Gospel are brought in and prevailed with to believe through Grace And in that believing Sanctified by the Spirit Chosen out of the World into Christ delivered out of the power of Darkness and Satan and removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son that they might be and continue to be and accordingly in some measure they are a special People unto Him here an holy People an Habitation for God who is their Portion to shew forth His Virtues and be to Him for a Name and a Praise and a Glory for the good of the residue of men among whom they are set and preserved And might hereafter and being faithful to the death shall Inherit that Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heaven for them who are kept by the Power of God unto Salvation c. 1 Pet. 1. 2 5. And so indeed Gods Elect are such as are redeemed by the Blood of Christ out of others amongst whom they dwell and of whom sometimes they were Rev. 5. 9. 10. Hence whereas in one place it is said They that were with the Lamb were such as were redeemed from the Earth and from among men In another it is said They that are with the Lamb are Called and Chosen and Faithful compare Rev. 14. 1 4. with Chap. 17 14. And so the Lord hath set a part for Himself or as the Vulgar Translation reads it Chosen to Himself the man that is Godly Even such as Worship him in Spirit and in Turth Psal 4. 3. And this is the first sense of Election A Chusing out 2. To Chuse doth sometimes in Scripture signifie the same with Appoint or Command And so to be Chosen doth signifie one who Obeys or Observes the Commands or Appointment of another So it is taken 2 Sam. 15. 15. David's servants said unto the King Behold thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint or Chuse as in the Margin So again 1 Sam. 19. 38. Whatsoever thou shalt require or Chuse of me that will I do for thee And thus it may be well here also taken in this place Many are Called viz. Unto Christ by the Gospel in the faithful Ministration thereof by his Servants Many are by the King commanded to come but few are Commanded Ruled or Appointed by Him but too many of them are Unruly and Disobedient to the Gospel or though some yield feigned Obedience unto Him and after a sort receive His Grace yet they receive it in vain So it is in this Parable The King sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding and they would not come They would not have the Man Christ Jesus to Reign over them Again He sent forth other Servants when all was actually done and prepared to say unto them Come unto the Marriage But they made light of it c. And though the man that had not on the Wedding Garment came into the House yet he came not after the Appointment of the King he did not from the Heart obey that form of Doctrine delivered in the Gospel Mat. 22. 3 4 5 8 13. This is His Commandment and Appointment and that which He requireth of us in the Gospel when it is Preached to us That we believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another But the most to whom the glad tidings of the Gospel are Reported and unto whom these Commandments are given by the Lord Jesus will not come to Christ that they might have Life And they are therefore condemned because they obey not the Gospel in believing on the Name of the only begotten Son of God 1 John 3. 23. with John 3. 18. Rom. 10. 16. and 2 Thes 1. 8 9. God is faithful in Calling men in due time to the end they might come to the Knowledg of the Truth But alas few there are who receive and obey His Commandment but the greatest part remain sons of Belial in Heart such Persons as will not take Christs Yoke upon them nor learn of Him though His Yoke be easie and His Burden light and His Commandments are not grievous But give a with-drawing or back-sliding shoulder And so remain unruly and uncommanded Persons such as will do whatsoever goeth forth out of their own Mouth and will not be appointed and ordered by Him and the Light and Instructions of His Grace which teacheth that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world Zech. 7. 11. Jer. 44. 16 17. 1 Thes 5. 14. Tit. 2. 11 12. And this understanding it well agreeth with and is sutable unto the former sense given 3. Chosen or Elect signifieth choice ones and such as are more Excellent then others more Precious and Eminent then others Hence we have Chosen and Precious twice joyned together and both opposed in one Verse to disallowed 1 Pet. 2. 4 6. So Chosen and Dispised are opposed the one to the other Jam. 2. 5 6. So whereas in one place it is said A good Name is rather to be Chosen then great Riches In another it is said A good Name is Better then precious Oyntment compare Prov. 22. 1. with Eccles 9. 1. To signifie that such Persons or Things are the Subjects of Election which are better then others Thus it is said of Christs Spouse There are threescore Queens and fourscore Concubines and Virgins without number But my Dove my undefiled is but one she is the only one of her Mother she is the choice pure or elect one as some read it of her that bare her She is a choice elect and excellent one one that excels all others whatsoever Cant. 6. 8 9. So where we read With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure It is thus rendred by others With the Elect thou wilt be Elect Psal 18. 16. So Chosen oftentimes signifies Choice or Excellent whether Persons or Things Exod. 14. 7. and 15. 4. Psal 78. 31. Ezek. 24. 5. So it is here also Those who are chosen out of the World by the out-chusing of Grace and so Ruled and Commanded by the Gospel they are indeed the precious Sons of Zion in comparison of whom the residue of men though Called are yet Vile Refuse persons Psal 15. 4. The Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour even such an one as comes unto and believes in and puts on Christ for his Righteousness to Cover Cleanse and Conform him to His Will and Image Prov. 12. 26. The Lover of God the Elect one is the most Excellent person Luke 1. 3. distinguished from and preferred before all others and is allowed of God the Saints are the Excellent ones 1 Pet. 2. 4. Psal 16. 2 3. Born of more excellent Seed then others even of incorruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1. 2. 23. Of a more excellent Father even of God in Christ 1 John 4. 7 9. Ingraffed into Christ and made partakers of him and are one spirit with Him and shall
and unprofitable And to make us willing to come unto Christ and for his sake to deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow Him that we might be of the very Elect. He setteth before us in the Gospel His all things that we might forsake our all things all that we have That Christ might be the Portion of our Souls Luk. 14. 17-26-33 He doth hereby outbid all other things and renders them evil and unprofitable that we might for this treasure hid in a field when discovered to us and found by us sell all that we have and buy that field Mat. 13. 44. Hence He calleth hear for I will speak of excellent things such things as far excell those things you are apt to set your Hearts upon and the opening of My Lips shall be right things Receive mine instruction not silver and knowledge rather then choice gold for Wisdom is better then Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it Riches and Honour are with Me yea durable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and My Revenue then choice Silver Prov. 8. 6-10-20 21. Now then for Men to prefer their sins and vanities before Christ To prefer their sinful lusts and pleasures or their Oxen Farms Merchandize Wives Righteousness or any other of their own things before Him in whom God hath prepared such an excellent and incomparable feast And in whom is such a true compleat and eternally blessed and glorious provision of eternal Life and all Spiritual and Eternal Blessings And to do thus also after they have been called unto the Sufferings of Christ in which is given such a clear discovery of the odiousness and abominableness of mens lusts and iniquities unto God And therefore also of the absolute necessity of their being washed and cleansed from them without which they must be everlastingly unhappy and miserable And in which Cross is also clearly manifested the vanity and worthlessness of all those objects and things in which naturally they are seeking rest contentment and happiness to their Souls Yea and to do so after they have been called unto Him in whom are and are discovered to them infinitely better things then any of those for the sake whereof they pollute themselves and by which they are hindred from coming to Christ that they might have Life and be the Subjects of Gods Election What can such desperate and unreasonable folly be but an highly provoking iniquity to the King who loves His Son so inconceivably dearly and hateth sin with an everlasting hatred And what else can this be in such unworthy refusers and slighters of such Grace but an inexcusable iniquity What is this iniquity less then that found with the Jews who preferred a Murderer before the Lord of Glory seeing such prefer such things as will tend to their everlasting destruction before Him yea in some respects it is much greater And yet how do many who cannot speak of their evil without the greatest dislike and detestation yet justifie their act in overpassing the deeds of those evil ones as Jerusalem is said to have justified her Sister Samaria Ezek. 16. 51 52. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this saith the Lord and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate For My People have committed two Evils they have forsaken Me the Fountain of living Waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2. 12 13. 17 13. Such a blessed object are men called unto by the Gospel And such is the Nature of Mens iniquity who come not unto Christ and therefore are not chosen because they prefer lies and vanity before their own mercy And thereby it appears their sin is exceeding sinful greatly displeasing and wholly inexcusable that they are not Elected If we further also take in and consider what followeth 2. That the called are not chosen appears also to be a great iniquity if we consider the plainess and revealedness of the call as compared with that which was in former times vouchsafed Christ by His Servants hath now used great plainess of speech and not as Moses which put a vail over his face to signifie the vailedness and darkness of that ministration in former times 2 Cor. 3. 12 13. The mystery that was hid from Ages and Generations is now made manifest and revealed unto His Holy Apostles and Prophets by His Holy Spirit as formerly it was not made known unto the Sons of men Col. 1. 25 26. with Eph. 3. 3-5 God having one Son His well-beloved He sent Him forth last of all and spake unto us by His Son whom He hath appointed Heir of all things and reserved this Honour for His Son that by Him in His Personal ministration and by the ministration of His Apostles the true light should shine more brightly and clearly then it did in former Ages He hath come a light into the World who is the Sun of Righteousness And by Him the Gospel hath been preached according to the Revelation of the mystery Rom. 16. 25 26. so as now in the Gospel of Christ as now revealed Jesus Christ is evidently set forth as one that hath been crucified for us His Sufferings the greatness and preciousness of them are brightly pourtrayed before us therein Gal. 3. 1. And we all with open face may behold in this glass in this most clear medium the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. And now the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation to all men hath appeared and been brightly manifested as in former times it was not It was witnessed in former times in the Law and by the Prophets But in this was manifested the Love of God because God sent His only begotten Son into the World that we might live thorow Him Tit. 2. 11. 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. and answerably sin is now rendred more odious then it was in former times especially the sin of the World upon a new account The Holy Spirit saith our Saviour shall convince the World of sin of sin because they believe not on Me Joh. 16. 8 9. As also now the holy spirit is poured forth upon all flesh to wither it and to stain the glory and goodliness of it Acts 2. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 1 Cor. 1. 17-20-29 Yea now there is a more plain declaration and discovery of the Subjects of Christs Redemption and of the love of God therein then formerly was given forth to wit that it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners sinners indefinitely without exception or exclusion of any 1 Tim. 1. 15. That Christ by the Grace of God tasted Death for every man And gave Himself a Ransome for all And is the Saviour of the World Heb. 2. 9. 1 Tim. 2. 6 7 Joh. 4. 42. 12. 47. 1 Joh. 4. 14. And on this ground Christ by His Servants doth beseech men and perswade
these generally come and so are the Called but amongst them some are not Chosen the man was not which had not on a Wedding Garment and so all like unto him Namely such as though they come in some sort into the House as the First-bidden Guests refused to do yet they let not go their own Righteousness which are as filthy Rags that they might have the Righteousness which is through the Faith of Christ even the Righteousness of God by Faith that Robe of Righteousness Phil. 3. 9. Isa 61. 10. Or they so receive not the Grace of God as in coming to Christ to be Justified And Cleansed as Dan. 8. 14. from their Iniquities and Idols and conformed to the Mind and Image of Christ but while they pretend to seek to be Justified by Christ they themselves are found Sinners as Gal. 2. 17. And still remain altogether or in a great measure unsanctified in Heart and unreformed in Life while yet they profess to be Christ's Disciples and believe His Gospel These though of the Called as the First-bidden Guests were not so fully yet are not Chosen or Elect ones And abidâ—ng in this condition will have their portion in the Lake where their Worm dieth not and their Fire is not quenched Ver. 8. 14. By all which it plainly appears that the Elect are such as come to Christ and so come to Him as to deny themselves and prefer Him before and part with all for His sake And this is also confirmed by the like Parable and our Saviours Instructions in Luke 14. Where also after the Supper was prepared the Servant is sent forth to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready And they all with one consent began to make excuse The first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused And another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused And another said I have Married a Wife and therefore I cannot come So the Servant came and shewed his Lord these things Then the Master being angry said unto his Servant go out quickly â— to Invite others And after he had signified his great displeasedness with those who refused to come to Christ when Called saying None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper he turned and said unto the great multitudes that went with him If any man come unto me and hate not comparatively his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sister 's yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple And whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14. 16 21 24 26 33. Which confirmeth what we have said and is agreeable to the Parable we are considering and sheweth that these are the Chosen ones who so come unto and after Christ as that they sell all that they have that they may be made partakers of Him And others that so do not but prefer other things in general or something else in particular before Him however they may be Called or of the Called yet are not while so doing of the Elect of Chosen Generation or the Subjects of God's Election As we have often said But God assisting we shall speak hereto a little more particularly and shew What Election and Elect signifie in Scripture And so we say First Election doth properly and frequently signifie a Chusing out or Taking out some from others And the Elect or Chosen are such as are Chosen out of or from others and so it is here And for our Understanding and Usefulness of the proper and direct Signification of these Words and Things we shall propound and give Answer from the Scriptures to these five following Queries viz. Que. 1. What is the Argument propounded for the effecting this Election Answ The Grace or Love of God manifested and everlastingly commended to us in this that He sent the Son the Saviour of the World even of Mankind And according thereto Christ came into the World and was made Flesh and was made Sin and by the Grace of God tasted Death for every man and is raised again for their Justification And hath Redeemed them from the Curse of the Law and obtained all the Fulness of Grace and Truth into Himself for them This Grace as discovered and made known to us by the Ministry of the great Kings Servants in and by the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God is the Argument propounded for Electing men So in this Parable to the end the Invited Guests might come into Christ and so be the Subjects of God's Election the King commandeth His Servants to tell them Behold I have prepared my Dinner my Oxen and Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come to the Marriage Mat. 22. 3 4 8 9 with Luke 14. 16 17. To this also agreeth what the Apostle Paul saith even so then there is a remnant according to the Election or Out-chusing of Grace A remnant like unto the seven thousand men in Elias his days who had not bowed the knee to Baal not Idolaters and False worshippers as the Elect some men speak of may be and continue a considerable time But such as are freed from and chosen out of such polluted ones and pollutions And that not by Works of Righteousness which they had done but by the Grace of God which is Saving or bringeth Salvation to all men Rom. 11. 4 6. And so the being Saved viz. From mens Sins and Idols is the same with this being Elected or Outchosen compare and consider 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with Ver. 13. And it is by the same Means or Argument effected viz. By the Grace of God as the Apostle signifieth to the Ephesians For after he had declared what polluted ones they were in Times past namely before they heard and received the Word of Truth he then puts them in remembrance how they got an escape from their Pollutions By Grace ye are saved And again By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 1 2 5 8 9. with Rom. 11 6. Yea the Lovers of God and God's Elect are signified to be the same Persons compare and consider Rom. 8. 28. with Ver. 33. Now How come men to be Lovers of God Certainly by the Grace or Love of God even His first Love discovered to them as the Apostle John saith He that Loveth is Born of God and knoweth God for God is Love But how doth this appear and whereby iâ— iâ— evidenced that He is Love In this was manifested the Love of God because that God sent His only begotten Son into the World that we might live through Him He sent the Son the
Saviour of the World And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us God is Love c. Hereby is our love made perfect even through the Knowledg and Belief of His Love and that He is Love And what Love of God is the producer of our love to Him is also declared by the same Apostle We love Him because He first loved us It is the Manifestation and Discovery not of any delightful distinguishing Love of His but of that great Love wherewith He loved us and all Mankind whereby we are begotten to the Love of Him and therein made of the Chosen and Elect Generation 1 John 4. 7 10 16 19. with Ephes 2. 4 5. And so it appears that the Argument for effecting this Election is the Grace of God to Manward discovered in the Gospel of Christ Que. 2. What is the way owned and approved of God in or through which men are Elected Answ The way of His owning and approving is the Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth when and as discovered to them That is Men are then Chosen when they so with the Heart believe the Word of Truth and Grace of God therein discovered as that thereby they are Sanctified and Cleansed in the Spirit of their Mind and devoted unto God and not before To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh Elect according to the foreknowledg or Fore-approbation of God the Father according to that way fore-owned of Him in or through the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 2. To which agreeth also that of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians We are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning viz. of their Gospels coming to them as 1 Thes 1. 5. and 2. 13. Chosen you to Salvation through or in the Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Whereunto He also Called you by our Gospel c. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. No man therefore while he abides in his Ignorance Unbelief and Disobedience of God is Elected or Chosen nor until he be in some measure Washed and Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 9 11. Que. 3. Out of what are men Elected or Chosen Answ Out of the World which lieth in Wickedness or in the Wicked one 1 John 5. 19. And of which until they were Chosen out they were as well as others and not only in it but also of it They sometimes walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience Amongst whom we also had our Conversation in times past in the Lusts of our Flesh And were by Nature Children of Wrath even as others saith the Apostle Paul of both Gentiles and Jews who were after Chosen out of this sad condition Ephes 2. 1 3 5. To this purpose speaks our Saviour unto and concerning his Disciples Ye are not of the World but I have Chosen you out of the World And I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the World John 15. 19. and 17. 6. In both which places it is plainly Intimated that time was that they were not only in the World in their Persons for so they still were nor did our Saviour pray to His Father to take them out of it in this sense John 17. 11 15. but also they were of the World as to their State Condition Fellowship and Demeanour and during that time they were not Elected or Chosen out of it For Gods Elect and Chosen ones and the world are opposed the one to the other and the former hated by the latter As also our Saviour oft times signifieth in such expressions as these If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you John 15. 18 19. Ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce Chap. 16. 20. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me out of the world I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world Chap. 17. 9 14 16 20 21 23. 1 John 3. 1 13. And so the chosen ones are such as are seperated and severed from others in their state pollutions evil principles and manners And so Seperated and Chosen are used indifferently and put one for another in our Types whom we are instructed to behold 1 Cor. 10. 18. As whereas in Deut. 10. 8. it is said At that time the Lord seperated the Tribe of Levi to minister unto him It is thus rendred Chap. 21. 5. 18. 5. 2 Chron. 29. 11. The Sons of Levi shall come near for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him So again in one place it is said I am the Lord your God which have seperated you from other people Ye shall therefore put difference between clean Beasts and unclean And ye shall be holy for I have severed you from other people that ye should be mine In another place upon a like occasion it is thus said The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing Consider and compare Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3 c. And so they are a chosen Generation who are called not only whom God is calling but who are eventually called out of darkness out of the darkness of this world and out of their ignorance and unbelief into his marvelous light Compare 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. with Chap. 4. 3. Such as are delivered out of the power of darkness and translated or removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear sons Col. 1. 13. with Acts 13. 22. This is that out of which men are chosen even out of themselves and out of the world and power of darkness Que. Into and in whom are Men chosen Answ Into and in Jesus Christ as the Apostle saith Who hath chosen us in him Eph. 1. 4. As we have seen before The Elect are not chosen in the first Adam nor in themselves but in Christ who is the prime Elect unto whom God hath given the pre-eminence and first-ship in all things Isa 42. 1. Col. 1. 18 19. Rom. 16. 13. And who is the Root and Foundation of Election To this purpose the Apostle Peter speaketh To whom coming to wit unto Christ as unto a living stone chosen or elected of God Ye also as lively stones are built up a Spiritual House Ye are a chosen Generation It is here signified that in order of Nature however and of Time also Christ is first of all an Eleâ—t chosen stone an Elect foundation and Corner stone And those that