come unto and are built on him are reckoned after him And though before they were not chosen yet now they are an Elect Generation Kind or Offspring 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 6 9 10. with Isa 28. 16. And hereby it appears both that some who were before out of Christ and so not Elected afterward were brought into him and then chosen in him and reckoned after him Compare Eph. 2. 11 13. with Chap. 1. 1 4. As well as also that some are Elected and chosen before other some because some are in Christ before others Rom. 16. 7. So in our Types of old Abraham was chosen before his Seed God chose him when he was in Ur of the Chaldees Neh. 9. 7. But he chose his Seed after him Deut. 4. 37. 10. 15. Ezek. 20. 5. The Lord hath chosen Zion even Jesus Christ first of all who came and shall come out of Zion Psal 14. 7. And who sitteth now in our Nature on Gods holy Hill of Zion Psal 2. 6. And in whom God dwelleth and will dwell for ever John 14. 10 11. Col. 2. 9. And secundarily those that are born in Zion Christs Children who come unto him and so are born of the Law and Doctrine of Christ which proceeds from Zion Psa 87. 5. And who trust in the Lord such as are good and are of upright hearts Psal 125. 1 5. and 132. 11 13. Even Zion whom no man careth for to wit Christ who is disallowed indeed of men and those that are brought into and born of and walk in Christ hath the Lord chosen and being chosen in Christ they are called into Gods marvelous Light for Christ is the Light of the World the Sun of Righteousness and Fountain of Light 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. Psal 36. 9. And so also are chosen and called into the Grace of Christ into his special peculiar favour and are the subjects of that Gal. 1. 6. to which afterwards Qu. 5. Unto what are the Elected chosen Answ Unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Christ namely that as Children of Obedience they should not fashion themselves according to their former lusts in their ignorance But as he who hath called them is holy so they should be holy in all manner of Conversation And that their Hearts might be sprinkled from an evil Conscience and their Consciences from dead works to serve the living God and their bodies washed with pure Water 1 Pet. 1. 2. with Heb. 10. 22. and 9. 14. He hath chosen them to be an holy people to himself Eph. 1. 4. thus it was said to our Types Ye shal be holy unto me for I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that ye should be mine Levit. 20. 26. And again The Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the Nations upon the Earth a peculiar people Zealous of good Works Deut. 7. 6. 14. 2. with Tit. 2. 14. Hence an Elect Generation and Holy Nation are put together 1 Pet. 2. 9. And as they are chosen in Christ in the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth as hath been said So the end also is That they should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1. 4. And so he hath chosen them to be and continue a Spiritual House an Habitation for himself through his Spirit 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. And his House they are who hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3. 6 14. The Lord hath chosen Zion be hath desired it for his Habitation This is the rest for ever here he will dwell for he hath desired it Psal 132. 13 14. And as in our Types he did chuse the Temple to be a place of Habitation in some sense for himself whence it was often called the House of God c. 2. Chron. 7. 12. 16. So now those that come unto and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone they grow unto an Holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2. 20 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. They are and to that end he hath chosen them that they might be the Temple of the Living God As God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. He hath chosen them to bear his name unto and before others and to render his praise glorious And as in former times God did chuse the Temple that his name might be there forover 2 Chron. 7. 14. So he hath chosen them that come unto Christ that they might be a Spiritual Priesthood to offer Sacrifices and hold forth the Word of Life to others and so be Instruments of good unto others So it is said of Paul after he was Converted He is a chosen Vessel or a Vessel of Election unto me to bear my name c. Even to be Christs Witness unto all men of what he had seen and heard To the End he might be an Instrument for opening the Eyes of the blind both Jews and Gentiles and turning them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may rereive the forgiveness of their sins and Inheritance among them that are sanctified and so chosen thorow faith that is in Christ Acts 9. 15. with Chap. 22. 14 15. 26. 16 18. And this is his end also more generally in chusing others that they might be Instruments of good to those that as yet are not chosen As the Apostle Peter signifieth Ye are an Elect Generation a Royal Priesthood c. That ye might shew forth the Praises If Him that hath called you out of Darkness into His marvellous Light That whereas others speak evil of you as of evil doers they may by your good Works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of Visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9 10 12. So Simeon else-where declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a People for His Name and so to Build again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen down c. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord and together with them be happy also in finding Him Acts 15. 14 17. with Isa 55. 6 7 8. Mat. 7. 7 8. And ultimately He hath Chosen them that they might obtain the everlasting Glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ So the Apostle Paul saith God hath from the beginning Chosen you unto Salvation c. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. And again I indure all things for the Elects sake viz. for Christ's Bodies sake which is the Church that they also may obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal Glory compare 2 Tim. 2. 10. with Col. 1. 24. and Ephes 3. 13. And so God's Elect here spoken of are such as by the discovery of the Grace of God in Christ by the
in due time inherit gloriously and are now by Faith Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ James 2. 5. And so many are Called but few are Chosen choice Ones The greatest part will be refused and disallowed of God because of their own stubborn refusal of and disobedience to Christ 4. Elect or Chosen doth signifie in Scripture Beloved or Loved with a delightful and peculiar manner of Love So it is said The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them Wives of all that they chose viz. delighted in or were well pleased with Gen. 6. 2. So these two words Chosen and Delighted in are used indifferently They have Chosen their own Ways and their Soul delighteth in their abominations Isa 66. 3 4. So whereas in the Prophet Isaiah it is thus said Mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth That Scripture is thus read and rendred by the Evangelist Matthew My beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased compare Isa 42. 1. with Mat. 12. 18. Thus again Is it such a Fast as I have Chosen Wilt thou call this an Acceptable day Chosen and Acceptable or Well-pleasing are the same And Chosen signifieth a Delight or Delightsome day unto the Lord Isa 58. 5 6 with vers 13. So chosen in the Lord and beloved or beloved in the Lord are used indifferently by the Apostle Rom. 16 8 12 13. So it is here also Many are called but few are chosen few beloved or delighted in no more than come to Christ for they are beloved in him the beloved one Rom. 16. 8. Eph. 1. 6. Indeed God loves all men while it is called to day with a love of pity and compassion with a love of mercifull kindness and hath abundantly manifested it in that he hath given his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World Joh. 3. 16. 4. 42. And as is evident in what he doth unto them thorow Christ Thus he loves them who hate him and hath therefore propounded himself as an example to be imitated by us to the end we might so see and follow him as to love and be mercifull to our Enemies and bless them that curse us c. Matth. 5. 44 45. Luke 6. 27 35 36. He so loves all men that he is not willing that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. 33. 11. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. 2 Pet. 3. 9. But yet though he love them thus and is pitifull and compassionate toward them and hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth but rather that he should turn and live yet notwithstanding he cannot delight in them that still abide in their ignorance and unbelief of the Gospel and are Enemies to his Son But contrarily he hates them with such an hatred as is opposed to a love of Well-pleasedness He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 36. He is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with him The foolish shall not stand in his sight he hateth all the workers of iniquity Psal 5. 4 5. So he saith concerning Ephraim All their wickedness is in Gilgall for there I hated them for the wickedness of their doings Hos 9. 15. The wrath of God cometh and abideth on the Children of disobedience Eph. 5. 5 6. Col. 3. 5 6. And therefore none such are delighted in nor chosen while so abiding and coutinuing They wearied the Lord with their words who said He delighteth in them that do evil Mat. 2. 17. As they now do who say Such as are unbelievers Idolaters Adulterers profane persons drunkards and notorious sinners may while abiding such be the elect of God and loved of him with peculiar distinguishing love which is directly contrary to the Scriptures as hath been said which signifie that though God pity and is compassionate to foolish ones yet he delighteth not in them He hath no pleasure in fools Prov. 1. 20 22 with Eccles 5. 4. But now his Elect ones are such as he delighteth in and loves with peculiar manner of love Hence the Elect are such as are said to be beloved Col. 3. 12. All his delight is in them that are chosen out of the World and keep his Commandements and which are the excellent ones Psal 16. 2 3. They that are of a froward Heart are abomination to the Lord but such as are upright in their way are his delight Prov. 11. 20. 12. 22. All such and only such as love Christ the father loveth with delightfull love I speak of such are come to years of capacity and have the Gospel plainly declared to them As our Saviour himself signifieth saying For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God such he loveth with such manner of love as that he calls and owns them as his Sons by faith And if Sons then Heirs John 16. 27. 1 John 3. 1. And such as these Christ loveth and delighteth in As he saith I love them that love me And as the father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love Prov. 8. 17. John 15. 9. But who are they that love Jesus Christ and so are the subjects of his and his fathers peculiar love his Elect ones in whom he delighteth They are such as when called come to and are ruled by Jesus Christ such as he not only commands but also they are commanded by him and obedient to him and so chosen as in the second sense of the word chosen before spoken to So saith our Saviour himself He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him And again If any man love me he will keep my Word and my father will love him and we will come unto him c. Once more If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love even as I kept my fathers Commandments and abide in his love John 14. 21 23. 15. 9 10. 1 John 2. 3 5. 5. 2 3 2. John 6. Truly God so loveth his Son Jesus Christ because he laid down his life for us that he might take it up again that he loves all them that love him with a delightful love they are his chosen ones with whom he is well pleased He gives unto them Eternal Life John 3. 16 18. Jam. 2. 5. And he so loveth his Son that he hates and cannot delight in them that are his Enemies and hate him He will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him Psal 89. 23. John 3. 36. Psal 16. 3. 4. And therefore while they abide such being not lovers of Christ they are not of the elect or chosen Generation Job 14.
Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. What a sad thing will it be for us to sport our selves in our self-deceivings as too many do 2 Pet. 2. 13. Better it is now for us to deal faithfully with our selves then to flatter our selves or be flattered by others to our endless and eternal misery and calamity Come we then to the light of the Lord the Gospel of Christ and therein and thereby we may see our selves whether we be chosen no Even he that is an hearer of the word and not a doer is like unto a man that beholdeth his natural face in a Glass for he beholdeth himself Even as a man may see his natural face in a Glass and see whether it be clean and free from spots and pollution or no so a man that is only called by and an hearer of the word of Truth may see himself and see what manner of person he is Jam. 1. 22 23 24. He may see whether he be chosen out of the World by the Grace of God or whether he be not but still remain in or be turned back again into the World and so is at present rejected of God and not loved with peculiar manner of love As the Apostle intimateth 2 Cor. 13. 5. And if by this Glass we see we are hearers and of the called only Oh let us give no rest to our eyes not slumber to our eye-lids until we so receive and retain the Grace of God which brings Salvation to us that we may be chosen out of this miserable condition and redeemed from amongst Men that it may be well with us for ever and we may not perish with the World And if it appear that we are of the number of those who are chosen that we still abide and continue in the Doctrine of Christ that we may have both Father and Son 2 Joh. 9. Inq. But some may say how may we know whether we be of the chosen number or no declare a little more particularly how we may know it Answ Those who are indeed chosen do know that they are of God and that the whole World lieth in Wickedness as 1 Joh. 5. 19. by keeping His Commandments as the Apostle saith Hereby we know that we know Him and are in Him if we keep His Commandments 1 Joh. 2. 3-5 And he that keepeth His Commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him chap. 3. 24. that is to say in more and plainer words His Commandments are That we believe on the Name of Jesus Christ and love one another as He hath given us Commandment 1 Joh. 3. 22-24 He that hath and keepeth these hath right unto the tree of life and shall enter in thorow the gates into the City even into the new Jerusalem Rev. 22. 14. that is to say they do know they are chosen 1. By this That the Faith they have received is the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and according thereto they believe with the heart that good report the Father hath given of Christ in His Word and Sayings in which He hath testified That He sent the Son into the World not to condemn the World but that the World thorow Him might be Saved And so they believe on the Name of the Son of God Joh. 3. 16-18 they have their Faith begotten by closing with and founded on not Mens Doctrines or their own Thoughts and Imaginations which they know to be corrupt and evil But they have received and retain for their Faith nothing else then the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus which was witnessed by the holy Prophets in former times and is now revealed to us by the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so they believe on Christ as the Scripture hath said and testified of Him and not as Men in their Glosses and Interpretations speak of Him They call no meer Man whatsoever their Rabbi nor own any to have dominion over their Faith but Jesus Christ and God in Him He is their only Law-giver in this respect the Father of their Spirits the Lord of what they believe And so according to His testimony they believe Him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World the only Foundation of Faith and Hope the only Fountain of all the fulness of Grace and Truth the only Bread and Water of Life the only door of approach of God the only Lord of our Faith and Consciences the only High Priest and Mediatour between God and Men And according hereto they come unto and depend on Him in His way for bottoming all upon Him for receiving all from Him for living continually by Him and to Him for approaching to God thorow Him and expecting and waiting thorow His Spirit for His perfecting all that concerns them c. And so they hold forth this word of Life in Word and Conversation And he that thus believeth on the Son hath the Witness in Himself and gives not God the lye but hath set to His Seal that God is true in all He hath testified of His Son 1 Job 5. 10 11. Job 3. 33. And in receiving this Testimony of Jesus they receive also therewith certainly and undoubtedly the Spirit of Gods Son Gal. 3. 2-5 which Spirit beareth Witness with their Spirit with their enlightened mind and judgment that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. And hereby they know that they dwell in Him and He in them because he hath given them of His Spirit And they have seen in the light and by the evidence thereof and do restifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. with 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2. They also know they are chosen by this that this Faith worketh in them by Love Gal. 5 6. and therein is efficacious in them And so they are distinguished from and preferred before such as say they have Faith and have not its works and so believe in vain But this Testimony of Jesus being received by them not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God it worketh effectually in them From the knowledge and belief of Gods love in Christ His first love they are begotten and prevailed with to love God even to love Him withall the heart and mind and soul and strength And so to love Jesus Christ as to suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung in comparison of Him It makes them willing to part with their Sins and Idols for His sake and prefer Him before all other things which they may love with a moderate affection 1 Joh. 4. 16-19 And this love of God in Christ known and heartily believed by them begetteth them unto and effecteth in them a delightful love to those who are begotten of Him and that not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth And by this they know that they are passed out of death â—nto life because
they love the Brethren And hereby they know they are of the truth and can assure their hearts before God 1 Joh. 3. 14. 18-19 5. 1. And also they are taught and led of God by this love of His to the love of all men even to love them with a love of pity and compassion and to testifie love to them according to their needs as they have opportunity Mat. 5. 44 45. He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in Him But whoso keepeth His word in Faith and Love in him verily is the Love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in Him 1 Joh. 2. 4 5. And so hereby we may know whether the Grace of God hath its electing efficacy upon us And so also on the contrary we may be assured we are not of this chosen Generation if we reject the testimony of God concerning His Son 1 Joh. 5. 10 Joh. 14. 21-24 or receive it in vain and are not saved and sanctified thereby But however we profess to believe the testimony God hath given of His Son yet while we love darkness rather then light and imprison the truth professed by us in unrighteousness we believe in vain and so persisting shall miserably deceive our selves Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 1. 18. Jam. 1. 22. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil Whosoever doth not righteousness believes not with the heart the record God hath given of His Son 1 Joh. 2. 29. with chapt 5. 1 10. 4. 6. is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 Joh. 3. 10. These two Faith and Love being had and kept by us to wit The Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and Love wrought thereby we herein keep the Commandments of God and have the new Creature and are in some measure new Creatures compare 1 Cor. 7. 19. with Gal. 5 6. chapt 6. 15. And he that is called by and an hearer of the Gospel may in the Glass of the perfect law of liberty behold himself that he is at present none of Gods elect if he have not the Faith of God and our Lord Jesus if he believe not with the heart the word of God and Testimony of Jesus so as to work effectually in him in some measure Or if he hath not this love begotten produced and continued in him by this faith as hath been said Jam. 1. 22 23-27 And hereby also we may discern and know the Election or non-election of other persons so as to have or not have delightful love towards and fellowship with them that come amongst us As the Apostle Paul saith not only of himself but also joyns with himself Silvanus and Timotheus in this knowledge of others knowing brethren beloved your Election of God to wit by their work of Faith and labour of Love c. For saith he our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost c. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost c. And they were also taught of God to love one another and all Men Hereby they knew the election of these Thessalonians first it was the Apostles Gospel which was heartily received by them and that not as the word of men but as the word of God And this wrought effectually in them to turn them and they did turn unto God from all their Idols 1 Thes 1. 3 4-10 2. 13. 3. 12 13. 4. 9 10. And whatever zeal men may have or whatever reformation be wrought in them or whatever profession they make or conversation they have Yet if they hear and imbrace not Gods Words if they receive not the Faith of Christ as His Faith they are not of God Joh. 8. 47. 1 Joh. 4. 6. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. On though men do in some sort believe the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus yet if this be not yielded up unto and suffered to work effectually in them they do believe in vain and they are vain men 1 Cor. 15. 2. Jam. 1. 26 27. chapt 2. 14-20 22 c. Yea and by this Faith and Love and the Fruits and Effects thereof as being held forth unto and before others even those who are of the World may know that those that walk in this Faith which worketh by Love are Christs Disciples indeed and so Gods Elect ones they are Christs Disciples known and read of all Men being by these two manifestly declared so to be even to such as hate them and therefore make war with them which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. with Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. By this shall all men know that ye are My Disciples saith our Saviour if ye have Love one to another Joh. 13. 34 35. But we shall add no more to this use 3. In that the Elect and chosen ones of God are few it sheweth unto us the wonderfulness of Gods care concerning them and protection over them in preserving such an handful amongst so many enemies They are like a Lilly amongst many Thorns Cant. 2. 2. like a Turtle Dove amongst a multitude of birds of prey Psal 74. 19. And yet they are and shall be preserved because they have a strong redeemer and a careful and faithful Shepheard who will keep them and preserve them from this generation that hates them and that for ever Psal 12. 7. If it were not the Lord who were on their side they may always say if it were not Jehovah who is on their side when men rise up against them they had been often swallowed up quick when mens wrath was kindled against them Psal 124. But God is for them and who then can be against them Rom. 8. 31-33 34. The Lord is their Shepheard and they shall want no good thing And their Salvation is of the Lord He is their strength in the time of trouble And He shall help them and deliver them He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in Him Psal 23. 37 39 40. And hence also 4. This instruction contains consolation and incouragement in it against cause and occasion of fear and discouragement That the Elect are few causeth fear to them hence they are incouraged and strengthned against their fear occasioned by the smallness of their number Fear not little flock Luk. 12. 32. fear not thou worm Jacob and ye few men of Israel Isa 41. 14. But that these few are chosen chosen out of the World choice ones in Gods account and loved with delightful well pleased everlasting love this is proper and powerful to strengthen them against the fear of evil And to encourage them to lift up the hands that hang down and the