Cor. 15.3 4. 3. There was a necessity of the Gospels being preached without which there could have been no believing Rom. 10 14 15 17. 4. There is a necessity of our believing the Gospel without which we cannot be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 5. There is a necessity of our being justified by faith in the blood of Christ without which we cannot come to know that he loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1.5 6. There is a necessity of our knowing his love wherewith he first loved us without which we cannot love him again For we love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 7. There is a necessity of our loving Christ who loved us first without which we cannot keep his Commandments For this is love that we keep his commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 John 5.3 8. There is a necessity of our keeping his comandments and obeying his voice without which we cannot inherit the promises nor be heirs of eternal life For Christ is become the Author of eternal salvation to all those that obey him Heb 5.9 And blessed are they which do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter it through the gates into the City Rev. 22.14 And we have need of patience that after we have done the will of God we might inherit the promises Heb. 10.36 for the doers of the Lords work are blessed in their deeds James 1.25 But those that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteoussness he will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil And Those which will not hear him even Christ that great Prophet in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them shall be destroyed from among his people with an everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his power when he shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ See Rom. 2.8 9. Act. 3.22.23.2 Thess 1.7 8.9 By all which we see that there is as great a necessity of our keeping the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ as there was of Gods sending his son to die for us and as there was of Christs dying for our sins and rising again for our justification for without faith in Christ and obedience to Christ there is no promise of life and salvation by Christ All which may serve sharply to reprove three sorts of people First Those which are ignorant and know not Christ nor his commands what they are and are contented with their ignorance and think to make that a cloak for their sins Secondly Those which are careless and when they know God and Christ and his Commandments will not do them but presume upon mercy and salvation without obeying of Christ These are those which think to be saved by faith onely without doing the will and work of God in their generation the which James calleth vain men James 2.14 17 20. saying What doth it profit if they have faith and not works Can faith save them But
henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose agin And Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.5 6 that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time From whence the Reader may do well to consider that if we may understand the Scripture as it is written that there is one God and one Mediator so also we may understand from the same scripture that the same Mediator gave himself in due time a ransome for all Again Paul saith in the same Epistle ch 1.15 that it is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptation that Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom Paul was the chief Whence I conclude If he came to save the chief of sinners then surely he left none without a Saviour and means of salvation Again he saith to Titus ch 2.11 that the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared And Heb. 2.9 That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man And 1 John 2.2 that he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world And chap. 4 14. he saith speaking of himself and the rest of the Apostles We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world Thus we have the testimony of all the Prophets the Angel of God Christ the Lord himself all his holy Apostles agreeing together in one to prove that Christ died for all mankinde and by him grace mercy and eternal life is offered to all and the worst of sinners The substance of which I shall in order once more put down that you may take notice of the sweet harmony of Scriptures in the proof of this pretious truth which is thus That the Lord laid upon him the iniquities of all that went astray Isa 53.6 that he gave himself as ransome in due time for all men yea the chief of sinners 1 Tim. 2.6 chap. 1.1 5. that he by the grace of God tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 that he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world I John 2.2 that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world 1 John 4.14 that he is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world that all men through him might believe Joh. 1.7 29. and to him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.43 and Christ testifieth of himself that God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 and this is glad tidings of great joy to all people Luke 2.10 And thus the pleasant harmony of Scriptures out of the mouths of so many faithful witnesses which none dare deny must needs make sweet melody in the hearts of all true believers But now it remaineth for me to speak to those Objections which are usually brought against these Scriptures To which I shall give a brief yet through the help of the Lord I hope a satisfactory Answer And to that end I shall summe them all up into four heads thus The common Objections are raised against the word all men and the word every man the word world and the word whole world Which are managed thus that Christ died for all the Elect for every one of die Elect for the world of believers or the whole world of the Elect. To which I answer That Christ died for the Elect I freely grant because he died for all men every man and the whole world as aforesaid that but he died for the Elect as they were Elect or because they were Elect I utterly deny and will shew the contrary by the Scriptures anon But first I will consider the Objections whether they arise naturally from the Scriptures or no which will appear thus If the Scripture nowhere speaks of a world of believers and Elect persons then we have no ground to believe that Christ died for a world of believers and Elect persons But the Scripture nowhere speaks of such a world Therefore we have no ground to believe Christ died for such a world Nay the Scriptures are so far from calling believers and Elect persons a world that they are opposed against the world as appeareth by the words of Christ John 15.19 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 But now if we should grant these men their Argument it would destroy their own principle which is That none of the Elect can perish But that some that Christ died for may perish is evident in these words of Paul And so shall thy weake brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 But if Christ died for none but the world of Elect as they say then some of the Elect may perish And thus their folly is manifest Therefore I shall now shew by the Scriptures what world Christ died for Rom. 5.6 When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly vers 8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us vers 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life From all which we clearly see that Christ died for the world of ungodly and for the world of sinners and for the world of his enemies yea for the world of unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God But the Elect as Elect are not unjust for who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth c. See Rom. 8 33 34. Therefore he died not for the Elect as or because they were Elect but even for the world that John speaks of when he saith We know we are of God and the whole world lyeth in wickedness 1 John 5.19 Obj. But the Saints and those that shall be saved were once sinners as well as others Eph. 2. Answ But that was not as they were Elect in Christ but as they were reprobates or void of judgement concerning the faith out of Christ without God without hope yea enemies in their mindes by evil works See vers 1 2 3 11 12 13 c. all which hath been the condition of the best of Gods people until they be justified by faith and made nigh by the blood of Christ for Jews and Gentiles are all under sin and every mouth stopped and all the world guilty
excuse But now how shall the Lord judge the world in righteousness by that man Christ Jesus whom he hath ordained if the man Christ Jesus did not die for the world And therefore the Scripture saith that to this end Christ died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. which quick and dead he will judge at his appearing and his kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 And when he doth judge them he will judge them according to the Gospel but how can he judge them in righteousness according to the Gospel when there was never any Gospel for them or mercy offered to them Obj. But if Christ died for all and God was willing that all should be saved why then are not all saved Answ Because they believe not in the onely begotten Son of God who is their Saviour John 3.18 and God called and they refused he strerched out his hand and they regarded not he counselled them but they would none of his counsels he reproved them but they set at nought all his reproofs but followed after lying vanities and so forsook their own mercies and denied the Lord that bought them and brought upon themselves swift destruction and because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore if you would know wherefore God gave them up to strong delusions to believe lyes that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Sec Prov 1 24 25 26. 27 28 29 30 31 32. 2 Pet. 2 1 2.2 Thess 2. 10 11.12 And again Christ saith How oft would I have gathered yon together as a Hew gathereth her Chickins under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37 And this is the reason why some men are not saved for God never promiseth life and salvation to any man whether he will or no but threatneth death and everlasting destruction to them which believe not and obey not the Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 9. Obj. But then you hold freewil and that men may be saved if they will Answ I hold nothing but what the Scripture salth and that you shall give me leave to hold neither do I believe that any man hath or ever had any will or power of himself without God to do any thing that is good for in him we live move and have our being but in and through and by God and Christ we may do all things for the Lord is a Sun and a Sheild and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that will walk uprightly Psal 84.11 and he hath given Christ to death for all men as I have proved already at large and He that spared not his onely Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him give us all things Rom. 8.32 and his hand is streched out all the day long to a stift-necked gainsaying people What man is there that knoweth not that if he make use of all the will power and understanding that God hath given him the Lord will double his talent give him more And that the Lord have given all men enough to leave them without excuse I have already proved in the former part of the book and if any man would have more they must improve that which they have faithfully for he that is faithful in that which is least will be faithful also in much but he that is unjust in the least will also be unjust in much Luke 16.10 And what man is he that doth not know that he is not condemned for not doing that which he cannot possibly do but for leaving undone that which God hath given them power and ability to do let any man deny it if he can And now whereas it is a question whether all men may be saved if they will I answer What should hinder them if they be willing for first God is not willing that any should perish Secondly God is willing that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 〈…〉 m. 2.4 and Chust is willing for he came not to judge the world but to save the world and how did he weep over Jerusalem and how oft as a foresaid would he have gathered them together as a Hen doth her Chickins but they would not And now what hinders mens salvation but that same they would not Consider well and judge Obj. But it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9.16 Answ Very well then it seemeth by that Scripture that men have freewill to be saved and indeed I wonder what man alive desires not to be saved but it seems their willing c running in their own wayes will not attain it it was not Cains sacrifice nor the Scribes and Pharisees long prayers and fastings with disfigured faces nor yet their giving almes to the poor and Tythes of all they possessed that could give any of these a mansion in Heaven and why Because they sought it not by faith but by the works of the Law Rom. 9.30 31 32. and so it is to this day men would with Balaam gladly die the death of the righteous and O who would not be saved but then they should come at Christs call and turn at his reproof and wait for his counsels who is the wonderful Counsellor and live to him that died for them walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ blameless hearing him in all things whatssoever he shall say to them and following him wheresoever he go and when they have done all this with a good conscience be contented to bear the reproches and shame that belong to the Cross of Christ and to have men yea wicked men and some devout and honorable men and women persecute and revile them and say all manner of evil sayings on them falsely for his name sake and indure all this patiently with such a spirit as can pray for the salvation even of their worst enemies as for their own soul as Christ who when he had fulfilled all righteousness was numbered amongst the transgressors and crucified between two theeves and at that time prayed for his enemies when we can thus follow Christ then happy are we for the Spirit of God And of glory doth rest upon us See 1 Pet. 4.12 13 14 15. and the greater is our reward in heaven for in like maner persecuted they the Prophets before us But I confess this way is so narrow and this gate is so straight that few can enter and walk therein except they learn of Christ who is humble and meek and then they will finde rest to their souls and by and through him who is the Door they will go in and out and finde pasture See Mat. 5.10 11 12. Thus we see that although it be not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth in his own wayes and after the imaginations of his own heart yet it is in him that will run in Gods wayes and follow Christ in his Commands and Ordinances wheresoever he go for it is in God that sheweth mercy who hath indeed shewed mercy unto sinners and the worst of sinners in sending his onely begotten Son to die for them to take away their sins to call them to repentance to give them the knowledge of Salvation by the remission of their sins through his mercy yea through the tender mercy of our God whereby the Day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Luke 1. who before did not know the way of peace Therefore now let all men take heed how they sin against such rich mercy freegrace as is offered to them even to the worst of sinners by the Lord in the Gospel of Truth which is the glad tidings of our Salvation lest mercy rise up in judgement against them in the great day and lest they sin against that true Light that is come into the world to enlighten every man which is Christ who by his word and spirit hath made known to the sons of men whatsoever he saw in the bosome of the Father yea even the whole counsel of God which is necessary to Salvation Therefore let all men take heed of shutting their eyes against the light of the glorious Gospel of of Jesus Christ For this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil Reader consider what is written for thy instruction in the Scriptures of truth and read them and consider them again and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Henry Haggar FINIS
Christ was called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World and yet not slain nor touched till the day of his death so also although God callech men Elect from the foundation of the world yet they are not Elect nor chosen until the very day of their conversion and turning from sin to God for God calleth things that are not as though they were from whence it is evident they were not Elect although so called Again if we consider Election according to the foreknowledge of God it is plain from that text in 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience From whence I reason thus If the Elect are Chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit then they were not chosen before they had the Spirit and were sanctified by the Spirit But they had not that sanctifying Spirit before they had a being either in the World or else in their Mothers Womb at leastwise Therefore not chosen from the foundation of the World but onely as aforesaid Again 2 Thess 2.13 We are bound to give thanks alway to God for yon 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 you were called by our Gospel From whence I argue thus If the Saints are chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and believing of the truth and were called to believe that truth by the hearing of the Gospel then they were not chosen before they had believed the truth and before they did hear the Gospel by which they were called to believe But they were chosen through believing the truth and called to believe it by the Gospel as aforesaid and Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.17 Therefore not chosen before they had a being no more then Christ was slain before he had a being For according to the Scripture they were chosen through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth and if through is then not without it observe that but it is through it therefore not without it Moreover they were called to this-faith by the Gospel which they never heard before they had a being Therefore it is clear their Election was not before their Conversion though God saw it before neither indeed can it be because the Elect are all chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 but I can prove that those very Elect Ephesians where once our of Christ chap. 2.11 12. Remember saith the Apostle that at that time ye were without Christ without hope without God in the world from whence I argue thus If at that time they were without God and without Christ then at that time they were not in him for they could not be without him and within him both at one time and if not in Christ then not chosen in him as all rational men will grant From all which I conclude That men were elected in Christ according to the Scripture yet never in him before they believed in him and they never believed in him before they heard the Gospel and they never heard the Gospel before they were born Therefore not Elected though so called by God who justifieith the ungodly and calleth things that are not as though they were Again how plain is it Eph. 1. 11 12. where Paul saith that they whom God did predestinate according to the counsel of his own will to be to the praise of his glory were such as did first trust in Christ and in ver 13. he saith that they trusted in Christ after they heard the word of truth the Gospel of their salvation not before the which they never heard before they were born all men will grant that have but reason Again how clear is that text 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God whence it is plain if God knew them before he Elected them then he knew them as men in the flesh and not as they were nothings and if he knew them as they were men they must needs be born first for of nothing nothing can be known before time nor chosen in time Therefore I conclude that the real and absolute act of Election comes to pass in time though known of God before time who according to his foreknowledge calleth things that are not as though they were and so calleth men that are not Elected as though they were Elected And thus is the great Objection about Gods Election answered and the stumbling-block taken away to the end that men might work out their salvation with fear and trembling and make their Calling and Election sure The same may also be considered of Gods predestination or fore-appointing all obedient believers to Life and Salvation not without but according to his foreknowledge of all their words and actions from the foundation of the World And so likewise he predestinateth or fore-appointeth all disobedient unbelievers and apostates to death and damnation not without but according to his foreknowledge of all their words and actions from the foundation of the world Thus I do believe that God foresaw all men and things past present and to come at once at once I do believe that God foresaw Adams fall long before he was a creature in being for nothing is hid from his eyes but all things are naked and bare before him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 But it may be some will say If God did foreknow Adam would fall when he had created him why then did he make him To which I answer two things first what have we to do to reply against our Maker shall the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus Shall Adam say to his Maker Why hast thou made me thus subject to fall What is that to Adam seeing God hath given him and his posterity means to rise again to as good or a better condition and the neglect of thaâ— means is that which will rise up in judgement against all slothful disobedient ones that will not make use of their talents of power wisdom and understanding which God hath given them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling while they may This well considered will give light into Rom. 9.10 11 20 21 22. and if men will needs understand that God loved Jacob and hated Esan before they were born they should consider that God knew them both before they were born and after they were born alike according to his foreknowledge as aforesaid But I know that this is brought to prove that Gods Election is not because of works foreseen To which I answer but what works It is true God doth not chuse us because of any works of righteousness that we have done or can do out of Christ for out of him no works are accepted therefore it is said Not of works lest any man should boast therefore no works are required of unbelievers but the very prayers of the