or other it may be thou wilt not commit it but thou wilt salute it it may be it hath not actual but it hath contemplative Commission the whole Act is in thy Thoughts tho not in thy Practice there is a constant breaking out of Corruption upon all Occasions Now 1 Joh. 1.6 If we say we have Fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we lie and do not the Truth i. e. as when Mens Consciences tell them that when they lie they speak not the Truth so when a Man goes about to lay hold on Assurance his Conscience tells him he cannot be assured of his Election who walks not sincerely with the Lord. A corrupt unprofitable Word will grieve the Spirit by which ye are to be sealed Ephes 4.30 3. We want it because we are not sollicitous to grow and encrease in all Graces but only in some one we neglect some Graces while we follow after others we do some Duties not others or all we know If we would make our Election sure 2 Pet. 1.5 the Apostle tells us We are to give all Diligence to add to Faith Vertue c. He reckons upon all the Cardinal Graces and Vertues of a Christian which comprehend all the rest in which our Diligence is to be not one but all We have prayed for it no question but never joined Fasting to Praying we have done both but only alone never in Company of the Saints that understand the Voice of God it may be we have done this but yet never waited upon the Lord in the Use of those Ordinances which he hath appointed his People to walk through and as Trunks by which he speaks and conveighs himself It may be thou art given to Anger Passion Frowardness and strivest against it but then art led and not a little by a covetous Worldly Spirit it may be thou art against this yet there is in thee a vain foolish Spirit following the Customs and Fashions of the Times that the World may know thou hast a Liberty I do not say that those that do such things cannot have assurance but that the allowing a Man's self in any one Sin or the neglecting of any one known Duty is the Cause many times that Assurance is not given 4. Suppose that be not the Case yet it may be thou takest not the Hints and Opportunities God gives when he would speak his Mind to thee or thou withdrawest when he hath spoken a word or two thou hast made nothing of it yet such there have been upon thy Spirit and thou hast not regarded them every Touch of God upon the Heart every Intimation is like a Character which is but a little Dash but it contains a whole Word or like some Hieroglyphicks of the Heathen a whole Story was comprehended in one Sign or Image So if thou hast been able to have construed or expounded that Touch of God upon thy Heart it would have told thee the Love of God from Eternity and would have shewed how it hath waited on thee and done thee good in several Estates as in the knowledg of Duty And if a Man would know his Duty he must take the least Motion and Intimation of it and the least Light must be made much of if he will grow up to know the Mind of God fully So it is also in the knowledg of our State thou must begin with Principles to know thy Duty thou must begin with Intimations to get Assurance God begins after that manner with his People whereas Presumption is all at once and comes by Violence Lastly If that be not the Case it may be thou dost not go on with the Trial of thy self it may be when thou art sick or in imminent danger or to do some hazardous Duty then thou goest about it diligently else desistest Now Suits in Law hang long come not to an end because they are not followed As he that would have a true understanding of any Science must traverse the Principles clean through so he that would have Assurance must go on the next day where he left off before Thou dost not make it the Work of every Grace and every Prayer to search into thy Heart nor the Work of every Day but now and then when thou art in some imminent danger or special Service Let us know this to encourage us there is nothing God takes more Pleasure to reveal than his electing Love tho it pass thy Knowledg yet as the Apostle saith Ephes 3. Christ and the Spirit dwelling in thy Heart by Faith will make you see into all the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths that pass Knowledg And tho it be the Weakness of a Christian to analise and go from the Effect to the Cause yet unto this Men should endeavour and labour that they come to know the Cause and Fountain whence all their Good comes and God hath given you two Lights in this Firmament for the revealing of it 1. Your Faith 2. Your Love As the Sun doth sometimes make another Sun in the Firmament so doth the Love of God work in us a Love of electing him again That you may read all the whole Heart and Frame of God's Intentions towards you in the Reflection of your Heart towards him make it your Work to make your Election sure He is a happy Man that knows the Causes of things and he is the wise Man that doth know things by their Causes There is nothing more pleasant and delightful than for you to drink of the Fountain a little of the Knowledg of God's electing Love will be like the Spirit of Wine like a Spring within you like a strong Motion The Saints do much by the Power of Grace but much more by the Power of Love and aspecially by that Love that hath ordained all those things to be given so freely to them even the Love of Election And if it were for nothing but for this that you may come to know your Estate abhor Conditional Election which puts you to work but gives you no Certainty nor Security of your Condition but only by your Walkings as they say themselves which are changeable and that Doctrine will bear it that he that lived forty or fifty Years in a holy way and all things ready to go to Heaven yet hath his Will so changeable and slippery that in one moment he may turn off from God and lose all he hath done and never be remembred but perish eternally were there nothing but this to make a Man stand at a distance from that Doctrine it should do it However it may seem to the Flesh to keep a Man cautious and wary in what he doth yet notwithstanding a Man can have no Knowledg in this World how it shall be with him to Eternity whereas our Doctrine calls up to the Mount and bids us there sit down and read our Names in the Book as they are made known by the effectual workings of the Spirit If you would know whether you be
you all Believers know this that Christ is in them by Faith except they be Reprobates The plain Meaning of it is this viz. All true Christians know this that where God doth long afford the Gospel unto Men and it hath had some Workings on them if they resist it and resist it totally there is reason to fear that they are Reprobates Christ it 's true may be in one and he not know it but all Christians fear that if so be Christ be not in them under the Means that then they are not accepted of God 2. We shall know hereby that by every Affliction we shall be the better Rom. 8.28 the Apostle comforts the Romans against Afflictions that they should be the better for them because they were called according to his Purpose Nothing will comfort a godly Man under Affliction but that he shall be the better for it Not the taking off the Afflictions or Support under them but it is only this that will quiet that they shall work together for good As a covetous Man is not contented to have his own unless he may have Profit by it so a godly Man is not content to keep his Grace under Affliction except he grow better by it Now this we shall see by knowing our Election 3. Knowing you Election you will be enabled to give God the Praise of the Glory of his Grace This Grace is his Electing Love Those that know their Election their Hearts will be exceeding humble for they see nothing in themselves moving God to have a Love to them this will empty the Heart and lay it low and cause it to magnify Grace mightily Your Election may be known 1st It is an Act that is past and hath a Being in the Will of God from Eternity things that are to be known must have a certain Existence Election hath he knoweth who are his and he knoweth who are his only from his own good Will and Pleasure Rom. 11.34 Who hath known the Mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor Now Election upon Condition is from a Man's uncertain fickle slippery mutable Will so can never be known and hath no Existence 2dly It may be known for it is an Act of God which he will not reverse nor repeal 2 Tim. 2.19 The Foundation of God stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his As sure as the Knowledg of God cannot be deceived so he cannot cast off them that he hath chosen The Foundation of God stands sure tho Professors fall and eminent ones yet not one that was of the Foundation of Election 3dly It may be known for God hath made known who are the Vessels of Mercy Heb. 6.17 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath His Counsel is made known to the Heirs of Promise by the Oath or Gospel 1 Thess 1.4 the Apostle saith he knew their Election and not by Revelation and Inspiration as he had the Doctrine which he was to deliver unto Men but he judged of Mens Persons by their Practice The Apostle Paul did so Acts 13.10 he judged him to be a Child of Satan because he did not cease to pervert the right Ways of the Lord. And so Peter Acts 8.23 of Simon Magus Thou' art in the Gall of Bitterness The Ground of it was because he thought the Gift of God was to be purchased with Money The Apostle speaks of the Assurance of Election putting himself in Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.33 And again Who shall separate us ver 35. He speaks of Believers How knew he the Thassalonians Election by the Works he saw in them 1 Thess 1.4 5. For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power And by the Works of the Gospel they might know as well as Paul nay better than Paul because the Work was wrought in them The Midwife knows that the Woman was with Child when she see the Child but the Mother that brought it forth knew it more certainly He that eats any thing knows the Savor better by his Taste than he that smells the Scent of it The Apostle judges by the Thessalonians Works they might judg of themselves more certainly than he he judged by external Actions and they had the internal Operation in themselves 4thly God calls upon to be sure of it puts us upon it engageth us to look after it Now if it could not be known then may it be said that God dissembles which cannot be said 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your Calling and Election sure Object But it will be said Many have been deceived and thought they have had Evidence of it when they have not they have taken these things for Signs in which there was no Light Answ Some have taken Brass for Gold Will it follow then that there is no difference betwixt those two Metals If Men have been deceived with false Coin they should learn to go try them at the Touch-stone 1. If you will know your Election it is required you should be those whose spiritual Senses are exercised to discern of things You must have a good Understanding of spiritual Matters Novices will not reach this Hypocrisy may be so finely drawn as that it may be taken for the Power of Godliness by Men that are good and counted great Men. 2. You must have the Counsel of the Spirit beside your own Understanding 1 Cor. 2.11 12. None knows the things of a Man but the Spirit of a Man that is in him so the things of God none knoweth but the Spirit of God and this Spirit which is of God is received that we may know the things that are freely given us of God 3. That you may judg aright you must judg by the Scripture not by Reason or Revelation or external Privilege or the Perswasion or Testimony of others or the Perswasion of a Man 's own Heart only First Not by immediate Revelation without the Scripture as some pretend Some think to know their State by Revelation so some poor Souls cry out sometimes O if they knew they were in the Number of them that should be saved why then they would believe They that hold that a Man is elected conditionally if they hold that God doth know before-hand who will do well and who will not yet they must hold no Man knoweth his Election but by immediate Revelation because as none knoweth what he shall do at the point of Death but only God so none but he can immediately reveal what he will do with us and what he will do then In these late Times some have made light of the Word of God as a low Rule as a Light in a dark Place as a Morning-Star only which withdraws when the Sun comes they have been given up to strong Delusion and they have seen they tell you Glory like to the Glory of the Son of God testifying to them that
it 's said Rom. 11.7 the Election hath obtaiâ—… but now what Conditions did these Infants fulfil of obeying and perâ—â—â—â—ing when as they were cut off before they were capable of doing any thing or using any Means and God had decreed and determined them unto Death in their Infancy Remember now that elect Infants dying in Infancy make but one Body together with us of those that shall be saved Here are some elected without Conditions 3. Reason The Number of those that shall be saved is certain the Number can neither be increased or decreased added to or taken from there is a Book of Life spoke of in Scripture Rev. 20.15 it is a figurative Speech borrowed from Men it signifies the unchangeable Purpose of God in giving Salvation to some now as it is among Men Names are written in Books so the Names of them that shall be saved are in God's Mind and known to him certain as if they were written in a Book now this Book is so kept that none that are written here can be blotted out nor any written that are not already written from Eternity ther fore this is given as a Reason why some Men stood and persevered in Apostaâ—izing Times when others fell it was this their Names were written in this Book i. e. God had chosen them they must stand their Names could not be blotted out Rev. 13.8 All that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him and whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 21. ult None shall enter into the City new Jerusalem but they that are written in the Lamb's Book of Life that Number written there and none but that Number shall be saved Rev. 20.15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book was cast into the Lake of Fire All went to Hell but they not any added to them the Number is definite Mat. 24.24 it 's said if it were possible the very Elect But if it were upon Condition that Men are elected this could not be for thâ—s â— are tendered to aâ—l Men and sufficient Means to believe and they have Power to believe or not then the Number must increase or decrease as they believe or not persevere or fall off to day there are more tomorrow less more again â—nd â—ess again as Men will hold on or not the Election of a definite certain Number to which not one can be added nor taken from doth diametrically oppose the Election of Conditions which all must be under equally and no onâ—â—eparated from the rest 4. If Election was upon Conditions if we believe and repent and persevere then would he have given Means to all to have known those Conditions else vâ—r little Love in God to set Terms upon which all Men may be saved and yet not to let all Men know these Terms now it is clear from Scripture that none knows the way to Eternal Life but those that have the preaching of the Gospel or the reading of the Scripture Rom. 1.16 it 's said of the Gospel it is the Power of God to Salvation to every one that believes for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith here is the Reason he tells after what the Gentiles could attain to by their Helps it was only to know there was a Godhead full of Power and Wisdom but they could not reach this to understand the Righteousness of God and how the Just should live by Faith and depend upon another for Salvation and receive the Righteousness of God 1 Cor. 1.21 it 's said the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe Acts 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto Life This was when the Apostles came among them and preached to them till then notwithstanding all their Helps they were in Darkness and in the shadow of Death 5. To elect upon Conditions is to turn the Grace of God into a Covenant of Works and to put us into that Covenant This makes a Covenant of Works viz. That there is a Condition of Life given to us and it lies upon our Hands to do it we are to perform it be it what it will if we are to do it for Life the Condition to Adam was Do this and live but now it is Believe and live but it is all one as if he had said Do and live in case that our Election depends upon it The Article is changed only or the Act to be done but the Obligation and manner of Treaty is the same it lies upon us to do it otherwise we shall not have the Election of God or Salvation Object But we have Faith given us Answ This makes not a difference this alters it not to say we have Power given us or the Grace of Faith to believe for so had Adam Power given him to do whatever God should command or did command this Power he had given him before he sinned all his Abilities were given him with his Being from God so that they did not arise as some think I say his Abilities whereby he was to walk upon Terms of Justice did not arise from his natural Principle Thirdly Now hear the Inconveniences that follow upon their Doctrine that seems so plausible if you believe and persevere then God chuses you if you perform the Conditions he elects them first then Persons as they fall under them 1. This is against the Perfection of God for to will upon a Condition is but an imperfect Act of the Will it is but a Velleity a wishing or woulding because whatever is willed upon a Condition is willed disjunctively either I will do or I will not do it Now to say God doth imperfectly will is not becoming God who can do what he will do it only saves God's Credit however it falls out but it sutes not his Greatness and Goodness to wish a thing that is never accomplished 2. It doth not sute the Wisdom of God to proceed from Generals to Specials first he wills Conditions and then Men as they fall under these Conditions particular Persons as they fulfil them This argues Weakness in God's Knowledg as if he knew not who they should be before-hand 3. It makes void all Election of Persons thus their Election runs viz. He that believes shall be saved what needs any more except God's Fidelity be suspected If a Prince should say all Rebels that come in shall be pardoned what need any more mentioning of Persons except you will not give Credit to the Prince there needs no Act of Pardon to be granted when they do come in all that do come in enjoy their Pardon and it is not given them by any new Act except there be cause to suspect the Prince's or Magistrate's Fidelity There is no cause at all to suspect that God will not keep his Word and make it good for he hath said whosoever believes shall
the Grace that so much abounded towards him Vse I. If this be true that there are Persons particular Persons elected unto such Conditions then do not say because thou canst not find the Condition as yet that thou art not in the Election Election doth not depend upon the having of Faith It is an Act of God and it is manifested and declared when he makes thee believe this is not the Method of God Go and do thus much and when you have done thus much I will elect you and bring you to Glory but this I have passed the Sentence that you are mine and shall be mine and I will fill you with my Spirit and enable you to Obedience and bring you to Glory But suppose we find it not so we have no Faith Holiness Obedience yet say not ye are not in the Election for it depends not upon these things They are not the Causes of it and you may be in the Election for all that tho you cannot know it but by Faith You know Paul ran an ill Course in Sin he persecuted the Saints thought he ought to do so with Zeal yet saith God he is a chosen Vessel unto me Acts 9.15 yea he was in the Election then so it 's said in Acts 18.10 I have much People in this City God calls them his People before Conversion and in John 10.16 Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring They are called Sheep before they are brought in And of the Jews it 's said that they were very refractory would not receive the Gospel because the Gentiles did thinking it a Breach of Promise Rom. 11.28 As concerning the Gospel they are Enemies for your sake but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Father's sake Enemies and yet beloved Now say not because thou hast nothing written in thy Heart that therefore thy Name is not written in the Book of Life thou hast no ground to exempt thy self tho thou canst not know it till Faith come thou canst not be worse than those Jews to be angry with God because he is merciful to others Who knows but God may yet give Faith to thee if thou wert to bring Faith with thee thou wert in an ill Case on a splitting Rock thou wouldst never get off But seeing thou art to have Faith as an Effect of Election it is the Gift of God he gives it to the Persons he sets his Love upon be silent then conclude nothing against they self Vse II. Doth not Election depend upon Conditions to be fulfilled then measure not God's Love to thee according to the Grace thou findest in thy self judg not of his Purpose according to the Purpose thou hast of serving him Without Faith we cannot know that we are chosen of God but by a little we may come to know it 1 Thess 1.4 5. The Apostle he knew the Thessalonians Election because the Word came unto them in Power i. e. it did prevail with them and overcome their Hearts Yet they were but newly converted and in divers Errors Signs and Tokens are to be taken from the least Degrees of Grace Altho then our Faith be low and scanty we are not received according to the Measure of our Gifts but according to his Purpose his Purpose to do thee Good is compleat tho yet thou hast by little Good in thee He worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Ephes 1.11 He worketh to will and to do of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2. He doth not work a Will because we have had a Will before gives the first good Will to them that had none before to any Spiritual Good he gives a Will to do great things to work out their own Salvation If Election were upon Conditions of Grace then you might measure God's Chusing of you loving of you to eternal Life to be according to your Grace there is this practical Error in us or this Error in us practically that we hang God's Electing Love upon Conditions here is the Root and Bottom and first Seed of many Doubts and Troubles in the Saints that their Eyes are not only upon Qualifications as desirable or the things they should labour after but they are upon Qualifications as the Movers of God's first Love of Election they think because of their Sin God will repent and hath no purpose of any Good to them this wrongs the Grace of God When he took us at first his Love was not for any thing he saw in us or for any thing he knew would be in us he was resolved to make us lovely but he will so do it as you shall acknowledg his free Love and Grace Our Loveliness is not the cause of his Love tho it makes you a sutable Object to his Love And when his Love at first was pitched upon thee what a Case wast thou in then Ezek. 16. Thou wast in thy Blood cast out loathsom no Eye pitied thee When God did call thee to consider of eternal Life thou wast minding nothing but Ways of eternal Death thou wast found of him when thou soughtest not after him Did God pitch his Love upon thee at first he doth not alter in his Love his Love is fixed on thy Person still thou alterest but he changeth not thou art the same Object for him to do Good to tho thou art not the same it may be in regard of Disposition of Spirit Consider but this you that are in Christ you are loved not because you are fruitful as Leah thought and said now will my Husband love me Gen. 29.32 We are not loved because we are beautiful but loved that we may be holy and this should make us cleanse our selves and walk answerably to the Love of God Judg thy self condemn thy self for every Sin but do not think God cannot be good because thou art not good for his Love is not upon Conditions Vse III. If God hath given thee any Knowledge of thy Election rejoice with exceeding Joy So the Lord bad his Disciples above all things Rejoice that their Names were written in Heaven Luke 11.20 The Elect are a peculiar People that he hath severed from all other his Heart is to you in a singular Manner as the Heart of a chaste Husband to his Spouse forsaking Father and Mother and all else in Comparison in regard of that Relation When the King picks out from the rest one for his Favourite or one for a Pardon out of many Offenders how should it rejoice his Heart that he had not only his Pardon but the King 's special Love Know this for thy Comfort thou shalt certainly be saved the Love of God will be to thee as when we love the Person of any our Love holds and continues because upon thy Person If a Man marries for an Estate when Poverty comes his Love his gone if for Beauty when Sickness comes to blast it then no Love but if Love be to the Person
Love holds as long as the Person holds God hath pitched his Love on thy Person therefore whatever hath been thy Hazard in the Way to eternal Life it is all but suffered for this End to make thee cleave to Christ in whom thy Strength is and to prize him and the Gospel the more Thou shalt never come into Condemnation tho thou may'st say God hath cast thee off I am but Reprobate Silver Why what is the matter why I have done Evil so and so why thy doing Good so and so was not the Cause of God's electing thee thy doing Evil is displeasing to him but his Love was not pitched upon thy doing so and so Well neither doth it cease when thou dost so and so Ill but if thou dost so he will bring thee by Weeping-cross because of his Love unto that eternal Glory to which he appointed thee Vse IV. That as to your Judgments ye would stand fast in this Doctrine viz. That God hath chosen Persons singular Persons and Means for them and will enable them to perform those Means believe repent and persevere and bring them infallibly to Glory Receive this and stand fast in it in this day when it is so much spoke against every where The other Doctrine as hath been said before casts great contempt upon the Godhead 1. To make God to be at the Will of the Creature is a very bad thing Now this is evident their Way by Election upon Conditions for according to them God that is the first Cause cannot determine of Love or Hatred whether the Man shall be elected or reprobated till such time as the Creature hath tried and so shewed whether he will chuse and embrace the Means or not he waits to see what the Creature will do before he determines any thing as to particular Persons It was so under the Law that if a Child or Wife had made a Vow without the Father's or Husband's Consent it was null and void Now to make God stand in the same Obedience to the Creature is a great Evil according to this Doctrine Man can make void all God's Desires and Ends that he hath as to particular Persons 2. Things wherein Contempt is cast upon the Godhead by this their Doctrine Bucer affirms that if any say there is any Good done which God doth not do he denies God for God is the Author of every good thing But now there is some Good done according to these by the Creature that is not done by God for it is Man makes that Love special which God made but common This is a Good done and makes those Means effectual which he did but leave at liberty and at the Will of Man Come to the Height and Critical Question Whether that which determined the Will and cast the Soul upon Christ by Faith and chuseth him be any thing on God's part or from it self If as they must say from it self he did it his Will determined the Business for that is the very thing we dispute about then some Good may be done which God doth not if from God on his part then we have done the Cause is ours 3. God cannot know who shall be saved and who not as to the Persons he cannot certainly know for there cannot be in God a Fore-knowledg of that which is uncertain but now nothing more uncertain than this what the Will of Man will do tho is hath the best Means God can give yet it must be left to its own Inclination how it will act otherwise the Nature of Free-will is destroyed according to them Now to say God doth not certainly foresee who shall be saved is to take away his Prescience and make him no God But the very Light of Nature will show you that God foresees all things 4. The Love of God is wronged mightily For what a Love is that worth Little be sure that doth not save a Man from Hell effectually that doth not effectually deliver him from the Danger he is in whenas he could very easily do it What Love had that Parent that seeing a Knife in the Hand of his Child and should know that his Child would certainly cut himself to Death with the Knife would so wound it self as to kill it self yet leaves the Child to it self to do as it will when as he could save the Child from killing it self satisfying it with some other thing as well as the Knife Now surely God is able to make our Wills consent and that infallibly and yet preserve their Freedom make us freely believe in Christ as he is able to raise from the dead create the World of nothing What Love then is that which is spoke of nothing but a poor low common Love that effects nothing You see God is abused by this Doctrine of the Adversaries 5. It wrongs the Soveraignty of God He may not do with his own as he pleaseth but according to the Law of distributive Justice He is bound up to such a Rule to respect Persons to give what is due to very one what he deserves Mat. 20.15 Is it not for me to do with may own as I will 6. It wrongs the Wisdom of God For according to this Man is not made to a certain End Now what wise Man is there but makes every thing he makes to some certain End or else God makes Man to such an End as he cannot attain without his Good-will 7. It takes off from the Grace of God for he gives eternal Life only for a Life of Faith and Works it is not Grace every way and so no way 8. It 's against his Perfection God wills that which shall never be giving them Conditions with a Desire they all may be saved and yet they are not saved and that befals God which he would not have come to pass viz. that any are reprobated and damned Is this for God's Perfection 9. It makes God changeable God's Will was that all shall be saved and thereupon gave them Means Preaching and Scripture or Light of Nature helped by the Works of Creation and Providence but upon their not fulfilling those Conditions of Faith and Perseverance he casts them off reprobates them is not this then a Change to love and hate the same Persons in a small time to elect and reprobate the same Persons 10. It makes God's governing the World to be in Weakness For his Government according to this Doctrine of Conditions is ordered according to the inconstant Mind of Man sometimes he hath this End to glorify his Mercy if Men accept believe obey sometimes to glorify his Wrath when Men refuse thus he is unsteady weak in his Goverment it makes as if God had not without depending upon Man determined from Eternity how his Mercy and Wrath should both be glorified 11. The Omnipotency of God is greatly wronged in this thing it makes Man stronger than God tho God puts forth all his Power yet if Man will he can refuse and disobey surely if God really
wills Men to be saved and gives them sufficient Means would not they be saved infallibly if God put forth all his Power or else his Power is but weak he is not Omnipotent 12. How can God be happy that desires and hath not his Desire satisfied and accomplished he desireth the Salvation of all say these and yet hath it not Happiness is having every good Desire satisfied Thus the other Doctrine wrongs God takes off from the Glory and Praise of the Godhead Motive 2. Take heed of the other Doctrine cleave to this if you receive the other it will corrupt you in all the great Points of Religion it influenceth you in all When the Blood is poisoned all the whole Body will soon be poisoned so here If upon Faith and Obedience Man is elected 1. Then Man is converted by Works and the Obedience of his own Will and no Man otherwise converted 2. A Man then is justified by Works Justification follows Election no Man is saved but by Works and so all that Glory and Beauty and bright-shining Vertue of Grace which God hath manifested in the Gospel vanisheth and comes to nothing for if it be of Works it is no more Grace Rom. 11.6 3. It is then to bring in another Gospel to bring in this other Opinion of Election upon Conditions now there is a Curse upon any that shall bring in another Gospel Gal. 1. Hear then are you willing in the matter of Salvation to trust to your selves and lean upon your selves Hath Christ died and laid down a Price that you might live at your own Hand and be upon the same Terms for Eternal Life and Heaven as Adam was before he fell in a Covenant of Works Then it was Do and live and so now Do this viz. Believe and persevere and live God hath given you Power to do this so he did to Adam he gave him more Power than you for you are full of Infirmities and Weakness and Failings daily but he was perfect and strong Now is this the Gospel of Grace to require as much of a poor weak fallen Man as of Adam before he fell who was perfect and not subject to Infirmities All the Duties thou dost all the Acts of Faith all thy persevering in good being done for this end that God may elect thee they are but Acts of high Pride and Arrogancy every one of them hath this Language in them I do this that I may be elected rather than another and to put a difference betwixt my self and those that shall go to Hell I do this and this and elect God at first and after I have walked on all my days to the end in good Works he will elect me for this is the Condition he hath made of my Election If I persevere to the end he will then infallibly and peremptorily set his Love upon me and chuse me Now thus God doth made a Bargain with Man barters and sells his Love as Laban his Daughter If thou wilt have my Daughter then serve seven Yeers or else thou shalt not have her So doth God sell Heaven and Glory for a Life's Perseverance in Faith and Holiness Motive 3. To make you take heed of this false Doctrine it destroys all the Fruits of Election if not elected till Death then no benefit of Election in this Life let us see the Fruits of Election and how they are brought to nothing if Election of particular Persons be made void 1. Love to God 〈◊〉 a Fruit God's electing Persons sets out the Greatness of God's Love and fills the Heart with Love to God again Thus the Soul that hath any Intimation that God hath chosen him saith God hath passed by Millions and some of my Neighbours Kindred Friends and they are walking on in Ignorance Evil Unbelief God hath called me in which I read my Election he hath chosen me before the World from Eternity not respecting any thing that would or could be in me for I was a Sinner in my Blood when he visited me and by this Love of his he will enable me to do whatever is required of me to Salvation Who can think of this free eternal Love of God and not love God again God doth therefore in Scripture speak of this peculiar special free Love as an Argument to stir us up to Thankfulness Deut. 7.6 7. God hath chosen thee to be a special People and it was not for any Qualifications in them but because he loved them Chap. 10.15 Only the Lord had a delight in their Fathers to love them What for any thing in them no Was it for fulfilling Conditions No it is over and over in Deut 9. Not for thy Righteousness sake no a base wicked People they were And what could he see in their Fathers why Abram was an Idolater Josh 24.3 and called Now this free Love is brought as an Argument to press them to love God and walk in Holiness Deut. 7. Thou shalt therefore keep the Commandments and Statutes c. Circumcise therefore the Foreskin of your Hearts c. Deut. 10.16 Deut. 14.2 you shall see the same Argument there the Lord hath chosen thee therefore thou shalt not do so and so Object None of these Scriptures speak of God's eternal Love or of singular Persons chosen out of that Love Answ The Text speaks of Love shewed to particular Persons and how that such free Love is a Motive to love God and obey him Now this Love that God had to the Jews is a Type of that Love that God bare to the Elect. Compare Isa 1.9 with Rom. 9.29 Except the Lord of Hosts had left us a very small Remnant c. this is spoke concerning the Temporal Preservation of the Jews the Apostle takes it and applies it to the Elect Isa 8.18 Behold I and the Children whom the Lord hath given me are for Signs c. this is spoken of God's delivering the Jews from their Enemies the Apostle Heb. 2. brings this and speaks it of Christ having all the Elect considered in him God's electing Persons provokes to love God to think that God freely chose thee from Eternity thy Person appointed for thee all the Means hearing c. that thou mightst be saved blessed them to thee and gave thee Faith then in the use of them this is to stir up Love to God From the other way let us hear how it promotes Love to God God hath given Means to all and left them Talents and commands to improve and manage these well Now what if any of these be saved what may Christ say to them Have not I shewed you great Love should not you love me Yea may it be answered It was great Love to come 〈◊〉 the Flesh to redeem me from my Sin in Adam to give me Means to believe and Power to believe but there is no more Love laid out for me than for them that are in the Flames of Hell Can these love Christ so well as the other in the other
Eternity and will bring us to eternal Life infallibly The Angels they are particularly elected and how full of Zeal are they in their Obedience for God they are said to be Flames of Fire sent out to minister Flames for Zeal and Delight in their Service The Apostles and Prophets they had the Love of God revealed to them and that their Names were written in Heaven and how full of Holiness and Zeal suffering any thing for Christ Jesus and rejoiced in their Sufferings Ephes 1.4 he speaks of Love before the Foundation of the World to their Persons in Christ and what would this do that we might be holy and without Blame before him in Love John 15. I have chosen you out of the World saith Christ What then ver 16 and ordained that you should bring forth Fruit and that your Fruit should remain be constant in it therefore is this Argument Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the Elect of God Bowels of Mercy Kindness Humbleness Object But who will labour to be holy and to walk in Holiness and good Works if God chuseth without the Consideration of these hath no respect to these and so elects that nothing can make it void Answ Tho Election be free and without Consideration of Faith or good Works as going before Election yet none are elected but to that Salvation which is obtained through Faith and good Works we are ordained to walk in them to Glory Faith and Works are the Means of obtaining Salvation tho they be not the Cause of Election there is a great difference betwixt Salvation and Election two Scriptures for this 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience 2 Thess 2.13 Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 6. The Doctrine of God's electing particular Persons is a Ground to try themselves upon whether they be elected or not and so find upon themselves the Marks of Election This is that the Apostle doth intend in Rom. 8. in giving Calling Justification as the Effects of God's Predestination that even as a Tree is known by its Fruits and the Cause by the Effects so they may come to know themselves to be predestinated The Apostle speaks expresly of the Predestination of particular Persons for he saith these and these and none but these Whereas on the other side if God only elect Conditions then a Man cannot know himself to be elected in this World there is no sign of Election upon him nothing is to be found in him but what he may perish with it is his Perseverance when he is past all Temptation that God doth crown with Election To conclude this with that Apostle in Gal. 1.8 when some among them had preached Justification by Works this is that which should be noted to you it is another Gospel for any to look for Justification or Election by Works Exod. 33.19 God saith I will shew Mercy on whom I will shew Mercy he speaks it of pardoning The Apostle doth expresly use these words concerning Election Rom. 9.15 whence I gather it is another Gospel and so a Curse pronounced against them that bring it to look for Election from Works and so by Works as for a Man to look for Justification and not by Grace The Apostle saith it is another Gospel Why doth he say so because whatever way of Salvation we make that will not reveal God's Love nor comfort the Heart nor be a Provocation to Holiness nor fill the Heart with Love again to God it is another Gospel in that it will not have the Effect of the Gospel of that Gospel that sheweth Salvation to be only by Grace Vse of Trial. Try now whether you be one of these Persons for God chuseth Persons To stir you up to the Trial 1. You may safely do it no danger either of Despair or Presumption Satan hinders this as much as may be 1st He tells us if we do it there will be no end of our Doubts but we shall come forth of this Enquiry more scared and amazed 2dly Sometimes tells the Soul God's Love is equal to all 3dly Sometimes gives a false Ballance to weigh the Soul by some crooked Rule or other 4thly Sometimes he puzzles the Soul with many Objections it is dangerous he casts in this to go about it 't will make one cast off Holiness make one presumptuous if he can attain it and despair if he attains it not that it is a Secret belongs to God and that none can come to know it c. yet we say it is very safe to enquire into that which God revealeth that we may believe it Yet 1. It is modestly humbly and warily to be looked into our Heads will be dazled if we alone look into this Depth as he that looks down a steep Place tumbleth with the Giddiness that is wrought in him thereby Many have fallen because they have not looked aright into this Doctrine if we follow the Light of the Scripture there is no danger It is a Secret as is said as to the Cause of it why one is chosen and not another but as to the Persons it is not a Secret for it is revealed Rom. 8. Those that are called and justified as to Persons that are adult these very Persons and none else besides them are predestinated and shall be glorified those whose Afflictions make them more conformable to Christ ver 29. those that trust in him for Justification ver 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect The Levites might look into the Ark and none else so those that are called may reflect upon Election from whence this proceeds 2. Take this Caution In the Enquiry you are so to seek it as to advance the Grace of God in the seeking of it without hindring the Work of Sanctification sâ— that Holiness may not be hindered Some do so look after this that they never mind the other yet so to look after Sanctification that the Love of God may not be lessened The Works of God's Grace in thee are not so to be insisted on as to think that for them thou hast God's Grace of Election neither is God's Election so to be thought on as that it will save thee without Grace in thee Grace inherent is the Messenger of Election a Stream from the Fountain an Effect of it where there is Heat there is Fire But why God should work this in thee rather than another it is his free-Free-Love and the Reason why he loves thee and not another was not thy Grace that was in thee Vse II. Much Profit comes by knowing our Election 1. Hereby we shall answer that great Question that is in the Mind of a Believer viz. Whether Christ be in him 2 Cor. 13.5 Know you not he speaks of something known to all Believers know you not i. e. you do know that Christ is in
Men not because they had Faith but because they said they had Faith and made Profession of it That is the Language of the Holy Ghost in Scripture James 2.14 Tho a Man say he hath Faith according to that Phrase if thy Brother sin and say it repents him i.e. professeth his Repentance so Men say they have Faith and yet it is but a dead Faith for the Life of Faith is immortal and passeth not away Object But I doubt whether I have Faith Answ By this thou mayst know it if the Gospel hath come to thee in Power not in Word only 1 Thess 1.4 i.e. when thou camest to hear the glad Tidings of Salvation by Christ which is the Gospel-Doctrine when thou camest to hear of the Love of God that is so free and large and the Spring of all Good from God and of Holiness in thee these things thou didst not give a bare hearing to but they came pressing on thee as the things that must be believed that were necessary to thee and commanded thy Spirit When thou camest to be in Affliction thou couldst truly say if thou mightst have thy Wish it would not be to be freed from Trouble but to honour Christ in Trouble thou carest not what Trouble thou hast so thou mayst but get more hold on him Tho thy lazy Spirit begins to be weary in toiling in the use of Means or Suffering for Christ thou countest thy self vile and unworthy because of it This Work will prove thy Election to be true Object But I have but little Faith if any Answ 1. It is not the degree but true Faith that argues Election 2. Love also is a Sign of Election as well as Faith Faith is our chusing of God so it is a sign of God's chusing us thus our Love to God is a sign that God loves us As the Sun in the Firmament by its Reflection upon a Cloud makes another Sun the Seal leaves it self upon the Wax when impressed A Father begets a Child in his own Likeness so Love in us is the very Image of Election Love is but a Reflection of God's Love upon us We love him because he first loved us I Joh. 4.19 How may we know that we love God 1. God by electing us wills us Good so we by Love will Good and Honour unto God We say O that his Name may be glorified and his Will done on Earth as it is in Heaven he longs for this prays for this acts for this desires nothing more than God's Glory to be set up on Earth that all might honour him 2. God by Election takes Pleasure in us we by Love take Pleasure in God above all things he saith as in Psal 73. Whom have I in Heaven but thee whom on Earth besides thee He prefers him to all things God is his Portion and Treasure all things are Dung in comparison 3. God loves us in Election because he loves us he cannot but love us so we cannot but love God The Love of God lays a Law upon himself Love puts a Law upon us The Love of God is said to constrain 2 Cor. 5. 4. God's electing is free there is no Motive so our Love to God is free Love Benefits indeed to us are Motives but Love is pitched chiefly upon himself on his Holiness Goodness Truth which are his Nature Benefits are Motives and they be the first in Order but not in Strength and Worth We come to love him at length more than his Gifts A word of Caution in the Close That tho by these two you may know you are elected yet one may be elected in whom these are not yet wrought Election is known by Grace inherent but Grace is not wrought in every one that is elected until God's time is come Election is an Act of God concerning the Creature not upon the Creature as Sanctification is and therefore makes a real and present Change A Man may have a purpose to build a House a long while before he lays one Stone towards it so God purposes to give Grace long before he gives it God purposed to create us that are now long before the World was So God purposed to create his Image in some Men whom he le ts go on a great while in their Sins Let not then the want of Grace make you conclude against your Election Election it 's true is to Qualifications and cannot be known but by the working of them in us but we may be elected and have no present Qualifications The Signs of Election are given that you may comfort them that do believe already but you must not conclude that you shall never believe that do not now believe the Scripture gives not Signs for any such end as that It 's true it 's said in Joh. 12.39 40. They could not believe for God had hardened their Hearts and blinded their Eyes c. That is dreadful but mark that you may not be discouraged These Persons to whom God doth declare they are not elected they were not Persons that only lived in Sin for so do all the the Elect till they be converted Nor 2. such only who had the Means and yet not wrought upon by the Means for God calls at the eleventh Hour in the Parable Mat. 20. i.e. when they have stood out obstinately to the very last of their Days going out of the World 3. Nor such as despise the Means the Word and Gospel Acts 13.41 Behold ye Despisers he calls to them there is Hope In Rom. 10. they sought him not never minded him never prayed to him yet he was found of them 4. Nor those that hate Christ and Holiness for all of us do so by Nature Rom. 1.30 Haters of God yet some of those were elected and converted It is impossible we being sinful by Nature but that we should strive and make all the Resistance we can till it be overcome by the Power of God Resist so as to overcome converting Grace we cannot for we strive with one that is stronger than we but to resist so as to oppose the Offers of Grace that we cannot but do by Nature Who that is evil can take Pleasure in any thing that is good All these may stand with Election that I have named I conceive in this 12th of John he speaks of them that had sinned unto Death and therefore given up of God they had sinned in Malice against God and his Word and God in Justice revenged their Malice in giving them up Therefore do not conclude against your selves that you are not elected but use the Means altho the Means cannot bring you to Election the Means show to you your Election they are things by which you read your Names written in the Book tho they are not the Ink and Pen by which they are written in the Book of God Faith may come to the worst of you that are now in your Sins and then you may know your Names are certainly written in the Book of Life from Eternity FINIS