judgement was governed by his passions of love and hatred these by his lust And for his bitter Speeches Bucer gave him the title of a Fratricide Reverend Mr. Beza confesseth also of himself that per quindecim annorum Spacium quo alios docuit justitiae viam nec sobrium se factum nec liberalem nec veracem sed haerere in luto That for the space of fifteen years together wherein he taught others the way of righteousnesse himself trod neither in the way of truth nor bounty nor sobriety but stuck fast in the mire of sin Men that have had triall of the powerful workings of sin and grace and been brought upon their knees like the great Apostle with a bitter complaint O me miserum O wretched man that I am These are your None-such Divines which methinks our Saviour gave an intimation of in that passage to Peter Luke 22. 32. tu aliquando conversus confirma fratres tuos Mr. Narrowgrace He attributeth so much to the Ministery of the Gospel that he seems to be superstitiously addicted to it and turnes it into an Idol Whereas we know of it self it is but a dead letter and therefore Maccovius handling that question Whether the word God may be savingly heard before regeneration concludes negatively and to avoide his Adversaries argument he affirmes that that hearing of the word which produceth faith doth presuppoose regeneration To this agrees the opinion of some Divines who think that Regeneration is effected after another manner then faith is To which purpose Johannes Rysius in his Confession saith thus Fides Dei gratiâ per verbum concipitur Regeneratio vero a Deo per Christum sine ullius rei Creatae interventu proficiscitur Faith is conceived by the grace of God through the word but Regeneration pro-ceeds from God through Christ without the intervention of any created thing whatsoever Mr. Take o' trust I conceive Sir when we see the ministery so much ecclipsed and undervalued as it is if there were nothing else in it Christian Policy should teach us not to vent such doctrines as are apt to bring more contempt upon it But the Holy Ghost hath set it at a higher rate by cloathing it with titles of a greater reputation He calls it the word of grace the word of faith the word of life the Joh. 6. 63. Heb. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. word of reconciliation the ministration of the Spirit the word that is able to save the soul the power of God unto Salvation the word of God that effectually worketh in them that beleeve Mr. Know-little I conceive the Ministery of the word hath these excellent titles bestowed upon it in regard it is the instrument by and through which God doth infuse into the understanding and heart his special grace or rather that regenerating virtue which alone doth powerfully effect the work of regeneration so that the outward word as an instrument conferreth nothing at all to that effect but is onely as the tunnell whereby water is poured into a vessel and yet that water receives no tincture at all from the nature or quality of the said tunnell Mr. Takeo'trust I have seen this alledged But they say we should consider that the nature and propertie of the word is to be intelligible in expression and to carry such a sense as is apt to move the party to whom it is addressed by working upon his understanding and inciting his heart to love or hatred hope or fear and this is the true efficacy the word is indowed with But if the word contributes no more to our conversion or regeneration than the tunnell that only conveighs the liquor to the filling of the vessel then it matters not whether the word be intelligible yea or no for that regenerating virtue being a distinct power infused besides it the word doth not work as a verbal id est a rational instrument but onely concurr's as an instrument destitute of sense and reason And therefore as it matters not what mettall the tunnell be made of whether wood or brasse or tinn So had the word no other kinde of instrumentalitie than that hath it were all one whether the language were barbarous non-sense as is usuall amongst some Sectaries or significant And to what end then did God confer the gift of tongues upon his Apostles and they take such care to condescend and apply themselves to the capacitie and apprehension of their hearers Besides if the word hath no more to do in this work than is pretended why should it consist of precepts and those establish't with promises and threatnings For a precept so establish'd especially doth prescribe the thing under command as a duty and concurr's unto that duty as the reason moving and obliging a man to performe it But if that special grace or regenerating vertue so infused doth alone effect a mans regeneration taking nothing at all from the word how can that effect be said to be the performance of his duty and an act of obedience to the command of the word Mr. Knowlittle 'T is a question whether there be any precepts properly so called under the new Covenant yea nor no Some absolutely denie it But we confess it and they may be said to concur to our conversion and believing per modum signi as a sign or object representing what God by his free grace is said to effect and work in us Indeed they declare what man ought to do but they serve rather to discover and convince his weakness than promote his duty Mr. Takeo'trust This doctrin doth cancel the very formal reason force of all the Commands of Christ and makes the word of God intended for an instrument of mans conversion to serve only for an object and meer doctrin for his faith and repentance to converse with for they are not to be wrought it seems by this means but immediately effected and wrought of Almighty God in the heart by a special action and operation and consequently all the exhortations and precepts as such all the promises and threatnings complaints and obtestations wherewith the word of God aboundeth to be nothing else but empty signs and busie trifles if not a ludicrous stage-play conducing nothing to that effect which they pretend to be designed for But that faith and regeneration which flowes from it are both wrought in a rational way by the outward ministery of the word moving and inciting the understanding and heart of man will evidently appear to be the doctrin of Christ and his Apostles 1. For faith take that expression in our Saviours prayer John 17. 17 20. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Neither pray I for these Apostles alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word See Joh. 20. 31. 1 John 5. 13. And Rom. 10. 17. Therefore faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God 1. That he understands faith working by love which the Gospel determines
Infants children of the faithful are to be accounted in the number of Reprobates The Reason Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Acts 2. 39. The promise is unto you and to your children Acts 11. 14. Words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved Acts 16. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house 1 Cor. 7. 14. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy II. They utterly denie that some Infants of the faithful departing this life in their Infancy before they have committed any actual sin in their own persons are reprobated The Reason Gen. 18. 25. That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from thee shall not the judge of all the earth do right Ionah 4. 11. Thou hast had pitty on the gourd for the which thou hast not laboured neither madest it to grow which came up in a night and perished in a night and should not I spare Nineveh wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left Ezek 18. 2. 3 4. What mean ye that ye use this proverb saying the fathers have eaten sower grapes and the câ—â—ldrens teeth are set on edge See Deut. 24. 16. 2 Kings 14. 6. As I live saith the Lord God ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb Behold all souls are mine as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine the soul that sinneth it shall die Ier. 31. 29 30. In those dayes they shall say no more the fathers have eaten a sowre grape and the childrens teeth are set on edge But every one shall die for his own iniquitie every man that eateth the sowre grape his teeth shall be set on edge III. They do utterly denie that the sacred laver of baptisme and the prayers of the Church can no wayes avail such Infants unto salvation The Reason Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and disciple all Nations baptizing them c. 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth also now save us Tit. 3. 5. He saved us by the washing of regeneration Ephes 5. 25 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Acts 2. 38 39. with Acts 22. 16. Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins for the promise is to you and to your children Gal. 3. 27. with Rom. 8. 1. As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus And the prayers of the Church c. 1 John 5. 14 15 16. This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death And shall not God hear the prayers of the Church in behalf of Infants IV. They do utterly denie that some of the faithfuls children baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost while they live in the state of their Infancy are reprobate by an absolute decree The Reason of this appears sufficiently in the Reasons of those Negatives fore-mentioned The state of the Controversie touching Predestination or Election to Eternal life or Reprobation therefrom I. Whether of divine and peremptory Election to Glory or eternal life the first and adequate object be All and only those which persevere in true faith unto their lives end as such or certain particular persons not at all considered as believing and persevering in faith as such See all the Texts alledged for conditioned and against absolute irrespective Election II. Whether of Peremptory Reprobation unto everlasting torments the first and adequated object be All and only unbelievers dying in their unbelief as such or certain particular persons the greatest part of mankinde not at all considered as impenitent unbelievers and disobedient as such See the Texts fore-cited for respective and against irrespective and absolute reprobation to which you may adde Isa 27. 11. Because this people have no understanding therefore c. Ezek. 18. 1â— 23. The second Article Controverted concerning the Universalitie of Christs death What the Remonstrants hold I. THey hold that the price of Redemption which Christ tendred unto his Father was not only in it self sufficient for the Redemption of all mankinde but was also according to the decree the will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man Proofs out of Scripture For all and every man 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all Chap. 4. 10. We trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men Iohn 3. 16. John 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world 1 John 2. 2. John 6. 33 51. We have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world He tasted death for every man Hebrews 2. 9. For the unjust 1 Peter 3. 18. c. For the ungodly for sinners for his enemies Rom. 5. 6 8 10. See the places cited before for Christs satisfaction According to the decree the will and grace of God c. John 3. 16. So God loved the world c. 1 John 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie that the father sent the son to be the Saviour of the world Romans 8. 32. He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all 1 John 4. 9 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 17. That he by the grace of God should tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. Col. 1.
19 20 21. It pleased the father by him to reconcile all things to himself Tit. 3. 4. After that the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared Iohn 12. 47. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world Iohn 15. 13. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friend Rev. 1. 5. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. The love of Christ Constraineth us c. II. They hold that Christ by the merit of his death hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankinde that the Father by reason of his Sons merit both could and would and did enter and establish a new and gracious Covenant with sinful man liable to Condemnation Proofes out of Holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Col. 1. 21 22. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death Isa 49. 8. I will give thee for a Covenant of the people i. e. A mediator and foundation of the Covenant of grace Deodat Annot Isa 53. per tot verse 10 11 12. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Ier. 31. 31 33 34. ch 33. 8. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. with Hebr. 8. 6. c. He is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises viz. I will put my lawes into their minde and I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness c. Hebr. 9. 14 15. c. How much more shall the blood of Christ and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance See chap. 10. per totum chap. 7. 22. chap. 12. 24 25. III. They hold that though Christ hath merited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins for all and every man yet according to the tenour of the new and gracious Covenant none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ otherwise then by faith nor are a mans sins pardoned before he actually believes in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture None made partakers otherwise then by faith Romans 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Romans 9. 33. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded 1 Timothy 4. 10. He is the Saviour specially of those that believe Col. 1. 19. to the 23. For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself And you hath he now reconciled to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight If ye continue in the faith c. Heb. 3. 6 14. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast c. Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator that by means of death they which are called Cum Eventu might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Iohn 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name See Gal. 3. 22. Nor are a mans sins pardoned before he believes Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Acts 26. 18. Chapter 13. 39. See John 3. 36. Rom. 3. 21 22. The righteousness of God without the law is manifested even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Romans 4 3 24. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and it shall be imputed to us also if we believe See the whole Chapter Gal. 2 26. We have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ Gal. 3. 11. See Gal. 3. 22. The just shall live by faith Romans 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God See Acts 2. 38. Isa 53. 11. IV. They hold that only they for whom Christ died are bound to believe that Christ died for them and if there were any for whom Christ died not they should not be bound to believe he died for them or condemned for not believing yea if there were any such Reprobates they should rather be bound to believe that he died not for them Proofs out of Scripture Only they bound to believe c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with 21. ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ who was manifest for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Believe also in me Why I goe to prepare a place for you and I will receive you to my selfe See 1 Cor. 15. 2 3. with the 14 verse Whence it followes that they for whose sins Christ died not and for whose justification he rose not again to them preaching is vain and their faith is vain for they do but believe an untruth and lean upon the staffe of a broken reed Accordingly as was alleaged above Maccovius saith A man must first believe Christ to be his Saviour which he cannot be unless he hath died for him and that must be the reason why he placeth his faith in him Rather believe that he died not for them For Deut. 29. 29. Those things which are revealed belong to us And Luke 24. 25. O fooles and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken If it be a revealed truth that Christ died not for the Reprobates then are they bound to believe he died not for them But if it be not a truth revealed why is it then preached and urged as an Article of faith What they doe not hold touching Christs death I. They do utterly deny that the price of Redemption which Christ tendered unto God his Father was not according to the decree will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man that so the greatest part of mankinde should by an absolute and antecedent decree of God be precisely shut out from the participation of the benefits of Christs death The Reason 1. Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was
hold that true believers may fall from true faith and into those sins which cannot stand with true and justifying faith neither is this onely possible but oft cometh to pass Proofes out of holy Scripture True Believers may fall from true faith Mat. 13. 20 21 22. Luke 8. 13. 14. They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy and these have no root which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard goe forth and are choaked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring forth no fruit unto perfection Rom. 11. 20 21 22. Because of unbelief they were broken off Gal. 5. 4 7. Ye did run well Ye are fallen from grace 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack ch 4. 1. Some shall depart from the faith ch 5. 12 15. Some are already turned aside after Satan Having damnation because they have cast off their first love See ch 6. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 15. ch 2. 17 18. Gen. 3. 6 24. Into sins which cannot stand with justifying faith c. 2 Pet. 2. 18. See ver 1. c. They allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in errour It hath happened unto them according to the true proverb The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire Mat. 26. 70 72 74. Then began Peter to curse and to swear saying I know not the man David a man of great faith and integrity 1 King 15. 5. yet 2 Sam. 11. 4 15. ch 12. 9. He committed adultery and murder And Solomon beloved of the Lord. 2 Sam. 12. 25. 1 Kings 3. 10. yet 1 Kings 11. from 1 to 10 verses through the love of strange women his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared unto him twice and went after other gods And that these sins of Adultery Murder and Idolatry are inconsistent with true justifying faith See Gal. 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Rev. 21. 8. ch 22. 15. Demas one of Saint Pauls fellow-labourers Philemon 24. Col. 4. 14. Whose names were written in the book of life Philip. 4. 3. yet 2 Tim. 4. 10. He embraced this present world How great a sin that is in a person so engaged 2 Tim. 2. 3 4. See Iames 4. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Iohn 2. 15. Ier. 2. 13. My people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living water c. Rev. 2. 20 22. Jezebel seduced my servants to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to Idols and they commit adultery with her Luke 11. 24. c. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and finding none he saith I will return unto mine house whence I came out And when he cometh he findeth it swept and garnished Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked then himselfe and they enter in and dwell there III. They hold that true believers may through their own default fall into crimes and heinous offences continue and die in them and so finally fall away and perish Proofes out of Holy Scripture 1 Chron. 28. 9 If thou forsake him He will cast thee off for ever John 15. 2 6. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away and it is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned Ezek. 18. 24. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousnesse and committeth iniquity and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall he live all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin that he hath sinned in them shall he die See ver 26. and ch 33. 12 13 18. Matth. 18. 26. ad finem Then his Lord said unto him O thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant even as I had pity on thee And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors See the Reasons of the 2 3 4 c. Negatives and the proofes of the 2 Affirmative III. They hold that true Believers though they fall sometimes into grievous sins and such as wast the Conscience yet fall not from all hope of repentance but that God according to the multitude of his mercies can and often doth bring them again by his grace unto repentance although they cannot certainly be assured that this shall certainly and undoubtedly be done Proofes out of Holy Scripture Fall not from all hope c. Ezek. 18. 30. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquitie shall not be your ruin See Rev. 2. 4. c. 3. 3. Psal 51. 17. Ier. 3. 1 12 14. Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord. Turn O backsliding children I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful I will not keep anger for ever For I am married unto you Hos 14. 4. I will heal their backsliding I will love them freely Ier. 31. 19 20. Is Ephraim my dear son Is he a pleasant childe For since Ispake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Therefore I will look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me Rejoyce not against me O mine enemie when I fall I shall arise Mat. 18. 21 22. How oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him Jesus saith untill seventie times seaven Luke 6. 36. As your father which is in heaven is merciful Exod. 32. 2. c. to the 10. Aaron makes a calf and provokes the Lord yet chap. 40. 13. He is consecrated to the Priests office Hezekiah humbled himself the wrath of God was removed from him 2 Chron. 36. 26. Peter weeps bitterly Mat. 26. 75. Davids sin is put away 2 Sam. 12. 13. The incestuous Corinthian findes indulgence 2 Cor. 2. 7 10. A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51. 17. They cannot certainly be assured c. 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Divel Joel 2. 14. Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behinde him Ionah 3. 9. Isa 27. 11. For it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on
times deceived in his present condition Rev. 3. 17. Thou sayest I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked Gal. 6. 3. 2. Mans heart is deceitful above all things Ier. 17. 9. See Iohn 16. 2. 3. 'T is Gods prerogative to know future contingencies Isa 41. 22 23. and Eccles. 9. 1. The righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him 4. A man may resolve well for the present and be confident he shall stick to such principles and resolutions as he hath once made and espoused and yet fall quite off from them 2 King 18. 13. Hazael practised afterward what he then abhorred Mar. 14. 31. Matth. 26. 33 35. Peter said unto him though I should die with thee yet will I not deny thee Likewise also said all the disciples But he denied before them all saying I doe not know the man ver 70. 72. and again he denied with an oath and ver 74. Then began he to curse and to swear Mar. 14. 50. And they all forsook him and fled So Hezekiah 2 Chron. 31. 20 21. He wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the Commandements to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered But Chap. 32. 25. Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem See Davids fall 2 Sam. 11. 5. Hence Rom. 12. 16. Isa 5. 21. Woe to him that is wise in his own eyes 6. Our life is a warfare Iob 7. 1. and only death dischargeth us from that service Rev. 14. 13. Happy is the man that feareth alwayes Prov. 28. 14. For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. 7. Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. See Rom. 11. 20 Watch and pray Matth. 26. 41. Take heed lest at any time Luke 21. 34 36. and work out your salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 13. What the Remonstrants hold not touching Perseverance I. They hold not that a Believers Perseverance in faith is an effect of that absolute decree wherein God is said to have chosen some particular persons without all respect to any condition of obedience The Reason Psal 125. 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Rom. 11. 20. Thou standest by faith 1 Pet. 1. 5. Kept through faith unto salvation Ioh. 15. 4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me ver 7. If ye abide in me c. Iohn 14. 15 16. If ye love me keep my Commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that may abide with you for ever 1 Thess 4. 3 4. This is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my selfe should be a Cast away Rom. 8. 13 16. If ye mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 2 Pet. 3. 18. But grow in grace 1 Pet. 2. 19. This is thank-worthy if a man for conscience towards God not of necessity endure grief Psal 15. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 10. If ye doe these things ye shall never fall Eph. 6. 10. to 19. Take unto you and put on the whole armour of God c. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life Phil. 3. 12. I pursue hard after â—f that I may apprehend c. II. They do utterly deny that true Believers cannot sin of deliberation but onely of ignorance or infirmity The Reason 1. From exhortations 2 Cor. 6. 1. Receive not the grace of God in vain 1 Thess 5. 19. Quench not the spirit Eph. 4. 30. grieve not the holy spirit Hebr. 10. 35. 37 38. Cast not away your Confidence if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him 2. From expostulations and admiration c. Iohn 6. 67. will ye also goe away Isa 1. 21. How is the faithful city become an harlot Ier. 2. 12 21. Be astonished O ye heavens at this For my people have committed two evils Yet I had planted thee a noble vine wholly a right seed how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me Mat. 12. 43 44 45. Luk. 11. 24. 3. He taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked then himself 4. Davids example 2 Sam. 11. 4. He sent Messengers for Bathsheba and lay with her ver 6. He sends for Uriah to cover the fact and tempts him to that purpose ver 8. He made him drunk ver 13. Plotted and Contrived his death ver 14 15. III. They do utterly deny that true believers can by no sins fall from the favour of God The Reason Rom. 11. 22. If thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou shalt be cut off 2 Sam. 11. 27. The thing that David had done displeased the Lord. See Chap. 12. 10 11 12. 1 King 11. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord. See 1 Chron. 28. 9. Cant. 5. 2. to 6. Isa 64. 5 7 9. Be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember iniquitie for ever behold see we beseech thee we are all thy people Hos 9. 15 17. All their wickedness is in Gilgal for there I hated them for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house I will love them no more Isa 63. 7 8 9 10. He said surely they are my people children that will not lie So he was their Saviour But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemie and he fought against them 2 Chron. 32. 25. There was wrath upon Hezekiah Deut. 32. 19. When the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters Rev. 3. 16. I will spue thee out of my mouth Jer. 2. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord. Heb. 10. 39. See verse 38. Of them who draw back unto perdition IV. They do utterly denie that every man is bound to believe that he is elected and consequently that he cannot fall from that Election or that a 1000. sins yea the sins of the whole world cannot make his Election void The Reason See