of remission of the punishment and of the fault is a distinction without a difference 4. That guiltinesse is not the forme of Sinne but an affection or a consequent adjunct partly separable partly inseparable 5. Now it followes Sinne partly by vertue of the Law of God adjudging punishment to Sinnes in which respect it hath some good in it and is of God and in this respect God cannot separate that guiltinesse from Sinnes Yet as it flowes from Sinne and is a worthinesse and deserving of punishment it doth also partake of the nature of it and it is a vitious thing and in this respect it cannot be separated from Sinne. This double consideration of guiltinesse is intimated Romans 1. 32. Knowing the Law of God that they that doe such things are worthy of death 6. From this guiltinesse there followeth a conscience altogether evill namely accusing condemning justly And hence followes horrour and flying from the presence of God Gen. 3. 8. 20. Heb. 2. 15. Rom. 8. 15. 7. Filthinesse is that spirituall pollution whereby a sinner is made destitute of all comlinesse and honour and becomes vile Matth. 15. 11. Rev. 22. 11. 8. This filthinesse doth immediatly follow the offence of the Sinne and remaineth in the Sinner after the act of Sinne is past and ceaseth to be it is wont to be called the spot of Sinne Corruption Defilement Deformity Dishonesty Nakednesse Uncleannesse a blot and somtimes Culpa a fault 9. From this filthinesse there followes First A turning away from God Esay 1. 15. Which is also called abomination and detestation Prov. 1. 32. Especially in respect of greater Sinnes Prov. 3. 16. Ierem. 16. 18. Secondly the shame of a man to his confusion Gen. 3. 7. For such a shame is a feare arising from the conscience of some filthinesse Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had you of those things whereof you are now ashamed 10. Punishment is an evill inflicted upon the Sinner for his Sinne. 11. It is called an evill because it is a privation of good But it is not a privation of an honest good as it is honest as sin is but it s a privation of the good of happinesse in respect of the Sinner who is punished 12. It is said to be an evill inflicted not simply contracted because it pertaines to rewarding and revenging Iustice. 13. It is said to be inflicted for Sinne because it hath alwayes respect and order to the desart of Sinne unto which punishment followes from the offence by reason of the prohibition and from the guiltinesse by reason of the commination 14. Therefore punishment properly so called hath no place but in Intelligent Creatures in whom also Sinne is found 15. Because Sinne is reduced into order by punishment and Sin in it selfe is in some measure against the goodnesse of God but punishment only against the good of the Creature therefore Sin hath more evill in it selfe then punishment 16. Hence it is that the least Sin is not to be admitted although the greatest punishment might by that meanes be avoyded or the greatest good obtained Rom. 3. 8. 17. In the ordaining of punishment divers attributes of God doe shine forth chiefly Holinesse Righteousnesse and Mercy 18. The holinesse of God in the largest signification is that whereby he is free and as it were separated from all imperfection Isa. 6. 3. Rev. 4. 8. But that holinesse of God which doth there properly shine forth is that whereby he being pure from any spot of Sinne cannot communicate with any Sinne. Psal. 5. 5. Thou art not a strong God that delighteth in iniquity evill shall not dwell with thee Hab. 1. 13. Thou art of purer Eyes then that thou mayest behold Evill 19. The revenging justice of God which here shines forth is that whereby he inflicteth evill upon them that doe evill 2. Thes. 1. 6. It is just with God to render affliction to them that afflict you 20. This Iustice as it doth burne simply-against Sinne is called wrath Rom. 1. 18. Eph. 5. 6. As it doth more fiercely wax hot it is called fury Deut. 29. 20. As it doth give sentence to be executed against a Sinner it is called judgement Rom. 2. 5. As it doth execute the sentence given it is properly called revenge Heb. 10. 30. 21. Mercy here shining forth is that whereby be punisheth Sin lesse then the condigne desert of it 22. This mercy is clemency or beneficence 23. Clemency is that whereby he doth moderate the punishments that are due Lam. 3. 22. It is the Lords great kindnesse that we are not consumed 24. Clemency appeares in patience and long sufferance 25. Patience is that whereby he doth forbearingly suffer Sin and spares the Sinners 2. Pet. 3. 9. 26. Long sufferance is that whereby he doth long suspend revenge Exo. 34. 6. 27. Beneficence is that whereby being rich in goodnesse he powreth forth many good things even upon Sinners Matth. 5. 45. So much of the Guiltinesse Filthinesse and punishment of sinne in generall now followes the punishment in speciall 28. The punishment inflicted on man for Sinne is death Gen. 2. 17. Rom. 5. 12. 29 This Death is a miserable privation of life 30. By the life of man is understood both the conjunction of the soule with the body and all that perfection which was agreeable to man in that state whether it was actually communicated or to be communicated upon condition Psalme 36. 10. With thee is the Fountaine of life in thy light wee shall enjoy light 31. Therefore Death is not from God as he did ordaine nature but it is from God as taking vengeance on Sinne and so properly from Sinne as the meritorious and procuring cause 32. But that Death is not a simple and bare privation of life but joyned with subjection to misery and therefore is not the annihilating of the Sinner whereby the subject of misery being taken away the misery it selfe should be taken away 33. A certaine Image and representation of this Death was the casting out of Paradise in which there was contained a Symboll or Sacrament of life Genes 3. 22. 23. 24. Thus much of Death in generall It followeth to speake of it in speciall 34. In Death or the curse of God that doth lye upon Sinners there are two degrees the beginning of it and the perfection of it and two members The punisment of losse or privative the punishment of sense or positive and there are two kinds Death spirituall and corporall 35. The beginning of spirituall Death in matter of losse in the defacing of the Image of God that is the losse of grace and originall Iustice. Rom. 3. 23. They are deprived of the glory of God Eph. 4. 18. Being strangers from the Life of God 36. By this losse of grace man is robbed of all saving giâ—…ts and so nature is weakned put out of order and as it were wounded 37. The beginning of spirituall death in matter of sence is spirituall bondage 38. Spirituall bondage
he is subject to the justice of God to performe all those things which were required to the redemption of man Phil. 2. 8. Being found in shape as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient unto death 3. This humiliation was not properly of the Divine nature or person considered in it selfe but of the Mediator God-man 4. Therefore the taking of the humane nature considered simply in it selfe is not a part of this humiliation because it was the action of God only but that condition of a servant which did accompany the taking of the Divine nature was the prime and proper reason of the humiliation Yet in respect of this condition by a relation redounding from thence the Divine person is rightly said to be of no reputation Phil. 2. 7. Because it did exist in that forme which for a time was void of all glory and Divine Majesty for the Divine Majesty did suppresse and hide it selfe throughout all that space of humiliation that it did not constantly exercise that dignity which did afterward appeare in the exaltation 5. The end of this humiliation is satisfaction and merit 6. It is called satisfaction as it is ordered to the honour of God by a certaine recompence for the injury done to him by our sinnes Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation by his blood to shew this righteousnesse This is shewed in all those places of Scripture wherein Christ is said to be dead for us for that efficiency is set forth in this phraise which cannot be attributed to Paul or Peter in their death 1 Cor. 1. 13. Which takes away condemnation Rom. 8. 34. Which finally brings with it reconciliation to salvation Rom. 5. 10. 7. It is the same also which is signified where it is said he was made sinne for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he could no other way be made sinne then either by inward pollution or outward reputation but he was most of all free from pollution neither did the imputation of sin any other way agree to him then that he migt for us undergoe the punishment due to sinne 8. In the same respect it is said that he bore our iniquities Isay 53. 4. Neither doth that phraise signifie a bearing of patience for by bearing he tooke away the sins of the world Iohn 1. 29. Neither doth it only declare a power of taking away sins for he bore our sins in his body upon the Crosse. 1 Pet. 2. 24. 9. The like sorce is of that fâ—…rme he paid the price of redemption for us Mat. 20. 28. For neither is there a meere delivering set forth by that phraise nor every meanes of it because the price it selfe is nominated and it is intimated to be of the like common respect with the paiment of silver or gold for vendible merchandize 1 Pet. 1. 18. And the application of this price it also added Hebr. 9. 13. 14. 15. Blood sprinkling those that are uncleane And 10. 22. Our hearts purged by sprinkling from an evill conscience So that Christ himselfe is therefore a Mediator because he hath given himselfe a price of redemption 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. And we are therefore made partaker of that redemption because Christ hath given himselfe for us Gal. 2. 20. And we believe in him Iohn 1. 12. And by him in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. 10. In the same sence also he is called an offering and sacrifice for our sinnes Eph. 5. 2. He gave himselfe for us an offering and sacrifice of a sweet smelling favour to God For he was so true and proper a sacrifice for sinne that all other sacrifices which went before were but shadowes of this and after this is finished it is neither needfull nor lawfull to offer any other Hebr. 16. 12. 14. 11. But this whole mystery depends upon this that Christ is made such a Mediator as that he is also a surety Hebr. 7. 22. And the common roote of those that are to be redeemed as Adam was of those that are created and lost Rom. 5. 16. 17. 18. 19. 1 Cor. 15. 22. 12. In the same humiliation of Christ there was also merit as it is ordered to our benefit or to obtaine some good for us in the way of reward This is shewed in all those places of Scripture wherein he is said by his obedience to have procured righteousnesse forus Rom. 5. 19. Many are made righteous to procure the favour of God for us Rom. 5. 10. We have been reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne and to procure life eternall for us Rom. 6. 23. Life eternall by Iesus Christ. 13. The merit and satisfaction of Christ differ not in the thing it selfe soo as they should be sought for in sundry and different operations but they ought in a diverse way to be acknowledged in one and the some obedience 14. Neither ought any part of that obedience which is found in the humiliation of Christ to be excluded from that dignity and use 15. But the exaltation of Christ although it be an essentiall part of his mediation yet it doth not pertaine to his merit or satisfaction 16. This satisfaction as touching the substance of the thing was perfect in rigour of justice yet it presupposeth grace whereby Christ was called to performe this worke and whereby it being performed it was accepted in our name and for our good Lastly whereby that is performed by covenant rewarding which was required in this Satisfaction Iohn 3. 16. So God loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Sonne Rom. 3. 24. We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption made in Iesus Christ and 5. 15. The grace of God and gift by grace which is of that one man Iesus Christ. 17. Hence greatest justice and greatest grace are together manifested and worke in mans redemption Rom. 5. 17. They receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousnesse soo that all the fruit of this Satisfaction are rightly together called the fruits and effects of the grace and mercie of God 18. This Satisfaction had worth sufficient and in some respect infinite First from the person of him that did offer who was God Secondly from the dignity and excellency of the thing offered for he offered himselfe God and man Thirdly from the manner of offering in which there was a certaine divine perfection by reason of the personall Union 19. For as the greatnesse of the injury growes from the dignity of the person offended because there the worth of the offended person is hurt so the worth of him that makes satisfaction doth grow from the dignity of him that makes Satisfaction because here the yeelding of honour is looked unto which depends upon the dignity of him that yeelds the honour 20. Also in satisfaction not the act only or suffering but also the person it selfe which doth or suffereth is voluntarily subjected to the obedience of him to whom that honour is yeelded also the manner of workingh
be saved And 13. 48. As many as were ordained to life believed Rom. 8. 30. Whom he predestinated them also he called Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousnesse but of his own mercy Ianeâ—… 1. 18. Of his owne will begat he us by the word of truth 7. The parts of Calling are two The offer of Christ and the receiving of him Iohn 1. 11. He came to his own and his own received him not But to as many as receive him he gave to them c. 8. The offer is an objective propounding of Christ as of a meanes sufficient and necessary to salvation 1. Cor. 1. 23. 24. We preach Christ the Power of God and the wisdome of God Heb. 7. 25. He is able perfectly to save those that come to God by him Acts 4. 12. Neither is there any other name under Heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved 9. But there is nothing propounded nor ought to be propounded of Christ in the Calling of men to be believed as true which is not simply and absolutely true For this is both against the nature of a testimony as it is an object of that Faith which is in the understanding the formall reason whereof is truth and also is against the nature of the Gospell it selfe which by an excellency is called the word of truth Eph. 1. 13. 10. The offer of Christ is outward or inward 11. The outward is a propounding or preaching of the Gospell or of the promises of Christ. Acts. 9. 15. That he may beare my name in the sight of the Gentiles 12. Yet that man be prepared to receive the promises the application of the Law doth ordinarily goe before to the discovery of sin and inexcusablenesse and humiliation of the sinner Rom. 7. 7. I knew not sinne but by the Law 13. Those promises as touching the outward promulgation are propounded to all without difference together with a command to believe them but as touching the propriety of the things promised which depends upon the intention of him that promiseth they belong only to the elect who are therefore called the sonnes and heires of the promise Rom. 9. 8. 14. The inward offer is a spirituall enlightning whereby those promises are propounded to the hearts of men as it were by an inward word Iohn 6. 45. Whosoever hath heard of the Father and hath learned commeth to me Eph. 1. 17. That he might give unto you the spirit of wisdome and revelation the eyes of your mind being enlightened that ye may know what is that hope of your calling 15. This also is sometime and in a certaine manner granted to those that are not elected Hebrewes 6. 4. 10. 29. Mat. 13. 20. 16. If any one oppose himselfe out of malice to this illumination he commits a sin against the Holy Ghost which is called unpardonable or unto death Hebr. 6. 6. 10. 29. 1 Iohn 5. 16. Mat. 12. 32. 17. The receiving of Christ is that whereby Christ being offered is joyned to man and man unto Christ. Iohn 6. 56. He abides in me and I him 18. In respect of this conjunction we say that we are in Christ 2 Cor. 5. 17. And to put on Christ. Gal. 3. 27. To be dwelled in by Christ. Eph. 3. 17. The house of Christ. Hebr. 3. 6. the Temple of Christ 2 Cor. 6. 16. To be espoused to Christ. Eph. 5. 23. Branches of Christ Iohn 15. 5. Members of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. And the Name of Christ is a certaine manner communicated to us 1 Cor. 12. 12. So also is Christ. 19. By reason of this receiving Calling is called conversion Acts 26. 20. Because all they who obey the call of God are wholly converted from sin to grace from the world to follow God in Christ It is also called regeneration as by that word the very beginning of a new life of a new Creation of a new Creature is often set forth in the Scriptures Iohn 1. 13. 3. 6. 1 Iohn 3. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 23. 22. As in respect of the offer it is properly called Calling as God doth effectually invite and draw men to Christ. Iohn 6. 44. 20. Receiving in respect of man is either passive or active Philippians 3. 12. That I may apprehend I was apprehended 21. Passive receiving of Christ is that whereby a spirituall principle of grace is begotten in the will of man Eph. 2. 5. He hath quickned 22. For this grace is the foundation of that revelation whereby a man is united with Christ Iohn 3. 3. Except a man bee borne againe hee cannot see the Kingdome of God 23. But the will is the most proper and prime subject of this grace because the conversion of the will is an effectuall principle of the conversion of the whole man Phil. 2. 17. It is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe of his own good pleasure 24. The enlightning of the mind is not sufficient to produce this effect because it doth not take away that corruption which is in the will neither doth it communicate unto it any new supernaturall principle by vertue whereof it may convert it selfe 25. Yet the will in respect of this first receiving hath not the consideration either of a free agent or a naturall patient but only of obedientiall subjection 2 Cor. 4. 6. Because God who hath said that light should shine out of darkenesse he it is who hath shined in our hearts 26. Active receiving is Actus olicitus an act of Faith drawn forth whereby he that is called doth now wholly leane upon Christ as his Saviour and by Christ upon God Iohn 3. 15. 16. Whosoever believes in him 1 Pet. 1. 21. Through him believing in God 27. This act of Faith doth depend partly upon a principle or habit of grace ingenerated and partly upon the operation of God moving before and stirring up Iohn 6. 44. None can come to me unlesse the Father draw him 28. It is indeed drawen out and exercised by man freely but certainly unavoydably and unchangeably Iohn 6. 37. Whatsoever my Father giveth mee shall come unto mee 29. With this Faith wherewith the will is turned to the having of the true good there is alwayes joyned repentance by which the same will is turned also to the doing of the true good with an aversnesse and hatred of the contrary evill or sinne Acts 19. 4. Marc. 1. 15. Repent and believe the Gospell 30. Repentance hath the same causes and principles with Faith for they are both the free gifts of God Eph. 2. 8. Faith is the gift of God 2 Tim. 2. 25. Whether God will at any time give them repentance They have the same subject because both have their seat in the heart or will of man Rom. 10. 9. 1 Kings 8. 48. With the heart man believeth They shall returne with all their heart They are also begotten at the same time But first they have divers objects for Faith is properly
the worship and glory of God Mat. 12. 5. Iohn 5. 8 9. For in that case those workes which are of their owne nature servile do passe into the nature of holy actions neither are they properly our workes but Gods works 44. This rest although in it selfe absolutely considered it is not neither ever was a part of worship yet as it is commanded of God as a certaine necessary thing unto his worship and is referred also to it so far it is a part of that obedience which pertaines to religion and the worship of God 45. The sanctification of this rest and day is a speciall applying of our selves to worship God upon that day which is intimated in those phrases He sanctified that day and it is a Sabbath to the Lord thy God 46. Here publick worship ought chiefly to be respected whence also it is that the Sabbath is called an holy Convocation Levit. 23. 13. Acts 13. 14. 15. 23. 16. 13. But that that publick convocation of the Church ought to be had both before and after noone upon the Lords day it appeares sufficiently by that double burnt-offering of the Sabbath in the morning and the evening Num. 28. 9. 47. But the rest of the day ought to be spent in exercises of piety for although there was of old an offering peculiar to the Sabbath yet the continuall or daily offering with his drink-offering was not to be omitted Num. 28. 10. 48. Also the publick worship it selfe seeing it is most solemnely to be celebrated doth necessarily require these exercises of reading the Scripture meditation prayer holy conferences and contemplation of the workes of God whereby we may be both more prepared to publick worship and that worship may be made truly effectuall to us 49. Contrary to his ordinance of the Lords day are all feast dayes ordained by men they being accounted for holy dayes as the Lords day ought to be accounted 50. For it is most agreeable with the first institution and with the writings of the Apostles that one only day in the week be sanctified 51. The Iewes had no feast dayes rightly sanctified but by divine institution 52. Yet any dayes may be piously turned into occasion of furthering the worship of God 53. Also when God by his speciall judgements cals to more solemne fasting those dayes are to be accounted as it were for extraordinary Sabbaths 54. Contrary also to the observation of this day and all transactions of businesse exercises feastings sports and such like whereby the minde of man is this day drawn away from the exercises of religion CHAPTER XVI Of Iustice and Charity toward our neighbour Thus much of Religion Iustice followes which is contained in the Second Table 1. IUstice is a vertue whereby we are inclined to performe our duty due to our neighbour So the duty of children towards their parents is said to be just Ephes. 6. 1. And the duty of masters towards their servants is called right and equall Col. 4. 1. And all those things which we owe to our neighbour are performed in living justly 2. But justice in this place is not taken most generally as setting forth every duty to another for so it containes even religion it selfe for that justice which iâ—… said to be generall is no other thing then vertue in generall as hath been before declared when we did shew that justice was the chiefe among the generall affections of vertue neither must it be understood most particularly to respect the quantity either of the thing deserved or received for so it containes only a few duties of the second table namely those whereby like is returned for like but it is here used in a certaine middle way wherby it sets forth the mutuall duty between those who are bound by the same right in which sence it containes all the force of the second Table 3. It hath for the object our neighbour that is every one whether man or Angell also who is or may be with us pertaker of the same end and blessednesse Luke 10. 36 37. 4. Hence neither holy men whatsoever they shal be nor Angels themselves can be a fit object of religion or of that religious worship which is commanded in the first Table but only of Iustice or of that dutie that is due to our neighbour which is contained in the second Table whence also those arguments taken from the nature of the thing doe exclude all adoration of the Creatures Acts 10. 26. Rise for I my selfe also am a man Revel 22. 9. See thou doe it nor for I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of those that keepe the words of this Booke worship God Rev. 22. 9. 5. Buth in this number and name every one is by proportion included even in respect of himselfe for every one is first a neighbour to himselfe then to others Whence also it is that there is no singular precept given whereby a man may be ordered toward himselfe for whilest he is rightly ordered toward God and toward his neighbour he is also ordered toward himselfe but with this difference that that disposition whereby any is made fit to performe his duty to God and his neighbour pertaines to his perfection but he must also performe the same duties both to his neighbour and himselfe but not to God and himselfe 6. But because that monner whereby duties are to be exercised toward our neighbour is with respect and affection to their good hence this same vertue is called charity toward our neighbour Matt. 22. 29. Marc. 12. 31. 7. In this charity there is alwayes love of union of welpleasednesse and good will as in that love which is toward God but there is also added oft times the consideration of mercy when the misery of our neighbour is respected which hath no place in our charity toward God 8. But this band of Iustice and affection of Charity ought alwayes to flow and be derived from Religion toward God for seeing Religion gives the chiefe honour to God it causeth that obedience be given to his will in those things also which doe immediatly respect the Creatures whence all they who neglect their duty towards men are denied to honour God but rather doe contemne him 1. Sam. 2. 30. Also charity towards God which is contained in Religion doth of its own nature produce charity towards men as they are in some sort partakers of the Image of God whence also we are said to love God in men and men in God which is one reason of that phrase beloved in the Lord. 9. Hence nothing is properly due to man which is contrary to Religion Acts 4. 19. 5. 29. Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather then God judge yee we must obey God rather then men 10. Hence also the truth of Religion cannot consist with the neglect of Iustice and Charity toward our neighbour Iames 1. 27. Religious worship pure and undefiled before
according to his purpose Eph. 1. 11. And his purpose according to election Rom. 9. 11. And election also according to purpose the counsell and good pleasure of the Will of God Eph. 1. 5. 26. There doth a certaine knowledge particularly accompany these acts of will in election in the mind of God wherebyGod doth most certainly know the heires of eternall life whence also election it selfe is called knowledge or fore-knowledge Rom. 8. 29. But this knowledge of God because with greatest firmnesse it retaines the distinct names of those that are to be saved and the good things appointed for them as if all were written in Gods Booke therefore it is called the booke of Life Psalme 69. 29. Revelations 3. 5. and 13. 8. 27 This election was only one in God in respect of whole Christ mystically considered that is of Christ and of those who are Christ as there was one Creation of all mankind yet as a certaine distinction may be conceived according to reason Christ was first elected as the Head and then some men as members in him Eph. 1. 4. 28. Yet Christ is not the meritorious or impulsive cause in respect of the election of men it selfe although it hath the reason of a cause in respect of all the effects of election which follow the sending of Christ himselfe 29. Christ himselfe in the first act of election as touching the worke of redemption is rightly said to be an effect and meanes ordained to the salvation of man as the end as this salvation is the action of God Iohn 17. 6. Thine they were and thou gavest them me Yet as this salvation is our good Christ is not the effect but the cause of it So it may be rightly said in respect of the first act of election that Christ the redeemer was the effect and subordinate meanes but in the third act of election he is to be considered as a cause Eph. 1. 3. He hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in the Heavens in Christ. 30. Reprobation is the predestinating of some certaine men that the glory of Gods Iustice might be manifested in them Rom. 9. 22. 2 Thess. 2. 12. Iud. 4. 31. Three acts are to be conceived in reprobation as before in election 32. The first act is to will the setting forth of Iustice. Therefore the end of God in reprobation is not properly the destruction of the Creature but the Iustice of God which shines forth in deformed destruction 33. Hence is the first difference in reason betweene election and reprobation for in election not only the glorious grace of God hath the respect of an end but also the salvation of men themselves but in reprobation damnation in it selfe hath not the respect of an end or of good 34. The second act is to appoint those certaine men in whom this Iustice of God should be made manifest Iude 4. 35. That act cannot properly be called election because it is not out of love neither doth it bring the bestowing of any good but the privation of it Therefore it is properly called reprobation because it doth reject or remove those about whom it is exercised from that love wherewith the elect are appointed to salvation As therefore in election there is love with discerning so in reprobation there is seene the deniall of love with putting a difference 36. But because this negative setting apart which is found in reprobation doth depend upon that setting apart which is in election hence the remote end of reprobation is the glory of that grace which is manifested in election Rom. 9. 22. 23. He suffered the vessels of wrath that he might make known the riches of his glory toward the vessels of mercy 37. Because of this setting apart whereby God will not communicate blessednesse upon some persons he is therefore said to hate them Rom. 9. 13. This hatred is called negative or privative because it denies election but it includes a positive act whereby God would that some should be deprived of life eternall 38. Neverthelesse in this is the second difference of reason between election and reprobation that thâ—… love of election doth bestow the good on the Creatuâ—… immediatly but the hatred of reprobation doth only deny good doth not bring or inflict evill but the desert of the Creature comming between 39. The third act of reprobation is an intention to direct those meanes whereby Iustice may be manifested in the reprobate 40. The most proper meanes of this kind are permission of sin and living in sin Rom. 9. 18. â—…2 Thess. 2. 11. 12. 41. In this act there is the third difference of reason between election and reprobation that election is the cause not only of salvation but also of all those things which have the consideration of a cause unto salvation but reprobation is not properly a cause either of damnation or of sin which deserves damnation 〈◊〉 an anâ—…ecedent only 42. Hence also followes a fourth disparity that the very meanes have not alwayes among themselves the respect of a cause and effect for the permission of sin is not the cause of forsaking hardning punishing but sin it selfe CHAPTER XXVI Of â—…lling Hitherto of Application The parts of it follow 1. THE parts of Application are two Union with Christ and communion of the benefits that flow from that Union Phil. 3. 9. That I may be found in him having the righteousnesse that is by the Faith of Christ. 2. This Unionâ—… that spirituall relation of men to Christ whereby they obtaine right to all those blessings which are prepared in him 1 Iohn 5. 12. He that hath the Sâ—…e hath life 〈◊〉 And. 3. 24. He dwelleth 〈◊〉 him and he in him 3. This Union is wrought by calling 4. For Calling is a gathering of men together to Christ that they may be united with him 1 Pet. 2. 4. 5. To whom comming Eph. 4. 12. For the gathering together of the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ. From which Union with Christ there followes Vnion with GOD the Father 1 Thess. 1. 1. 2. 1. 1. To the Church which is in GOD the Father and in our Lord Iesus Christ. 5. This therefore is that first thing which pertaines to the application of redemption Eph. 1. 7. 8. 9. In whom we have redemption c. After he made known unto us the mystery of his will and it is that first thing which doth make a man actually elected himselfe that is the first act of election which is shewed forth and exercised in man himselfe whence also it is that Calling and election are sometime taken in the Scriptures in the same sence 1 Cor. 1. 26. 27. 28. Yee see your Calling God hath chosen foolish things and weake things 6. Hence the Calling of men doth not in any sort depend upon the dignity honesty industry or any indeavour of the called but upon election and predestination of God only Acts 2. 47. The Lord did ad to the Church such as should