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love_n beget_v send_v world_n 2,703 5 4.7802 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A75470 An Antidote against some principal errors of the predestinarians a work designed for the information of the common people. 1696 (1696) Wing A3494A; ESTC R42462 23,735 50

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AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST Some Principal Errors OF THE Predestinarians A Work designed for the Information of the Common People Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the World 1 Joh. 4.1 LONDON Printed for Richard Cumberland at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1696. An ANTIDOTE against some Principal Errors c. TO convince those of their Mistake who err in Matters of Religion is an Act of the greatest Kindness and Friendship that one Man can do unto another being therefore fully satisfied in my self that some of the Predestinarian Principles are contrary to Truth I thought it my Duty to endeavour all that in me lies to convince them thereof who so believe by shewing that they do not srightly understand the true Intent and Meaning of the Word of God or that they err not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 that is to say not knowing them rightly for they rely only upon here and there a Place that seems to make for them and in the mean time overlook a far greater Number of Scriptures that very plainly and clearly do testify against them Now 't is evident that where one Part of Scripture seems to declare one thing and another part seems to declare quite the contrary 't is evident I say that there the true sense of one Part is not that which the literal Import of the Words does express for 't is certain that two Senses which do oppose each other cannot both be true in such Cases then it must be that the literal Sense of one part is the true Sense and then the literal Sense of the other part must be mystical figurative or allusive or such as does seem to speak one thing but does really mean and intend another Now 't is not possible for any Opinion to be true that is built on the literal Sense of such Scriptures as these whose right meaning is not that which the Words do at first sight seem to express Wherefore before we presume to make any Text the Foundation of our Faith we must be sure that the Sense which we take that Text of Scripture in is its true and right Sense And the way to know this is to consider first whether it be agreeable to that Sense which is found to be the Common Drift and Scope of the Bible for we must not understand any one Scripture in such a Sense as is contrary to a far greater Number of Places The general Sense of the Scriptures is rather to be relied on than a particular Sense of only three or four Places Again we must consider whether the Sense a Scripture is taken in be agreeable to Reason for no Sense of Scripture can be true that is contrary to the common and natural Notions of our Minds for the Law of Nature is as much from God as the Laws of Revelation are and 't is absurd to think that one part of God's Law can contradict another Again no Sense of Scripture can be the true Sense if it any ways naturally tend to take Men off from the Care of holy Living by nourishing in them foolish Presumption or else driving of them into miserable and deep Despair Now if these few Particulars be well considered they cannot but direct us to the Knowledg of the true and right Sense of the Scripture for if any Sense be the true Sense it must be that which is agreeable to the greatest Number Seripture-Testimonies which we have no reason to disbelieve and which has no Tendency in it to favour Wickedness but is every way proper to urge and press Mankind to a Life of Piety and Vertue Now 't is evident that the Predestinarians do build many of their Notions on Scriptures taken in that Sense which is opposite to the Sense of a far greater Number of Testimonies which declare the contrary and they are also taken in such a Sense as is contrary to all other Evidences of Truth deducible from humane Understanding and which makes many Men falsely conceit themselves to be the Beloved of God and his Elect even in the midst of their Wickedness and that has driven others into Despair upon a Supposition that they are of that Number whom God as they think has eternally reprobated All which clearly prove that the Sense they take these Scriptures in is a Sense that is not the right and true Sense and therefore that Faith is an erroneous Faith which they do build upon it And this by the Divine Assistance I will make evident in several Particulars And first Of REPROBATION The true Substance of the Calvinist Notion concerning Reprobation is that God has decreed from Eternity to reprobate or torment some Men in Hell for ever that thereby he may make manifest the Glory of his Justice in punishing some as well as his Goodness in making others happy and they say that the Number of those who are thus fore-ordained to everlasting death is so certain and their Fate is so unchangeable upon the Account of this his unalterable Decree that they can neither be increased nor diminished But this Notion is contrary both to Scripture and Reason and is therefore both a false and an impious Opinion First 'T is contrary to Scripture I mean such Scriptures as are much more numerous and more plain and easy to be understood than those are upon which this fictionary Faith is founded God is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 And in this was his Love manifested in that he sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him ver 9. Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live turn ye turn ye for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Have I any Pleasure at all that the Wicked should die saith the Lord God and not that he should turn from his Ways and live Ezek. 18.23 I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18.32 Now what can be more absurd and contrary to Scripture than to assert that he who takes no Pleasure in the Death of Sinners should for his own meer Will and Pleasure only to shew his Power decree to torment and damn the greatest part of Mankind If he swears that he delights not in their Death we may depend upon his Word notwithstanding all the Arguments which the Predestinarians can urge to the contrary 'T is likewise recorded for a Truth that the Lord is good to all and that his tender Mercies are over all his Works Psal 145.9 That he is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 That his Will is that Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of