remembrance of the wrong God forgives the punishment and remembers the sins no more urgeth them not with the mention of them Ezek. 33.16 nor hinders himself from doing them good or praising the good he seeth in them for former injuries Isa 54.9 Thirdly So to forgive as to love him Matth. 5. that hath done the wrong as my self for an enemy is my Neighbor and within that Royal Law be he poor or rich God so forgives us as he loveth us with the same love wherewith he loveth his own Son in whom his soul delighteth Joh. 17. Fourthly Matth. 18.32 1 Pet. 4. God forgiveth fully all sins that we commit for love covers all trespasses though the offences have been often committed not once but a thousand times though often in one day So we till seventy times seven times Matth. 18.21 Seven times in a day Luke 17.4 Where we see Repentance and the offender grieved and bruised we are to comfort him as forgiven of God the sin as well as of us the scandal or trespass 2 Cor. 2.7 And we must confirm our love to him As Christ forgave you This being put as a motive and pattern our forgiveness received of Christ Doct. It appears and is presupposed as granted That Christians do know that their sins are forgiven them In this stands the cheif part of their comfort The knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins Luk. 1.77 John before his precepts of love and good works and evidence of salvation by them sets down this as their cheif foundation of comfort their sins are forgiven for Christs sake 1 John 2.12 though the conscience of inherent righteousness is a good prop to hope yet it is so little and corruption so much and sensible to them that have light and life that when they see God in Majesty and contemplate his holiness and spiritualness of his Law they cry out of their own misery and death Rom. 7.24 and forget sometimes they are separate from them that perish Isai 6.5 till the knowledge of forgiveness be confirmed in them v. 7 8. In this David reckons a mans blessedness that the burthen of his sins is lifted off from his Conscience and the quarrel taken up between God and him Psal 32.1 Quest Quest How may a man that yet is doubtful be perswaded that his sins be forgiven him Answ Answa By the beginning of the work of the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Luke 4.8 inspiring the motion of Faith and working a mans soul bruised for his sins to seek Gods face and favor in Christ by the Commandment of believing with love to obey it The smoaking flax Bruised by weight and striving for liberty and the bruised reed shall not be quenched Grace saving is already poured into the soul which shall after appear in more strength Isai 54.6 Affliction of spirit in Conscience of injury to God as a wife that hath been false and would return to her husbands favor Thus promises are made to them that be troubled in spirit that afflict themselves for Gods offence and God is said to delight in such as cheif sacrifice Psal 51. and will dwell with them It argueth a minde reconciled to God which cannot be but by grace when his favor is so sought Rom. 8.5 7. his friendship so desired that nothing will satisfie a man till he finde it God easeth not men of all their grief at once Luke 7.47 48 50. She was perswaded that he was her onely refuge but remained afflicted and Imgring for relief and found comfort but holds them lingring after him onely his stirring up their desire to him and moving their love in such passion for him argueth he is reconciled and hath forgiven the injury Cant. 5.4 5 6. As it is in the recovering of peace so in the first working for most part by our affection to God setled know we his affection to us He gives a little light that gives them hope and in their prayers and use of the means sometimes chears them a little but settles them not yet but makes them love and hope The will of believing with strife against corruption of love to God is Gods work of his favor as well as the power of Faith Isa 1.19 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 7.18 22. Mark 9.24 Psal 42.5 and argues his with such Other men strive not for faith Remission in order of nature is before our repentance but joyned with it in time that repentance argues God reconciled Levit. 20 41. but they that have the grace begun Grace is first infused without our seeking and by it we aspire to grace and give no quiet settling to corruption Inward shame of that which hath been done against God though not amongst men shameful or if such not known voluntary remembring of sins with shutting up a mans mouth that he cannot complain of God for judgement though it were of Hell with hope yet that it shall not be so Ezek. 16.63 Rom. 6.21 Joh 42.6 Ezek. 20.43 In a time of Gods gracious dealing with them not onely when he urgeth them to accuse themselves by judgements Ezek. 36.31 intreating the Lord and enquiring of him for his mercies v. 37. It is the note of Gods people They seek the Lord Psa 24. confessing their sins 1 Joh. 1.9 Healing of our nature Gods Spirit given to a man to dwell in him is his testimony of his accepting of the man Acts 15.7 8. His seal Ephes 1.13 His earnest 2 Cor. 5. That if a man know Gods grace hath changed him to be that which he was not and he is not that which he was he hath sin in him and appearing yet in his life now appears the study of piety that he aspires still to the grace of God and would unfainedly have it govern him poor in sense of his nothingness in himself purging the remnants of sin Rom. 8.13 2 Tim. 2.21 1 Joh. 3.3 Striving against sin Prov. 28.4 Heb. 12.4 1 Cor. 9.27 Fearing sin Prov. 28.14 Eccles 8.12 2 Cor. 7.11 He hath it under Gods testimony and seal that he is forgiven and God reconciled to him God freeth some and strengthens others that he brings into the battle about Faith Both serve the Lord some in sweetness some in sharpness some with glorying over adversaries some weeping in the strife yet laboring to dissolve the temptation some serve without fear some delivered from the cause of the fear yet feel it trouble them and yet obey love hope pray hang on the Ordinances to suck and be satisfied Isai 66. So their fear is not as the fear of the wicked in fulness Isa 8.12 13. without study of casting it out as a sin against God and the fruit of unbelief with hatred of God without seeking God or care of sanctifying him in heart Vers 11 They are otherwise taught of God and that with inclining of their wills with love to obey him A tender merciful conscionable forgiveness of other men that offend us and
trespass against us is a sign that God hath forgiven us for it is of that grace we have received from God reconciled to us It is therefore a prop of our Faith in praying for forgiveness For even we forgive them that trespass against us Luke 11.4 Hath promise as being an effect or fruit of the merit of Christ in us Luke 6.37 It is reckoned a note of singular righteousness above civil to love enemies Matth. 5. to pray for them in their distress Psal 35.13 14. to relieve them Rom. 12. and especially to be so desirous of their salvation that a man could finde in his heart to die for them that their souls might be saved Heathens may remit some injuries but not hating the sin not grieving for the sinner not of love of the Commandment not to all that offend not with unwearied continuance in the duty because not of habitual love to God and men but occasionally at friends requests for by-ends Christs Humiliation PHIL. 2.8 He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross THe Apostle urgeth his Exhortation to lowliness and minding the good of other men mentioned Vers 3 4. 1. By the example of Christ Jesus Ver. 5 6. 2. By the good which doth follow of it as it appears in the exaltation of Christ In the example of Christ he propounds to be considered both his natural excellency v. 6. and his voluntary humility or infirmity taken upon him for our sake v. 8. He humbleth himself Christ humbled himself in his birth in his life in his death In his birth to be born of a poor mother who confesseth her contemptible state and low degree Luke 1.48 52. espoused to a poor Carpenter to be born in a stable amongst beasts in his life in that till thirty years of age he led an obscure and private life as is gathered working with his supposed Father in his Trade for which they which knew his education objected it as ground of their contempt of him that he was not onely the Son of a Carpenter but himself a Carpenter Mark 6.3 Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary He at his time came to seek Baptism at the hands of John as if he had needed it which John would have refused knowing that he baptized with the Holy Ghost and needed not to come to him He refused not to be in the wilderness among wilde beasts and there to be tempted of the devil to be carried in his blessed Body as is probable from place to place to the pinnacle to a high mountain by the devil in companying with them of low degree as Fishers not disdaining to touch the Lepers for their healing nor to give himself to be used of any that would make use of him To that end he eat with sinners talked familiarly with Harlots c. He washed his Disciples feet he turned not his face from shame and spitting he suffered very unworthy things with a quiet minde And he humbled himself in death to die between two theeves a death accursed with the sence of Gods wrath offering himself to the judgement of God for all the Elect. Consider his minde in such a dignity by personal union of his humane nature and follow lowliness And became obedient Obedience follows humbleness of minde We are therefore commanded to humble our selves to walk with our God Micah 6.8 The Saints are said to sit down at Gods feet and every one receive his words Deut. 33.3 Sin hath pride with it and in wilful sins Jer. 2.31 even good men are said to despise the Lord 2 Sam. 12.9 It is the brand of all them that are lewd in their ways they despise the Lord Prov. 14.2 and are stout against him He humbles men first and takes away their pride and then makes them obedient Job 33.17 An humble minde is willing to be appointed 2. Christ was obedient First Voluntarily of his own accord with delight as his meat and drink John 4.32 34. Secondly In all things and in all degrees he told John as a reason of his coming to Baptism that he must fulfil all righteousness Matth. 3. and saith he came to fulfil the Law Matth. 5. Not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him John 6.38 Unto which will he fully submitted himself Matth. 26.39 Heb. 10.9 And not onely to the Moral Law but also to all those Laws which were peculiar to Gods people whereby they professed themselves sinners Gal. 4.4 he was circumcised offered oblations Luke 2.21 24. and performed other ceremonial observances Matth. 26.17 20. Matth. 26.26 Joh. 7.2 10. He was baptized and received the Sacrament of his own body and blood Matth. 3.18 Thirdly He did that always which pleased his Father John 8.29 Both materially and formally both in respect of the work and the heart seeking the glory of him that sent him Iohn 7.18 With all that love and zeal with all that mercy and compassion which the Law commands He doth affirm that thus he continued in his Fathers love John 15.10 keeping his Commandments which before his death he mentions in his prayer commending himself and his Disciples to his Father I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 17.4 Fourthly He was obedient to all to whom by the Law he should be obedient to God to the Civil Magistrate to his Parents He paid tribute maintained Cesars right acknowledged Pilates power over him from above and came down with his Parents and remained SUbject to them Luke 2.51 yet in the Lord discreetly giving to God that which belonged to him Fifthly He continued in his obedience until death and died in obedience to his Fathers will whereby he was the more accepted Heb. 5.8 John 10.17 That he preferred his Fathers will of our Salvation before his own life and refused not that death which was the death of all other accursed that the most odious malefactors were put to This was partly that he might be a fit High Priest Heb. 7.26 27. who needed not to offer for his own fin and herein he answered the Types and was an offering without blemish accepted and making acceptable Hereby we are justified by his obedience unto death both in doing and suffering Rom. 5.18 19. For as Christ was born to us and given to us Isa 9.6 John 4.10 Rom. 8.32 his obedience was for us and some part of it specially a part of his Mediation it was a part of his Humiliation whereby he declared himself inferior to his Father It must needs then be imputed unto us to our Justification Heb. 10.10 by the which will we are sanctified Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe And herein we have full consolation a full discharge from our sins by his suffering death and a perfect righteousness as much as the Law can require in which we please God and are
accepted unto eternal life And in all he is the Lord our Righteousness And it may be to us an example of obedience to obey from the heart counting it as our meat to obey intirely in all things to obey devoutly with cheif affection to Gods glory to obey constantly and with continuance unto death and in death for the time place kinde c. To death The death of Christ was the will of the Father and Christ was voluntary in dying though death had no power over him being without sin yet he yeelded himself to it and died not onely in apprehension which to some is more then the thing suffered comes to but in sense such a death as made him fear cry weep sweat blood and utter his sense of Gods wrath forsaking him not separating the united natures but not so presently delivering him He offered himself to God by his Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Acts 4.27 28. God by his counsel determined what Herod Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do to him and God is said to deliver him for us all to death Rom. 8.32 And Christ consenting to his Father came into the world to give his life a ransom for many Heb. 9.26 Rom. 4. 1 Cor. 15. Matth. 20.28 He did die to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself to dissolve the works of the Devil according to the promise the seed of the woman shall break the head of the Serpent To reconcile us to God and set a peace between God and us and between the Jews and the Gentiles making of twain one new man in himself Eph. 2.15 16. To deliver from the Devil that had the power of death them that for fear of death were all their life held in bondage Heb. 6.14 15. He hath set Heaven open and given us free entrance unto the Father in the holy place Eph. 2.18 Heb. 10.19 He ratified Gods Covenant for ever Heb. 12.20 He kills the power of sin Rom. 6.6 He destroyed death concerning the power of it Vses 1 We are hereby admonished so to meditate of the death of Christ by the Will of God and his voluntary obedience in dying as to obtain this at our hands to die in obedience to God Not in impatience through tediousness of labors and affliction nor of necessity because our time is come but obediently as sacrificing our life unto God whether it be a natural or violent death none of us ought to live or to die unto himself but to the Lord Rom. 14.7 We are to be moved hereby to lay down our lives for the Brethren therefore that which is less then our lives 1 John 3. to use humility mercy gentleness towards others First We may hereby know the worth of Gods favor by the price which it cost Secondly The great mercy of God in delivering his Son to death for us Rom. 5. The abundant love of Christ Jesus to die for us Thirdly The hatefulness of sin seeing the imputation of it brought Christ so low Fourthly Labor for assurance of the communion with Christ in his death and glory in the certainty of Gods Covenant for forgiveness of sins sanctification perseverance and eternal life It reproves them that remember not Christs death do not think of it to work their affections to be like Christs therein we owe to him the remembrance of him and shewing forth of his death Of the Cross This was Gods will and herein Christ obeyed that his death should be for the kinde the most odious and fullest of reproach that is to be hanged on a tree This was figured in the sacrifice laid upon the wood as in Isaac in the Brasen Serpent lifted up on a pole Deut. 21.23 and God in his secret counsel had pronounced them accursed that hanged on a tree according to his purpose in Christ Jesus that he should bear our curse Gal. 3.13 They suffered for their own sins and he for ours God would have that a prefiguration of this And thus defilement is taken away and removed from us the purgation being made by the death of Christ on the Cross the remembrance of our vitiousness is to be removed from all mens eyes This Christ himself foretold Matth. 20.19 Joh. 3.14 8.28 18.32 and for this it was ordered that the Jews were stiffe in desiring him to be crucified And thus the Apostles charge the Jews Acts 5.30 2.23 he took our sins with him to the tree 1 Pet. 2.24 Spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed over them Col. 2. On the Cross Christ was encountred with exceeding fury on which legions of Divels of incomprehensible rage and long experience and Gods anger was kindled against him as a surety for sinners The Devils are spoiled God satisfied the wretched spirits are as it were dragged after the Chariot of Triumph and exposed to shame and the Elect are restored Vse Seeing Christ yeelded himself unto the will of his Father for such a death both shameful and bitter above other deaths it must teach us humility Seeing he being in the Form of God abased himself in the form of a servant to die on a tree for us let us endure the Cross and despise the shame Seeing the fruit of this death for us Let us glory in the Cross of Christ and in nothing more Gal. 6.14 Seeing in the Cross was Christs triumph Let us not be ashamed of Christ crucified but resolve to overcome also by sufferings Revel 12. And lastly Let it move us to take heed of sinning against Christ who submitted himself to the Cross for us How precious should his remembrance be with us and that Sacrament of his holy Body and Blood that carrieth with it special remembrance of his love in his dying on the Cross for us how should it be desired of us It must move us to look carefully to this That the Cross of Christ be not made of none effect by us either by receiving any Doctrine making the death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. or not applying the Doctrine of Christ by Faith unto reconciliation but receiving grace in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 Or not making the death of Christ in the efficacy of it powerful in us to crucifie the flesh with the affections as love of the world worldly sorrow corrupt hatred c. Lusts as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye c. It should move us to take to heart Phil. 3.18 even to tears that men in the Church should be enemies to the Cross of Christ Certainty of Salvation 1 THESS 5.9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath THe Apostle addes this Reason to his Exhortation to watching sobriety arming with Faith Love and Hope of Salvation taken from the certainty of obtaining Salvation which certainty is grounded in the knowledge of the gracious act of God in their exemption from his ordination to wrath in his counsel and decree of their Salvation Where note four things
First Gods act ordained or put the subject matter us the end whereunto amplified by antithesis Not unto wrath but to obtain salvation the means whereby his decree was executed By our Lord Jesus Christ Or thus the Author of the decree God the nature of the decree appointment or ordination putting unto salvation amplified by the contrary not unto wrath the object of the decree Paul and the believing Thessalonians us In that Paul pleads his and the believing Thessalonians exemption from Gods Ordination to wrath and his and their appointment to Salvation observe we That our freedom from perishing and our appointment to eternal life may be known and we infallibly made certain so as to profess our knowledge therein This is the peculiar joy of the Disciples of Christ that their names are written in heaven Luke 10.20 not that they may not rejoyce in other things so they rest not in them separate from this but their proper joy is not temporal grace or mundane glory but eternal salvation which begins in Gods election which if they know not how shall they rejoyce in it The Apostle grounding the security of Christians against the sense of their corruptions within and crosses without in Gods benefits to the Elect his justification secures them from accusation of all other and Christs intercession from condemnation Gods love in Christ from all adverse power in respect of separation from life How shall this be applied but by knowledge of our election Rom. 8.33 c. Paul knoweth his own salvation and his election unto it and professeth his knowledge Rom. 11.2 Peter calls upon us to make our election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Election to life and freedom from ordination to wrath may be known two ways ordinary besides the way of special revelation 1. By the testimony of Gods Spirit who assuring our adoption doth thereby assure our predestination to the adoption Vse For use it is onely sent into the hearts of sons and heirs of God Gal. 4.6 And it secureth their hearts against fears that arose of former bondage that with liberty of spirit they call God Father with great certainty as appears in the doubling of the Word And knowing themselves for the present the sons of God as they wonder at Gods love so they are sure they shall he glorious like Christ at his appearing and as they know their salvation with eternal glory they know their election thereunto because none are glorified but the predestinate 2. Election may be known by the proper effects of it of which a judgement may be gathered in a mans own soul to assure his heart before God and to give him boldness As the Apostle gathers the election of others 1 Thes i. 4 5. 2 Thes 2.13 from the appearing effects wherein God manifests his purpose of saving them at least probably so may we by the evidence of the same grace to be in truth in our selves Psal 65.5 as causing to come to God by true conversion and to Christ by Faith so as we are new creatures are made meet for Gods use and fitted for our part in the lot of the Saints in light perceive the power of Gods Ordinances in us satisfying us with the pleasures of his house purging our selves from Errors and Vices 2 Tim. 2.21 1 Ioh. 3.3 purifying our selves as Christ is pure and cleaving with purpose of heart and with love of soul to God and his doctrine in Christ Generally all the good that God doth to us concerning our salvation as effectual grace with the right use of it is the effect and so an evidence of election Would God do such things for us shew us such things receive our offerings if he went to destroy us would a wife man bestow lace and trimming on a filthy rag to cast it to the Dunghil Vse Seeing we may know Gods good will determining of us for good Psal 106. it serves First to stir us up to seek this of God and to mark the voice of his Spirit in our hearts when we hear the Gospel and when we pray to him and with all to acquaint our selves with graces peculiar to the Elect and prove our selves whether we have them in us It is profitable to be certain both for thanksgiving to God and for kindling love that may move us effectually to live to him and to rest our souls in fears and want of present things Fear not little flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 It is profitable also even for humility to know that all the reason of our differing from other is Gods good pleasure he had no respect of any thing in us of the profit of the knowledge of Election after Secondly This serves for confutation of Papists that hold no certainty to be had ordinarily of a mans election while he lives here because this is a depth unsearchable Romans 11. vers 33. To which it may be answered That the reason is unsearchable but the thing is revealed to Gods children what his will is to them by the Spirit that searcheth the deep things of God or because a man cannot be certain of his Faith and Justice to be true or if he could yet they are not proper to the elect but are given to reprobates who continue not in them and none know they shall have perseverance To which it may be answered That a man may know his Faith and Justice such as he may know he is not reprobate 2 Cor. 13.5 If so then he may know he is elect he may know his grace so far as to assure his heart before God to have boldness in the day of judgement and his perseverance he knoweth by Gods promise Jere. 32.40 his faithfulness 1 Corinth 1.8 9. by Christs merit and intercession by the Spirits sealing unto the day of Redemption Object Object But we are commanded to fear Sol. Sol. Fear to sin but withal to trust perfectly to give diligence to full assurance of Faith unto the end hold the confidence and rejoycing of our hope fast For God hath not appointed us As this stands for an Argument to excite the will to the choosing and pursuit of these graces to furnish us for the good fight observe we That the certainty of our salvation under the seal of Gods decree is an incentive to vertues no occasion of looseness It provokes to the study of Faith and Love and puts on the care of all holy means and endeavors tending to accomplish Gods appointment Col. 3.12 13. As the elect of God holy and beloved put on c. 2 Peter 1.3 4. 1 John 3.2 3. Revel 19.7 God hath joyned life and godliness vertue and glory Gods image is a great part of our glory 2 Cor. 3. Gods decree is to the means and to the end it is to save by sanctification of the Spirit and Faith of Truth chosen us to be holy Ephes 1.4 To obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ through
sanctification of the Spirit And this study God works in their hearts unto whom he reveals their election unto life for the accomplishing of his counsel that they may witness their thankfulness to him that they may be counted worthy of his Calling and of his Kingdom For howsoever none be worthy of the inestimable felicity in Heaven yet God doth fit all Col. 1.12 and makes them meet for himself and their inheritance in light for whom he hath prepared it and useth their own study care and labor to apprehend that holiness and happiness for which they have been apprehended of him To this purpose are the Exhortations to walk worthy of God and of their Calling and Prayers to be counted worthy to escape the things that come upon the Earth and worthy of his Calling 2 Thes 1.11 Vse 1 When we are tempted to unbeleef to self-love to dispair to cleave to earthly things with neglect of spiritual graces we should thus reason God hath not appointed us to perdition and therefore we must not yeeld to motions stirring us to such things as bring perdition but to obtain Salvation which he hath declared in his calling of us therefore we must and we will flee these things and follow after Faith Love Godliness Righteousness Gentleness c. Fighting the good fight of Faith till we lay hold on eternal life whereunto we are called 1 Tim. 6.11 12. If we do these things we shall never fall but abundant entrance shall be ministred unto us into the everlasting Kingdom of God 2. If sin have prevailed in some act let it move us to repentance to purging our selves reasoning thus This is not the way from election to salvation but from reprobation to damnation I will up therefore and turn my feet into Gods Commandments and forsaking the way of destruction keep the way of life for I am not appointed to wrath but to salvation 3. In them it appears election takes place that make the love and mercy and unchangeable decree of God a motive to follow Heavenly graces and to give themselves to God They that share in the mercies Rom. 12.1 move their resolution thereby to sacrifice themselves to God 2 Cor. 5.14 that partake of Christs love to work an addicting of themselves to Christ c. Where therefore this is wrought it is a sign of our sharing in this grace of election when from the thought of it we fight for our deliverance from sin the world and the devil and arm our selves with grace unto the fight Then it is evident Paul hath his part in the love of Christ dying for him when for Christ he dieth to the world Gal. 2.19 20. that he may live to God She loveth much therefore her many sins are forgiven her her affection argueth in her devout actions to Christ that she hath her part in his merit Hath not appointed or put us unto death In this exemption of the Apostle and the believing Thessalonians from ordination unto wrath there is not darkly insinuated That some are ordained to wrath by the Lord. Some mens destruction not onely in general but in particular not onely simply but in comparison this man not that Cain not Abel Esau not Jacob Judas not Peter decreed c. He will shew mercy on whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardneth There are Vessels of wrath prepared to destruction not onely by themselves sinning but by God ordaining their end according to his absolute power and his prerogative as the Potter hath to appoint his clay to the end and use of honor or dishonor and so to frame it out of the lump Rom. 9. I have hated Esau I have loved Jacob without foresight of their works as Christ is set for the ruine of many in Israel Luke 2.34 so some stumble at the stumbling stone Rom. 9.32 33. they stumble at the Word 1 Pet. 2.8 being disobedient unto the which they were even ordained or also appointed Fore-written unto this destruction or condemnation Jude v. 4. Prov. 16.4 He hath made all things for himself even the wicked for the day of evil In appointing to wrath three things are signed Rejection from grace and glory deputation to sins ordained to destruction 1. For clearing God Though we could not finde out his justice in this yet we must hold the principle God is righteous Jere. 12.1 Rom. 9.14 Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Reject such thoughts with abomination 2. God may be cleared First in respect of his absolute liberty and right or prerogative by the similitude of the Potter He is not unrighteous in his action whose will executes but lawful power Secondly God in his liberty and prerogative may be cleared in his ends of his action He appoints none to damnation for damnation sake he delights not in the destruction of his Creature he respects his glory of power of wrath of justice of patience in bearing long with sinners and at last punishing them powerfully and righteously and declaring his rich glory in the Vessels of Mercy As all things are of him and through him so all things are for him Rom. 11.36 It is just for God to will his own glory by that of which he hath absolute power 3. He is cleared in his obtaining of this end of the glory of his justice and power in that he condemns and destroyeth none in his wrath but the material cause of their condemnation is found in themselves He created all righteous left man in the power of his will by his own free-will he sinned against God and so lost himself and his freewil his minde set on evil his wisdom contrary to God and cannot be subject to God He suffers them with patience giveth means of Repentance and Salvation for many and many gifts not onely worldly but spiritual makes them taste of the excellencies of the life to come doth what he can do for them excepting the new creating of them which is not unto just proceeding required He causeth not but permitteth their sin or in justice makes latter sins punishments of former blinding them that will not see but wink at the light hardning them that harden and obstinate their own hearts against his motions delivering them to their own hearts lusts that will not hear his counsel till they fulfil their full measure of sin rejecting them without purpose of ever reclaiming them And this is just And howsoever they cannot now but sin yet they sin with freedom without constraint from him with delight that they are said to love death Prov. 8.36 and to seek death Vse 1 1. For that there is an appointment of some to wrath it must stay us in our wondering at the ineffectualness of the Word in many to whom it is preached and that in a diverse manner or degree some continue enemies and disobedient being enraged by it some hear gladly yet go back offended at something All are not of God all have not faith
2. It may provoke us to hasten our assurance of our exemption from this ordination to wrath by separation from the way of reprobates by getting grace peculiar to the elect distinguishing between restraining grace and renewing 3. It should stir us up to vows of eternal thankfulness to God having found our exemption from wrath and our appointment to Salvation not onely rejoycing with thanksgiving that God hath appointed us to life but that passing by others he hath respected us Luke 10.21 it addes marvellous amplification to the mercy and love of God Heb. 2.16 Mal. 1.2 3. The soul that hath tasted this mercy can never express the measure of it but rather faint in the admiration of it But to obtain Salvation The salvation of the saved is made sure by decree of the unchangable God It is not onely foreknown but put for us The persons ordained us and we put unto it into Gods eternal decree and fore-ordination which is certain not onely that some shall be saved but for number more or fewer shall not be saved and for persons these be not they Which may be gathered by the distinction of Brother and Brother Abel not Cain of such as have election to the same office of King David not Saul of Apostles John 13. I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen of ordinary Preachers many never known Matth. 7. Some written in the Book of Life their name in Gods eternal memory Phil. 4. Such as have common favor to hear Salvation offered the Election obtain the rest are blinded As many as were ordained to life believed As if we should say Pew-fellows so Work-fellows Bed-fellows one taken another left as God eternally had decreed that doth all things after the counsel of his will to whom his works be known all from the beginning of the world Act. 15.18 Rom. 8.29 Gods fore-knowledge is in order before predestination Act. 15.18 Rom. 8.29 This puts difference between one and another Gods purpose according to election Rom. 9.11 not of works but of him that calleth Matth. 20.16 Calling is effectual onely in such persons and no other as God hath chosen Whom he predestinated them he called The particulars are known the means sent to them continued for them Acts 18. and made effectual to them The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Christ calls his sheep by name knoweth them and knoweth others not to be his Joh. 10.26 27. Of all the persons that have been are or ever shall be in the world the number is finite defined and certain with God The generation of men as it had a beginning so shall it have an end by Gods will And of all that are some are appointed to salvation some to damnation God is not ignorant whom he will save whom he will damn for he is most wise The means prepared for the salvation of some and fore-seeing ordained for the destruction of some cannot fail for he is most mighty If the hairs of their heads be numbred much more the persons elected be numbred Applic. It follows therefore That God hath not left men to be framers of their fortune casting lots on nond but leaving men to make themselves elect or reprobate and that alterably as they stand in faith and holiness or fall away from it First Mans wisdom deals on better certainties first determining of the end of his work and accordingly disposing of his workmanship Secondly This way we are beholding to our selves more then to Gods grace that I may be elected and saved I must thank God that I am elected and saved I may thank my self God made it possible my free will made that possibility beneficial unto me and so one man may insult over another as making the difference between himself and another man contrary to that 1 Cor. 4.7 Object 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honor It seems then a man may frame his own fortune and make himself a Vessel of honor Sol. It is to be understood of his own knowledge of his election by the figns Object It seems God hath not so unalterably determined of the persons but that one that was elect may fall from election and another take his room or else why is there mention of putting out names of the Book of life Psal 69.28 Exod. 32.33 Sol. Such sayings are to be understood of the manifesting of Gods counsel They whom God by open signs joyns unto his people are said to be written in the Book of life and so contrary when God openly casts them away and roots them out of the Church they are said to be blotted out of the Book of Life that he hath written as the false Prophets Ezek. 13.9 They shall not be in the Assembly of my people nor be written in the writings of the house of Israel c. Some seem to be written and are not some seem to be written and are so they that seem and are not the Lord will upon their sin manifest it that they were not written the other shall hold their account Revel 3. It is a strong foundation of comfort that the persons be unalterably elected Rejoyce in this your names are written in Heaven Rom. 8.33 Who shall accuse the Elect of God Nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ Election is in God who changeth not not in us that change of Gods will and fore-knowledge not of our works To obtain Salvation To obtain salvation is not meant here to acquire it by their own merits for the mean of their obtaining is determined in the Text Christ Jesus But it is all one with other places where the Elect are said to be ordained to eternal life God then hath determined of the final state of the Elect Elect they are not onely to Means and Grace but to the End Salvation Acts 13.48 To eternal life Rom. 9.23 prepared to glory to conformity with Gods Son in his Image Rom. 8.29 Blessedness of a Kingdom Matth. 25.34 Their place in Heaven near Christ Matth. 20.23 Blessing with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places Eph. 1. From Election as a cause flows Grace and the right use of it to the Elect whatsoever pertains to Life or Godliness all Graces qualifying the persons elected and making them meet for their Masters use and their lot among the Saints in Light As the revealing of Christ the secrets of the Kingdom Faith in Christ Union with him Justification Adoption Regeneration Good works perseverance with an impossibility to be seduced finally God keeps them by his power unto salvation they shall never perish God reserveth them to himself Rom. 11. preserved in Jesus Christ Jude 1. so as their salvation is sure and infallible Which is matter of plentiful Consolation in all thoughts perplexing or distressing Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom By Jesus Christ This is the onely mean resolved of in Gods Counsel for the accomplishment of Gods purpose concerning the salvation of the Elect Jesus Christ He is therefore said to be predestinate before the world and we predestinate in him 1 Pet. 1.20 Ephes 1. Our Salvation of his gracious purpose given us in Christ Jesus before the world 2 Tim. 1.9 And given are all to Christ Jesus that God will save that he may purchase their salvation by his merit and put them in possession of it by his efficacy John 6.37 John 17.2 38 39. Him hath the Father sealed to this work to give food unto Eternal Life John 6.27 And propounded for reconciliation by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 There is no other Name under Heaven to claim Salvation by Whence follow these things First That Christ is not the cause of our Election though he be the Saviour There is no cause without God that moved him to chuse where he hath chosen Purpose Grace Good pleasure will of shewing mercy doing with his own what he will working all according to the Counsel of his will These are alledged as the onely cause why he resolved upon these persons in them to shew the riches of his Glory We are chosen in him not for him we are saved according to Gods purpose for him as ordained the mean and meritorious cause the Author of eternal Salvation Secondly As many as God means to save he as he gives to Christ so causeth to come to him and not one more or less that not being in this life joyned to Christ to be finally out of Christ Ioh. 10. is a sign of rejection from Grace and Life It is not as some dream that an honest life in a true or false Religion will save Then what lost the Jews by stumbling at Christ who sought Righteousness and Life without him The Apostle counts all dung for Christ and desireth to be found in him He is our hope by him onely we beleeve and have access to God If we be Christs we are Abrahams seed and heirs of the Promise Christ gives himself for no other but such as are given of his Father to him he layes down his life for his sheep he excludes the rest out of his Intercession What Christ is as Mediator what he doth as Mediator to whom he doth any thing by Mediation is all by the will and appointment of his Father His will he came to do his work was appointed him and that he finished according to his will All other means are but subordinate as Faith Preaching Sacraments with relation to Christ Christ onely absolutely necessary these as instruments to receive him Some wanting these have Christ to Salvation FINIS