go When Job's Substance was stolen by the Sabeans and Chaldeans and his Servants slain Job worshipped and said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away Chap. 1.20 21. Concerning God's All-governing Providence it is said Eccles 3.14 I know that what God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it And God doth it that Men should fear before him Concerning the Assyrian the great Enemy and Spoiler of Israel it is said Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger and the Staff in their Hand is my Indignation I will send him against an hypocritical Nation Isa 13.16 17. Their Children also shall be dashed in pieces before their Eyes their Houses shall be spoiled and their Wives ravished Behold I will stir up the Medes against them Psal 105.25 He turned their Heart to hate his People and to deal subtilly with his Servants Matth. 6.13 And lead us not into Temptation Prov. 16.4 He hath made all things for himself and the Wicked for the Day of Evil. When Shimei cursed David 2 Sam. 16.10 he said The Lord hath said unto him Curse David Rom. 1.24 God gave them up to Vncleanness through the Lusts of their own Hearts Ver. 26. God gave them up unto vile Affections 2 Thes 2.11 12. And for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness Though God had a glorious Design in the Death of Christ yet they were wicked Hands that crucified him God's Decrees do not justifie Men's Sins It was a most horrid Act of the Jews to crucifie the Lord of Glory yet Peter saith Act. 1.23 Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked Hands have crucified and slain Act. 4.27 28. For of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate and the People of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined before to be done The Hand and Counsel of God determined before even from Eternity that Christ should at that very time die as Mediator for his Church and the Jews by their wicked Hands to satisfie their Malice did crucifie him as if he had been a Malefactor O the depth of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out But of all the Reformed Divines this Author shews most Wrath and Indignation against Calvin who in his Time was a glorious Light in the Church Mr. Richard Hooker that wrote against him about Church-Discipline yet confesseth him to be the wisest Man that ever the Church of France bred And another Episcopal Divine saith He never heard any good Man speak of him without Honour But this Author makes scurrilous Verses of him and directs them too to Calvin himself though he hath been so long dead and compares Calvin to Cain and Michael Servetus to Abel Let us enquire what this Servetus was This Author is much mistaken to think that he was put to death for being of this Author's Judgment about Baptism it was for Blasphemy against the Blessed and Holy Trinity Indeed this Author saith he was a learned and worthy Man though perhaps mistaken in some things pag. 27. Ah Do you put a Perhaps he was mistaken in some things when he denied and blasphemed the Holy Trinity Waving what Sleidan Ross and others say of him let us hear what Dr. Owen in his Answer to the Antitrinitarians and Socinians saith of this Servetus pag. 44. Servetus stuffed all his Discourses with horrid Blasphemies Beza tells us he called the Trinity Tricipitem Cerberum Words not fit to be Englished they are so full of Blasphemy and wrote that Moses was a ridiculous Impostor Beza Epist 1. And there are Passages cited out of his Book of the Trinity which I have not seen that seem to have as much of the Devil in them as ever yet was written or spoken by any of the Sons of Men. If saith he Christ be the Son of God Debuissent ergo dicere quod Deus habebat uxorem quandam spiritualem vel quod solus ipse Masculo-faemineus aut Hermaphroditus simul erat pater mater nam ratio vocabuli non patitur ut quis dicatur sine matre pater Et si Logos Filius erat natus ex patre sine matre dic mihi quomodo peperit eum per ventrem aut per latus To this heighth of Atheism and Blasphemy had Satan wrought up the Man so that I must needs say he is the only Person in the World that I ever heard or read of that ever died upon the Account of Religion in reference to whom the Zeal of them that put him to death may be acquitted Thus he Although this Author thinks that God doth not for the Manifestation of his own Glory over-rule the Children of Men yet it is mamnifest that God hath given him a Spirit of Slumber as a Check and Punishment to him that he should be left of God to desame such a Man as Calvin and extol Servetus an Antitrinitarian and one of the greatest Blasphemers of the for ever Blessed Trinity that ever was in the World By this you have lost all Credit and Esteem with all wise and knowing Christians that Worship the Holy Trinity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God to whom be glory for ever CHAP. VII Of the Lords Drawing and Vniting of the Elect to Christ in effectual calling 1. VVHen Arminians have made great flourishes of Gods having the same love of good will to all Adams Posterity they are exceedingly grated with this Objection that follows If God have the same love of good will to all the Children of Adam why are but some saved and not all why doth not God convert all 1. Some of them are ready to say that God cannot Convert them they are so stubborn and rebellious though he desires to do it but this is down-right Blasphemy to say that God cannot convert those whom he purposeth intendeth and desireth to Convert he that made the Heart can change the Heart can turn it as the Rivers of Water which way soever he pleaseth with the greatest facility easilier then we can stir a finger I heard above forty years since an Arminian Preach Mr. H.D. a Man of as great Learning and Ability as most of that way in England this Man was inveighing against Election and special Grace at last he came to answer an Objection to this purpose You will say Is not this a meer beating of the Air a meer flourish of words to tell you that God hath such a Love to all Adams Posterity that he would have them all saved and yet they are not saved suppose saith he that a Mother should say that she had a great Love for
effectually for all those for whom he dyed that he will certainly and infallibly bring them to Grace and Glory have no cause to be ashamed of their Doctrine Those that maintain that no man can come to Christ except the Father draw him and that with such a drawing as that they shall freely and yet most certainly and infallibly come to Christ and be eternally saved have truth on their side And all the Sophistry Cavils and Evasions of Arminians are as nothing to overthrow this Doctrine Whosoever shall observe the Book that I answer will find that this Author doth scarce attempt to argue and prove any thing except it be in a very few places but only raises outcries against others Therefore what I have written is only occasioned by this Author to clear up these points rather than to answer any Arguments he hath produced for his opinions but that little Argument he hath used I have taken into consideration If any Reader thinks that I have now and then used too much sharpness against this Author he may be pleased to take notice that those that know me can testifie that I have a greater Latitude as to any rigid judging of men as to their Eternal Estates because they hold many erroneous opinions than some others have Those that are truly built upon Christ upon his Merits and Righteousness as their Foundation though they may in their Superstructure have much Hay and Stubble yet God will graciously pardon them in Christ But when this Author tramples not only upon the Assembly of Divines but upon Calvin Zuinglius Beza and many other Divines of the Reformed Churches and extolls Michael Servetus one of the greatest Blasphemers of the Sacred Trinity that ever was in the World It may be some Readers will think I have not been sharp enough against such a confident Boysterous person There is printed with this Authours a Book of Mr. Haggars I never heard of the person or of his Book before though it seems it hath been printed five times It may be it hath been answered or none have thought it worth the answering The Book is almost nothing but Errours and Mistakes I do not remember that ever I read a Book more confused or where the Author sheweth himself more ignorant of the true meaning of the Scriptures he makes use of except it were in some Books of the Quakers The Apostle Paul saith Ephes 1.3 4 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World was laid The Apostle there sheweth 1. That there are Spiritual Blessings bestowed upon some These Spiritual Blessings are effectual Calling Justification Adoption Perseverance in Grace and the Heavenly inheritance 2. He shews that all these Spiritual Blessings are conferred upon us through the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator as the Meritorious cause God purposed to do all for the Heirs of Salvation in and through him 3. He shews the Eternal Designation of the persons that shall in due time partake of these Spiritual Blessings he saith they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the World 4. He shews that they were not chosen upon any foresight of their Holiness by improving those common helps they had equal with others but that God chose them that they might be Holy that is he would in due time give them Faith and Holiness And this is yet more evident from v. 5. having predestinated that is fore-ordained us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his Will So that it is most manifest that those whom God chose he chose them so as that he would himself make them holy and that the moving cause was not any worthiness or towardliness in them which God foresaw But the Apostle saith it was the good pleasure of Gods will his especial undeserved free Love and good will to their persons that was the moving cause of their Election Now let the Reader observe what this Author saith to this Scripture Though God calleth men elect from the Foundation of the World yet they are not elect until the very day of their Conversion and turning from Sin to God for God calleth things that are not as if they were From whence it is evident they were not elected though so called page 2. What a strange passage is this As much as to say though the Scripture saith it was so yet it was not so well but saith this Author it is said of Abraham Rom. 4.17 As it is written I have made thee a Father of many Nations before him whom he believed even God who quickens the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were Now saith this Author Abraham was not yet a Father of many Nations but it was so before God who calleth things that are not as if they were For the understanding of this Scripture 1. Observe that though it was but at that time spoken of and declared to Abraham Gen. 17.4 5. that he should be a Father of many Nations yet God hath made and appointed him so to be from Eternity Tho' Gods Decrees and Intentions what he will do are manifested to men in time yet they are all from Eternity 2. Observe that when God did declare to Abraham his Eternal Counsel that he should be a Father of many Nations Abrahams Body was dead as to Masculine Vigour But the Apostle shews that nothing can hinder Gods Purposes and Decrees for God quickneth the Dead dead Souls and dead Bodies when he pleases and calleth things that are not as if they were that is calleth for what he pleaseth and it is done As in the Creation God did but say Let there be Light and there was Light The Apostle is shewing Gods Omnipotency That God having appointed Abraham to be a Father of many Nations nothing can hinder his eternal purpose for saith the Apostle he quickens the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were Ut majorem ejus rei facilitatem in deo declaret to shew the great facility of this Work to God to whom it is as easy to make any thing to be as it is for us to call for a thing and easier too as one Expositor notes well upon the place So that this Author quite mistakes the meaning of the place for God did not tell Abraham that he was a Father of many Nations when he was not But God told him that he had made him that is appointed him so to be which should be performed in the appointed Time and Season by his Omnipotency against all natural impossibilities because he is the Almighty God that quickneth the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were When he calleth for any thing to be done to be effected according to his purpose it exists the same moment The Context in Rom. 4. with other
Riches of his grace that ever was or can be to those persons that God gave his Son to dye for 2. He expresseth what Christ suffered for them in pursuance of Gods eternal and infinite grace to those persons whose Surety and Mediator he was and that is set forth by tasting of Death for them whereby is meant the bitter Passion of Christ suffering in his Soul and Body to bear the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God due to their Sins that so they might not bear it themselves 3. He shews who it was that Christ tasted Death for this bitter Death in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which lest any should think is meant of all Adam's Posterity it is restrained by the Apostle himself he shews it was only for the Elect for it follows v. 10. For it became him for whom are all things in bringing many Sons unto Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings So that the Apostle shews that the all that Christ tasted Death for are all the Sons that are to be brought to Glory all that God hath Predestinated to the Adoption of Children Christ tasted Death for all them and only them Again he shews who were intended by the all that Christ tasted Death for by calling him The Captain of their Salvation that those that Christ as their Captain and Leader would infallibly conduct to Salvation v. 11. For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one The all and every one that Christ tasted Death for is restrained by the Apostle again to all those that are or shall be sanctified by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus their Sanctifier and in the end of v. 11. it is said For which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren and v. 12. I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Church will I sing Praise unto thee So that the all that Christ tasted Death for is all that he makes Believers makes his Brethren makes his Church and v. 13. Behold I and the Children which God hath given me So that those that Christ tasted Death for is limited to those that the Father hath given him and are the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ such as are given to Christ to bring all of them at last to be actually the Children of God So that all things considered as I said before we have the Apostles example in enquiring into the true meaning of any Scripture that speaks of Christ's dying for all giving himself a Ransom for all his being a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World to restrain and limit such Expressions to the Sons that were to be brought to Glory to those that Christ was to make Brethren to those that are or shall be sanctified by him to his Church to those that were given him of the Father to be certainly and infallibly brought to Glory 2. The next place this Author bringeth for Universal Redemption is 1 John 2.2 Who is a Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World Now for the finding out the true meaning of this Scripture 1. Observe that this Epistle was written to the Jews v. 7. Brethren I write no new Commandment unto you but an old Commandment which ye had from the beginning It was the Jews that had the Commandments of God the sum of which old Commandments was Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Matth. 22.37 38 39. As for the Gentiles they had not the written Law committed to them Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them 2. Consider that when the time came that the Lord would visit the Gentiles and that the Gospel should be preached unto them it was expedient that there should be such Expressions used that Christ was the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World not only to encourage the Gentiles to look after Christ but also in respect of the Jews who did generally despise the other Nations of the World and thought the Messiah was only for them yea for a time the Jews that believed could hardly bear to hear of the calling of the Gentiles Therefore the Apostle shews that Christ was not only a Propitiation for the Sins of Believers amongst the Jews but for the Believers amongst the Gentiles throughout the whole World 3. The word Propitiation will give light into the meaning of the place and determine the true sense and meaning of it for what is it for Christ to be a Propitiation for our Sins it is to make Satisfaction and Reconciliation for our Sins an absolute and perfect Satisfaction for all our Sins to the Law and Justice of God and this is laid up with the Faithfulness of the Father to be certainly and infallibly bestowed upon us in the Lord 's appointed time Those that Christ hath died for he hath made such an absolute and eternal Satisfaction and Reconciliation for their Sins for all their Sins that they shall certainly be Called Sanctified and Eternally Saved So that as Divines have observed the true sense and meaning of this place before us is the same with what we have John 11.51 52. And this spake he not of himself but being High-Priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation that is the Nation of the Jews and not for that Nation only but that also he should gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad that is the Elect amongst the Gentiles throughout the whole World 3. Then he cites 1 Tim. 2.6.7 Who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle I speak the truth and lie not a Teacher of the Gentiles in Faith and Verity for the understanding of this Scripture 1. Consider that when the Apostle wrote this Epistle the Magistrates were Gentiles and not Jews and they were generally wicked Persecutors whereupon the Professors of the Gospel through their Corruption and Weakness did many of them neglect to pray for them but rather prayed against them Now the Apostle puts them upon Prayer for these Magistrates and shews them that if God do not please to Convert them yet he can so over-rule them that they may live peaceable lives and enjoy the liberty of God's Worship in their Dominions yea the Apostle goes further he would have them pray for the Conversion of those Wicked Persecuting Magistrates and saith v. 4. That God would have all Men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth Some of all sorts and ranks some Kings and great ones as well as mean People and that for any thing they know God will save and bring
to the knowledge of the Truth those Wicked Magistrates that did then persecute the Church all those that God will have to be saved he will bring them to the knowledge of the Truth He can easily do it tho' for the present they be ignorant of the Truth therefore he would have them pray that God would convert them and whereas some Professors of the Gospel then were Jews and were much alienated from the Gentiles the Apostle would take off their Prejudice from those Kings and those that were in Authority because they were Gentiles and tells them that there is but one Mediator between God and Man and that he gave himself a Ransom for all that is for all the Elect whether Jews or Gentiles and saith I am a Preacher to the Gentiles and God hath made me an Instrument in his Hands for the Conversion of many Gentiles therefore why might not the Lord save and bring to the knowledge of the Truth these Kings and great Men as well as others if he pleases and tho' great Men have great Spirits high proud Spirits many times and say Who is the Lord yet the King's Heart is in the Hand of the Lord as well as another Man's and he turneth it as the Rivers of Water which way soever he pleases Prov. 21.1 therefore v. 8. I will that Men lift up holy Hands without Wrath for these Kings and those that are in Authority tho' they be wicked Persecutors for the present and without doubting of God's Power to Convert them if he pleases This Paraphrase upon the words may give light into the true meaning of the place 2. That which may put all out of doubt concerning the meaning of this place Let it be considered what it is for Christ to give himself a Ransom for Men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ's Ransoming Souls was not like others Ransoming He gave his Life a Ransom Matth. 20.28 there never was such a Ransom as he gave he that was God-man gave his Life a Ransom for many 't is said in that place of Matthew for all in this place to Timothy both signify the same the many that Christ gave himself a Ransom for are all the Elect Jews or Gentiles This Ransom that Christ gave was an Infinite Ransom of infinite worth and value it makes sure and certain the discharge of all those for whom he gave himself a Ransom When Men do well consider of it they will not so disparage him that was God-man as to think that he gave himself a Ransom for Men and that yet they should be Prisoners in Hell for ever If Christ had only died as an Example as the Socinians say or for Mens good some way or other it had been another case but Christ dying in the room and stead of Men and giving himself a Ransom for them this Ransom will do all for them to secure their Salvation And as to Faith Repentance and Perseverance in Grace they all follow upon Christ's giving himself a Ransom for Christ would not give himself a Ransom at random at uncertainties but made sure to purchase such inherent Grace for all those that he gave himself to be a Ransom that they shall be effectually converted adore this Grace that Christ God-man should give himself a Ransom for them and love him and live to him So that I say the very consideration what it was for Christ God-man to give himself a Ransom is sufficient to restrain and limit the word all to all the Elect to all and only them that shall be saved 4. Then this Author brings 2 Cor. 5.14.15 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 1. For the Explanation of this Text. This Text speaks only of Believers the word all is restrained and limited by the word us those that have believed in Christ or shall hereafter believe in him to life everlasting for surely the love of Christ constraineth Believers only to love him and to live unto him the love of Christ hath no such effect but upon Believers 2. The Apostle shews that they which live by Christ they were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others All dead Men as being under the Curse of the Law as well as others and that Christ died for them not only that they might be delivered from the Curse of the Law not only that they might live in that sense but that those that are alive from the Law as to Condemnation should not live to themselves but to him that died for them as to Sanctification also That is that Christ intended and purchased for all those for whom he died not only that they should live as to Justification but as to Holiness and Sanctification too he procured both for them and both shall be infallibly bestowed upon them so that the Apostle's meaning is not only that the Love of Christ in dying for us is a strong Argument why they that he dyed for should live not to themselves but to him But also that Christ both intended and purchased this grace to be certainly confer'd upon them that they should be so Sanctified that they should not live to themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again according to Titus 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar People Zealous of good works So that this Text duely considered is a not able place against Vniversal Redemption For it holds forth that all that Christ dyed for he did not only intend and purchase that they should be certainly and infallibly delivered from Condemnation but that they should also be sure to be Sanctified that they might live to Christ in Holiness and Righteousness 5. This Author mentions the words of our Saviour John 6.51 The Bread that I will give is my Flesh Which I will give for the Life of the World For the Explanation of this Text. Consider that our Saviour Preached but in that little Country the Land of Judea and at first forbad his Disciples to go and Preach amongst the Gentiles And the Jews to whom our Saviour spake these words had a strong conceit as was hinted before that the Messiah was for that Nation only Therefore now the time drew near that many of the Gentiles were to be Converted our Saviour tells them that he will give his Life for the World not only for those which the Father had given him amongst the Jews but amongst the other Nations of the World Amongst whom many now were to be Converted for this was a great Mystery that Christ was to be Preached unto the Gentiles and be believed on in the World 1 Tim. 3.15 for though there were many Prophesies of the Conversion of the Gentiles yet they were little understood and
brought to Glory 3. Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall be not with him also freely give us all things 1. Observe the all here is not all Adams Posterity but all that God hath an Eternal purpose of Grace to which are in due time called according to his purpose viz. the Elect v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Those whom he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son v. 29. 2. The Apostle makes this to be a wonderful thing that God should not spare his Son but deliver him up to Death as Mediator and Surety for us In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 John 4.9 God manifests his love in giving other things but in this the love of God was most of all manifested that God sent his Son to dye for us that he spared not his Son but delivered him up to bear the Curse of the Law in our stead Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift 2 Cor. 9.15 Consider the person that he delivered up to dye for us he was his own Son his proper natural Son and t is said he spared him not he spared him not from nor in dying but made him to bear unutterable grief in Soul and Body as Surety and Mediator for those for whom he dyed 3. The Apostle doth positively conclude that all those that God hath such love to as not to spare his own Son but to deliver him up to Death for them that God would certainly and infallibly and freely give them all things that is all things necessary to their Eternal Happiness Those for whom God would give his Son to them he will freely give Faith Grace and Glory The new Heart is the gift of God and a great gift but nothing to Gods not sparing his own Son but giving him to dye for us Gods giving his Son to dye for any person was the highest expression of his love to that person that ever was or ever could be If God had such a love to give his Son to dye for a Man he will stick at nothing to bring about the Eternal Happiness of that person He spared not his Son that he might spare that person He punished his Innocent Son as Surety that he might not punish that person for his Sins He was at cost indeed to Redeem a person by the price of the Blood of his own Son But as to giving that person a new Heart He can more easily do it than we can speak a word There is such strength in the Apostles arguing as carries all before it throws down all Cavils and Objections whatsoever 4. We may draw another Invincible Argument from Rom. 8.34 Who shall Condemn Christ hath dyed yea rather is risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God who also maketh intercession for us 1. The Apostle here shews that those that Christ dyed for he rose again for them he sits at Gods Right Hand for them he makes Intercession for them that they may infallibly obtain all that he Merited and Purchased for them by his Death 2. The Apostle in the Name of all that Christ dyed for makes a challenge Who saith he shall Condemn Christ hath dyed Ay but the Law and Justice may Condemn no Christ hath dyed Christ hath delivered them for whom he dyed from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for them Gal. 3.13 he hath made satisfaction for their Sins by his Death But those that hold universal Redemption may say O Paul why do you Argue thus that if Christ dyed for us we cannot be Condemned to Hell Ay but Paul knew what he said he knew how to argue from Christ dying for us that we shall never be Condemned to Hell Those that hold that Christ dyed for all Adams Posterity of which the greatest number are or shall be Condemned to Hell for ever make nothing or next unto nothing of Christs dying for a person But Paul makes it such a great thing for Christ to dye for us that he is bold to say who shall Condemn Christ hath dyed 5. John 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him Our Saviour often speaks of them that were given him of the Father that is the Elect people there was a Covenant of Redemption between the Father and Christ wherein he undertook to bring them to Glory and that he might not fail of saving every one of them Christ as the Mediator had power given over all Flesh Yea over all Devils too that nothing should hinder but that he should infallibly give Eternal Life to as many as the Father had given him to Redeem and Save Christ as God had all power of himself Christ as Mediator had power given him over all persons and things in such a perfect manner that nothing should hinder the Salvation of those that were given him Christ as Mediator hath absolute power over the Hearts and Wills of Men to alter change and frame the Wills of all that the Father hath given him to bring every thought into Obedience to him that all the Elect shall be a willing people in the day of his power he puts forth his power irresistibly so far as infallibly to Convert them and puts forth his power after their Conversion irresistibly so far as to preserve them to the Heavenly Kingdom Christ is mighty as God and mighty as Mediator Hath absolute power over all Flesh over their very Hearts and Wills to open their Hearts to receive him to work their Wills to embrace him whensoever he pleases and will certainly do it for those that the Father hath given him to Redeem and Save 6. John 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they may be Sanctified through the truth Our Saviour being now near his Death he declares who he was to dye for not for all Adams Posterity but for those whom the Father had given him to be the Mystical Body whereof he is the Head and declares v. 9. I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them whom thou hast given me for they are thine As if Christ had said I am so far from dying for all Adams Posterity that I will not so much as pray as Mediator for any but those whom thou hast given me I dye to bring the many Elect Sons to Glory and for their sakes sanctifie I my self that is I Consecrate and Dedicate my self as their High-Priest to offer my self a Sacrifice for them that they may be sanctified through the Truth that is that they may be justified and sanctified through him that they might not any one of them miss of Eternal Salvation 7. Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me The Apostle Paul
is here setting forth the Love of Christ to him and as an Astonishing Demonstration and proof of the for ever to be adored love of Christ to him he saith that Christ gave himself for me that amongst those that Christ had such great and special love 's to as to dye for them He was one he gave himself for me Paul thought that Christ dying for him was the greatest Love that Christ could shew to him But now those that hold that Christ dyed for all Adams Posterity might say O Paul do you make such a great business of Christs giving himself for you and that this shall secure your Salvation We hold he dyed for Multitudes that are and shall be in Hell for ever Ay but Paul knew better than Arminians do both what unspeakable love it was for Christ to die for a person and he knew the certainty of the Eternal Salvation of all those for whom Christ died he rejoices and triumphs in this that he knew he was one of those whom Christ loved and gave himself for 8. Ephes 5.25 26 27. Husbands love your Wives as Christ also loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without blemish Here the Apostle exhorts Husbands to love their Wives and with a great and special Love as Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it Now if Christ had loved all Adam's Posterity so as to give himself for them this had been no Argument for Husbands to love their Wives with a great and special Love but rather an allowance to Husbands to love other Women with as great and special Love as their Wives But the Apostle shews it was a great and special Love that Christ had to his Church such a Love as he gave himself for it By the Church here is meant all the Elect all that by the Decree of God from Eternity were to be the Lord's the Lamb's Spouse for this Church only that Christ as Mediator was to be Head and Husband of did Christ give himself This Church he was to Sanctifie this Church he was to wash from their Sins in his own Blood and whatsoever they were in themselves polluted defiled with Sin yet he undertook both to Justifie them and Sanctisie them who also will infallibly do it 9. The ninth Argument to prove that all that Christ died for shall certainly be saved shall be taken from those Scriptures that make it manifest that those that Christ died for he purchased Faith and Sanctification for them as well as Reconciliation for their Sins Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our Sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World according to the Will of God and our Father 1. Observe that those that Christ died for the Heart of the Father was in this thing it was from the Will the great Love and good Pleasure of the Father that he should give himself for them 2. That Christ did give himself for their Sins that is to take away their Sins and that he might deliver them from this present evil World that is not only from the Guilt and Punishment due to them for their Sins that so they might not be condemned with the World but that he might deliver them from the evil Manners of the World from the wickedness of this present evil World and to make them new Creatures he purchased Sanctification for them to be certainly and infallibly bestowed upon them Titus 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works See in the Verse before who it was that gave himself for us the Apostle calls him the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Ay this puts infinite value into his dying for us that he is God as well as Man and so cannot be frustrated in the Ends which he had in his Death and the Apostle here shews that his End was to purifie to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works He intended for all for whom he died not only to redeem them from the guilt of all their Sins but purchased Sanctifying Grace for them whereby they might be made a peculiar People zealous of good Works which according to his mighty Power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself he will certainly do 1 Pet. 1.18 19. For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious Blood of Christ as a Lamb without blemish and without spot Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shed his precious Blood not only to take away the guilt of Sin but to Sanctifie them to deliver them for whom he died from the Vanity of their Minds and from their Vain Conversation that so they may be brought to walk with God here and come to Heaven hereafter and all that do partake of Mortification of Sin and Vivification in Grace it is by Vertue from the Death of Christ he hath given Sin a mortal wound by his Death he hath nailed it to his Cross that at last all that he died for shall be wholly freed from it for ever 10. The last Argument that all those that Christ died for shall certainly be saved is taken from several passages in the 53th Chap. of Isaiah where we have such an illustrious Prophesie of Christ 1. There the Prophet speaks of the great Sufferings of Christ the Mediator He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities v. 4. and the Iniquities of all the Israel after the Spirit that is all the Elect of God were laid upon him to bear the Punishment due to their Sins 2. The Prophet shews the effects of Christ's Death what benefit comes to them for who he died he saith by his Stripes they are healed v. 5. He shews what Grief and Sufferings he went through to make Satisfaction for Sin and compares our Saviour in his Death to a Woman in Travail Ay Christ had a hard Travail and sore Pains in Soul and Body to expiate Sin but he saith He shall see his Seed v. 10. he shall see of the travail of his Soul and be satisfied he shall not bring forth Wind such a windy empty poor Redemption as Arminians talk of who say that notwithstanding any thing that Christ did in the Work of Redemption there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved but he brought forth a Perfect Glorious Eternal Redemption so that all the Children of his Cross all that he had that hard travail for upon the Cross shall be eternally saved and so as the Apostle saith Heb. 12.2 For the Joy that was set before him he endured the
the Name of God Gracious and Merciful page 21. And what then are the Turks in a State of Salvation who deny the Trinity deny Christ to be God deny Christ to have dyed but one in his Room and put up Mahomet an Impostor as the great Prophet Indeed your Friend Servetus Conversed much with the Turks and would have had a Reconciliation of the Turkish and Christian Religion It may be this Author doth not understand the danger of these Opinions but they tend to the Subverting of the Christian Religion What if the Turks have a Notion that God is Merciful and Gracious They and all others will find that except they come to God by Christ the Mediator the Sacrifice for Sin they will find God to be a consuming fire to them This Authors mentioning of the Turks puts me in mind of a Discourse I once had with a Quaker one of the most knowing Men that ever I knew of that way and he said the Turks were as good Saints as any were in England Indeed the Arminians and Quakers they run all upon this that there is a sufficient light that God gives to all Mankind that if they do but heed that Light it will bring them to Salvation Ay and so our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Knowledge of him and Faith in him must be but an indifferent thing and not absolutely necessary that they may maintain their Opinion of Universal Grace What darkness is coming upon this Land that the blind lead the blind after this manner 2. Well then set that question aside for the present what that Mercy and Goodness of God is that if Men accept God from the beginning chose them to Salvation in Christ What is this the Election the Scripture speaks of Here is not a Syllable of Gods purposing of his meer Grace infallibly to give them a new Heart to give them Faith and Repentance and so they must thank themselves if they be saved The Arminians will allow God only to decree that all shall be saved that are so wise and careful as to believe in Christ by improving that common and universal Grace that is afforded to them that are damned as well as those that are saved They will not allow that God hath elected any Persons from Eternity so as that he will certainly call them and that they shall obey that Calling that those Persons from God's special and distinguishing Grace shall be infallibly saved thro' our Lord Jesus Christ If there were no other Election but this there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved but blessed be the Name of God for ever God hath from Eternity chosen particular persons to Salvation chosen them so as to give Christ for them and certainly and infallibly to give Christ with all his Benefits to them Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed they were not ordained to Eternal Life because they believed but they believed because they were ordained to Eternal Life there were some of the Hearers that God had from Eternity ordained to Eternal Life that were now to be savingly called and to them God gave a new Heart Faith and Repentance when others contradicted and blasphemed Ephes 1.3 4 5 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ according 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 having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will to the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved 1. Here we see that those that God blesseth with Spiritual Blessings Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory it is by Jesus Christ all is communicated through him 2. Those that God doth in time Justifie and Sanctifie he purposeth to do it for those very persons before all Time even from Eternity 't is according as he had chosen them before the Foundation of the World was laid God from Eternity chose Christ to be their Mediator and Head and chose them to be the Members of his Mystical Body He did not choose them upon any foresight of Holiness in them but chose them to make them Holy and without Blame before him in Love 3. If any ask the Question Why God chose those individual persons and not others the Apostle shews that it was the good pleasure of his Will v. 5. to the praise of the Glory of his Grace v. 6. to the praise of the Glory of his Discriminating Distinguishing Grace who will be gracious to whom he will be gracious and will have compassion on whom he will have compassion whatsoever Men and Devils say against it Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World As Christ the Mediator was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World to be Mediator and was slain in the Decree and Purpose of God from Eternity so there were the Names of those he should be slain for in time written in the Book of Life not that God uses Books and Writing as Men do but the Persons of those that were Elected from Eternity were as certain so many and no more as if they had been written in a Book And because they were thus Elected God will not suffer them to be finally deceived to worship the Beast 1 Thessal 1.4 5. Knowing Brethren beloved your Election of God for our Gospel came not to you in Word only but in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance So far as we can know that the Gospel comes with Saving Power upon the Hearts of any so far we know their Election before the Foundation of the World Men are not elected when or because the Gospel comes with saving Power upon their Hearts but because God had elected them to Life from Eternity therefore he sets home the Gospel in due season with Saving Power upon their Hearts 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren that God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 1. God's choosing from the beginning unto Salvation is meant of his choosing them from Eternity to the End viz. to Eternal Salvation 2. Through Sanctification and belief of the Truth shews the way by which God eternally intended to bring them to Salvation 3. The Apostle shews that God did in his eternal choosing of them freely purpose to bring them into this Grace wherein they stood that is he decreed to give them that Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth which he had now actually bestowed upon them Those whom God hath chosen
the Elect notwithstanding they are not justified till the Holy Spirit doth in due time actually apply Christ to them I answer that when the Assembly of Divines say that God did from all Eternity Decree to justifie the Elect yet they are not justified till the Holy Spirit doth actually apply Christ You seem to have quite forgotten what you were treating of and so instead of casting a slur upon the Assembly of Divines you cast a great slur upon your self as if you did not at all understand what you write of for observe you are writing of Election and you bring a passage of the Assembly about Justification you would prove if you could that none are actually Elected until they believe and say that the Assembly are forced to allow that none are actually justified till they do believe Surely that grave Assembly of Divines was never so abused as by you they knew well enough what they said I would you had the thousandth part of the Knowledge they had The Assembly say well that God decreed to justifie the Elect from Eternity and so he decreed to Sanctifie them from Eternity but they are neither actually Justified nor Sanctified until the Holy Spirit do call them Election is one thing Justification is another Election is an Immanent Act of God and from Eternity Justification is a transient Act of God towards the Elect in time Ay but this Author will make this matter evident to every considerate Reader viz. that none are actually Elected until they be Converted Saith he All that are actually elected have an Inheritance in the Kingdom of God and none can lay any thing to their charge 1 Pet. 1.2 3 4. Rom. 8.33 But no unbelieving Drunkard Whoremonger hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5.5 And these Impieties may be laid to their charge therefore no unbelieving Drunkard Whoremonger or Idolater is actually Elected 1. To explain this 1. There is an Eternal Predestinating some Persons to the Heavenly Inheritance by the meer good pleasure of God's Will Ephes 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Here the Apostle shews that whether they be Jews who first trusted in Christ or Gentiles who were brought to trust in Christ after the Jews v. 12 13. yet whatsoever they are Jews or Gentiles that truly trust in Christ they have obtained a right to the Heavenly Inheritance Then he shews how they come to be partakers of this Grace to have Christ given for them and given to them and this he shews in these words Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will He would have them know that all that God doth for them in time is because he had predestinated them and chosen them from Eternity to Grace and Glory So let that be well observed that all that God hath predestinated to Life have the Heavenly Inheritance allotted and appointed to them it is theirs by Predestination by Election 2. There is a Title to the Heavenly Inheritance by the purchase of Christ the Mediator 3. There is an actual right to the Heavenly Inheritance by Regeneration and Adoption These three things considered the Answer to this Author is That all that are saved had a Title to the Heavenly Inheritance from Eternity by Election by the Gracious Decree of God the Kingdom of God was prepared for them to Eternity Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World As if our Saviour had said You that are saved look to the first cause of it you were Blessed of my Father he elected you from Eternity he gave me to die for you he called you in due season and made you a peculiar People zealous of good Works and thus you come to inherit the Kingdom Again The Elect before Conversion have Right in Christ their Head to the heavenly Inheritance before they be called because Christ hath purchased it for them Yea Eternal Life was promised to Christ for them as their Head in the Covenant of Redemption before the World began Tit. 1.12 But when the Apostle saith that no wicked Man hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God Ephes 5.5 the meaning is only that though God may have purposed in his Eternal Counsel to give the Heavenly Inheritance to a Man that for the present is ungodly and Christ the Mediator may have purchased the Heavenly Inheritance yet this is a secret thing known only to God himself But for what appears yet to the unregenerate Man himself or to others he hath no Part nor Lot in that Heavenly Inheritance As for those Words Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect The Apostle had said Ver. 30. Whom he predestinated them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified The Apostle seems in this place to answer to two Objections that some might make 1. That it is long before some that are predestinated are called and if they be not called they cannot be justified and so if they should die before they are called What will become of them The Apostle shews that though God hath not yet called them he will call them and though there might be a Charge of innumerable Sins against an elect Person before he be converted yet Who shall lay them to the Charge of God's Elect to damn them in Hell They are Elect and God's Election stops any Arrest of an Elect Person so as that he cannot be thrown into Hell The Elect have a Reprieve in order to their Pardon in God's Time 2. It might be objected That whereas the Apostle had said Ver. 30. Whom he hath called them he also justified Have not the Elect after they are called if they live any long time after their Conversion committed many Sins that might be laid to their Charge They did not sin only before they were called but sin much after they are called How then are they justified The Apostle answers Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect with effect so as to bring them to Damnation in Hell Though every Sin they commit doth deserve Eternal Damnation yet 't is God with whom they have to do and seeing he will not take Vengeance but glorifie his Free Grace in Christ to them who hath to do with it God that may do it he justifies them Yea the Apostle goes on and shews v. 34. that the Elect are secured from Eternal Damnation in Hell not only by Election but by Redemption That though they have deserved it as well as others yet saith the Apostle who shall condemn that is the Elect eventually and eternally Indeed they are condemned by the Law till they be in Christ But who shall condemn them
another Sir Recollect your self I cannot remember that ever I saw your face more than three times in my Life before I saw you lately in Norwich The first time I saw you was upon the Road on Horseback I met a Friend upon the High-way that you were travelling with I saluted him and he told me your name and so after a few words you went your way and I mine The second time was about fifteen years since going to see a Neighbour that lay Bed-rid he was one of your way but I think a Godly Man and I visited him several times in Love you was there and we had two Hours Discourse and all about Controversies The third time was about eight Years since you came into a Friends House where I was upon a Journey and stayed about an hour This was all our acquaintance and as for our being Neighbours it is true that in some sence all are our Neighbors but I suppose you and I liv'd twenty Miles Distant though I am not certain where you lived for as you never were at mine House in Lincolnshire so I never was at yours What a poor business is it that the World should be troubled about our Acquaintance and Neighbourhood Sir though you and I differ in several points of Religion yet I love all Men and though I do not desire intimacy with any Man that is of a Contentious Spirit I love Peace and Quietness yet if you please to let me know when you are in any want you shall find that not only my self will relieve you but that I shall get others of my Friends to Minister unto you otherwise I do not desire Acquaintance with you whilst you are so violent and abusive Then you say that some of my Jacobs have called you Rogue and wisht that you were put out of the Town I am sorry that you should use such passionate Speeches as to call any persons my Jacobs and as to calling you Rogue I hope none of the Congregation that I belong to ever used such unseemly words of you for my part I have always spoke of you in Company with good Respect till you put forth the Book I love to speak the best I can of every Man Q. 4. You tell me that in pag. 19. God chose us so many and no more I pray who are those us whom you call us surely you speak of the Living I answer Let the Reader hear with Patience what is said Pag. 19. the words are these This is especially applied to the Father in Scripture to choose us before the Foundation of the World to foreknow us to predestinate us to be conformable to the Image of his Son therefore in that Scripture 1 Pet. 1.2 where you have the proper and distinct Work of Father Son and Holy Ghost about the Vessels of Mercy the Apostle saith We are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ observe here our Election is ascribed to God the Father he chose us so many and no more this Man and not the other Jacob and not Esau then you have the proper work of the Son in those words the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ it is he who washeth us from our Sins in his own Blood he purchaseth all good things the second Person in the Trinity He is the Lord our Righteousness he is the Propitiation for our Sins he is our Mediator it is not the Father that is Mediator nor the Holy Ghost but the Son it is he that took upon him our Nature it was the Word that was made Flesh not the Father nor the Holy Ghost it was the Son that died upon the Cross for our Sins not the Father nor the Holy Ghost then you have the special Work of the Holy Ghost about our Sanctification in these words through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience It is the Holy Ghost who in our Conversion doth Sanctifie us and bring us to the Obedience of Faith he applieth Redemption as the Son hath wrought Redemption when the appointed time when the fulness of time is come to call home an Elect Vessel he convinceth the Soul of Sin he revealeth Christ to the Soul he infuseth the Habit of Grace and after Conversion is with us to mortifie our Corruptions comfort us and lead us and to carry us to the Heavenly Kingdom Now What Cause had this Author to say Who are these Vs Surely you speak of the Living I answer I speak as the Scripture speaks in those Texts that I have mentioned of all the Elect of all the Redeemed of all that are or shall be sanctified and how strange and captious is it for this Author to go on and say You have good Thoughts of your self for you must be one of the Vs And shew me how many and no more or at least name One to make good the Word Vs and prove by the Word of God that You Two were undoubtedly chosen to Salvation Surely this Author was not in frame when he wrote thus this is just like a Woman scolding and quarrelling in the Streets I am heartily sorry for him Qu. 5. and 6. Are both about the same thing about Jacob and Esau Now concerning Jacob and Esau note 1. That Esau was not saved appears by Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or profane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right This Observation may give much Light into this Matter that when any that were real Saints under the Old Testament are spoken of in the New Testament all their sinful Failings are covered and their Grace only mentioned So it is with Abraham Sarah Job Sampson Lot though they had many sinful Failings yet I say they are covered in the New Testament and their Faith Patience and Holiness only mentioned Or if there be an hint of their sinful Failings as of Rahab and Elijah there is mention also of their Faith and Prayer and the Grace of God bestowed upon them But when Esau comes to be mentioned in the New Testament the Holy Ghost leaves him upon Record that he was a profane Person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that despised set light by and contemned holy things So that let it be observed that Esau after he had been so long dead is in the New Testament where the sinful Failings of the Saints of the Old Testament are covered is left under this black Character that he was a profane Person 2. As to what is said Rom. 9.13 As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated let it be observed that the Apostle in that Chapter from the Beginning to the End is not treating about outward things but about spiritual things and to shew them that amongst them that enjoy Church State and Church-Privileges and Ordinances some are from Eternity elected to Salvation of God's mere Grace and others are passed by And the Apostle