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A96425 The doctrines of the Arminians & Pelagians truly stated and clearly answered: or, An examination and confutation of their ancient errors, which by the Church of Christ in former ages were justly abhorred, but of late under the names of Comfortable truths to be embraced are newly published. Concerning I. The universality of Gods free-grace in Christ to mankind. II. Concerning election. III. Redemption. IV. Conversion. V. Perserverance. Wherein the principal arguments brought to maintaine the orthodox faith are propounded, and the principal objections against them answered. / By Thomas Whitfield, minister of the gospel at Bugbrook in Northampton-shire. The Tares of Arminian heresie showed in former times (and by the help of prelatical influence then given to them increasing) and now growing up so much in these; I conceive this book wherein the author doth learnedly state and confute those opinions, is very worthy the publike light. Joseph Caryll. Whitfield, Thomas, Minister of the Gospel.; Carly, Joseph, 1602-1673. 1651 (1651) Wing W2006; Thomason E646_7; ESTC R208798 87,011 101

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the Elect standing in opposition to the wicked World from which therfore none of the Elect are to be excluded for he prayes for all those whom the Father had given him both called and uncalled I pray not onely for these but for those who shall believe in me Iohn 17.28 4. Those uncalled ones whom our Saviour prayes for ver 20. he distinguisheth from the World ver 21. 23. and therefore it is not likely he would expresse them by the name of the world in ver 9. And this which hath been said may likewise answer the two last objections for if the World here cannot signifie the Elect uncalled but only the wicked World then Christ doth not pray for them at another time or in another manner then for his own for he doth not pray for them at all So that the Argument still holds good if Christ would not pray for wicked men such as shall perish in the end hee would not die for them for to lay downe his life was an action of the greatest love and for whom he hath done the greater he will also do the lesse His love in dying and thereby making satisfaction being the foundation of his intercession and all other benefits belonging to our Redemption Object 5 Against the Argument drawne from Election namely that the Sonne died for no more then the Father had elected to son-ship and to the eternall inheritance there being a connexion betwixt Election calling Justification and Glorification Rom. 8.30 Ephes 1.13 but all are not Elected therefore Christ died not for all Tho. More replies very little to the purpose 1. He saith that the proposition is directly contrary to the Scripture Heb. 2.9 1 Tim. 2.6 but he should have sayd to those Scriptures taken in his sense but not taken in the true sense for is it not agreeable to the Scripture to say that those whom God elected or predestinated those he appointed to obtaine salvation by Jesus Christ for those Christ dyed those hath he called justified and to which he adds that it is so grosly false as it deserves rather abhorring then answering pag. 114. But it may be better sayd this kinde of language deserves rather to be abhorred then answered which makes the language of Scripture a thing to be abhorred 2. He saith that it overthrows the distinction which the Gospell makes betwixt common and speciall salvation Answ It may well overthrow that which hath no foundation in the Gospell which his common salvation hath not as before hath been shewed 3. He denyes that there is any such connexion betwixt these priviledges that he who partakes of one must needs partake of all pag. 117. All that is in the common salvation pertains to the speciall but not on the contrary Answ 1. It hath been already shewed that there is no such common salvation if salvation be taken properly and in a spirituall sense namely for eternall life or any thing which necessarily belongs to it 2. That there is such a necessary connexion betwixt election and redemption may thus be proved All those and onely those who are elected are likewise redeemed called justified glorified But all are not elected nor shall be called justified glorified therefore all are not redeemed The proposition is proved by those Scriptures which make the love of election to be the ground and cause of redemption and all the rest God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son which cannot be meant of a common love because it tends to everlasting life Joh. 3.16 to salvation 1 Tim. 1.16 we love him because he loved us first and gave himselfe to be a propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 4.10 God setteth out his love in that while we were sinners he gave Christ to dye for us Rom. 5.8 so that Gods love is the cause of giving his son where that goes before this must needs follow neither is this ever to be found where that hath not gone before To this purpose also the Apostle sayth we are chosen in him Eph. 1.4 not as the foundation of our election which is onely from the good pleasure of his will ver 5. but of our redemption and salvation in that he hath appointed us to obtayne salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Thess 5.9 In both which places Christ is made the fruit and effect of election therefore of equall extent with it reaching neither shorter nor farther then that doth so that he is given for all and onely those that are appointed to salvation For if God therefore gives Christ for men because he hath appointed them to salvation it follows on the other side that if he hath not appointed all men to salvation he hath not given Christ for all and how can we in reason thinke that God should give his sonne to purchase salvation for those whom he never intended to save yea more for such whom he intended to destroy For it cannot be denyed that God will bring destruction upon a great part of men and what he doth in time he intended to do before all time 2. The Apostle sayth we are chosen to salvation through the beleese of the truth 2 Thess 2.13 Now saith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 and such a gift as he doth not give to all Now if it should be asked why God doth give this gift to some men rather then to other it must be answered because he hath chosen them to salvation so many as were ordained to eternall life believed Act. 13.48 If it should on the other side be asked why doth he not give faith as well to others since he is able to do it the answer must needs be because he hath not appointed them to salvation Now if God will not give faith to those whom he hath not appointed to salvation shall we thinke that he hath given Christ for them which is farre the greatest gift of all For the rest which follows it is but a venting of his owne private notions about election wherein either he affirms that which is not denyed or proves not that which is denyed Object Against that place Act. 13.48 that so many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Tho. More objects that the word ordaining is to be understood of an actuall ordaining constituting preparing furnishing making meet and not of Gods eternall purpose pag. 150.151 Answ 1. This he sayes but this he proves not but the contrary may be proved from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as it is most usually taken in Scripture is not put for preparing furnishing or fitting but for ordaining or appointing so it is sayd the powers which be are ordained of God Rom. 13.1 and it was told Paul all things which were appointed for him to do Act. 22.10 In both which places the same word is used 2. This ordaining to life is made the cause of beleeving which ariseth not from any furnishing or fitnesse in our selves but is the free gift of God Eph. 2.8 3. How
in Christ by believing because those who these are types of are called Children of the flesh and Children of the promise That these answers cannot stand with the mind of the Apostle Replication nor scope of the place appears 1. If Election or Reprobation be out of fore seen works yet they are out of works which is the thing that the Apostle here denies giving this as a reason why it was said of Esau and Iacob before they were yet born the one have I loved the other have I hated that Gods purpose according to Election might stand Rom. 9.11 not of works but of him that calleth The purpose of God according to Election is the same with Election for it is all one as if he had said the purpose of God Electing and calling here must needs be calling according to purpose such a calling as Isaacks was not Ismaels because the Apostle makes it here to answer to the purpose of God Electing and sets it in opposition against works so that fore-seen works as well as works already done are here excluded as such things as cannot stand with Gods free Election besides Infants that were to die presently after they were born might be elected or reprobated of whom yet there could be no works fore-seen 2. Esau was a type of those who are called Children of the flesh but Children of the flesh are not here such as seeke righteousnesse by the Law but such who were borne of Abraham according to the course of natural generation these being opposed to the children of promise who in Isaac were called to the heavenly benediction ver 7.8 for the Apostle shews plainly that the promise made to Abraham did not indifferently belong to all his seed to all that should be borne of him according to the course of nature but only some of them namely such as God did chuse to himself of his owne will and pleasure as he did Isaac and Iacob besides the seed of Abraham without any thing adjoyned is never so taken namely for children of the flesh that seeke righteousnesse by the Law but generally for such as are borne of Abraham according to the course of nature and if it had been taken in this sense the Apostle should not have answered as he did all who are of Israell are not Israel or all who are Abrahams seed are not Children but all who follow the Law are not the true Israel to whom God tied himself by promise 3. How can Esau as here he is brought in considered without works be a type of those who should seeke righteousnesse by the Law or Iacob as he is here considered without having done either good or evil be considered as a type of those who are chosen when God fore-sees them to beleeve and to persevere therin or how can this agree to Pharaoh whom the Apostle here brings in as one that was rejected in the same manner that Esau was how can this I say agree to him who neither knew the Law nor the works of the Law nor sought after righteousnesse by the works of the Law or any waies else 4. No godly faithfull ones could thinke the word of God falsified if such as sought ●ighteousnesse by the works of the Law were rejected but this was a doubt whereat even the best of them all stumbled namely how the Israelires the ancient people of God could be rejected and the Gentiles called Neither is there any appearance of injustice even to mans reason if God doth decree to reject such as reject Christ when he is offered and cleave to their own righteousnesse and to save such as receive Christ and that out of his meere pleasure which yet seems to appear by the Apostles doctrine of his loving Iacob and hating Esau as his words shew when he saith Is there any unrighteousnesse with God vers 14. yea in clearing this doubt and removing this objection the Apostle was bound for preserving of the honour of God and clearing of his justice to have expressed this consideration and have answered that God might justly decree to reject those who would refuse Christ and stick to their owne works of which yet he mentions not a word but answers both this objection of unrighteousnesse in God ver 14. and also that others of our inability to resist Gods will ver 19. by resolving all into his meere will and pleasure and there rests ver 15.16.21.22 I will have mercy on whom I will c. these words hold forth absolute will and the forme of them excludes all other things not causes onely but all occasions of Gods decree Argument 9 For upholding this platforme of predestination they are forced to excogitate and devise such wills and decrees in God and such an order of them as can neither agree with Scripture nor with the nature of God as 1. An Antecedent will and a consequent will both which they make to agree properly unto God and yet by one of these he wills the salvation of all by the other the damnation of some 2. Such a decree of salvation as hath not for his object persons but things 3. A conditionall and an absolute or peremptory decree touching the same persons one succeeding the other as that Peter shall be saved if he doth believe and when he doth believe that he shall certainly be saved 4. And for the order they make the decree of giving Christ to go before any decree of mans salvation and the decree of saving believers to go before the saving of any particular persons that these things cannot stand nor agree with the Scriptures nor the excellent nature of God appears by these reasons To begin first with the order How can God be sayd to decree the giving of Christ before he had any intention or determination of mans salvation when as the end why he gave Christ is this that he might save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 and this was the reason of the name given him by the Angel you shall call his name Jesus for he shall save my people from their sinnes Mat. 1.21 Looke for what end Christ came into the world for that end God sent him and for that end he appointed to send him but he came to save sinners how then can the determination of giving Christ go before the determination of mans salvation besides our Saviour makes the love of God to be the ground of giving his sonne God so loved the world that he gave his sonne John 3.16 Now this is such a love as tends to salvation therefore the intention of salvation cannot follow the intention of giving Christ for though mans salvation be not the last end of giving Christ yet it is such as can never be severed from the last the greatest glory of God appearing in that salvation of man which is purchased by Christ 2. How can the salvation of believers be decreed before the salvation of particular persons because then the object of Gods decree must be not persons but
dyed for all Christ is so skilfull and carefull a Phisitian as he hath not onely provided a soveraigne medicine for us but also applies it unto us if we be his else he should provide it to no purpose we being not only extreame sicke and weak but also dead in sinnes and trespasses Eph. 2.5 and therefore as unable to apply it to our selves as a dead man to take a potion that is ready tempered for him untill Christ quickens us by putting his spirit into us the Apostle saith that we are quickned in and by Christ and that we are saved by grace Eph. 2.5.8 this must needs be such a grace as Christ hath purchased for us but the purchase of this grace onely will neither quicken nor save us unlesse it be applyed and given to us therefore for whom he hath purchased grace to them he applyes it Argument 2 For whom Christ hath dyed he hath shewed greatest love to them for greater love then this hath no man Joh. 15.13 But he hath not shewed greatest love to all Ergo he hath not dyed for all If Christ hath dyed for all then hath he shewed as great love to Pilate and Judas as to Peter and John to Kain and Pharoah as to Abraham and David to the reprobates in hell as to the Saints in heaven which is fearfull to thinke The Apostle makes Christs speciall and peculiar love belonging to his Church onely for he bids husbands love their wives as Christ loved his Church Ephes 5.25 but husbands are to love their wives with a peculiar love above others for a man must leave father and mother and cleave to his wife If here shall be said that the greatest love of al is not only to merit salvation but to bestow it for answer of this it is plain by Christs words that the greatest act of love is to merit salvation by laying downe his life and where he hath performed this act of love he will performe the other in giving salvation However if they never be saved it stands firme that he hath performed an act of greatest love for them Una est dilectio quae nostram fidem praecedit altera quae fidem nostram et dilectionem erga Deum subsequitu● Coll. Hagiens p. 194. Or if it shall be answered by distiguishing betwixt the antecedent and consequent love of Christ and saying that the purchase of salvation is an act of antecedent love and the giving of salvation an act of consequent love which is the greatest neither will this stand with Christs speech for what ever kinde of love it is that caused Christ to give himselfe to death it is the greatest because greater love then this hath no man to lay downe his life for his friend besides the Apostle comparing these two loves together the love which goes before justification and that which follows makes that which goes before to be the greater Rom. 5.8 10. God setteth out his love towards us that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us much more then being justified by his bloud shall we be saved from wrath for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled wee shall be saved by his life That love whereby Christ loves men before they were beleevers and whereby he loves them after are not two kindes of loves but one and the same love of which the first is the greater both by the comparison of the Apostle as also because in manifestation it is the cause of the Second Argument 3 Christ doth not pray for all therfore he hath not died for all Iohn 17.9 I pray not for the world but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world The World here is opposed to those who are given to Christ of the Father and for this World he prayes not now for whom he wil make no intercession for those he hath made no satisfaction for both of these are parts of the same perfect Sacrifice of Christ and therfore unseparably joyned together Iohn 17.19.20 and how do we think that Christ should refuse to poure out a prayer for them for whom he hath powred forth his bloud it being an act of greatest love to lay down his life as hath been shewed and where he hath done the greater he will do the lesser Object To this the Arminians answer by distinguishing of Christs intercession for they make a double intercession one common to all Collat. Hagiens pag. 198. Corvin contra Molin cap. 27. part 7. whereby Christ prayes that they may believe repent c. Luk. 23.34 the other proper to the faithfull whereby he prayes that they may be saved that they may be one c. Ioh. 17.20 Answ 1. To this it may be answered that this is a newly coyned distinction which hath neither ground in Scripture nor any sound writer but framed purposely for evading the strength of the former Argument 2. For that place Luk. 23.34 where Christ prayed for his persecutors it may be answered 1. That he made that prayer as a man subject to the Law as he yeelded subjection and perfect obedience to the Law in all other things so in this that he would pray for his enemies and in the act of suffering seek mercy for those who were instruments of his suffering Mark 5.44 teaching us both by precept and example what we ought to do 2. If he made this prayer as a Mediator yet it will not follow that Christ made this prayer for all and every one of those that crucified him but only for those who did it of ignorance and whose sins afterward were remitted Acts 3.17.2.37 because Christ is alway heard in what he prayes for Ioh. 11.42 and he knowing what is in man Iohn 2.25 and that some of these had sinned that sinne for which prayer is not to be made 1 Iohn 5.16 It is not likely hee would pray for these 3. If Christ desires and prayes that all may repent and believe then he desires and prayes also that all may be saved for Salvation is the end whereto faith tends Ephes 2.8 we are saved by faith 1 Peter 1.19 receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls and to what end should Christ pray that men might have faith to believe if he did not desire the salvation of their souls 4. If Christ make intercession for all that they may repent and believe then all should repent and believe for he is heard in what he prayes for Ioh. 11.42 Object To this they answer that this is with condition if they do not reject the first grace when it is offered Answ But if he prayes that all may believe then he prayes that they may not resist for when God by the Gospell calls men to believe not to resist this call is to obey and to obey the call or command of believing what is it else but to believe 5. If Christ prayes for all that