highly favoured Luke 1.28 Being full of faith Acts 6.5 Now it is not God that changeth in his love but the change lies in us for Gods love is infinite in greatnes like himselfe so that no creature being finite is able to containe this infinite love of God it is like the Ocean Seas nothing is able to contain it but himself al the creatures are but as so many vessels of several sizes cast into this Ocean and every one receives his measure but the beasts and sowles are not able to receive so much as men nor men before conversion being dead in sin and having no hand of faith to receive it as he that hath a new life infused into him and the hand of faith given him whereby he is made more capable to receive a greater measure nor he that is but in part sanctified and having the burden of sin upon him as he that is wholly sanctified and freed from all sin and so as faith increaseth wee are more able to receive this infinite love of God and some have fiue Talents some but two now if God make some creatures more capable to receive and then bestowes more of this infinite love upon them this must needs bee agreeable to what God purposed to bestow on them from all Eternity Againe some to whom God hath purposed to bestow lesse yet they may haue it in actuall possession sooner than those to whom God hath purposed to bestow more saith Paul Andronicus and Iunia were in Christ before me Romans 16.7 Yet Paul I suppose did soon exceed them and so the last became first for hee was not behind the very chiefest Apostles he did improve his tallant more then they all yet while he was a persecutor a blasphemer and injurious then I say Andronicus and Iunia were more beloved then he because his graces lay in the purpose of God and they had it in actual possession again Christ chides some for their little faith Mat. 14.21 And others he highly commends for their great faith Mat. 8.10.15.28 Some are more carnall then spirituall yet babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3.1 Heb. 5.12 But herein is my father glorified when we bear much fruit John 15.8 Rom. 4.20 Christ himself the more he grew in strength and wisedome the more able was hee to perform the work of Mediator-ship therefore as he encreased in strength and wisedome he encreased in favour with God and men Luke 2.52 because then he was able to do more both for God and man Thus the greatest vessel being cast into this ocean recovereth the greatest measure of this infinite love of God Again the love of God is also eternall like himself and God hath made some creatures eternall to keepe their measure that they have received for ever whereas other creatures are mortall and not able to keep that measure of love which they have received for ever because the vessel wil decay and so that love which they received returns back into the â—cean where it was before the creation and for those Angels that were made eternall vessels and yet carelesse to keep their measure of love which they had received They shal suffer eternally the losse of this infinite love of God Jude 5. And the rest that did not sin were established by Christ but for man all sinned and came short of the glory of God the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve Gal. 3.22 All were under the curse and might justly have suffered eternally with the reprobate had not Christ redeemed us from the curse Gal. 3.13 And he prepared this broken vessel to make us meet for our Masters use 2 Tim. 2.20.21 For this is the wil of God even our sanctification and that we should know how to possesse our vessels in sanctification and honour 1 Thes 4.3.4 But God did not impart this infinite love into these vessels before they were and that actually from all eternity Again they alleadg that place in Ezek. 16.6 7 8 9. That the Lord saith When I passed by thee I saw thee polluted in thine own blood now when I looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love I answer first God doth not say in that time that he looked upon that polluted sinner that he loved her but thus Behold thy time was the time of love that is thy time of effectual calling out of the state of sin into the state of grace by true faith and repentance and reformation Thus not my time when I saw thee polluted but thy time when thou art washed and cleansed that was the time of love for saith the Lord When I saw thee polluted J said unto thee live yea when thou wast in thy blood I said unto thee live vers 6. Now this was such a powerful voyce as when hee said in the creation let there be light and there was light or such a voice by which Christ raised up dead Lazarus to life Iohn 11.44 For marke I caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field thou art encreased and waxen great and thou art come to excellent ornaments whereas thou wast naked and bare vers 6. This was the time of love vers 7. For those ornaments was the righteousnesse of Christ to justifie her for saith he I spread my skirt over thee to cover thy nakednesse vers 8. Yea she had the grace of faith-wrought in her wherby she was capable to enter into Covenant with God and so saith he thou becamest mine vers 8. After this she declared her self to be washed with the water of sanctification and adorned with all those graces following vers 9.10.11.12.13.14 Then was she actually loved of Christ but this will not prove that the elect are actually loved of God from all eternity For when God actually loves a man He draws that man by those cords and bands of love to him againe Hos 11.4 We love God because he first loved us 1 John 4.19 Love is a bond of perfectnesse Colos 3.14 But this could not draw us before we were the love of God is shed abroad in your hearts by the holy Ghost Rem 5.5 But he that hath no bowels of compassion toward his brother how dwelleth the love of God in him Ioh. 3.17 Now keep your selves in the love of God thus of some have compassion and others save with feare pulling them out of the fire Jude 21 22 23. But was Paul such a one before his conversion when he made havock of the Church of God and breathed out threatning and slaughter against the Desciples of the Lord did this love of God dwel in him then our heavenly Father wil give his spirit to them that aske him Lu. 11.13 But can they aske him before they were While Peter was yet speaking the holy Ghost fel on them which heard the word Acts 10.44 Then was this actually done in Gods decree or did the holy Ghost dwel in Paul
before conversion by working or acting grace in his heart or was he then led by the spirit of God into all truth Iohn 16.13 When he persecuted and made havocke and breathed out threatning and slaughter against the Saints of God was the love of God then shed into his soule or did he then love the Saints of God when he so thirsted for their blood it is true he then loved them as the wolfe doth his prey But the true love of God is the infusion of that grace of love into their soul which both knits them to God and to his people but this could not be before their conversion then sure it was not before their being When God infuseth the graces of his spirit into the soule by those graces be sanctifies it and these are not the causes of our salvation but they are a part of it as the first fruits of that harvest Rom. 8.33 Iam. 1.18 And the earnest of that bargain He hath given unto us the earnest of his spirit 2 Cor. 5.5 After that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance Ephes 1.13.14 Meaning the graces of Gods spirit Mat. 7.11 Compared with Luke 11.13 Therefore the promises commonly run and are made to them that are sanctified and seldome or never to them that are justified because the perfecting of sanctification is the last work and brings us into ful happinesse to al eternity then imputed righteousnesse ceaseth and faith ceaseth aad prayer ceaseth and the intercession of Christ ceaseth but the righteousnesse of sanctification that is begun is us here being purchased by Christ also and wrought by his spirit in us that abideth with us to all eternity for it is eternal life begun in us then what a miserable delution is that which speaketh evil of that eternal life that is begun within us saying what have we to do with that dungy durty duties of sanctification we thank God through Jesus Christ we have nothing to do with them these are workes for horne-book Christians but let me tel them that the promise of heaven and happinesse is only made to holinesse Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Mat. 5. And without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Again Heaven is the inheritance of them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 But no unclean thing shall enter into it Rev. 21.27 Now all the persons in Trinity may be said to sanctifie us To them that are sanctified by God the Father Jude 1. I am the Lord that doth sanctifie you Exo. 31.13 Levit. 20.8.21.8 The very God of Peace sanctifie you 1 Thes 5.23 God the father sanctifies us by giving his son to purchase it for us and by sending the holy Ghost to worke it in us and by hearing and granting those petitions which are moved in us by his own spirit Rom. 8.26 Secondly God the Son is said to sanctifie us first by the purchase that he gave for it he hath washed away our sins in his owne blood Rev. 1.5 The blood of Christ doth purge your consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 Secondly by his ordinances the word and Sacraments Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie it with the washing of water by the word Ephes 5.26 First by the word in shewing us our sins by it and also our duties and begetting faith in us by it whereby wee have both knowledg of and power to do these duties and to refraine those vices discovered by it and also by the Sacraments by strengthning and encreasing faith all other graces in us Thirdly We are sanctified by the spirit of God 1 Cor. 6.11 2 Thes 2.13 Now as the Father works by the Son and the holy Ghost so the holy Ghost workes both from the Father and the Son therefore it is said Your heavenly father wil give the spirit to them that aske him Lu. 11.13 The Father shal give you another comforter John 14.16 And saith the Son If I goe not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I wil send him unto you John 16.7 Now saith the Apostle He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost which is shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3.5 6. The spirit of God sanctifies by changing us into the same image from glory to glory that is From the glory of grace begun to the glory of grace perfected 2 Cor. 3.18 And by leading us into all truth John 16.13 This is done by inward motions and comforts encreasing that which he before infused into us Again it is said that faith sanctifies that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith Acts 26.18 Purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15.9 When faith takes hold and receives the blood of Christ and makes it ours so it justifies us as an instrument or a hand laying hold on Christ the justifier But as faith works by love Gal. 5.6 And stirs up all other graces in their lively motion so it sanctifies us when it makes us love God unfainedly and stirs up a lively hope that maketh not ashamed and fear to offend God and care to please him and a zeal for his glory humility self denyall mortifying sin and a chearful walking with God in all holy obedience thus faith may be said to sanctifie and although other graces were infused into us by the spirit of God as wel as faith yet when faith acts them and stirres them up in their lively motion this second working may be called the fruits of faith because they are acted and encreased by it instrumentally although the graces themselves are all the fruits of Gods spirit wrought in us Gal. 5.22 But our Antinomians are strangers to this kind of working for they will have the spirit of God to do his own work and they must be as empty trunks for it and as dead stones without life or motion yea their faith they so much boost of must be but a spectator to look on their love must free them from obedience and their faith is without labour but saith Paul Remembring without ceasing your work of faith labour of love 1 Thes 1.3 Heb. 6.10 Again the Saints are not rewarded according to the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to them for then they should bee as high in glory as Christ yet I grant that to be the cause of our salvation but we are saved according to the measure of our sanctification that is wrought in us by the spirit of God neither are the reprobates rewarded according to the imputation and guilt of originall sin although that was the cause of damnation for then all should be tormented alike but they are rewarded according to their actual sins committed in their own persons For he that treasureth sin he treasureth up wrath against the day of wrath
with thy salvation that I may see the good of thy chosen and rejoyce in the gladnesse of thy nation and glory with thine inheritance Psal 106.4 5. Now this love is peculiar to Gods people neither have the elect this love from all eternity nor yet before conversion for Gods anger must be turned away and their backslidings healed and then he wil love them freely Hos 14.4 Saith Christ Hee that keepeth my commandements is he that loveth me and he that loveth me shal be loved of my father and I wil love him and if any man love me he will keepe my words and my father wil love him and I wil manifest my selfe unto him for we wil come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.21 22 23. And if ye keep my commandements ye shal abide in my love even as I kept my fathers commandements and abide in his love John 15.9 10. If ye hearken to these judgments and keep and do them then the Lord thy God shal keepe unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers and hee will love thee Deut. 7.12 13. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee ô Jacob and he that formed thee ô Israel feare not I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine And then after all this it followes Since thou wast pretious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee Isay 43.1.4 And lest any should think Gods love was before the sending of Christ the Apostles seemes purposely to prevent it praying thus The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ putting that in the first place and then the love of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Amen 2 Cor. 13.14 Being justified by faith we have grace with God but no peace before faith in Jesus Christ but then follows many priviledges as free accesse into his presence and rejoycing in hope of the glory of God because the love of God is now shed in our hearts by the holy Ghost Rom. 5.1 2.5 So then when Gods love comes then comes saith And when faith comes then comes the holy Ghost and dwels in our hearts Ephes 3.17 Thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and bast not denyed my name then it follows They shall know that I have loved thee Rev. 3.8 9. But before the creation there was no word given to be kept not strength to keep it therefore no love before the world was Again saith the Lord Whom I love I rebuke and chasten Rev. 3.19 But did God correct any before the creation if he did let them prove it And he scourgeth every sonne that he receiveth Heb. 12.6 So then if they were adopted the sons of God before the creation they must shew that they were corrected before for the spirit of bondage goes before the spirit of adoption Suppose they say that God commended his love to us in that while we were sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5.8 Therefore say they Christ loved us while we were in our sins I answer it is true Christ dyed for us when we were in oursins and Christ was tendred unto us in that condition as a man may tender his love to a woman whom he would have to be his wife but this wil not hold that she therefore is his wife because hee hath tendred his love to her no she must consent to that motion and then be given to him and then she is his wife so when God tendered Christ unto us and gave us faith whereby we are capable to make a contract and so gives us to Christ then wee have right and a true title to Christ and all his benefits and not before But now because we deny that any can be actually loved or justified before Faith Suppose they like subtill Sophisters shall say that we hold that a man may have true saving Faith some space of time and yet not the man justified because we say that faith justifies by reflecting back and taking hold of the righteousnesse of Christ I answer when we sate in the state of nature we were in darknesse but when we were baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire then wee see a great light Mat. 3.10.4.16 No sooner doth the candle burne but it gives a light saith David Thou wilt lighten my candle the Lord my God will lighten my darknesse Psal 18.28 But as soone as the heart is touched and faith wrought in it by this light immediately it sees Christ then how can it chuse but take hold immediately But for us to distinguish the time betweene the infusing of Faith and the reflecting act of it is beyond our capacity as much as to distinguish whether fire or light comes first to the candle yet in order of nature sire must goe before the light and so faith must goe before the operation But for the time I cannot distinguish if not in naturall things much lesse in spirituall things Againe suppose they say doth not God love them that have faith wrought in their soules before it take hold of Christ to justifie us I answer let what faith will be wrought in the soule till it takes hold of Christ it doth not justifie and therefore for the present Gods love is not to him as to his reall child for saith Mr. Perkins the very seeds of saving faith brings forth groanings and earnest desires of the favour of God in Christ and makes us hunger and thirst after his righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 But if the seeds of faith doe this what will faith it selfe doe Is there any time for it to he idle in the soule before it take hold on Christ to justifie I know none therfore when it is wrought God loves that man as his reall childe but the more they stand upon these nice distractions the more they display their folly But they reply from those words of Ieremiah saith the Lord I have loved thee with an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 This say they being everlasting is from all eternity I answer when God loves his people he loves them for ever Jo. 13.1 His loue neuer faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 No waters can quench this loue Cant. 8.7 He will rest in his love Zeph. 3.17 So his love unto his people is eternall He will neuer leaue them nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 But all this will not prove that God loved them from everlasting although he love them unto everlasting from the time of their being and saith Mr. Perkins on his Exposition on the Creed Page 396. God neither hates them indeed nor loves them indeed before they are and concerning those two Nations that came of Iacob and Esau he saith God did purpose to love one and hate the other Page 374. as also many able Divines have well approved of this booke before it was published So then although God love his people for ever yet if we speake of the time past beyond the Creation or
his purpose Rom. 8.28 Again it is the manifold wisedome of God made knowne to his Church It is according to the eternall purpose which he purposed in Christ Iesus Ephes 3.10 11. Again hath God made known to thee the mistery of his will it is according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe Ephes 1.9 Is any saved it is because God hath purposed it from all eternity who hath saved us according to his purpose and grace 2 Tim. 1.9 Hath God made over to his people an eternall inheritance It is because he did predestinate them according to his purpose who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own wil yet they enjoy it not til the dispensation of the fulnesse of times then God wil gather together all things in Christ Ephes 1.10 11. Again God hath opened a door of faith to the Gentiles Acts 14.27 It is because God purposed it before for the Scripture foresaw that God would justifie the heathen through faith Gal. 3.8 Thus God purposed to justifie them Again if God should actually make all his creatures when he did decree them this would confound the beginning and ending of all things but the Prophets declaring the end from the beginning and from antient times the things that are not yet done saying My counsel shal stand and I wil do all my pleasure yea I have spoken it I wil also bring it to passe I have purposed I wil also do it Esa 46.10 11. And saith David in thy booke were al my members written this was in Gods decree yet they had no actual being for saith he as yet there was none of them Ps 139.16 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever and the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 33.11 Again for other things the Edomites which came of Esau are become servants to David and to Israel which came of Jacob 2 Sam. 8.14 It is because the Lord had purposed it for he told Rebecca long before when those two notions were in her wombe that the elder should serve the younger Gen. 25 23. Now saith Paul this was done that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of workes but of him that calleth for the children were not yet born when it was said the elder should serve the younger Rom. 9.11 12. Now it may be they wil carpe at the next words because it is written by Mallacâ—y Jâ—cob have I loved Esau have hated vers 13. I answer in Mal. 1 2. It is not spoken of their persons but of posterity I have loved you of Jacob and I have hated the posterity of Esau and laid his mountains and his heritage wast for the dragons of the wildernesse so that Esau saith we are impoverished vers 3 4. And so they became servants to the seed of Jacob 2 Sam. 8.14 But this cannot be understood of their persons that the elder should serve the younger for Esau was the greater man for riches and honour and Iacob bowed himselfe seven times together to him called him his Lord Esau Gen. 33.3 Aagine the Assyrian was a Caedar in Lebanon yet saith the Lord I have delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen hee shall deale with him I have driven him out for his wickednesse and strangers the terrible of the nations have out him off and left him Ezek. 32.12 All this is according to the purpose of God long before for saith the Lord I will break the Assyrian in my land and upon my mountains tread him under foote then shal his yoak depart from off them and his burden from their shoulders now marke this is the purpose that is purposed for the Lord hath purposed and who shall disanul it Isa 14.25.26 27. And so every purpose of the Lord shal be performed against Babylon Ier. 51.29 Therefore heare the counsel of the Lord that he hath taken against Babylon his purposes that he hath purposed against the land of the Caldeans Thus you see what ever actions the Lord doth it is to performe his purpose that went before and to say that any of the workes of God were done without premeditation or a purpose going before were to compare him to the foolish Builder which did not consider before hand and count the cost of his Building Luke 14.28 Or like the Ostrich that leaveth her egges in the sand and forgetteth that the foot may crush them or that the wild beast might break them Shee is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers her labour is in vaine without feare because God hath deprived her of wisedome neither hath he imparted to her understanding Iob 39.13.14.15.16.17 Then what blasphemy is this to say God doth any workes without premeditation or a purpose going before by hab nab as fools use to do that have neither wit nor forecast The Antinomians may doe well to confider what it is to confound the decrees and purposes of God with his workes and actions Saith the Lord I will performe my good word towards you I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you thoughts of peace and not of evill to give you an expected end Jer. 29.10.11 He will performe his mercy promised Luke 1.72 The end shall be at the time appointed Dan. 11.27.35 But how could these things be if all things were actually done in Gods Decree againe How could he keepe his promise to a thousand Generations Psal 105.8 Again what use were there of the faithfulnesse of God which keepeth Covenant to a thousand Generations Againe if all things were actually done from all eternity when they were all decreed then to what use should wee have of Faith to believe perticular promises to be performed in severall ages of the world for we know some are yet to be performed if all were done already how should we live by Faith Againe to what purpose is it said that yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise Heb. 10.36 And what a vain thing it were to pray for the performance of any promise if we doe beleeve that all is actually done already well may these people cast off all holy obedience to the Law of God and faith also from fastning upon any promise as yet to be performed for say they all is done already and no duty is left for them to doe for they have gotten free grace that frees them from all faith and obedience and so at one clap they cast away both Law and Gospell ô my soule come not thou into their secret nor unto their assembly mine honour be not thou united Gen 496. But they will say God loved his people from all eternity with the love of good will although not with the love of delight I answer it is true the Counsell of Gods will was from all eternity for saith Christ This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing And this is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6.39.40 But when others are left to perish in their sin this also is according to the will of God they were ordained to this condemnation Jude 4. And who hath resisted his will Rom. 9.19 Thus all things come to passe according to the secret will of God a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his will Mat. 10.29 Now it will not follow that God loves all things that comes to passe according to his will for sin it selfe could not be without his permitting will yet I hope they will not say that sin is beloved of God because he permitteth the being of it although his will is good and therefore a good will yet I deny not but God loves his work in the very Devils and Reprobates in the time of their being If this be the love of good will they meane I shall grant as much but yet the creature may perish for all this good will Againe I demaund how there can be any true love without delight here they would measure the love of God by their owne bushell for they say that they beare good will to Christ and the Gospell but they neither love the Father nor his Law but if these men did truly love the Sonne they would love the Father also 1 John 5.1 But let them have what pretence they will they neither delight in the Father nor the Sonne because they abhor all Bonds and Covenants that should ingage them to obedience doe they not rage against God and Christ his anointed saying let us break their bonds asunder and cast their cords from us Psal 2.1.3 Neither will they hazard any thing for the name of Christ but saith Paul I am not onely ready to be bound but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21.15 They pretend love to Christ and his Gospell but yet they will not fight nor strive together for the faith of the Gospell Phil. 1.27 Nor contend earnestly for the faith that was once given to the Saints Jude 〈…〉 against sin Heb. 12.4 If they did truly love Christ they would fight against his enemies to rescue his Gospell and his people whom they say they love but this is their love of good will separated from their love of delight But suppose they say if one man purpose to doe good to another this is actuall love So if God purposed from all eternity to doe good to his Elect this is actuall love I answer A man may not onely purpose to doe good but he may also doe it and yet not love him to whom it is done as the unjust Judge did deliver the poore widow because shee troubled him but not through love to her for he neither feared God nor regarded man Luke 18.4.5 And the Pharisees gave Almes but not through love to the poore but to get praise themselves Mat. 6.2 So God may cause the Sun to shine and the raine to fall he gave them a King in his wrath and quailes in the wildernes but not in love But now although men sin when they seeke their owne praise and doe any good worke without love yet God doth not so Againe when one man intends to doe good to another there is an object for his love but before the Creation there was no object for Gods love but himselfe therefore God loved nothing before the Creation but himselfe it was not his love to the Creatures that moved him to create them but it was love to himselfe to set forth his owne glory Ephes 1.12 According us he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should bee holy and without blame before him in love ver 4. Here you see Holinesse goes before Love and not Love before Holinesse and also Obedience goeth before Love Deut. 7.12.13 Iohn 14.21.23 And Reformation goeth before Love Hosea 14.4 They would set forth Gods love to his people by the love of David to Absolom When Absolom fled the soule of King David longed to gee forth unto Absolom 2 Sam. 13.38.39 And in the next Chapter the King said Let him turne to his owne house and let him not see my face So he dwelt twofull yeares and saw not the Kings face Ver. 24.28 Thus they would have God to love his people from all Eternity although they doe not see his face that is although he doe not manifest himselfe unto them I answer Absolom was Davids naturall Sonne then although he offended his Father yet his Son-ship remained still and Absolom was in present being and an Object fit for his love being his Son But before the Creation we had no being then there was no Object for Gods Love but himselfe Againe then we were neither the Sons of God by Creation nor by Adoption nor nothing in us lovely beyond the Creation hence I conclude that all the Love of God then to his people was but a purpose to make them lovely and then to love them But they will alledge the words of Iohn God so loved the world that he sent his onely begotten Son that whose ever beleeveth in him shall not perish but have 〈◊〉 lasting life John 3.16 Here say they is actuall love going before the senâ—ing of Christ I answer if they look back they may see Christ tendâ—ed before ver 14. As the Serpent was in the wildernes and also it may be supposed that Faith was given to some of them to receive and close with Christ in these words Whosoever beleeveth in him shall not perish but have eternall life ver 15 then it followes ver 16. God so loved the world but what is meant by the world here but those beleevers who had Christ tendred before and had Faith given them to receive him As many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name John 1.12 And so Mr. Perkins reads it in his Exposition on Iude Page 52. He that believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life But why shall not believers perish Because saith he God so loves the world of Believers So then first God gives his people Faith and makes them lovely and then he loves them with actuall Love and saith he in the same Booke page 104. The proper cause of the Decree of God must be in himselfe because it was before the creatures were he decreed to love one and to hate another this he purposed in himselfe Ephes 1.9 God needs not goe out of himselfe for motives from outward respects to chuse or refuse but because his good pleasure is such Mat. 11.25 Then fore-sight of Faith in some or infidelity in others nor love to some and hatred to others was the cause of chusiug some and refusing others seeing Gods
David acting those fins now and will see them so for ever and because Christ once looked upon Peter when he denyed him with cursing and swearing therefore now he looks upon him at this present and sees him cursing forswearing and denying him and because Christ was once angry with Peter and said get thee behind me Sathan thou art an offence unto me and savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men Math. 16.23 Wil it follow that Peter is now an offence to Christ and that Christ now sees that he savours not the things of God doth God see Paul now persecuting his people because he once saw him do so and for the sins of Manasses and Moses who saith we have sinned in the light of thy countenance Psal 90.8 Doth God now see them at this present acting those sins which they committed when they were here because time was when he saw them in the very act of those abhominations A boy of 7 years old might answer that God hath perfect remembrance of them but yet he sees them as past not in present being And God once heard the groanings of Israel in Egypt under the Task-masters he looked upon them and had respect unto them Exod. 2.24 25. But wil it follow that now God sees Pharaoh tiranizing over them at this present they being in heaven out of his reach there the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary be at rest and hear not the voice of the oppressor Iob 3.17 18. And so time was when God saw Hezekiah sicke of the plague but now doth God see him sick of the plague in heaven and God saw Davids wounds stinke and putrifie for it was inflicted on him for his foolishnesse Psal 38.5 But now doth God see Davids running sores in heaven because he once saw them in time past or whether hath he a perfect remembrance of them not as in present being but as past God saw what Amaleck did to Israel when they came out of Egypt Exod. 17.14 But afterward in the time of Samuel the Prophet saith the Lord I remember what Amaleck did to Israel 1 Sam. 15.2 And so the Lord saw all the passages of Israel in the wildernesse yet saith he I remember the kindnesse of thy youth when thou walkedst after me in the wildernesse Jer. 2.2 But God sees all these things now as past yet in his perfect remembrance as wee say to remember such a thing past as if it were but now done so then God may have a perfect remembrance of things past and yet not bring them back again to a perfect being God saw all the creatures drowned in Noahs flood but it were folly to thinke that God now sees the water spread over all the earth above the highest mountaines all of us drownd in the deluge And so for things to come God hath in his mind what to do hereafter as Daniel said to the King Dan. 2.28 But the decrees are not yet brought forth Zeph. 2.1 2. As for example God hath in his decree purposed to destroy the world with fire and brimstone but wil it follow therefore that God now sees all his creatures at this present in a burning flame or whether is it low as David saith Thou knowest my thoughts long before or a far off Psal 139.2 So God sees things that are to come but not as in present being the Scripture foresaw that God would justifie the heathen through faith Gal. 3.8 But yet not in actuall being it was in his sight afar off as a man may have the frame of a house or the model of it in his minde before it be actually builded so was all the world in the mind of God before it was created God saw the moddel of it from all eternity yet not as really done but only in his purpose But when God had created all his works he saw them all and said they were all very good Gen. 1.31 But now wil some of those cursed heritiques step forth and say that God dissembled when he said they were all very good for say they he sees all things past present and to come at once and therefore he at that time saw some of the Angels falne and were then cursed devils and a great part of mankind were then reprobates and all the creatures under heaven defiled with sin at that present how wil these men cleare themselves of blasphemy if they hold these wicked tenets that man is actually justified in the sight of God because hereafter he shal be justified by this argument the whole earth was cursed of God and some of the Angels were falne and then cursed as soone as before they were created yea at that present when God said they were all very good And so on the contrary when the Angels had sinned and were cast out of heaven and man had sinned and was cast out of Paradise and the whole earth cursed for mans sin will these men say that God now looks upon divels sinful men as in the time of their Innocency and because God once said they were all very good wil he now say they are very good what blasphemy is this God saith wo be to them that call evil good and wil he do it if this were so why then were all the creatures cursed for the sin of man for by their argument God did once see man innocent therefore God alwaies sees man innocent for God sees those that are effectually called to be actually justified therefore he alwaies saw them actually justified this is Antinomian divinity but we say that God sees all things that are in present being perfectly as so but for things past hee hath a perfect remembrance of them as if they were in present being but yet he sees them as past and for things to come as not yet in present being God wil hereafter justifie sanctifie adopt and save his elect yet they are not so till they have faith effectual calling Other sheepe I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring in John 10.16 But for the present they are not brought in Suppose they say Christ looked on the young man in the Gospel and loved him Mat. 10.21 Although he was an hypocrite and without any saving grace I answer he loves the devil as to own his own work in him but yet hee may be damn'd for all that but suppose they say that God in his love and in his pitty redeemed them carryed them all the days of old Isay 63.9 I answer as before God loved his own work upon them and so redeemed them from Pharaohs bondage But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit therefore he was turned to bee their enemy and fought against them vers 10. But when God loves in Christ he loves for ever John 13.1 But this love is peculiar to his people as David saith Remember me ô Lord with that favour thou bearest unto thy people ô visit mee
they have that priviledge with Christ to have all things then all is yours and not before But by nature we are all dead in trespasses and sins both the Elect and the Reprobate when Christ bought this purchase for his Elect therefore of necessity we must be made alive and have the eye of Faith to see it and have the hand of Faith to take hold before we are capable to receive and take it Then your consequence is false that wee must needs be justified before faith and calling because that the purchase was payed although it was neither given by Christ nor received by us The second Tenet is that you are as perfectly righteous as Christ and that God cannot see your sin and thus you are as soone as you have a being and faith doth but declare it to you yet you say that I confesse we are justified at once this I grant that when God gives us faith and calling at the same time he actually justifies us and at once yet I deny your damnable inference that all the Elect are actually justified at the same instant of time that every one is For as one is actually justified at once ni one go of the world wherein he hath his being yet another is not justified till another age of the world wherein his being is and yet all this hinders not but that we are justified at once although spiders will gather poyson where ever they come The Scripture foresaw that God would justifie the heathen through faith Gal. 3.8 But the time was not yet come but what of his whether is this rover travelling I have proved clearly by Scripture that God sees the sin of those that are justified and that they are not so righteous as Christ and I see nothing to the contrary and sol leave this and speak something to the last clause of this Tenet which is that saith doth but declare this unto them they make it to be only an eye to see burthey deny it to be a hand or instrument whereby they become righteous by taking or receiving the righteousnesse of Christ to themselves by application thatso they may be righteous Yet I grant that faith declares to us something that was done before we had it but it is not justification nor adoption nor sanctification nor the love and favour of God nor reconciliation yet I grant that the world was made before that faith was given to us and by our faith we come to know or understand the worlds were made by the word of God And things that are seene were not made of things which did appeare Heb. 11 3. But wil our Antinomians hence conclude that faith is but a declaritive grace to shew them that they were justified adopted sanctified and in the favour of God reconciled and all this before they had it let us turne backe to the same 11. of the Hebrews and see whether all that faith mentioned there be only declarative first by faith Abel offered unto-God a more excellent sacrifice then Cain vers 4. Will those people say that his Sacrifice was offered before he had faith and when he had faith it did but declare what was done before and so by faith Enock was translated c. But was this done before he had faith and when hee had faith he came to see this and so by faith Noah prepared an Arke to the saving of his houshold but was this ark made before and by his faith only came to see it and Abraham by faith when he was called went into a strange Countrey But wil they say that he went before he had either faith or calling and when hee had faith he came to see what he had done before he had it and so by faith Sarah received strength and conceived seed and was delivered of a man childe but was all this done before she had faith and when she had it she came to see what was done before And so by faith Abraham offered up Isaac But wil they say that he was offered up before he had faith and by it he came to see what was done before And so Isaac blessed his sons by faith and Iacob blessed the sons of Ioseph wil they say that those things were done before they had faith and by it they came to see what was done before they had it And by faith Ioseph when he dyed made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and if they say these things of dying men were done before they had faith then sure their soules departed to fetch it that they might come to see what they had done before they had it but the folly of these men cannot be hid and so by faith when Moses was bome was hid by his parents but was this done before they had faith By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter chusing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God esteerning the reproach of Christ greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt and by faith he forsook Egypt and through faith he kept the Passeover but were all these done before he had faith when he had it he came to see what was done before by faith they passed through the red Sea and by their faith the walls of Ierichâ— fell downe after they had compassed them about seven dayes and the Harlot Rahab by faith received the spies but were all these things done before they had faith The time would faile me to speake of all who through faith subdued Kingdomes stopped the mouths of Lyons quenched the violence of fire and women received their dead of life Againe no say our Antinomians they first subdued Kingdomes stopped the mouths of lyons and quenched the fire and received their dead to life and then they had faith to see it and not before and so they first receive the righteousnesse of Christ and are justified and then they have faith to see what they have done and so nothing with them is done by faith but all without it and by their faith they only come to see what they have done and with the Jewes speak against all those things which were spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming Acts 13.45 Thirdly you say the way to know your justification is from a bare testimony you say from the spirit of God when as you deny the operation or sanctifying worke of the same spirit of God to be any means whereby you may know it then you come as the false witnesses came to Christ and say that I affirme that the spirit of God beares witnesse to our spirit which is contrary to my writing and to Pauls words which faith The spirit witnesseth with our spirit Rom. 8.16 Whereas you by your sophistry deny one of the witnesses But our rejoycing is the testimony of our conscience 2 Cor 1.12 My conscience beareth witnesse in the holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 And you to great purpose say that no flesh living shall be justified as if you had