the same day with the second Coming of Christ as appears 1 Thes 4. 16. and for this cause it is said That the dead shall rise and be raised at the last day Joh. 6. 39 40 54. and 11. 24. where the day of Christs second Coming is called the last day not absolutely but respectively as I conceive because it shall be the first and last day of that nature and kind And though Zach. 14. we know not this day as we know other days by way of computation from the beginning yet we must know it to be the last day in the former sence Eighthly It informeth us That the last Resurrection 8 Informat shall produce a great change in or upon the bodies of men women and children For though in this Resurrection of which I speak our bodies shall be the same with these 1. For Essence because whatsoever is essential to these shall be essential to them as head and ears eyes hands and feet c. 2. For Propriety because every one shall receive his own body again 1 Cor. 15. as God shall give unto every dead seed it s own body and so we shall see Christ not with other but with these same eyes Job 19. 27. Yet in the last Resurrection our bodies shall not be the same with these either 1. For Substance because the substance of these shall perish and be brought to dust Gen. 3. and the substance of those shall be formed and raised as is probable out of the dust of these not out of the substance of them Indeed those bodies of men which have been translated without death and those bodies of men which shall be changed without death probably shall have the same substance in the World to come which now they have But I speak here of the dead bodies of men and do not think that they shall be the same for substance with these which now we have for the Reason before alledged 2. Neither shall our bodies in the last Resurrection be the same with these for Qualities because they shall be changed in this respect For whereas 1. These bodies are corruptible those shall be incorruptible 2. These bodies are mortal those shall be imâ—ortal 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44. Phil. 3. 21. 3. These bodies are weak and frail those shall â—e strong and able 4. These bodies are deformed and vile those â—hall be well formed 5. These bodies are natural those shall be spiâ—itual 6. These are it may be imperfect for stature or â—imbs those shall be perfect in both respects And thus the last Resurrection shall produce a great change in or upon the bodies of dead men and women Being thus informed touching the last Resurrection we should be admonished from hence to beware of all erroneous opinions in reference to this Subject As 1. If any think there shall be no such Resurrection Vse as the Sadduces thought Mat. 22. 23. as some Philosophers Epicureans and Stoicks thought Acts 17. 18. and as some amongst the Corinthians thought 1 Cor. 15. 12. This is an erroneous opinion contrary to the Informations before given and we should beware of it because they who thus think are not much better then Atheists but are much worse then some Pagans in former times who acknowledged the Resurrection of the dead and an everlasting life after death 2. If any think this Resurrection is past already with Hyminetus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 18. This is an erroneous opinion too and we should beware of it because they who thus think conceive that either the Scripture speaks of no other Resurrection but a spiritual Resurrection or of no other Resurrection but such corporal resurrections as haâ—â— been heretofore whereas it hath been shewed bâ—fore That the Scripture doth plainly distinguish thâ— last Resurrection from both these 3. If any think that the reasonable soul of maâ— is mortal and shall dye with the body it is an erroâ—â— not only against those plain places of Scriptuâ—â— Psal 16. Luke 23. Luke 16. which teaches That the Souls of Christ of the penitent Thief of Dives and Lazarus were living while their bodies were dead but also against thâ— doctrine of the last Resurrection For if these soulâ— of men should dye with their bodies what betteâ— reason can there be given for the resurrection oâ— dead men then may be given for the resurrection oâ— dead beasts birds and fishes wherefore beware oâ— this opinion 4. If any think that dead beasts as well as dead men shall rise again at the last day they are much deceived also as may appear by what hath been said before in this Section and this brutish conceit is a plain denyal of that difference which Solomon puts betwixt a man and a beast in their death Eccl. 3. 21. and shews themselves to be ignorant of it therefore beware of it 5. If any think that the dead in Christ shall rise a thousand years before those men which are dead out of Christ we must take this for an error too though it hath many friends because the Word of God teacheth us to allow but one day for the last Resurrection called the last day Joh. 6. 39 40 54. and 11. 24. in which this great Work shall be finished How then can the dead in Christ rise a thousand years before the rest of the dead unless this one last day shall contain a thousand years from the morning to the evening of it which I suppose none of them will acknowledg for a truth Wherefore when it is said The dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. 16. we must understand that they shall rise first in â—rder of dignity if not first in time as we said before And suppose they shall rise some moment of time â—efore the rest of the dead yet we have no reason â—o think that they shall rise a thousand years before â—hem And whereas it is said The rest of the dead â—ived not again until the thousand years were exâ—ired Revel 20. we are to understand that Saint â—ohn in this place and in the Context doth acquaint â—s with two sorts of dead men viz. some are dead â—n Christ and these are yet alive in him and shall â—ive with him in Heaven by virtue of their spiritual Resurrection until the thousand years there spoken â—f shall be expired And others are dead out of Christ and these shall never live by virtue of a spiâ—itual Resurrection neither shall they live again by â—irtue of a corporal Resurrection until the thouâ—and years before mentioned shall be expired And â—f this be the true meaning of the place as I conceive â—â— is it makes nothing at all for this last Opinion â—ut proves it rather to be erroneous and therefore we should take heed of it Again This Doctrine touching the last Resurâ—ection should exhort and stir us up to divers duâ—ies As 1. To beleeve the last Resurrection seeing we have so many Scriptures to confirm it for when our Saviour had
as they speak of before the end come as I have before shewed Wherefore though I have here fit occasion given for to examine their Books and to discover their several Mistakes and Errors yet I am not willing in this Tract either to trouble â—he Reader any further with their conceits or to hinâ—er him from the meditation of profitable matters Again These six Grounds discovering the nature of the World to come should move and excite all â—eleeving Christians to look and hope for such a world to come as is here described with Christian hope after the example of S. Peter and the faithâ—ul with him who looked for new Heavens and a new Earth 2 Pet. 3. 13. So did the scattered Jews to whom he wrote his epistle they looked and hoped â—or the same Wherefore beloved seeing ye look for such things 2 Pet. 3. 14. And when Abraham looked for a City with foundations whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 10. doubtless he hoped â—or the world to come wherein this City shall be found So when the beleeving Romans had in them the hope of glory Rom. 5. 2. and Paul had in him the hope of the Resurrection Act. 23. 6. They had also in them a good hope of the world to come wherein such things are to be found If it be here asked why beleeving Christians should hope for the world to come I answer 1. The world to come is often promised in the Word of God and for this cause we should look and hope for it Nevertheless according to his promise we look for new Heavens and a new Earth 2 Pet. 3. 13. 2. VVe are commanded to look and hope for the world to come Look up for your Redemption draweth nigh Luk. 21. 28. Looking for that blessed hope Tit. 2. 13. And for this cause we should hope for it 3. This hope of the world to come is called the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. because the Gospeâ— teacheth and perswadeth it And for this cause we should hope for it 4. This hope of the world to come is called the hope of our calling Eph. 1. 18. because it should accompany the Christian Calling And for this cause it should not be wanting in us 5. Unless Beleevers hope in Christ for the world to come they are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. And if it be asked after what manner beleeving Christians should hope for the world to come I answer thus 1. Our hope for the world to come should be a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. such as should make us active and lively in the performance of Christian duties 2. It should be constant and stedfast such as should continue with us in the worst times unto the end of our days according to that of the Apostle Gird up the loyns of your minde be sober and hope unto the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 13. Prov. 14. 32. 3. It should be a patient hope such as should make us to wait patiently for the world to come and the good things thereof with the faithful at Jerusalem Luk. 2. 38. and with Joseph the Counsellor Luk. 23. 51. 4. It should be chearful such as should make us comfortable under the Cross of Christ with the beleeving Romans who rejoyced in hope of the glory of God to be revealed hereafter Rom. 5. 2. 5. It should be diligent such as should stir us up to be diligent in the exercise of all saving graces acâ—â—rding to that of the Apostle Seeing ye look for â—â—ch things be diligent that ye may be found of â—â— in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. â— where he intimates That they who are diliâ—â—nt in the exercise of saving grace while they live this world shall be found of God and of Christ the world to come and accepted of him as perâ—â—ctly reconciled and as perfectly holy and conseâ—â—ently they shall be found of him in peace withâ—â—t spot and blameless Let us not then cast off this â—â—pe at any time SECT V. Touching the Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh HAving hitherto spoken of the World to come considering it chiefly as a Country or Contiâ—ent Method requires that I should now in the next â—â—ace speak of it in reference to the things which shal â—e contained in it And though I cannot name all â—he particular matters things and occurrences which â—hall be in the World to come yet the Scripâ—ure mentions many of them and such as I find â—entioned in Scripture I shall endeavor to discover â—â— God shall permit And amongst others I here name five principal things that shall be visible to men in the World to come viz. 1. The Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh 2. The last Resurrection 3. The last Iudgment 4. The Kingdom of Christ 5. The blessed Condition of all that arâ— Christs with the cursed Condition of alâ— that are none of his But in this Section I shall speak only of the first oâ— these viz. Of the Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh And here we must know that the Word of God doth inform us of divers things touching this matter As First It informeth us That the Second Coming 1 Informat of Christ in the Flesh is to be distinguished from all other Comings of his for wheresoever this Second Coming of his is mentioned as Acts 1. 11. Heb. 9. 26. and in other places it is distinguished from all other Comings of his And more particularly it is distinguished 1. From his Coming in the Spirit for after his Ascention he came to his Apostles in the Spirit or in a spiritual way in the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his promise before his Ascention I will not leave you comfortless but will come unto you Joh. 14. 18. And this his Coming in the Spirit was not his second Coming in the Flesh 2. It is to be distinguished from his first Coming in the Flesh For though his first Coming in the Flesh was a Coming from Heaven as his second Coming shall be as it is written No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of man which is in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. yet his first Coming in the Flesh was partly a coming into this polluted world at the time of his Birth as he saith To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Joh. 18. 37. And partly it was a coming from place to place in this polluted world as He came from Galilee to â—rdan to John to be baptized of him Mat. 3. 13. â—e came to his own and his own received him not â—â—h 1. 11. He left Judea and came to a City of â—â—maria which is called Sychar Joh. 4. 3 5. But â—s second Coming in the Flesh shall never be a comâ—â—g into this polluted world nor
spoken to Martha concerning this subject he said unto her Beleevest thou this intimating that we should beleeve what the Scripture faith of the Resurrection And when Saint Paul had spoken of the same point he said to the Corinthians So we preach and so ye have beleeved 1. Cor. 15. 2. To hope for the last Resurrection as we are taught by the example of Saint Paul and others Act. 23. 6â— â—â— 1â— because it will be a joyful day for all Gods Elect. 3. To be patient in the mean time under all afflictions and perfecutions as the Martyrs in the primitive times were willing to suffer and refused to accept of deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection Hebr. 11. 35. 4. To do good in every kinde seeing we know that our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord but that we shall be recompenced for every good act at the Resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. Lastly This Doctrine touching the last Resurrection should comfort all good Christians greatly against all the evils of this life seeing we are charged to comfort one another with these words which concern the Resurrection 1 Thess 4. 18. More particularly it should comfort such against all their bodily infirmities and defects as blindness deafness lameness sickness c. knowing that in the Resurrection all these shall be done away and our bodies shall be restored unto us safe and sound in all parts and in all respectâ— And against the fear of a corporal death as Iob did comfort himself against it when he said If a man dye shall he live again Aâ— the days of mine appointed time will I wait till my change shall come Iob 14. 14. And as David also comforted himself in the like case when he said My flesh was glad and my glory rejoyced because thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell nor suffer thy holy One to see corruption Psal 16. SECT VII Touching the last Iudgment THree of the first things which shall be made visible in the World to come are the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh the last Resurrection and the last Iudgment And having spoken of two of these before I am now to speak of the third in this Section And here for the better information of our judgments I shall affirm divers things also touching the last Judgment As First I affirm That the last Iudgment it to be 1 Inform. distinguished from all other judgments whether of God or of men It is to be distinguished from all other Judgments of God 1. Because all other Judgments of God are but some National or some particular ones such as concern some whole Nations or such as concern some particular persons But the last Judgment shall be more then some National or particular one because it shall be universal such as shall concern all particulars of Mankinde of all Nations 2. Because all other Judgments of God are passed upon men at several times for some mens sins are open before-hand going before to judgment and some mens follow after 1 Tim. 5. 24. But the last Judgment shall be passed upon men all at once 3. Because all other Judgments of God are but partial and gradual not according the full measure of their works but the last Judgment shall be full and compleat 4. Because all other Judgments of God are but temporal whereas the last shall be eternal in respect of the execution thereof 5. Because all other Judgments of God have in them something that is secret and hid from men but the last Judgment with the cause of it shall be fully and clearly revealed to men It is also to be distinguished from all judgments of men that are given and passed by men in this life 1. Because such judgments of men are in some things commonly peccant and faulty like themselves but the last Judgment shall not be peccant or faulty in any thing 2. Because such Judgments of men may be appealed from unto the Judgment of God at least but the last Judgment will admit of no appeal and so the last Judgment is to be distinguished from all other Judgments whether of God or of men Secondly I affirm That the last Iudgment 2 Inform. shall certainly be and come to pass in due season And we should not doubt of it because God hath made the last Judgment sure unto us by three things As 1. By the Resurrection of Christ from the dead And one end for which God raised him from the dead was that thereby he might assure us of the last Judgment Act. 17. 31. 2. By his Decree and Appointment For it is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the Iudgment Hebr. 9. 27. And God hath appointed a day in which he will judg the world Act. 17. 31. Now matters decreed and appointed by God shall certainly be and come to pass in due season But the last Judgment is a matter decreed and appointed by God therefore it shall certainly be and come to pass in due season 3. By plain Testimonies of Scripture such as cannot be evaded For David speaketh plainly of the last Judgment when he saith The ungodly shall not stand in the Iudgment Psal 1. 5. God shall administer Iudgment unto the people in uprightness Psal 9. 8. He shall call to the Heavens from above and to the Earth that he may judg his people Psal 50. 4. So doth Solomon when he saith God shall judg the righteous and the wicked Eccles 3. 17. For all these things God shall bring thee to judgment Eccles 11. 9. And God shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccles 12. 14. So doth our Saviour when he saith That he shall execute judgment as the Son of man Ioh. 5. 27. So doth Saint Paul when he saith We know the judgment of God shall be according to truth against them that do such things Rom. 2. 2. So doth Saint Iames when he saith There shall be judgment merciless unto them that shew no mercy and mercy rejoyceth against judgment Iames 2. 13. And so doth Saint Peter when he speaketh of the Iudgment of the great day 2 Pet. 3. 7. Wherefore seeing the last Judgment is thus made sure unto us by these things we should not doubt thereof but should beleeve that it shall certainly be and come to pass in due season Thirdly I affirm That the last Iudgment shall 3 Informat be visibly administred onely by Christ as Mediator as God and Man in one person Indeed I grant that this Judgment shall be efficiently caused by the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost because it is said That God shall judg the world Psa 50. 6. 75. 7. Act. 17. 31. And the outward acts of the Godhead are common to all three persons in the Godhead I grant also that this Judgment shall be instrumentally caused by the holy Angels because they shall go forth and gather
1. That the Execution of it shall immediately follow the Sentence of it For no sooner shall that Sentence be given but forthwith the righteous shall go into life eternal and the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment Mat. 25. 46. 2. That the Execution of it shall be full and compleat in all things according to the Sentence For nothing shal be found in the Sentence which shall be found wanting in the Execution but in all things according to the Sentence shall the Execution be they that shall be blessed in the Sentence shall be blessed in the Execution and they that shall be cursed in the Sentence shall be cursed in the Execution and so Christ shall render unto every man according to his works Rev. 22. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality eternal life But unto them that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and auguish Rom. 2. 7 8 9. 3. That the Execution of it shall continue for ever For it is granted that the felicity of the godly and the misery of the wicked shall have no end in the World to come And if so then it will follow that the Execution of this last Judgment shall have no end but shall continue for ever both in multiplying of joys upon the godly and in multiplying of sorrows upon the wicked And what else can befall them both after the Sentence of this Iudgment but the Execution thereof Wherefore if we take the day of Iudgment for the day of Sentence we cannot say with Mr Mede and say truly That it On the Apotalyps shall continue a thousand years But if we take the day of Iudgment for the day of Execution we may say and say truly That it shall continue for ever Now as the Scripture doth thus inform our judgments concerning the last Iudgment so doth it also Vse apply â—â—e same Doctrine for the reformation of our lives Partly by way of Dehortation And so this Doctrine of the last Iudgment should dehort us in general from the practise of all sin because every sin unrepented of and unpardoned shall be brought to judgment and receive a just recompence of reward Eccles 12. 14. And in particular it should dehort us 1. From Atheism in all degrees because they that shall be found in the guilt of this sin without a pardon for it at the day of Iudgment shall suffer for it according to the full desert of their sin And God shall then say unto such an Atheist Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set those things in order before thine eyes Psal 50. 21. 2. From sinful ignorance in all kindes because they that shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at the day of Iudgment shall suffer for it as it is written He that knoweth not his Masters will shall be beaten with stripes Luk. 12. 48. And Christ at his second Coming shall take vengeance on such as know not God 2 Thess 1. 8. 3. From sinful unbelief in all kindes because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at the day of Iudgment shall be condemned for it and shall suffer according to their demerit as it is written He that beleeveth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 16. And the unbeleevers shall have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. 4. From sinful impenitency in every kinde because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall perish for it everlastingly according to that of our Saviour Excepe ye repent ye shall all perish Luke 13. 1 2. 5. From sinful disobedience in every kinde because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power 2 Thess 1. 9. 6. From sinful envy and grudging at the good of others because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be severely judged and condemned for it according to that of Saint James Grudg not one against another brethren lest ye be condemned behold the Judg standeth before the door Jam. 5. 9. 7. From rash and peremptory judging one of another because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be condemned for it according to that of Saint James My brethren be not many Masters knowing that ye shall receive the greater condemnation Jam. 3. 1. 8. From sinful swearing in every kind because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be condemned for it according to that of S. James But above all things my brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by the Earth nor by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lest ye fall into condemnation Iam. 5. 12. 9. From sinful security because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be greatly terrified in their consciences in so much that they shall hide themselves in the Dens and Rocks of the Mountains and shall say unto the Mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great Day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6. 16 17. 10. From unmercifulness because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be severely punished for it according as it is written There shall be Judgment merciless to them that shew no mercy Iam. 2. 13. 11. From Adultery and Whoredom because such as shall be found in the guilt of this evil without a pardon for it at that day shall be judged for it as it is said But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg Heb. 13. 3. 12. From all Errors in opinion especially such as relate to this Subject As 1. That this Iudgment is yet far off 2. That the day of Sentence shall continue a thousand years 3. That the place of this Iudgment shall be in this present world Now such and all other Errors should be abandoned because such as shall be found guilty of them without a pardon at this great Day shall be condemned for them as S. Peter saith of erroneous persons Their Judgment lingereth not their Damnation slumbereth not 2 Pet. 2. 3. Partly also this Doctrine of the last Judgment is applyed in Scripture by way of Exhortation And so it should exhort us in general to the practise of all known duties seeing we
Isai 45. 17. We may not imagine then that this Salvation of theirs shall ever have an end This Proposition thus cleared may be useful diâ—ers Vse ways First It makes for the confutation of such as â—hink though not all yet at least some of Gods Eâ—ect may and shall perish in the world to come Vorstius his c. Which impious conceit may in no wise be assented unto 1. Because it is most certain that all Gods Elect shall be saved in the world to come as hath been â—rove 2. Because God was of the minde to save them â—ll when he decreed their Salvation And it is blasphemy to think that he hath changed his mind since concerning them seeing he is still of one minde Job â—3 13. still the same Psal 102. 27. and changeth not Mal. 3. 6. 3. Because Christ hath promised That none of Gods Elect shall be lost Joh. 6. 37. And if none of â—hem shall be lost then none of them shall perish in the world to come 4. Because God in Christ is able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 5. 25. And they are kept by the â—ower of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. And if â—o then none of them shall perish in the world to come But whereas such Opinionists tell us of Solomon Object That though he wâ—re one of Gods Elect yet he shall perish in the world to come because as they say he never truly repented in this world I answer It is very uncharitable to think or say That Solomon Ans never truly repented because we have very probable evidences of his Repentance in the fifth sixth and seventh Chapters of the book of Proverbs even as touching that particular sin which they lie to his charge and throughout that book and the book of Ecclesiastes both written by him we have more general evidences of his Repentance And seeing all the evidence we can have of anothers Repentance can be but probable having the like concerning Solomons we should be satisfied therewith And whereas they tell us of the Apostacy of the Object Saints as if some of Gods Elect Saints might be guilty of total and final Apostacy and so â—â—â—ght perish in the world to come It is not onely against the duty â—â— Charity but Ans also against many plain places of Scripture to impute this sin of total and final Apostacy to any of Gods Elect Saints though some of Satans Saints may be guilty thereof as I have shewed often upon other occasions seeing God hath promised to preserve and keep them from this sin Psa 119. 165. Jerem. 32. 40. And our Saviour hath shewed That the Elect cannot possibly be seduced so far as to be guilty of it Mat. 24 24. Secondly It makes for the confutation of such as think That our good works in this life are meritorious and shall merit Salvation in the World to come Which Popish conceit is in no wise to be granted neither 1. Because Christ our Mediator is the onely meritorious cause of Salvation as was said before out of Act. 4. 12 2. Because our best works are very imperfect being mixt with much evil Rom. 7. 21. By reason whereof our best performances are but half good performances if they be so much How then can they merit at Gods hands Can a servant merit at our hands by half performances 3. Because our best works are but debts seeing we are debtors to the whole Moral Law to do the works therein prescribed How then can they merit Can we merit any thing by paying our debts or by half payment of them No we must pay our debts to avoyd the danger of imprisonment But we must do more then this if we will merit at the hands of God 4. Because our best works are but duty Luk. 17. 10. And can our servant merit any thing at our hands by doing his duty No neither can we at Gods hands but we must do more then our duty if we will merit from him whereas we cannot do half our duty 5. Because we are but meer men and never did any meer man merit at the hands of God The man Christ Jesus did because he was God and man in one person But we are not like unto him as touching his person therefore we cannot merit as he did Indeed God will reward the good actions of men performed in this life according to the measure and degrees of good that he finds in them But this reward shall be caused by Gods free grace not by our works it shall be occasioned by Gods bounty not by mans merit And though God may make himself a debtor to us by his promise yet we cannot make him a Debtor to us by our doings Thirdly It may inform us That Gods Elect should not despair of Salvation seeing it is most certain that they shall all be saved in the World to come Yea suppose some of them are not yet sure of their Election yet they should not despair of their Salvavation for these Reasons 1. Because that particular Assurance which is wanting for the present may be had hereafter and we know not what a day a week a moneth or a year may bring forth 2. Because this particular Assurance is not so essential to Salvation as other gifts of God are but a Christian may be saved without it as doubtless many have been 3. Because our Salvation doth not depend upon our Assurance but upon our Election If a man be Elected there is nothing that shall deprive him of Salvation Indeed I grant this Assurance to be a very comfortable blessing such as we should desire seek and pray for yea we should be diligent to make our Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Yet in case a Christian want this Assurance and after long seeking cannot obtain it he should not be so far discouraged as to despair of his Salvation but in this case he should still beleeve in the Lord Christ and depend upon him for Salvation which if he do he shall be saved though he want this Assurance What think you then of Reprobates may not such Obj. despair of Salvation I answer If a man in this life could certainly know himself Sol. to be a Reprobate and to be none of Gods Elect he might have some excuse for this sin But it is not possible for any in this life to know himself to be such an one for certain because our final and ultimate condition doth not yet appear unto us Therefore no man living in this world may despair of his future Salvation be he never so wicked and vile a sinner for the present but he should still think in charity towards himself that he may be one of Gods Elect though he be not certain of it and that he may possibly be saved by his future Faith and Repentance as well as others though it be ill with him for the present For we must know that God doth never by his Word or Spirit perswade any to despair of