19 20 21. It pleased the father by him to reconcile all things to himself Tit. 3. 4. After that the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared Iohn 12. 47. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world Iohn 15. 13. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friend Rev. 1. 5. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. The love of Christ Constraineth us c. II. They hold that Christ by the merit of his death hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankinde that the Father by reason of his Sons merit both could and would and did enter and establish a new and gracious Covenant with sinful man liable to Condemnation Proofes out of Holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Col. 1. 21 22. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death Isa 49. 8. I will give thee for a Covenant of the people i. e. A mediator and foundation of the Covenant of grace Deodat Annot Isa 53. per tot verse 10 11 12. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Ier. 31. 31 33 34. ch 33. 8. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. with Hebr. 8. 6. c. He is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises viz. I will put my lawes into their minde and I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness c. Hebr. 9. 14 15. c. How much more shall the blood of Christ and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance See chap. 10. per totum chap. 7. 22. chap. 12. 24 25. III. They hold that though Christ hath merited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins for all and every man yet according to the tenour of the new and gracious Covenant none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ otherwise then by faith nor are a mans sins pardoned before he actually believes in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture None made partakers otherwise then by faith Romans 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Romans 9. 33. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded 1 Timothy 4. 10. He is the Saviour specially of those that believe Col. 1. 19. to the 23. For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself And you hath he now reconciled to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight If ye continue in the faith c. Heb. 3. 6 14. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast c. Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator that by means of death they which are called Cum Eventu might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Iohn 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name See Gal. 3. 22. Nor are a mans sins pardoned before he believes Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Acts 26. 18. Chapter 13. 39. See John 3. 36. Rom. 3. 21 22. The righteousness of God without the law is manifested even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Romans 4 3 24. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and it shall be imputed to us also if we believe See the whole Chapter Gal. 2 26. We have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ Gal. 3. 11. See Gal. 3. 22. The just shall live by faith Romans 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God See Acts 2. 38. Isa 53. 11. IV. They hold that only they for whom Christ died are bound to believe that Christ died for them and if there were any for whom Christ died not they should not be bound to believe he died for them or condemned for not believing yea if there were any such Reprobates they should rather be bound to believe that he died not for them Proofs out of Scripture Only they bound to believe c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with 21. ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ who was manifest for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Believe also in me Why I goe to prepare a place for you and I will receive you to my selfe See 1 Cor. 15. 2 3. with the 14 verse Whence it followes that they for whose sins Christ died not and for whose justification he rose not again to them preaching is vain and their faith is vain for they do but believe an untruth and lean upon the staffe of a broken reed Accordingly as was alleaged above Maccovius saith A man must first believe Christ to be his Saviour which he cannot be unless he hath died for him and that must be the reason why he placeth his faith in him Rather believe that he died not for them For Deut. 29. 29. Those things which are revealed belong to us And Luke 24. 25. O fooles and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken If it be a revealed truth that Christ died not for the Reprobates then are they bound to believe he died not for them But if it be not a truth revealed why is it then preached and urged as an Article of faith What they doe not hold touching Christs death I. They do utterly deny that the price of Redemption which Christ tendered unto God his Father was not according to the decree will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man that so the greatest part of mankinde should by an absolute and antecedent decree of God be precisely shut out from the participation of the benefits of Christs death The Reason 1. Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was
to be the only means by which we may and ought to be saved appears in the 9. and 10. verses If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with thy heart that God raised him up from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the tongue confession is made unto salvation 2. That by the word which works this faith he understands the outward word appears by the whol contexture of the Chapter for he saith 1. This is that word of faith which we Preach verse 8. 2. That word which cannot be heard unless it be preached not internally by God but externally by men sent out to that purpose verse 14 15. 3. That word which is heard with the ears of the body and 4. may be disobeyed verse 16 18. As the working of faith is attributed to the ministery of the word so is the working of Regeneration too Jam. 1. 18 19. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth wherefore let every man be swift to hear To this adde 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 25. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you Hereupon St. Paul tell 's the Corinthians not only that he was a Minâ—ster of God by whom they did believe but tells them also that He was their Father for in Christ Jesus He had begotten them through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 14 15. Mr. Knowlittle The Apostle saith 1 Cor. 3. 6. I have planted and Apollo watered but God gave the increase Mr. Take o'trust So the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 38. God giveth to every seed his own body as it hath pleased him but still it is in the ordinary way of husbandry and therefore the Sower goes out to sow his seed and so the King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. But the sluggard who will not plow by reason of the cold He shall beg in harvest and have nothing Prov. 20. 4. In these natural things we see God doth not bring forth fruit by any peculiar divine action distinct from that of planting and watering but by preserving that force and vigour once put into the earth and water wherein and whereby such plantation and watering is made he concurs to make the labour of the husband man succesful and so gives the increase Psal 65. 9 10 11 12. Thou visitest the earth and waterest it thou greatly inrichest it with the river of God which is full of water thou preparest them corn when thou hast so provided for it Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly thou setlest the furrows thereof thou makest it soft with showers thou blessest the springing thereof Thou crownest the year with thy goodness and thy paths drop fatness So 't is here in a spiritual sense ye are Gods husbandry of Gods tillage 1 Cor. 3. 9. and he hath instituted a ministery to bring you unto fruitfulness I have planted laying the foundation or first principles of Christian faith among you of Heathens making you believers Apollo watered he baptized you and promoted that faith to some further growth in you But yet there is no great matter imputable to him or me that you should make a schisme upon this account as if either of us were the author of your faith but it is God alone who gave us our abilitie See 2 Cor. 4. 6. 1 Cor. 4. 7. 2 Cor. 3. 4 5 6. and put all the force and efficacie into those sacred Ordinances which we administer and so gave the increase Thus I say God gives the increase not by any peculiar special action distinct from that Plantation watering of Paul and Apollo but by continuing to prosper that vigour and efficacie which he was pleased to put into that Ministery Hence the Apostle saith Verse 9. We are labourers together with God and Verse 5. Ministers by whom ye beleeved To this purpose the Apostle is a Chosen Vessel to bear the Gospel to the Gentiles Act. 9. 15. and his Commission is To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26. 18. and he doth so well mannage and execute this Commission that he is confident to say I have whereof I may glory through Iesus Christ in those things which pertain to God Rom. 15. 17. Mr. Know-little There is a promise Isai 30. 21. Thine eares shall heare a word behinde thee saying This is the way c. Mr. Takeo'trust 1. That promise is made to such as are already converted * and signifies no more than what is more clearly exprest 'T is observed that the holy spirit not in his miraculous gifts only is most frequently said to be given to men after their conversion Luke 11. 13. Acts 5. 32. c. 19. 2. c. Isa 59. 21. 2. If the word there promised be a thing distinct from the word of the ministery then I ask whether it be an intelligible word or not If not then 't is no fit mean to work upon a reasonable soul and bring it to perform to God a reasonable service as ours ought to be Rom. 12. 2. If it be an intelligible word then either it hath the same sense with the word written and preached or a different sense from it If it be of the same sense with the word written preached then 't is to no purpose frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora entia non sunt multiplicanda sine necessitate 't is frivolous to multiplie means without cause If this word be of a different sense from the word written or preached then this to the dishonour of the word will argue the insufficiencie of it to make us wise unto salvation and the man of God perfect thoroughly furnished unto every good work and this will lay an imputation not only upon the veracity and truth of God but also upon his wisdome and goodness for commending and injoyning the use of his written word to us for an end and purpose to which it is unsufficient But that we may understand the Prophets meaning consider that we are commanded to walk before God Gen. 17. 1. according to which expression we are to think God alwayes at our heels as we say observing our steps and consonantly to that metaphorical expression if we step aside what means soever his providence useth to set us right and direct our goings in his paths 't is as if we heard a voice behinde us Not that God would exempt us from following the direction of the ministery no for the promise is thus expressed in the former verse Thine eyes shall see thy Teachers see Deut. 17. 9 11. and that we may not think it lawful to run on in errour till the Enthusiastical charm recals us remember t is our duty to seek the law at the
Rev 22. 15. See the place Ephes 5. 5 6. Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Be not deceived the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God See Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Luke 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Iohn 3. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light 2 Thes 1. 7 8. The Lord shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance of them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ See Mat. 13. 41 42 49 50. Chap. 25. 41 43. Wherefore if thine eye offend thee c. Mark 9. 43. to 49. See Heb. 11. 6. Ch. 12. 14. Rev. 21. the last Ezek. 18. 26. Mat. 3. 10 12. Chap. 5. 20. III. And because sinful man could not possibly of himself by his natural abilitie believe in this Redeemer and persevere in such faith he decreed to afford man means sufficient and necessary as he saw befitting his own wisdome and justice for the working of faith and repentance whereby man might be inabled to believe or more and more prepared and in certain steps or degrees brought on at length to true faith Proofes out of Scripture Not of himself c. Mat 6. 27. Which of you by taking thought can adde one Cubit unto his stature Iob 9. 19 20. If I speak of strength loe he is strong Hos 13. 9. Thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Isa 43. 1. c. 45. 21. I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Prov. 3. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thine own understanding Isa 5. 21. ch 31. 1. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes but look not unto the holy one of Israel neither seek the Lord. Not believe by his natural ability c. Rom. 5. 6. ch 8. 3. Without strength See a Cor. 4. 6. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves See Rom. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 22. Ioh. 3. 3 5. Mat. 12. 33 35. Make the tree good and then the fruit good 1 Cor. 3. 4. God giveth the increase Phil. 1. 29. Vnto you it is given Act. 16. 14. Whose heart the Lord opened Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe See Ezek. 36. 22. Mat. 16. 17. Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee Lam. 1. 17. Every good gift is from above c. Joh. 6. 44 65. Except the father draw him Mat. 11. 27. Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him John 15. 5. Without me ye can doe nothing 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God See Rom. 4. 16. ch 5. 15. c. ch 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am Gal. 2. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 1 3. Who have obtained like precious faith with us according as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness Eph. 3. 14. c. ch 6. 23. Rev. 1. 4. Grace and peace from God the Father c. 1 Cor. 1. 3. He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. See Rom. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Nor persevere in such c. Ioh. 15. 5. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing Heb. 12. 2. Jesus the author and finisher of our faith 2 Thess 2. 16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and worke 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all grace make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you See Ephesians 3. 14. c. Phil. 1. 6. Hebr. 13. 20. Means sufficient and necessary c. Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son See Rom. 10. 14. c. 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. Isa 59. last How shall he not with him also freely give us all things Eph. 1. 3. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Isa 49 6 8 9. ch 42. 7. That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth To open the blinde eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house I will give thee for a Covenant to the people To perform the promise that he would grant unto us a Power that we might serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life S. Luke 1 72 to 76. 2 Pet. 1. 3. His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godlinesse Mat. 25. 14 15 27 29. He gave unto them his talents Mat. 13. 11 12. To you it is given to know Act. 2. 4 5 39 41. The promise is to you and your children Luke 10. 9. The kingdome of God is come nigh unto you Isa 65. 1. Rom. 10. 20. I was made manifest to them that enquired not after me Tit. 2. 11 12. ch 3. 5 6. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation unto all men hath appeared the renewing of the holy Ghost which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour See Hebr. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. Iam. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 4. 15. Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace Mar. 4. 23 24 25. Luke 8. 18. To him that hath shall be given Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine Luke 11. 13. Act. 5. 32. He will give the holy Spirit to them that aske and obey him Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it Heb. 12. 28. wherefore let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear IIII. Whence ariseth the last decree concerning the salvation of this or that man in particular who by these means should be brought unto faith and persevere therein this being the condition required in every one that is to be elected unto eternal life and the consideration of this or that man in particular who should die in unbelief Proofes out of Scripture The condition required in every one that is to be elected c. Iam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith 2 Thess 2. 13 14. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth c. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Mark 13. 20 Elect according to
Infants children of the faithful are to be accounted in the number of Reprobates The Reason Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Acts 2. 39. The promise is unto you and to your children Acts 11. 14. Words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved Acts 16. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house 1 Cor. 7. 14. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy II. They utterly denie that some Infants of the faithful departing this life in their Infancy before they have committed any actual sin in their own persons are reprobated The Reason Gen. 18. 25. That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from thee shall not the judge of all the earth do right Ionah 4. 11. Thou hast had pitty on the gourd for the which thou hast not laboured neither madest it to grow which came up in a night and perished in a night and should not I spare Nineveh wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left Ezek 18. 2. 3 4. What mean ye that ye use this proverb saying the fathers have eaten sower grapes and the câ—â—ldrens teeth are set on edge See Deut. 24. 16. 2 Kings 14. 6. As I live saith the Lord God ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb Behold all souls are mine as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine the soul that sinneth it shall die Ier. 31. 29 30. In those dayes they shall say no more the fathers have eaten a sowre grape and the childrens teeth are set on edge But every one shall die for his own iniquitie every man that eateth the sowre grape his teeth shall be set on edge III. They do utterly denie that the sacred laver of baptisme and the prayers of the Church can no wayes avail such Infants unto salvation The Reason Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and disciple all Nations baptizing them c. 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth also now save us Tit. 3. 5. He saved us by the washing of regeneration Ephes 5. 25 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Acts 2. 38 39. with Acts 22. 16. Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins for the promise is to you and to your children Gal. 3. 27. with Rom. 8. 1. As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus And the prayers of the Church c. 1 John 5. 14 15 16. This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death And shall not God hear the prayers of the Church in behalf of Infants IV. They do utterly denie that some of the faithfuls children baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost while they live in the state of their Infancy are reprobate by an absolute decree The Reason of this appears sufficiently in the Reasons of those Negatives fore-mentioned The state of the Controversie touching Predestination or Election to Eternal life or Reprobation therefrom I. Whether of divine and peremptory Election to Glory or eternal life the first and adequate object be All and only those which persevere in true faith unto their lives end as such or certain particular persons not at all considered as believing and persevering in faith as such See all the Texts alledged for conditioned and against absolute irrespective Election II. Whether of Peremptory Reprobation unto everlasting torments the first and adequated object be All and only unbelievers dying in their unbelief as such or certain particular persons the greatest part of mankinde not at all considered as impenitent unbelievers and disobedient as such See the Texts fore-cited for respective and against irrespective and absolute reprobation to which you may adde Isa 27. 11. Because this people have no understanding therefore c. Ezek. 18. 1â— 23. The second Article Controverted concerning the Universalitie of Christs death What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that the price of Redemption which Christ tendred unto his Father was not only in it self sufficient for the Redemption of all mankinde but was also according to the decree the will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man Proofs out of Scripture For all and every man 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all Chap. 4. 10. We trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men Iohn 3. 16. John 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world 1 John 2. 2. John 6. 33 51. We have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world He tasted death for every man Hebrews 2. 9. For the unjust 1 Peter 3. 18. c. For the ungodly for sinners for his enemies Rom. 5. 6 8 10. See the places cited before for Christs satisfaction According to the decree the will and grace of God c. John 3. 16. So God loved the world c. 1 John 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie that the father sent the son to be the Saviour of the world Romans 8. 32. He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all 1 John 4. 9 10. 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 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 17. That he by the grace of God should tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. Col. 1.
and salvation is according to his secret acceptable and perfect will Ephes 1. 9. 1 Thes 4. 3. Rom. 12. 2. See the proofs of the seventh affirmative see 1 Tim. 2. 3 4. VII They do utterly denie that God calleth Reprobates for these ends viz. that he may harden them the more make them unexcusable punish them the more grievously manifest their weakness and not for this end that they may be converted believe and be saved The Reason See it in the Reasons of the 5. and 6. Negatives immediately foregoing to which adde Ephes 4. 1. I therefore the prisoner See 2. Chron. 24. 19. His design is to reduce them Mark 12. 6. Rom. 1. 7. Beloved and called of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called And what answer doth such a call deserve as is given to no other end then those now mentioned But God calleth us with an holy calling 2 Tim. 1. 9. And he saith unto me write Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb And he saith unto me these are the true sayings of God Rev. 19. 9. Luke 10. 24. Mat. 16. 17. 2. He upbraids such as make no better use of his calls then to aggravate their own damnation Deut. 29. 2 3 4 5 6. Ezek. 2. 5. John 15. 22 24. John 5. 34 40. These things I say that ye might be saved And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Rom. 2. 4 5. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath Se proofes of the 7. Affirm VIII They do utterly deny that by the force and efficacy of the secret will and decree of God not onely good things but evill do necessarily come to pass The Reason 1. 'T is mans duty to eschew evil and doe good Psal 34. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 11. See 2 Sam. 24. 12 13. 1 Sam. 23. 11 12. good being commanded upon promise of life and evill forbidden under peril of damnation Matth. 19. 17. If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Rom. 1. 18. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness See verse 32. 2. The good and evil which men do are matters of choice See John 19. 11. Ios 24. 15 22. Isa 1. 19 20. If ye be willing and obedient c. But if ye refuse and rebel c. Ezek. 2. 5. Whether they will hear or whether they will forbear c. See Ier. 36. 6 7. Mic. 2. 1. Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds when the morning is light they practise it because it is in the power of their hand Mat. 17. 12. 1 Cor. 7. 36. Let him do what he will See Deut 30. 19. 3. Gods exprobration Ier. 5. 22 23. under different lawes 4. Good and evil are attended with praise and dispraise which such actions deserve not as come to pass Necessarily The wise shall inherit glory but shame shall be the promotion of fools Prov. Phil. 4. 8. Rom. 2. last Rom. 13. 3. Doe that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same 1 Cor. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 19 20. This is thank-worthy with God Well done good and faithful servant Luke 19. See Gal. 6. 4. Who seek for glory and honour and immortality Rom. 2. 7. 5. God propounds examples to our imitation 6. That is omitted which God loves and that comes to pass which He hateth See Ier. 44. 4 5. Isa 65. 12. 66. 4. They did evil before mine eyes and did choose that wherein I delighted not Zech. 8. 17. All these are things that I hate See Ier. 44. 4 5. 1 King 20. 42. 7. Lastly God is sometimes said to expect that which doth not come to pass See Mark 12. 6. Ezek. 22. 30. 1 Pet. 3. 20. When once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah Isa 5. 2 4. He looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wilde grapes See the places cited for Gods hatred of sin and against Absolute antecedent decrees The state of the Controversie touching the work of grace in the Conversion of man Whether a man when God seriously wills that he believe and be converted can nill to believe and convert The Fifth Article Controverted is touching Perseverance What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that God doth furnish the true believer with supernatural power of grace as according to his infinite wisdome he judgeth sufficient for their perseverance and conquest over the temptations of the Devill the flesh and the world and that he is never the cause why they persevere not Proofes out of holy Scripture Sufficient for their perseverance 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God See Ioh. 4. 14. ch 6. 53. shall never thirst 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee Phil. 4. 13. I am able to doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Matth. 11. 30. 1 Iohn 5. 3. My yoke is easie and my burden light And conquest over temptations Ioh. 10. 28 29. They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Luke 22. 32. John 17. 11. Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee Rom. 8. 35. c. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ 1 John 5. 4 5. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world 1 John 2. 13. 14. I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one 1 Joh. 4. 4. Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world He is never the cause why they persevere not c. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Phil. 1. 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it untill the day of Jesus Christ See 1 Thes 5. 23 24. 2 Thes 3. 3. The Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evill Jude ver 24. Now to him that is able to keep you from falling 1 Cor. 15. 57. Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ II. They