^ I J 1 hi 3 2 w ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Sc 1^ ■■i /6fai ^4;= fTE" "^ ,^o6l'j?lne of Particular Unconditionate ELECTION (Before Time.) Afferted and Prov'd by God'sWord, again (t the Qjiakersj Fapiffs^ and ^r- \ In Anfwerto a Challenge given the I Author, (by the Q^^Ms'n ) to n^iske good (by the Scriptures of Truth) the abovefaid Dottrine. Wherein is evidently difcovcrcd, , I. That ^\-\z abovefatd Do^rine, rigiirly under- ■ ftood and behev'd, (with Application to ones lelf) is tiie great Enemy of Sin, both in the. j Heart and Life of (^ true Believerv and th^t I which keeps the Believer from Defpair in the deepeft Defertion and Teraptation. , ir. That the Dodriiie of Free-wiJJ and Genera! ' Redemption, '^c. is an Inlet to, and an Encou- rager of Sin 5 and which leads (in the end j to ' horrid Defpair, under powerful Awakenings iw ' ' t!^t natural Confcience of anllnregenerate Man. \PQY time P)all arife faife Chrifls md falfe Prophets^ ] andjhciU foew great Signs md V/onders ', infomuch^ that {if it rs>erepsffible) they jhottld deceive the ve- ry Eleii^ Mat. 24. 24. IVherefire the rather. Brethren^ give all diligence, ty mci\e your Ca'ulng and Eleliion fure^ &c. 2 Pet. I. 10. , By fa.Barr), an unworthy Minifler of the Gofpel, 1 NlkO Ny Printed for the Author, 1 700. T O T H E Impartial READER " Courteous Reader, I Am to inform thee^ that in the time of the Popifli Go^ ^ernment ^ when Papery and Qiiakerirm/;;///'^ fo (^ami- cably ^ on each other ^ (as^the two Keligions (if I might fo call them.) which are nearefi of Kiiz of all the Religions (^ifihly)pro- fejs'd ill thaje Kingdmns J) tlM Fe.o^le called Quakers fent me a A % ^hr0- To tBe Reader. ll^afonical Challenge in Wri-^ tw ^^ which was afterwards pub- lijhed in Prmi) td pfo've (front theScriptires of Truth) the Four DoBrii7es here following. ( i .) The Do&rite df the ^efurre- ^ion of this fleflily Body y whkh Dies arid tutns to Dtfft. (a.) The DoSrke of Juftifi^ cation , by the alone Righte- oufnefs of Jefus Chrift, freely imputed. (3.) The Doftritte of imperfe£J:ion (ih San£Hfica- tion) in the moft Mortified Be- liever , while in this World. (4.) The Doftrine of Partial- Jar Unconditionate Elefiioa before Time. All which the^ Quakers do fiiffiy (and peremp^ tonlyydeny^ ^^ by their Printed Book(agaii?fi mej dothezfident- Tb the Reader. ' iy appeai". T^eir Challenge 1 ! ^ t(7 fe Se World fee ti^hm Metev^o^ dox and MereticaWrincipksihat i dehidedQand fedncedj) Teofle^ hold and ieadh for tme Eieligion. * Be fides my ^Kejohtion (herein ^y I I Sligdmy pifhy fmmife^ to L imy Congregatim^ that I mmld I (m the^trength of Ghrifl^ frk\ ' the&adder of their Blajphemom Pride J by proving (and making I goody by theSeripturesofTmthy the abmjefaid I)oBirines, For my Encouragement ( wherein yy my Congregation did (nnanimoiif- iy y fiand by-my refohving I %otildbe at no other Charge (here- about ) hit the Studying part. : Paper was, Bm^Jty ^^he Printer / i^gtmd with'y and jnft m tke To the Reader. Frefs was ready to hegin^ the Storm came fo fuddenly on the Proteftants />^ Dublin^ that rve were joon fcaftered afnnder. The Fro'vidence of God calling on us^ to fecure our Lmes^ inflead of Printing BooJ^. The reajon why I ha/ve been fo long filent in this Caufe^ is^ the want of that help I had from my Floch^in Dublin. If any generous noble Spirited Chriflians (who lo'ue Chriji's Cauje better than they do the Mammon of this World) will ftep in to my Eftcoaragement^ in fup- plying the room of my abjent Friends y they [ball ((in a ^ery pjort tiJne ) Jee the Four Do- tirines abo'ue-mentiond clear d up and made good from Cod's Wordy (Maugre all the Jefuiti- . To the Readelr. col Craft and Suhtilty^ rpheredf \that People feem to be M^flers) iT/re reason why I ha^ve jingled lent the laji of the four DoUrineSy iirather than any of the other Ithreej to difco'ver md confuie \the Quakers pernkiom Hetero* rdoxy (in the foundation Trinci-^ \ples oftnte Chrijiiamty) is two^ ]fold. I Firft^ hecanfit that in denying \and oppofing the DoSirine of par ^ ^ticular^ nnconditionate EleBim {(before time) they do manifeflly Kob Cod of his Soever aignty ^nd Praife. Secondly 5 becaufeoftheNa" \tural tendency^ rphieh the denial \of this'DoBrine of a particular y I; nnconditionate EleBion (before time) and the holding and pro- pagating To the Reader. fagating its contrary ^ (vi2.) T^he DoBrine of Free Will to ^ good (in ezfery Man) of Gene- ral Redemption^ and a Tempo- rary^ Conditional Ele5iion^ rpilh falling from Grace 5 hath to en- courage Men in himng a licen- tiopfs^ loofe Life , and to necefjl- tate Mens fnal dej pair of Sal 'v a- tion^ rt>hen the Naural Conjci- WU (in IJnregeneraie Men) comes to be under powerful A- wakenings^ for Sin committed a- gainft the Larv of Gvd. That I do ir/je Quakers 710 wrongs in charging them with Robbing God and encouraging Men to hi've in Sinx, as aljo their laying a Foundation for Mens defpair of e^ver being fa- ^ed in their way of Conditional and To the Reader. ^and temporary EleBion^ will \e'vidently appear to him who feads and compares with Gods repealed Will^ what is difco^er- ]ed in this [mail TraB: And in fafe any noble Spirited Chrijiians mil but encourage the Work^ (as already hi?tted) I do not fo much l^r doubt^ but that the Spirit of 3od will enable me to demon- \irate (from Gods own Word) bat the Quakers in denying the lejitrreBion of the Body^ and he Jufiiftation of a Sinner^ by 'oe alone . Righteoufnefs of the \m of God^ (freely imputed) fithout any regard had to any \mlifcations irihering in the frfon of the Sinner Juftified^ i> deny all found and [amng Religion ; J?2d as touching their I Sinlefs To the Reader. Sinkfs PerfeBion^ (attawahk in this Life) whereof they make fnch Brags '^ it JhaU be made plain^ that (herein) they both belye tlo^ Sprit of God^ and con-- tradM the experience of all fa- "" ' f mmn w* » » ■ n-iAJ ' A '.. ' "U ' ^t^K ' W -r CHAP. C HAP. I. of Ekciion before Time. GO D did before all Time, by Ins unchangeable Counfeljmofi: freely, urichangeablyjand from all Eterni- ty, elect and choofe unto hlmfeif (out 6f Lapfed AdrnTi^i fallen Poftericy) a certain number of Perfons, (which can neither belefiened norencreafed) to partake of his fpecial facing Grace to Salvation, bj; Jefas Chrifc his Son, to the Praife of the Glory of h i s o vv n G ra ce . What I have now afferted (for truth,) if God enables me to demonftrate and make good by Scripture , as ( I doubt not) he will, then will it unavoidably follow, (all the Wit and Malice of Mea and Devils cannot overthrow it, ) that God hath palFedby, and Reprobated o- thers. In the Propofition now laid down^ there are three things to beconfidered, in order to a clearing up, and making g©od the Point x-:^ Dlfpnre. i^/>#, The 'B Aft ( 2 ) A^ of God, and the Objefts thereof, which are both held forth and intended in the Scriptures following, Epbef. 1.4. According as he hath chofen m in him* Jo, 15.19. / have chofen yoa^ &c. 2 Thef, 2. 13. God hath chofen yon, &cc» In the Scriptures now quoted, we have GodEledingor Choofing, and then the Objedls of his Election or Choice, iviz.,) Particular Perfons, on whom that Ele- dion of God iixeth, {viz.,) Some'parti- ^lar Perfons. ThatGpd'sAde a Promife of Life and Salvation to fome particular Perfons only? then hath he ele<^ed and chofen to himfelf a certain number of Perfons, to whom alone (excluding all o- thers) that Promife of Grace and Salva- tion fhall be qi^de good. B'tt God hath made a Promife of Life and Salvation to fome particular Perfons only, (excluding all eH:;he|s ; ) therefore God hath eleded and chofen to himfeif a certain number of Perfons, to whom (ex- cluding ( ?) eluding all others) the Proraife of Life and Salvation (hail bs made good. That God hath made a Promife of Life and Salvation to feme particular Perfons only, ( excluding all others ) is evidem: and plain to fuch as acknow-ledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Tefla;- mem to be of Divine Authority. Gen. 17. 7. And 1 will eftablijh my Covemnt hetvpeen me and thte^ and thy Seed after thee J in their Generations^ for an ever la-- fiing Covenant^ to he a Godto thee^ ^.nd to thy Seed, after thee. Here the Judicious and Unpiejudic"d Reader may plainly fee, t'nzt. Abraham and his Seed were particular Perfons, di- ftind- from all ether Nations and People, which vi^ere round aboun him : And-thefe it pleafed God of his meer "Soveraign Grace, to fingle out for his own peculiar Vk^ that they may be a Holy People, to bear hisName, and to give him a pure and ipiritual W^fhip:^and Service, which fhould be according to his own Holy iail:ij:utioa and Divine Appoint- ment : And that they may be made Par- takers of ttie promifed Inheritance, which w^as the fare PofleHioaof the King/ dom of Heaven, of Vv'hich the promifed Land of Canaan, was ■but. a Typw, aud Shadow. B 2 \Thc. (4) The People of the pm was but a fmail People when God fixt his Love on them, 9nd called them. Deut, 7. 6, 7, 8. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy Godj the Lord thy God hath chofen thee to be a [fecial people unto himfelf-, ar hove -all people that are upontheface of the -earth. The Lord did not fet his love upon you, nor choofe you bccaafe ye wer^ more in number than any people^ for ye were the fewefi of all people^ but becaufe the Lord loved you : And bcc.%ufe he would keep the Oath which he had fworn unto your fathers ^ hath the Lord brought you out with a migh- ty hand^ and Redeemed you out of the houfe of Bondmen, The fame Promife which ;vas made to ,Abraham and his Seed under the Old Te^ ftameKt DirpenfaUQn. is confirmed by the New. And evident it is, that as God choie and called Abraham under that dark Dif- penfation, with whom he entred into a Covenant of Grace *, the Benefit of which was ro be of equal extent to himfelf and his Children, even fo many of them as were the Children of the Promife. So under theGofpel Difpenfation GodCwho is a free Agent, adtin^ all he doth in a way of Soveraignty ) faw fit to make known, by the Gofpe!, that among the ■ . Cemilcs ( 9 y Cemiles alfo he had a felefc and chofea People, on whom he had decreed to con- fertthe Riches of his free Grace, through the plenteous Redemption that is in his.- Son Jefus Cnrift ; and that purfuant to his own immutable Decree and Purpofe?- ele(n:ing and choollng them before Time began. j4tts 2. 39. for the Promife is to you and to your Children, andtoall^ that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God iliali calk Here is that Promlie fcrmerh^ menu-, cned, which looks 2.1 Ahr^.h am and. his Children^ and alfo dircovers the graci-: oos DeHgn of pod, lo make a certaia- Kumber of the Cemiles actual Partakers of the felf fame Grace and EkfTnig. ■ The manner of the Apoftle's expref- fmg himfelf, is fail of Clearnefs-aod Per- fpicuiry, . proving, that the promife of that Grace and Salvation is not deHgned for all and fingular the Gentile Sinners that then were^ or in after times lliouki be in the Word, but he limits and re- fkains the Promife to a certain peculiar number, leafl: Sinners Ihould njiftake tba Apoftle, and conclude, thatbecaufe hev, had laid down an univerfalTerm, fiy-' . ing,. And to all that are afar cfF, he ( I t way of Explanation) Oiews what xlie .S ; v lit means by that UDlverfarTerraj^addi B 3 ' e\rc:i. (6) even as many as t]i€ Lord cur God fhall call, in which he plainly ihcws, and in- vincibly proves, that none of the Gef!- tile Sinners ihell ever partake of God's fpecial Grace, but fuch as are ( in time ) effe(5luai]y caDcd out of a State of Na- ture to a State of Juftificaiion and San Jhimber), eyes ^that they ffljould not fee '^ and ears^ that they jljonld not hear^ nnto this day, Arg. 3. If God hath chofen Perfong by Name, to be Purcakers of Life and Salvation by Chriil his Son, then hacli he chofen particular Perfons- But God hath chofen Perfons by ' Name, to be Partakers of Life and Sal- vation by Chriil his Son. Therefci;€ God ii^th cboien particular Perfons, &c\ \ ,'. ; ; The major 'PxopQlition is not querti- oned ; theMindror Ai^umptionis''fecu- ^ed by the ei'prefs Teitimony oFthe-Spi-^ rit. P^ev. 13,8, AndairthatdvpeUuppn the earthy (hall worj%ip the l^eaft y.whofg. -' names are not written in the LamP s kook o-f life. ., Luke JO. 20. NotTvith^andi^g^, in this rejoyce not ^ that thefpirits are [uhjeu tmto yoii'i b^^ rathVr rejoyce hecairfe 'yam^ names are- written in Heaven.. .. . , .^.-.^ Philip. 4. 3. And I intreat't^sl- alfg true yohefiUovo-i help' thofe womeh -yvhichi^ laboured with me in the Gojfel^ withClc--- tnenc alfo^ -and with other my feltow-liihck^^ - rcYS-i whofe names are in the hook^cf Life, ArgH.i^., \^ jercminh and JaccU, di£. were ptrdcular Perfons Cnolen 'and LovM of God before they were Born, then God did Eled^ and Choofe par- ticular Perfons to Life and Salvation; l)Ut Jeremiah and Jacobs 6cc. were par- ticular Perfons, Chofen and LovM of God before they were Born. Therefore God did Elea: and Choofe particular Ferfons to Life and Salvation. Th^t Jeremiah 2ud Jacob^ &c. were particular Perfons, no Man of Senfe will deny; that they were Beloved of God before the natural Birth, the word of God is full andexprefs. Jer. i. 5. Jsr. £1. 3» J^o^' 9. II. 'j^r^ti. 5r. If God knows his Ele, &C. ' The Sheep of whom Chriftfpeaks, can be underllood to be no other but Belie- vers, even fuch as DyM in the Faith be- fore his Incarnation, with the Believers of that prefent day, and all who in time to come were to Believe in him : And thefe are the Souls who were by the Father committed to the Paftorai care and charge of Chriit the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, as Sheep are committed to the care and charge of an uiider Shep- herd. For thefe Chrifl lays down his Life : To thefe, he (by his Spirit) adually applys the virtue of his Death: Over thefe he Watches: And to thefe only, (excluding all others) he gives Eternal Life. That thefe were given to Chrifl by ' the Father, to be redeemed and brought to Glory, appears from Jo. 6, 39. And ih\i is the Fathers Will which hath fent -^ :> That of all which he hath giVen m-^ . :;;::-iild loofe nothing, but fhould raiie it up as theLsft Day. Jo~, ly, 6. Tyj:':ir -h^y wfrsj and thou ga^ veft- ik-:: ,;:. ... And Verle 2, JsS t>^-:-'y ^::-:: ^i^cn-my,- Fovjer over allFlepr^ "■■>;- Et.iY 71^1 Life, to ^i ...mam.' r..:. ( X4 ) ^nany m thm hali givm him. €t M^i'k this Reader t To as inany as thon hafh given him. This plainly proves that God did commit to the care and faitii- fulnefs of Chriil: his Shepherd, a cer- tain particular number to' be Jullified and Saved by bim^ and therefore not ail the Race of fallen Mankind,as Papifts^ jirminians, Q^ahsrs^ Freg^Viliers^ &C. vainly teach and hold. Another Confideration, which is full of clearnefs, to convince and fatisfie any right in their Minds, That noc ^kams Pofterity in General, (as the Hereticks above named would fain have h) but a certain psrticular and definite number were Eleded and Chofen by God, and by him given to Chrift his Son^ to be Redeemed and Saved ;> h Chrift his refufing to concern himfelf for any others, in the difcnarge of his Office of Interceflbr, as appears from Jo. ly. 9. I fray for them^ (that is, for the Elecl^ for whom he had undertahsn as yedcmony and St4rsiy} I Pray not fo^ the World^ (that is, thofe cf the World ^ who were by God left in a Reprohate State and Coiidition) as is evident from Jo, 17. 14. I have giiyen them thy Word^ and the World hath h<^ted them hecanfe they are mi of the World y evcu as 1 am not cf ( lO the World. Here are two diftind P^r- tys defcribed by Chrift, the one is Pray« ed for, the other is not ; , the one is ha- ted, theoLher hates; the very Practice of the latter denotes the Perfons to be Children of another Father, dillind from tbofe they hate. There is nothing more difcovers Men to be the Ghildren of the Devil, than their haiing Eightepuf- nefs, and not loving thole who appear to be Godly, i Jo, 3. 10. J n this the Children of God are mamfefl^ and the Children of th-e Devil , whofoever doeth ^ not Righteoufnefs is not of God^ mither he that loveth not his Brother,^ As Love to God^ his Truth, and fucb : as bear his^image, is an infeilible Cba- rad^er of an Eled Child pf God. Jo. 13. 35. I J^. 3. 14. I Jo-^^l- So to hate God, hi^ Truth, and fuefe: as bear his Holy Image, isthe indelible Character of a Reprobate deOgned for Eternal Deftrudion, 1 ?(?. 3. 10. The kcond thing in the Propofition tQ-be con lid e red 3 is the End and E>eSgn €)f God in that A£l of hisin Electing and Chooiing? which i^ twofold. Firft, a,s it refpeds the Creatures Eleaed, viz., that they might partake of the Special Giac€ of God here on Earth, and of . |^€fr.alClor>! is^th^ Kingdom of He a- ( i6y veh, through Chrift his Son, according. to that of Pml^ Ephef. i . 4^ According as he hath Chofen tu in him before the Foundation of the World^ th^ we fljonld be Holy and withoHt blame before him in Love. 2 Thef. 2. 13. Becanfe God hath from the beginning Chofen yon to Sal" vation^ through Santhification of the Spi- rit and Belief of the Truth. Verf. 14. Where unto he called yon by our Gofpely to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord. Jefns Chrift. 1 Thef. %. 9. Fer God hath not appointed m to IVrath^ but to- obtain SalvationJ?y our Lor dje fits Chrift. Secondly, with refped to God, Eled- kg, viz.. That the Glory of his Soye* raign, Free, and rich Grace, might be. Extolled and Praifed for ever, accord- ing as the Apcftie exprefieth it in Ephef I. 6. To the Praife of the Glory of his Grace^ wherein, he hath made as accepted in the Beloved. Verf. 11, 12. In 'whom alfo we have obtained an Inheritance'^ be- ing pre deft inate^ ace or drag to the furpofe of him who worh^th all things according to the Connfel of his own Will ; that we fi-ionU be to the Fraife of his Glory^ wha f^ft tr lifted in Chrift. The third thing in the Propoiiiion tp be conlidered, is to take Notice of (17) the Properties in that Ad of God Elcding. • Thofe Properties are in iinmber three. Firft, God in Eledlting and Chooflng fome Sinners to himfeif out of the corrupted Mdfs of fallen Mankind, on whom he purpofed to fhew Mercy : He did Eled' and Choofe them raoft freejy^ there was nothing at all in the Objects Eledt- ed and Chofen, that could move God wherefore he hiould Eled one Sinner- more (or fooner) rhan another •, for as f?J[en into Sin, and equally obnoxious to the-Curfe of the Law and the Wrath to come, were all the Sens and Daugh- ters of Mam, lookt on by God, when he fixed his Eleding Love on fome, and aduaily rejedted and pafled others. by, on whom the molt High God, /as &n uncontrolable Soveraign) purpofedto execute the fiercenefs of his Wrath for Sin. The reafon or impuliive caufe cf this Difference, which the tremendous God faw fie to make between Sinners, equally guilty and obnoxious to the Curfeand Wrath of God, is net to be fought out of God himfeif. An Ex* ample and lively Inilance hereof we have in Ran. 9. 11. which the Wife God hath feen fit fhould be recorded^ en purpofe to ftop the moutb of Car- C 18 ) nal reafon, which is fo wretchedly prone to Qjieltion (and Difputse againfl: his Soveraignty over bis Creauires. The Children bein^ not yet Born^ neither ha" *uin^ done any good or evily that the fur^ fofe of God^ accordinjito Eleliion^ might ftand^ not of Works ^ bat of him that cal^ kth, Jt was faid unto her^ the Elder p]all ferve the Tonnger, As it is Writ'- ttn^ Jacob havi I Lovedy hut Eiau have J Hated. The Wife t^od forefeeing the put- blind Reafonings and Cavillings of Car- nal Mens unfanfiiiied Brains, againfl: the Dodlrine of Gods abfolute Soveraignty, in difpofing of the Eternal concerns of bis rational Creatures, fallen by Sin inta a fete and condition of Mifery, through their own default \ haih feen good (for the vindication- of his own Prerogative) to make known to the Sons of Men, (and that by the unerring Wifdom and miquellionable Authority of fo great a Man as TanU the great Apoftle of the Gentiles') the reafon of Gods Method in proceeding to Eledl fome of fallen Man- kind, to a ftate of Life and Salvation through a Pvcdeemer, and Reprobating others, leaving them for ever to periih in that Sin and Miiery, into which they did (without any conftrainty wilfully plunge i ( 'f ) luDge themfelves, to be no other tfiati is own moft free and holy Will, fee- 3g that he alone is the undoubted So- eraignofthe World, who hath an in' ifputable right to determine what to with, (or how to difpofe of) Sinniog Rebels,- without being (any way liable ,) the controulment of any of his Crea- lares, efpecially fuch of them ss (by Sin) i3ve forfeited their very Being to the Irvine Juftice j and who (while in an un* :conciied State) are not capable of lowing him, or of being fubje(ft to hlf 'ivine Law. 1 The good Will and Pleafure then of ie BlelTed God, is the Source and Fcua- iu whence the great Difparity betwteii:. le Ekd and the Reprobate World doth ; ring,^not any thing in the Creatures- emfelves, as ylrminian Cavillers dreara id conceit it'doth: This will evidently bpear, if the Reader will but (with a jxoming modefty and unprejudic'djudg- ent)read the whole Chapter at length, d (with fervent Prayer to God for the ^ifdom of his Spirit) look narrowly to, and with fobriety confider the nth, d the i6th. Verfes, where it plainly pears, that the two conceited Q.uali- ations, of which the Enemies of Eled- 3 are ufually. proud, and which they hold^ ( 20 ) hold and tcsch, are the procuring caufe of the Difference between the good and '-.he evil Men on Earth, vt-z,. the Vuit Will in Man, and the good Works wi.ich un- regenerate Men, dobutconceic they do ; they are both met with, and equally dif- cardcd by God, from having any room or place among the caafcs wl.ich pur God richer upon 'Choofing the Eled or rejedt ing the Reprobate. Mark the i itu Verf. That the furfofe of Godaccordmjr to EleSt ion might ft and^ notofWorhs-) ^-^ ^/ ^^^ that calkth. .With this- agrees £p/>r/. 8. 9. For by Grace are ye Saved throa/h^ Earthy and that ■mtofyourfelves ; it is the ' Gtft cf God. Not cf fVcrks, leafi a?2v Mm Jhould h4,- And Tit. 3. 5- ^^'^ h Works of Ri-^hteoufncfs which we have done, bm accordang to his Mercy h: hath Saved rj, 6cc. Vnin unregenerate Man would fain perfyvade himTelf that he is worfe than Threadbare Rags of his poliuied Morality- negative and poricivsiis a covering fuificient not only to hid^-his HIcerous and plague Sores of Guiit and Vilenefs, from the pure and All-feeing Eyes of an Infinite Majsfty, but alio to deck and adorn his Soul, fo as 10 befpeak him an Objedficfor a Holy God. to be- hold with delight : Oh horrid deiufion 1 worfe than Frenzy, or Madnefs it felf^ this being (21 ; jeing but a Temporary Malady, wliidi kay f by the ule of ordinary meansj be olpen, but that the Bane and Deftru6li- T>n of the Immortal Soul, which nothing 'mt tfaedefpifed Grace of God in Chrift ^an cure $ fuch raiferably deluded Souls n\\ not find it eafy to believe, that to j hink fo highly of their own Qpalificati- Ws, is the greateft bar or hinderance ■vhich keeps them from Salvation. Read Ufo fwith carej Verf. i6^ So then^ it is hot of him that Willeth^ nor of him that \:unnsth ^ hm of God thatjhemth Mercy, j Let the Adverfaries of the Dodtrine I |im now vindicating, but conllder that Ivianas falien-intoSinand Mifery of his j)wn accord, is the Objeift of Eledion Ud Reprobation ; and let them (if they j:anj tell or Jhew me how a Natural Man In his Lapfed, Guilty State, can(poffi- ;)ly) either Will or A^ any thing, but fyhat is (both for matter and manner) bioft vile and abominable in the light; of hat God, who is Purity and Holinefs it elf in the AbftraS:. And if fo, wherefore then fhould the inoll Jult and Holy God be conceived to Ued Men for than which he can do no ')ther than hate and loath, as the bell Duties of an unregenerate Perfgn, are 20th contrary t€ the Nature of God, and ( 32 ) and alfo repugnant to his J^ft and Holy Law? " When unregenerate Men talk and brag of their Duties and Qualifieations, as that which muft recommend them to; God, and purchafefor them a Right to the Crown that fades not away they, think, and fpeak as Men in a midnighcs Dream, not underftanding what they fay, or whereof they alErm ••, and the head Spring of this their Boafting of their Q^ualifieations, is the profound Ig*] Dorance and Lueiferian Pride, which fways their unrenewed Spirits, having never pafled under the killing Severity cf the Law of God, fet^home on the Confcience by the Spirit of Bondage, to prepare them for healing by the Lord Jefus Chrift. Until this Work of the Lord pafs on the Soul, no Child of ^dam can ( pofll- bly) prize the Son of God, or fee him-* felf CO be utterly undone, trll (with the Rich Man in the Parabje) the unquench- able Flames of HeU difcover his Mifery to him, Luke i6. 23. From what hath been obferved from the Scriptures now referred to, plain it is, that God, in E- kding fome and Reprobating others of AdanPs Pofterity , cannot (without Blafphemy ) be faid to eled or choofe a- ny I ( 2? ) : ny Man to a ftate of Life and Glory, for i any thing of good, which he forefaw, would be in the Sinner, fallen into a flate i of Sin and Mifery : And therefore, if there was nothing of forefeen Good in the Creature eleded , for which God had refped: lo him more than to another It rauft unavoidably follow, that in God eledling, (not in the Sinner eleaed) is the impuldve or moving Caufe, (viz..^ His c.yn Soveraign good Pieafure. God (as hath been already obferved) in Ekding and Reprobating Men, looks on them as fallen ; and gullcv Creatures, who had wrought their own Mifery by their voluntary breach of his Royal Law. To none of them was the moil: High Ca- ny way) obliged. He might have fenc them all to the fame Place and Condition cf thefallen Angels, whofe Condudt and Example they followed, in rebeiiing a- gainft their Holy Soveraign. And which pt all the Reprobates (now in Hell) will It avail, to difpofe the Point of God's Soveraignty with him ? or to enquire why or wherefore he bath kft them' in ttatfad and deplorable Eftate of Sin and Mifery? Pertinent to the Bulinefs in hand, is that Query which ^i^mfiinmts m his Book of the City of God t W />- m Re^rohHm? faith he, Wh i'Cor.4. 7. for who malieth thee to differ? and what haft thou J that t ho H haft not received ? to which Grevincovim molt Arrogantly and, Blafphemoufly replies, 1 my felf make^\ my felf to differ, I fay, if Auguftin were to Read this Armlnian*s Anfwer to Pauly it would not be difEcuic to guefs at what rate Augnfttn would treat his Infolency. If the abufed Grace of God changed him not before Death, it is moft dread- ' ful I ( =5 ) fill to think, and ferioufly to Gonfider, how little the Freewil and Learning, of which he was greatly proud, do now a- vail him at the Barr of the Great Judge; no doubt but he finds (in wofal Experi- ence) what an Jmfar Congrejfpts (or une- .qual Match) he is , for the great Jeho- Wno difpute Matters with. 0]\\ that Men of bis Spiric and pernicious Princi- ple were Wife, to confider things aright before they fee and feel their Folly in Xhe unquenchable Flames of God's Wrath. jnHelL Let it be farther confldered, how ex- prefs the Spirit of God is in charging oa .u^dam and all his Off-fpring (without: Excepiion ) the breach of his Law, and (ontha: very accounc) accouniing theoi all guilty Criminals, and unclean Pollu- ted Sinners, who (by their voluntary A- pollacy) have forfeiced his Favour and loilhls BlelTed Image, wherein the Glo- ry and Happinefs of the Rational Crea- ture confifled, as the Apoitlewitnefkth Ropt. 3. 23. For all have finned^ and coma JJjort of the Clory of God. And in ver. 1 9. Now ,we knaWf that\i>h^t thirds fever ths Law faith J it filth to t'^em/whs are uri" dtr-ths L^.w ^ that every mctith may hs f<^pped^ ardallth world may hccofrieg^^il' ty before Cod. The concluiion whereof C he (26) lie fets down in ver, lo. Therefore by tht deeds of the law there (hall no flejh be jnfti^ fed in his fight ^ for by the law is the kpow» 'ledge of fin : With Paul concmis all the prophets, and the other Pen-men of Ho- ly Scriptures, fettlng forth the wretched Condition of all Mankind by theApo- ftacy of M^^m^^ the natural and federal Head of his Children. The Condition rhen of all Adam^^^o^ fterity being fjch, as renders every Sin- rier Culpable before God, and not only fo, but utterly uncspable of wiljing or^ acting the leaft part of that Duty, which God^s Law requires to a helping or reco- vering himfelfout of that his Mifery. It is mcit plain and obvious to every en- lightened UnderfbandiDg, that by the Tenure of the firll -^^/^.^'s Covenant, all are Born Heirs of the Curfe and Wrath of an offended God ^ and are (by reafon of that Spiritual Impotency, which is jafii(fted on AdanP% Nature as a Punifh- inent for bresking God^s Law) as (alto- gether) unable to believe in an Atoning "Saviour, ( when offered by God in the- GoQ)el of hisGrace) iis thev are to per- form the Condition of that Holy Law of God, the Violation and Breach whereof hath Caft and Ccndtmr.'d (at God's Barr) the whole Race of Mankind. - • Man's * ( 27 ) Man's wrbtGhcdncfs and Mifery then is of himfelf , he can cruiy and jiiftiy blame none for it but himfdf, Gsn. 3, 17. EccU}. 7, 29. Haf 13.9. I -'This granted, it (unavoidably and by \ necefiary confequence) follows, that God ' ismoll: Juft and Righteous in Sealing (to i the day of his Wrath) with the black : Charafler of Reprobation, that part of ; Adam'^ Pofteriiy, on whom he hath (fix- edly) refoived to Glorify, that adorea- jbleand tremendous Attribute of his in* I cenled jaftice, for breaking his Jufb and / Righteous Law. I ■ And where is the Man, who will under« I take to prove God llnjufl: and Unrigh- teous, in cafe he had dealt with the Ektr themfelves, as he hath done with the iReprobates, {viz.:) Seal them up to the IJudgment of the Great Day of his I Wrath ?^ God is Debtor to none of ^. damH Children, unlefs to Dam^ arid iForrakechem for ever, for their (Devi!- like) Apoltacy and Rebellion. I In this adoreable and tremeadcus Dlf» Ipenfatioa of his, in Reprobating the jgreated part of Mankind, and eleaing to iinmfeIf(ou!:ofthefalkn and corruoced l^ais) ibme f€w of MaokLod, c:i wncm ^purpofed coGlori^rne Ric'ies of his ^race^ ■Chrongh Chrnrhi. S;i], Heao:^- C^ ^<^ - ( 28 ) towards botli, in a way of abfolute Sove- raignty, fo that as the Reprobates can- iXioc fay they have not merited that Curfc and Mifery, which is like to be their Portion forever, fo neither (hall the E- ledt be ever able to attribute their Sal- vation to any other Caufe, befides the Soveraiga free and rich .Grsce of God, which (had it pleafed Gcd) might have fixe its hold on the Reprobates, making them the Eledl, while they ihemfcives were o verlookt and pafled by. For my own part, I mull (ingemoul- ly*)confefs, that I am fo far from refle- aing on God, as (any way) Unjuft: or Partial, for dealing with Adams Chil- dren as he doth, that I am rather alto- }ii(hM to think, thatany of yt^^^^'s Apo- itate Off- Turing fhould ever efcape that Curfe and' Wrath, to which they were all equally Born Heirs apparent. Efhef, 2. 3. And vjere by nattrre the children of VffWth, even as others. This, this w^s the State and Coadirion cr the Elett Ihemfeives, as they, are the natural Olt- ■fprins of Jdam:- But the Banner of God's free Gr2ce, and undeferved Love and PiCLvhath been (by the Arm ot Di- vine Sov'eraignty) ciFectuaily difplayed over them, when in their Blood and Wretchednefs, even then when God fi.ft ( 29) fitft laid the FouHdacioii of tlvcir Salva^ tion in Eledion. According to £/;/;f/. 1 4, 5,6, 7. and Ephefz. to the icver^i Will may every jttffified believer cry out vp/V-^PauI, Rom. 1 1.33. ^y Bci^©-- Oh the= depth cj the Riches^ both of the vpifdotn and knovoUdge of God I how unjearchahle me his 'Judgments^ and hk ways paft pidwg cut / ' In this bottcmlefs Profundity (or Depth) of God's Llnfearchahlenels, the Wit and corrupt Reafon of llnregenerate Men, with all their ^acqiiired Parts, sre f jvallovvcd up and confounded ^ by reafon whereof it conres to pafs, that many- times fuch as are admrred for their great Reafon and Learning, will not fallow the Creator of the World that Priviledge, which they readily grant to a Man like themfelves, {yiz.,^ To decree or a(!l: any- thing but what their bltnd Pveafcn and ■ perverted Judgment can fee a Reafon for it. Oh what an Age do we live in ! wherein the Immenfity and llnfearcha- blenefs of God is (on every occafion of Mens difputing Principles of Religion) called on to hold up the Hand at the Barrof thofe Mens Csrmal Pveafon, who indeed have loll the ufe of right Reafon . Of fach MeiKi would gladly know, whether they can, (with all ibcir M )ther G 3 Wit, ( ?o ) Wit J deckt and sdornM with all their Academical Learriing,) Fathom the depth of the Created Ocean, or tell the exad number of the Stars, and what In- fluence they have on Humane Bodies ? If ihey can tell how the Soul and Body of man are United? Or how the Bones grow in the Womb of the Woman wiih Child ? With many other Secrets in Na- ture, nor only difficult, but e.ven Im- pcilihle to be found out by. the Wit and learning of y^v?U/;2's Children : Witnefs the m^ny Learned Philcfopbers, where- nirh ihe World abounded, whcfe Wit and Learning came vaflly fhort in find- ing out and tracing the Almighty in his Works of Creatioa snd Providence: From whence I Argue, ui Mincre- ad Ma)tis, From the LcOerto the Greater. If all the Mother Wit and acquired Parts and Learning of the Children of Mam could never find out many Secrets in the Works of Creation and Providence, how much more impoflible is it for them, to find out the Almighty Creator himfelf to perfediion ? The Qjiery which Zofhar the Naa^ mathits put to Job^ will never be an- iWered by any Creatures in Earth or Heaven any other way than in the Nega- tive, Job u. 7. Canfl thou by fearchifig ( ?t ) find out God ? cafifi: thou find oitt the Al* mighty to ferfe^ion ? And from what Source or Fountain Mens Atheillical and Sawcy Refiedlions on God, (for making fuch a difference between AddrrP% Children, in Saving but few (in Comparifon) and Damning the: red) fhouid fpring> I cannot tell, unlefs from their profound Ignorance of the Immenfe and Incomprchenfible Perfetli- on of God's Being, and their not owning^ and believing his abfbluce Sovcraigntp over his Creatures. I Appeal to the Gonfcience of every Savingly Enlightened Man, who Reads this, whether this wilful and sfFw£l:ed Ignorance of God, and their denying his abfolute Soveraigniy over his Creatures, be not the very Portal or Door, at %inch the horrid Profanenef? and inatchlefs Debaucheries of this worft of Ages (which no'vv lays the Kingdoms open to utter Raine) have entred the Stage. This is tbHt which the Devil and his bofy Agents (the Romtfi) Jefiiirs) aimM at, when (in ihe late K."^?. his Reign) they obtained the King^s Royal Prohibition? forbidding Minifi:ers,both l^on, and Con; to meddle (in Preaching) with the Do- drine of Eleclion and Reprobation. They well knew how Sobfervient the C ^. keeping _j . . ( ?o :kcepingthe People Ignorant of the Do* <[\»ineotEledion, would be to open the Floodgntes to Profanenefs and Dcbau- cherVr and (confcquently) prepare Eng- !andioi2 ready Reception of cuifed and damnirg Popery. The denying the Dcdrine of God's Soveraigniy, in Eleding and Reproba- ting Lapfed and Guilcy Rebels, and teaching' and maintaining, both in Pul- pir and Print, Freewill to good inllnre- gtiierate Men, as alfo the Doflrine^of general P^edemption is a Dodrine which 'h altogether Unfcriptural j and bccaufe of Mens Violence and Peremptorinefs in Teacliingand Propagating the fame, and their Obftinacy in refufing to receive and fubmit to the contrary Doflrine, which is according to the Scriptures and the only Dcdrine, which defigns the De- fcruflion of Sin in the Hearts andLives of true Believers^ and the Promoter of true Holinefs : God mod f uftly punifh- cth fuch People with a giving them up, noconlytobdieve the moft; Nonfenfical Lyes, (for true Religion) but even to wallow like Swine in the Mire of the groflcfl: Immoralities, even to an excel- ling the very Pagan World. To illuitratethe point lam now de- fending againft the Qj^ah^ers and Armim- ansy 'viz.. That God in Eledling fome zvA Reprobating oiliers, doth Ad therein - moft freely, as an abfoluce Soveraign: Let them give me leave to piic this Q^ue- flion to their Reafon and Confcience, Cfuch as it is) fuppofe that all the feveral Parties in the Cicy, who differ in their Mode (or Way.) of Worfhipping God, ihould (in their refpedive Meetings, iv,- ftead ofWorfhippingGodJ Jayali their Heads, Hearts and Hands together, to contrive and carry on a Plot againlt the King and the Fundamental Laws of the. Kingdom, with a full intent to deftroy both the one and the other 5 to which Plot all the feveral Parties do (as one Man} harmonioufly and unanimouily a- gree, the. Law condemns not only the- Prati^ice (as Traiterous and Treafonable) ba§ Sentences the very Perfons fall and fingular) who are prov-d no have had an^' band in fuch a Plot, to a fiiamefui and cruel Death. The Plot comes to be Dlfcovered, upom Difcovery, the King, who hath the Executive Power of the Law in his own hand, he conOdersthe msrter, and find- i^ag that ail thefe feveral Parties, (whom be took to be Loyal Subjeds) are turned Rebels^ as moll evidcnth/ appears by the unnatural. Plot,; lately eogsged m-hf ^ them all^ againft both bis Perfon andi Government •, for which, both be and they know full well the Law condeniins . them all alik€. The King, to whom the Executive Power of the Law belongs, according to his Prerogativev he Nominates twoSe- ]ed Parties ontof all the reft, mz.. Qiuz- hrs and Arminims^ to whom he refolT^s to extend his Favour, in giving to them his Royal Pardon ; the other ftversl Par- ties (diftin^^ from them) he lefolV'es ta. leave them to the Sentence of the Law^ , to undergo the deferved Penalty thereof, for that horrid and unnatural. Rebellion. . Iwould fain know what the %^iaksrs and ArminUns co^jld objed again it the King •of England^ for palTing an Ad of Indem- nity (or Free Pardon)^nibe People cal- led Qjimk^n and Arminians^ and ieavi?ng all the other Parties to fuffer Death. Seeing that (herein) the King Ads by Prerogative^ not according to Defert % for the Qimlitrs and Armtnians deferved Death as well as the reft, who are exclu- ded out of the Pardon : My reafon tells ins, that the Omhrs and Arminians y.'ouldbe fo far from charging the King vHJch Isjuilice or Partialiry, thot they 'Avould, rather ibund forth -his Praifc, for •avi[:*g tiinm -by lvis,MavCiir.raud Wercy, Cno way deferved) whom in flriSnefs of Juftice, he might have lefc to the Sea^ tence of the La^. * And in cafe any of the Criminals Gon* ^ demned to Die, foould offer to murmur againft the King, for making fuch a Dif- ference between his (equally) guilty Subjeds, would not the Quaker and the . A^tninian both Plead the Kings Preroga- tive for faving, themfelves, when ac the fame time, and by thefame Soveralgnty he pad by the re It ; and fhali the King of Kings be Difputed againib and Refleded on fcr Aiding (in matters of the like nature) by his own undoubted Prero* gative. If any Oiould be fo faucy and bold, a> to demand a reafon why or wherefore, the King of England fliould leave feven or eight feveral Parties out of his P^oyal Pardon, and extend the Benefit thereof only to two Sele(fl: Parties, who were ^ both as liable to Death (by the Law) as ^ the others; the Anfwer is ready, it is the Kings SoYeraigiv Will and Pleafure to make the two Sele£l Parties Nomina- ted in his Pardon, Objects of his Pity and ^ Mercy, and the reft to hetheObje£tr of ^ his incenfed jaftice, to undergo that i Death and Mifery which they (by Rebel- lion) brought uporiXhemfelyes.' ( 30 Now in all this, hath not the Potter ppwer over the Clay of the fame luinp> to make one VefTel to Honour, and ano- ther to Difhonour ? Rom, 9. 21. Reader, I pray confider, that the lump in the place now quoted, intends no o- nher than Men and Women, whom God (the abfoiute Soveraign of the World) Decreed to Create : Th^ making VefTels is Gods Creating Mankind with a purpofe 10 permit their Fall. His making one VefTel to Honour, and the other to Difhonour, is Gods Creating one with a fixed purpofe to recover him one of that fallen State, into which he was ro fall, (and that by Soveraign Grace )- ih^ other he leaves to Die and Perifh in rhat wretched State, into which he (cf '^Js own defaul:) fell. In this Procedure God is altogether free ; neither can the Creature lb left by God, any way refieftonGod, as dealing Tunjiiflly or unequally with him; and the reafonis, becaufe God is under noTye or Obligation to give Grace to that Creature, who (of hi? own accord) did ahufe and throw away that itock of Grace, wher;:by he was rendred capable ef keeping the Law of his Maker; and who by the Infliiadt of his viciattd and coi.y/tcd Natufs, tbtii obllinaselyoj:)- ^^^-■^- ..-. - ■■ - • •■--'■■- lgIs ( 37 ) pofe and refift the means of Cure, pro- pounded and tendred in the Gofpel. So that the point in Controverfy, be- tween me and the Adverfaries alread^r Named, is in this comparifon propound- ed in the Verfe laft quoted, lively fen forth; from which it is apparent, that the defign of the Apoftle is to prove that God (as the undoubted Soveraign of the World) who A^s what him pleafeth, and that according to the Counfel of his own raoft Holy Will, decreed to make fome of the corrupted Mafs to be Vell^Js of Mercy, and of the reft VelTels of Wrath ♦, and that by Eledling fome unto^ hirafelf, upon whom he purpofed tobe- ftow his Love, with all the means tend- ing to fit and prepare thofe Peifons fo- Eleded and Chofen^ for the adlual en- joyment of that Love. Such as a Redeemer, to Die for them ;• Faith, whereby they filould be made Par- takers of that I Redeemer, with all the faving Graces of the Spirft, promifed in- the Covenant of Grace, with final per- feverance in Grace to the end v the refl (ss hath been before obferved) he lefe (or palled over) purpofing to leave them in that wretched and deplorable Condi- tion, into vvhi^h they (ca"dreldly)plung'd themfeives^ - .ju.._^..^_. . Neithetj ( ?8 > Neither is God therefore the caufe why the Reprobate is Sinful and Wicked, buc his own Will \ which being left toils own aatural freedom, did moft freely and readily choofe that which was by Gods Law forbidden, upon pain of Gods Dif- pleafure and Curfe. Tixe fecond Property in Gods Ath. the Apoftle, jifts 1 5 . 18 . Kmvon .=^ u-nPo God ars all his Worhsj from the-^he^inmng of the Worlds Ephef. I. -4. According /u he hath cho fen ■ m m:kwic before ths Foimdation of th^ ( ¥>J World, 2 Thef ^.13. From the begins- ning hath God chofen you. Rev. 17. 8», Whoff Names were not written in the Book of Life^ from the Foundation of the World,. TheElecHiing Love of God ic is from one Eternity to another, as it did com-; mence before time^ fo when time fhall be fwallowed up of endlefs Eteraity^ this. Love of God (to his Eied, and chofen in Chrift) will be (and continue) the fame for ever. And therefore, let that Believer, who^ feels himfelf inwardly and frequently annoyed with thofe difcouraging Fits of fieklenefs and unconftancy? in walking, with God (in the way of New Obedi- ence) take Sanctuary here by Faith, ap- plying to himfelf the fweet Benefits of thefe Properties of Gods Ele- anworthy, empty, nothing GreaciTre> to be a Vefici of M-ercy, (through Jefus ehrifl:)to the Praife of the GJory of hi^ own Grace : And that Love, wherewicl> QqI hath Loved him, ic begaa tovv^rda idm. . ( 40 him before he had an ai^Tual Being, yea, before the World was : And as that Love of God was fct on him before time be- gan, Co wh.n time it feif (hall be no more, that Love of God to him fhall ftill be endlefs, like God himfelf. Nothing more conduceth (under GodJ to Heart Settle- ment, in the ways of God, then to be wellVerftin Underftanding and Believe- ing, (with application toonesielf) thcfe Fundamental Principles of Gofpei Re- ligion. And this ene thing I deilrethe Reader to remember, and carefolly to ohfervf, viz. That if t^ere were no other Argu- ment to evince and make good the Truth 1 have now aflerted, than the Arduous end Elaborate endeavours of Satan and his bufy Agents, both in Preaching and Printing againft the Do<^rine of Ele(n:ion and Reprobation, it werefufficienr.The Devil and the Pope know full V7ell how deftrudliveand pernicious to both their Kingdoms, the bringing Sinners to the Scriptural Knowledge and right Beiie- ving'this Dodrine will be. And therefore for preventing hereof, the Dbdrine ic fejf muft be expos'd in the blackeft hue, as a Dodtrine which makes Men proud, fecure, and carelefs of good Works, and which leads Men to loofe <42) Living V and in the end to final Defpera- tion : And as tlie Do^rine it felt is fnoc at by the Romijlj and Arminian Archers, fo the moft zealous and bold Affertors and Maintainers of it, arefetouc in the moll odions and bbck colours, which Envy and Malice if fcif can devife 5 but .maugre all the Craft nnd Envy of Devil and his mod labtii and itiduftrious Tools the Do^rine of particular Ele^ion (be- fore time) is plainly held forth and aderted in the Writings of Mofes^ the Prophets; and die Holy Apollles : And in cafe Divine Providence calls to a fiif- ferhig Condition for defence of it, 1 do not doubt but Qod. hath a Sealed number in thefe Kingdoms, (.known to himf^lf J who will be enabled to Seal the Truth cf ic with their dearcO: Blood, An Oh^e^ion or two lyes in the way to be snfvvered, before I can proceed to what: remains behind. Obje^. I. The BoUrine of iay tic id at Election pijfs M.n mth Pride, ^ Anfxv. The contrary to thi? the Devil himfelf knows to be true. ^ For I doubc not but Satan hath made his Obfervations, that none of all Gods called ( 4? ) Called Children, have more abounded with Humility and feif Abafement, than thofe who have had the higheft alTurance of Gods Ek^ing Love : None but thefe can rightly admire and adore the Grace and Love of God in Chrifl Jefu?. To mCy who am lefs than the leafl of all Sai'fJtSj is this Grace ^iv en ^ &C. crysthac great .Apoftle of the GemiUs^ Ephef. 5^ : 8. This is a faithfnl fayingt and worthy ; of all accej^tation^ That Jefm Chnfl came- \itno the IVorld to fave Sinners^ of whom 1 [am the chief i Tim. i. 15. 'for I am , the leaft of the ^fo{Ues^ that am -not wor^ I thy to he called an Apcftle^ beca^fe J Per- \feciitedthc Church of God, 1 Cor. 15, 9. ^Ht by the Grace of God I am what I am, ^F^rf, 10. It is to be obferved, that a^ ! mong all the Apoftles, none wss more, ; highly advanced, (in refpe^T of extraor- ! dinary Manifeftations and Gofpel'Reve- jlatsons^ than P^w/wasj and yft among all the Apoitles none more abaled : No gi'eater admirer of Free Grace than he was; and indeed, not only Faul^ but others-alfo, both under the Old Tefia merit and under the New^ whom Free Grace jfingled outtobeVefTelsofMercy: Thefe. Iwcreiliil addi^led to go out of Lhemfelves , in a way of Tel f Abafement, and crvibg i«p the Riches of Gods Grace and Mercy^ every ( 44 ) every w^y free and undeferved by thenr. Andhereia I appeal (moft freely) to the Pcrfonal Experience of every regenerate Believer, (now Living) whether they do not find in themfelves, that the nearer they come to know and perceive the Love of God to themfelves in particular, the more vile they are in their own efteemv*^ and the more the Sight andSenfe of theirf own Nathingnefs grows and abou-nds, the more are they inwardly Itirred up to Adore and Magnitiethe Riches of Gods Free Grace, who hath vouchfafed to re- gard fnch poor conremptible Worms, as they jadge themfeives to be. Obj^a. 2. The Doarine cf panic litar EUaion CHts of the force andftrengtio of ^.ll'Threatemngs and Warnings which a^e Racer ded in the ScriptureSy as a Curb and JBir^ to refirain Men from Shi' ^yjfw. The ever BlefTed and Holy Cod, who decreed to eledl and choole a particular number to Solvation, hath decreed alfo the means of bringing them to that End, whereof thofe Tnreatenings and Warning? fcattered here and there • in God's W^ord, area part; the which the good Spirit of God makes (effedlual- ly) ufefal to work and enereafe in the r 45 ) Ekd, (called to State of Grace)che Filial .and Reverential fear of God ; as alfo to •Gaudon them againft all kind of Decli- pings in the way of Holy walking with .God, in the way of new Obedience to -his Holy Commandmenis; the which Cod hach revealed in his Word, to be •the only way, in which true Believers muftgo to an aO:ual PofRffiiig the pur- chafed Inheritance, according to P/^/. r. !_, 2, 3^ FfaL 1 19. I J 2, 3. Heb. 12. 14. Thefe Divine Threats and Warnings are (through the faving Influence of the Spirit of Grace) made a powerful Bin and Curb, £0 reflrain the favingly Converted from returning (with Approbation and Delight) to former (and fcrfaken) Folly, and not only fo, but to keep them more clofe to theii Duty in a Gofpel Dcpen- dance on Chrifc, cheir Medistcriai Head, for ail manner of Supplies, till they come to Glory. Tnofe Threats and Warnings ( ifchey were ten thoufand times more than they are) will never curb or reflrain any Re- probate from lovini^ and liking Sin. 'Tis true, that (through the comracn Operation of the Spirit of God) fucii Threats and Warnings may for a time in- fluence a Hypocrite to a keeping him from Che Excernriigrofs Ac^of Sin, and a (46)! a putting him on doiag many things which are (MoraUy) good in themfelves. But Alafs ! what will this avail, while . the State of the Man is unchanged, andW his Heart unrenewed. Sad Inftances hereof are Recorded in God's Word ; witnefs Pharaoh^ Exod^"],^, and JW^ Mitt, 26, 15. Mat. 17. 5. with many other Reprobates, whofe Names are left on Record in the Book of God, who were neither reftrained from Sin, nor yet kept back from running headlong to Hellj wiih this Bit in their Mouths. The Spiric of God (by the Holy Prophet) gives a fullDefcription of the naturalDif- poficion of wicked Hypocrits, as touch- ing che Incorrigiblenefs of their Hearts, in going on in Sin, not only under God's Rod, but alfo under his favourable Dif- penfacion, which ( one would think ) ihouid win them to Repentance, Jsr. 5. 3. Rev. 16. 9, 10, 11. Efa.26, 10, II. ^(?/». 1.4,5. Obje^. 3. /// he eU^ed to Lifeeter^ n^l (b-efare time^ ) 1 m^y live as I lift- -^ I need neither t9 Believe^ to Repenty or to life the means of obtaining Salvation. And thoffjjh I live after the Flejh^ 1 (jjall be Save J ^ ban J ele^ed, Anfw, ( 47 ) : Jnfw, To this threadbare OhjtOiio^ (which is commonly in the Months of all Cavillers againft the Do(ftrine of Ele(^i- t)n) i anfwer in two Particulars. * Firfl^ This Obje with the greater AcutenefsandStubborn- nefs, oppofe and wiihftand his Sove- raignty, in Eleding fome and Reproba- ting others of the fame fallen and cor- rupted Mafs, and that before time. Secondly, As there can be no Argu- ment more Cogent and Irrefragable, to evince and p.ove a Man to be either a Fool or a Madman, than his refolvingto cxpeft the Accomplifhment of the end, (fuch as Building a Houfe or Living in the World) without the ufe of the pro- portionate means leading to fuch ends; for there is no Argument which more ftongly proves a Man or Woman to be of the number of Reprobates, than to expert or hope to go to Heaven, in the continued and approved Negledt of Be- lieving in the Son of God, Repenting of -Sin, living a Holy Life, and Perfevering an the fame to the end of Life. | Objeft. 4. The DoUrine of EleUion hefore time^ doth net only encourage to Stn^ but it leads People to final Dcfparati- ctty for preventing of which^ ail imagi- nahU care ought to be t^ksny to fuffrefs and decry it. jinfwZ (51) ^v>-Anfw, To this Horrid and Blarpbemous •Objedioa I fliail (in Chrifts (trength) Aiifwer in four Particulars. I. And Firft, I do boldly affirm in the .!l»Jamcof the ever Blefled Trinity, That this Blafphemous Obje(flion did (origi- nally )fpring from that Spirit which char- ged the Son of God with calling out De- vils by Beelz^ebabr which (if I miftakc not) is the unpardonable Sin againft the Holy Ghoft, and fuch as peremptorily (with allowance and approbation) periifi: in making and liking the fame,againft the Doftrineof Eledion, fo plainly revealed and fo pofitively alTerted by the Holy Ghoft ^ I am not afraid to declare and pronounce them the Children and Sue- -ceflbrs of thofe Pharifees (now in Hell) who vented that unpardonable Blafphe- my againft the Holy Ghoft. Mat,siy J 24. 32. Let all CavHling Adverfaries who bring this Objection againft the Do- ctrine of (Sods abfoluce and free Eledion ( before time)have a care they be notfound Ranked anaong thofe mighty Sinners^ ; who in the height of their WLkednefs, run themfclves moft defperately upon the thick Boffes of the Almighties Buclc- ler. Job 15, 26. Secondly, if the Do^^rine of Ele^^ioa . be fich a dangerous Do^riae as leads to " D 2 Liccntioufnefss ( 50 Licentioufnefs, and which (iri the end) brings Men to Defparatioh. I would fain know how it comes to pafs that the Enemies of this Do^rine are fuch Slaves to their Brutifh Lufts, and why fo many .of them Die in Defpair, when under ^werful Awakenings and common Con- vidions in their guilty Confciences ? Tiiirdly, I do with greatefl; confidence and certain aflurance (grounded on the Word of God, and backc with my own Per fonai experience) affirm, That asthf right Knowledge and Believing of thp Do^rine of Ele^ion (before time) wicfi a particalar appiicacion thereof to ones felf, is the only Do^rine that fets the Heart of a true Believer sgainft all Sm, 2nd vv^hich fecures and keeps the Believer from Defparation in the lirne of the deeped: Defer tioi^ and mofi violent Temptation ^ fo the Doi^Tine of Free Will and general Redemption is a Dc- dirine which encouragcth to Sin^ and which necelLrily leads to Defparation. Here two things -are to be demonftra- ted. Firft, That the Doctrine ofEledi- on (before time) rightly uncerilood, and parciculariy applied by Faici:, is the only Do^/Tine whici? ei7gage3 the Heart of a found Believer ogainll all known Sin, and which forcifys and fecures the Believer ( 5? ) Believer againfl: Defparation in the time of the deepen Defertion, and the molt violent Temptation, Secondly, That the Do^rine of Free Will and general Redemption, isaDo- ^rine which encoi>rj!geth to Sin, and which (necelTarily) leads to Defparation* The firft of thefe will evidently appear to him that rightly confiders and believes- the Particulars following. Firit, the Purpofe and Deflgn of God the Father (in Ek<^ing) which wa?,Thac his Eletl and Chofen, who were fallen in- to Sin and Mifery in -^^^^/s?;, their Natu- ral and Fsederal Head, might be deliver- ed, and (by ftrong hand) refcued out of that ftateof Sin and Mifery, and mad€ efFe^ual Partakers of that L&drty and Redemption, purchafed by Shrifl Ws Son, the Sponfor and Surety of his Eled. Secondly, the defign of Chriil (the Surety and Sponfor of the Eled) in the whole Work of Mediation^ which he undertook to go through for the Ek^ (which his Father had chofen in him) which was to purdiaie for, snd (in time)- to spply (3 which is (as I may fay) the very entrance into Hell it felf. When the Believer is at any timeat- Ijtacked by Satan, his enticing Inftruments, j'or by indwelling Corruption, to yield to the mouons of Sin,he fercheth Arguments againft Sin from theDodrine of Gods i Election thus : Hath God from all Eter- } nity fixt his gracious purpofe of Deliver- ling and Refcuing me out of that ftate of' Sin and Mifery, into which the Apoftacy of Mam, (ray Natural and Federal Head) plunged me, and that by choofing out and fixing on his own Son to be a Sure- ty and Saviour to purchafe a liberty, and ^ to work out a perfed and compleat Re- demption for me; and Ihall I ? can I- (with approbation) yield my full confenc to grieve and offend this freely ^d this dearly Loving God ? I cannot-do ic, nei- ther can all the Craft and PoIVicy of my Spiritual Enemies ever work me to a Willi ngnefs to go back into that jftate of Spiritual Captivity? under Sin and Satan, from which theGrac^ of God(inEiedionr' and effectual Calling) hath let ms free. Secondly, H^th Chrifl; the Son of God, (purfuant to his Fathers Holy Decree and Gracious Purpofe, and in compliance D 4 with ( 5^) «vith fo noble and glorious a Def!gi>, as Redeeming Captive Sinners, and i_cccn- ciling them to Jhis Father) confented to become a Mediator for me, to work out 51 work of perfeft Redemption for me, ihsc J might be fet at liberty from the Laws Curfc, from the dominion of Sin, and the Ufurpation and Tyranny Of the Devil ? and fhall I confent to commit Sin againft fuch Bowels of Mercy and Love I I cannot do it. Thirdly, Hath the Koly Gboft, (who in conjun^ion with the Father and the Son, had a Hand in my Ekdion to Eter- nal Life) VGUchfafed to take on him the Office of a Sandlifier, to Sandifie and Renew the Ekd in effedual Calling, and 1/yho hath begun in me the Work of Spe- cial SanclificatlOii, and will never (finally) . leave me, till he hath perfedled his Work begun in me j and (hall 1 ? can I willingly grieve and offend that Holy Spirir, by whom I am Sealed to the day of Redemp- tion? I cannot do it. Fourthly, Is the Gofpel appointed by Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft to be a Word of Revelation, to difcover to me liovv the Heart of God, his Chrill: and Holy Spirit ftood afFeded towards the E- letft, (and toward me in particular) from ) Eternity and to endlefs Eternity 5 and uo% . only ( S7) pnlyfo^ but that the fame might he a tu,Ie of Direction to me (all my Days) to dif- cov£r tl^ie faile ways I am to fliun and a- ypld, as alfp the Paths I am to walk in, |n order to a pleaiing, the Holy Trinity, and coming fafe to Heaven 5 and fhall I ? can I confent to abufe fo fweet and exceir lent a Gofpei ? I cannot do it. Fifthly, Is the defign of Divine Provi- dence (in all its various Difpenfations to the Ele(fl:) and to me in particular, to purge Believers from the remains of in- dwelling Corruption, and to make them more and more to abound in Holy Con- formity to Chrift, their Myftical Head 3 and ih^n I abufe ic by Sinning againfl ir^ and taking an occafion therefrom to be vain and fecure in my Converfation? I cannot do it. And as the true Believer is enabled, (being taught and guided by the Holy Gliolt) to fetch Arguments againil: Sin from the five Sacred Topicks now men- tioned :, fo is he (in like manner) en^^bled^ being favingly influenced by theinhabi- tadon ofthe Holy Ghoft in hiiB, to fetch from the above Named Topicks, Argu- ments to keep him from final Defl^arau^ on, in the molt violent Hurrycone of Temptation which can attend on a defert- cdor an afflidled Condiiion. D ^ To ( ss-^ To evince and cle?ir up this Truth, Cfo3< the comfort and encouragement of the Poorefl Believer^ in an Hour of fore Di- ftrefs, when the. Waters of. Affliflion leach even to the very. Soul, toa fenfible endangering the extinguifliing the little Grace lodged in the Soul ^ let it be fea- fonably and ferioufly confidered, that the Believer when he finds Satan, his wicked Inftruments, and indwelling Corruption all conjundtly together^ preffing and working his Soul within, to defpair of Mercy and Salvation, he falls on Arguing from the fweet Dodtrine of Gods Elefli- cin thus \ fhall 1 , can I who am fecured of Life Eternal by the Gracious and Un- chaiigeable Decree, of the immutable God) defpair of Mercy and Salvation, as Satan, the wicked World, and my own Carx^ai reafon would have me do? Icanr not do it- If it were poflible that my finking Soul fhould drop (through the ve- ry J^ws of Defpondency) into Hell it felfi Ji[om thence would Gods unchangeable purpofe of Grace fetch and deliver it. Secondly, Shall I , orcan 1, for when Chiill the Son cf God hath undertaken (as ^ Sponipr and Surety) and for whom he bath wrought a pcrfeft Reconciliation by his own MediacoriarRightcoufneis, jL% which no Spot. or Defeil ever was, or ( 59 ) ever fliallbe found by God, Angels or Men, defpair of Mercy and Salvation, as I Devil, vpicked Men, and my own Carnal Ifrqafon would fain perfwade me to do ?! 'cannot do it. j' Thirdly, fhaD I, toand for whom the: ;HolyGhoft is becotne a Sandlifier and a IRenew^r of my Nature, and who (by his iiaving influential Prefence) dwells in me^ ; never (finally) to leave me tillJhis good I work of Grace begun in my Soul in efFe- dual Calling, be compleatly perfeded) defpair of Mercy and Salvation, as the Devil, wicked Men, and my own Carnal reafon would have me do ? I can by na > means do it. Fourthly, Shall I who have all thefweet sndf precious Promifes of the Gofpel, of Gods Love and Grace to comfort and af-? fare me, that God, Chrift, andtheBlef- fed Spiric, will never, never fail or for- fake me, defpair of Mercy and Salvation, as mine Enemies would pexrwade me to do? I cannot do it. Laftly, Shall I, .(who have the Divine. Providence engaged for me, to^ uphold metopurgex)utxhe remains of; ndwel.- ling Sin in nie, and to forward me -n. conformingxomyMyftical Head Gbrift, in Holinefs, defpair of Mercy and Sal-. Yation^as- mineiieniiss wculd M:ve me? f canuol ^ ( ^o ) not do it. This is the ufe which a true Believer makes of the Doflrine of Gods Elpdion (before time) while Faith (in the Bdiever) is in its right Exercife 5 non« will (tumble at it, (fo as Eternally to Perifh) but fuch as are not (by that Ad of Gods Eleding Decree) given to Ghrift (before time) to be adually Redeemed jrf time. Secondly, The Dodrine of Free Will sud General Redempcicn, is a Dodrine which encoursgeth to Sin, and which (necefTarily) leads to Defparation. I /hall o&er two things to coafideration, for evincing and clearing up this for Truth vl' the which Ldelire the Reader to weigh * aad conlider without prejudice. Flrft, The ufe which all unregenerate Men make of the Dodrine of Free Will, ' which fad experience teacheth, is this : I wHl turn to God by Repentance, rwill Believe in an Attoning Saviour, I will fall on the work of Reformation, and thereby prevent my periling by the de- ferved Judgments of God, when I fee my own time, and when I am thereto difpofed ; who fees not, (except one * Spiritually Blind) how greatly this Do- <^rine doth encourage to Sin : For (faith mY Carnal reafoj^, j^s ofcen it hath while 1 was in a ftace of Nature) if I do not retura (6i) returir to God upoa hig Call and Invitav tion this Day, this Month, this Year, I fuily purpofe and refolve to do k the next i for God hath implanted in my Sonl a Principle of Free Will^ whereby I am enabled to anfwer his Call, by Re- pencingj Believing and Reforming, the which when I do, (thongh not at pre- fect ) God will have iMercy on me, and I ihali be accepted, being fecurfd by that General Redemption provided for all wiio fo Repent, Believe and Reform. Woful and fad experience convinceth me, that many, God profoking Follys andVanitys of Youth (in my Heart and Life) have been indulged by this decei- ving, curfed Dodrine : Oh J how often haih Carnal reafon (within me) cryed our, when the common Notions of the Spirit of God hath toncht my Conici- ence, to call on me to convert and turn to God? I will Repent, I will Convert^ I will turn to God to morrow^ to mor- row : As jitiiuftin confeiTethof himfelf, he often put God off with his Free-will, Cras-i Cyas ; Tomorrow^ tomorrow. Till at length he grew both afhamM and wea- ry of his gracelefs to morrow, crying owl to the Almighty (in the very hour of his cffewiual Converfion) Qmm Diu Do- mins Clarndko Cras^ Cra^si Quare Non Ha-. a 62) Hbdie *Domine^ &C. How long^ O Lordy JhaB I cry to morrow -^ to morrow f Whyfi Lord ^jho hid J not beConverted this very day? And as an Unregenerate Man takes Encouragement from this Principle, to go on in Sin, fo it leads him to Defpara- tion : Of this alfo my fad Experience hath folly convinced mey as plainly ap- pears by the near approach I made to Hell, (in my own Apprehenfions) while I bordered fo near the Confines of final Defparation , finding in my felf how vaftly fhort my Perfonal Qualifications- came of anfwering the Laws demand, as-, a Condition of Life and Salvation. I?t found that nothing could poffibly quiet or fatisfy my wounded, defpairingCon- fcience, but what doth eflTedually ap- peafe and fatisfy that Holy God, againft^ whom I have fo many thoufands of times offended, which can be nothing fliort of an infinite Righteoufnefs ; which Righ- teoufnefs can be had no where bui: in: Chrift God Man, and no way to be had but in a way of Believing, of which My- ^^ry my blind and perverted Reafon was as ignorant as a Beaft : And not only fo, bat my Heart and Soul were Zealoufly. fet againft looking for Life and Salvati- on in any other way than that of Free- will'-aad geaeralRedcmptiQn. . This. T nuraii HIT I (6?) This Principle fo every way Ciuadra* ting with my Legal Frame of Hearty, which was afted by no other Principle : But do and Live. Here ic might not be araifsorunfea-. fonable (for the relief and encourage- ment of a poor tempted Soul, who (as touching this very point of Election) may be walking in Darknefs, having no light of Comfort in his own Spirit) to anfwer (oirefolve) this needful Qtiefti- on. How Ihall a poorr-bewiidred, temp- ted Soul come to know, that it felf ( ia particular) was- elected of God before time? To this Queftion (about which manpt of God's called .ones are not a* little di- ft re fled in their own Spirits) I Ihall ,an- fwer in three-Particulars, Firfi, The way to know thou art ele- Qed before time, is to go about it in a right way or manner. By this 1 mean^ thoii art not to attempt to pry into the Secret Counfels of tbe molt High, con- cerning this Matter, knowing that fecrec things belong to God^ and to none elfe^ until he pleafeth to reveal them, D^wr. 2.9. 29. Therefore in order to know this Myftery (10 thy comfort,) do as thou vvouldft do, if thcu?wertitQ bring botrl ends of a Bottom of Thread or Yarn to meet together, the way h not.to begin at that end which is hid in the very cen- tre of the Bottom, but to lake the end which is outmoft and next to thee ; and by thus doing thou wilt foon bring both ends to meet, whereas if thou go aboqt it in any other way, (as by cutting or rayelUng the Bottom (to haften the work) thou wilt but fret and vex thy felf, and (which is worfe) thou wile marr and fpoil the work. e3o not then attempt ( as the Devil and Carnal Rea- fon -would have thee) to climb up to Hea- ven, to inform thy felf of this Matter ; God's Work muft be done in the way of his own Appointment 5 which is, that thou begin fir ft with thy own Heart. See, exahiine and fearcb thy own Soul, to find out whether his Holy Spirit hath e- ver been at work there ? The Caufe muft be known by its proper Eife^s, no? the Efr^Ois by the Caufe. zCor. 13.5. GaL 6. 4. 2 Per, j. 10. Eledtioa (thething thou wouldft fain be refolv'd about) is the caufe ( this is a Secret in God's Breaft, which can be known by thee, no other way (ordina- rily) but by its Effedts, which are F^ith in thy Heart, and Obedience to Chrift's Commands in thy Life and Converfati- on* .. I (^5 ) on. If the Spirit of God hath called thee to embrace and clofe with Chrift, held forth in the Gofpel » and if the Fruits of that thy clofing wiih Chrift, do difcover thcnifelves in thy Life and Ccnverfaticn, thou hafl: noGroiind or Reafon to qoeftion thy Eleiftion , but what thcDevil and thy Carnal Reafon fuggefl-. v4^/ 134^. J^rid as many as VO^re ordained to eternal life-i believed, Jo^ IQ. z6, But ye believe not y b.ecaiife ye are^ not of my jlieep^ as I faiduntoyoH. in the Scriptures bow quoted, Ele^lon (to eternal Life) is held forth as the Caiife of Faith, and Faith (or believing in Je- fas) as the undoubted ^i^^ ox Iffedt of. Election. > Secondly, Art thou frequently temp-„ ted to doubt of, and queftion thine Ele^ ftionto eternal Life? This is an undoubted Argument, that^ the Devil difcerns in thee the Fruits and' Effei^s of God's eleding Love to thy Per- fon, which pats him upon tempting thee ■■ to quellion ar4 doubt of God'sLovetq^ thee. Where the Devil; knows he h^th the full and quiet PofTeiTion of a Sinner, there . he fuggeitsj that the Man is a good Chri- llian: His Fa|th js a good Faith, and; God (6S) '' God is bis Father, and that he is deified and (hall be Saved, notwithftanding he lives afcer the Flelh. On the contrary, where the Devil fees and difcovers the Fruits and Effects of God*s Grace and Love appear, there he pefters the Soul with Infernal Suggefti- ens and Temptations, to put the Soul on.mif'believing, and queftioning the Truth of God's Grace bellowed on the Sinner. Thou art but a painted Hypo- crite, thou art none of God's EkiTl -, it is in vain for thee to hope or-exped to go to Heaven. Thus he dealt with the IBelievers Redeemer. Af^r. 4. 3,6. // thm be the Son ofGod^ &C. And if the Adverfary hath done this to the green Tree, wh^t will he not at- tempt to do to the dry ? Lnh 23. 31. Thirdly^ Doll thou find thine Heart (fixedly) refolved (come Life, come l^eath) to caft thy Soul at the foot of Divine Soveraignty, in the way of Duty, fhunning all known Sin, nnd prefling after Holinefs, refting entirely on the Grace and Merit of Chrift, afrer Life and Sal- vation ? Tl.ou art to know, for thine everlading Comfort and Encouragement, that no Reprobate ever was , or ever ihallbeabbtoilo.this*. Time willdif- cover. ( ^7 ) cover, that Chou art one of God's Eledl; go on iniheitrengthofthy God: fear not. CHAP. II. Of Rffrohation. BY what bath been difcourftd out of the Holy Scriptures, concerning . the Ad of God's ?;ieflion of feme to Life and Salvation by Jefus Chrift, to the praifeof the Glory of his own Grace -, it unavoidably ( and by neceflary confe- quence) follow?, that the fame Soveraign God hath Reprobated (or Rejeded) the reft, (not fo ele^^^ed) and that from all E- tcrnity, having decreed never to recover them by convening Grace, but hath fix- edly purpofed for Sin to Damn them^ and that for the Praife of the Glory of his own Jultice. Nothing can be more plain than that, if God hath ele6icd and ehdfen a certain number out of the whole corrupted Mafs or Lump of fallen Mankind, in whofe Salvation he hath purpofed to Glorify his Mercy and free Grace by Jefus Chrift, then hath he re- fufed (68) fufedor palTed by the reft,. 5S will tiioil Ci^idently appear in all the parts of it. The Decree of Reprobation hath in it four parts, to each of which I will fpeak as plainly and as briefly as I can. Tirft^ God hath refufed or reje(!led fome particular Perfons , on whom he purpofed never to have Mercy ; this is moft evident from the Scriptures follow- ing, yo. lo. 26, But ye believe not ^ be- caufe ye are not ofmyfieep^ as J f aid amo yoH, Rom, 11.7. But the ekElion hath ob' tain edit-, and the refi were blinded. Rom, 9, 1 8. Therefore hath he mercy on whojn hff will have mercy ^ and whom he will he har-- Aeneth. In which Scriptures it is plain' and confpicuous to every one (favingly) enlightened, that there are twodiftin(^ (or differiag) Parties intended or fpoken of, fome, whomChrillchofe tohimfelf, known and diftinguilhed by the Term, Sheep, and others, whom Chrift denys to be fo : Thefe are thofe intended in 7^at. 25'. 32, 33. termed Goats, o.ppofed to the Sheep of Chrift. Some, whofe. llnderfcandings were favingly enlighten- ed to know the glorions Myilcries of the Covenant of Grace, in order to Salvatir- on • and others not at all enlghtened, but kfc to abide in that fpiritual Darknefs and :and blindnefs of. Mind, which they brought into the World with them. Sotne> whom God's powerful Grace mol- lified and fofcened CO faving Repentance, in order to Mercy *, and others, whom .G^odfeesfit to harden, that is, to leave them to that Sin of their own, which hardens theni. Secondly^ 6'od hath from Eternity re- Jeded pr reFufed chefe. This is plain from the Scriptures fol- lowing, Jnde 4, There are certain Men i;rept in unawares ^ who were before of old ordained to this Condemnation, Rev. 17. 8. Whofs Names were not Written in the Booh^ of Life from the Foundation of the World, 1 Pec. 2. 8. AndaStone of jhim" bling^ and a Roch^of ojfen'ce^ even to thsm which fi^mblc at the Word^ hein^^ Difche^ dient^ wherennto alfo they were appointed. From all which it is m^inifeft^ that Gcd dtd^ (as a jufi Jndge^ piirpofe and decree to give np the Reprobates to the cblltnacy of thetr cwn Mind, and their wilfd Difobedience againfi his Son Jefpu Chrtfi \ that fo they might not only ripen themfelves for^ bnt even fuE down the Judgments of God fipon thcmfelues. Thirdly, God hath Decreed to Damn thefe Perfons for Sin. This (70) This is plain from the following Scrip- tures, * Trov, 16. 4» The Lord hath made allthingi for himfelf^ yca^ even theWic* ked for the day of Evil, % Pet.x. ix. But thefe as Natural brute Beafts^ made to he taken and Deftroyed, Fourthly, Gods Reprobating fome Perfons from Eternicy, and that in order to Damn them for Sin , is for the Praifc of the Glory of his own Jufticc. This is fo plain and obvious, that he who runs may Read it. Rom. 9. iz. What if God willing to jhew his Wrath ^ and to maks his power kfiown endured with much long Sufferings the Fejfels of Wrath fitted to DefiruHion, AgainftthisDodrineofEledion, and Reprobation of particular Perfons, the Quakers^ Fafifts^ jirminians^ Free-Wil- lers and others, who (in this point) are all one with them, objed feveral things, out of which I will fingle out the chief and moft material of their Objjftions, which to Ignorsntyid Injudicious Minds, feem to be of great force againfl: the Do- drines now laid down^ to which I (hall give plain and clear Anfwers from Gods Word, to the end the Fallacioufnefs and^ Deceit of thefe Men mighcappear Coprn* facM) to all Men. Objea. I. ( 71 ) Objea. I . They objebK that to hold and affirm^ that God hath from Eternity EleEt^ id and Chofen a particnlar number to him^ felf oHt of the corrupted Mafs of fallen Mankind^ on whom he decreed (unchanged ably) to pjew Mercy^ leaving the refi with afallpHrpofenever to recover them to Life and Salvation, reflects on Cod the highefi Cruelty imaginable, ^»/ip.Tothis(feeming)pIaufibIe Ob- je ) The Ob}eSion confifts of two Mem- bers (or Branches) Firft,'the defign of God in preparing and intending Redemp- tion and Salvation for all Men in General. Secondly, Gods commanding to Preach (or offer) it to all in general^ without exception : On thefe two miftaken .r^^^nds the QhAlers and the other Here" ^•^k^y ^vlio in this point join with them ipMi iwz WcTd and Churches of Chrift, C^- igi'.orantJy snd falfcly infer that the LU'nefii: of t'r3 fscond Mams Obedience ^'^i. pKiglite'v^illsi?, is (in Gods imputing v::^.i spphltp; k) i'rsextenfive , as was the liifbbeyknts ^A Rebellion of the firft, v,mk;n(fay f'i§y)wasto all the Poflerity '(.A JJam, The places of Scripture from which they draw this their Unfcriptural Inference, are thofe of TauL Rom. 5. 18. Therefore ds by the offence of one ^ Judgment came ufon all Men to Condemna^ tion\ even fo by the Right eoufnefs of one ^ the Free Gift came upon aU Men unto Jnfli- fication of Life, Heb. 2. 9. But we fee Jefii^ who was made a little lower than the jingels\^ for thefuffering of Death, Crown- ed with Glory and Honour j that he by the Grace of God fhould tafie Death for every Man, The ground of thefe Mens looSng them- felvesinthis Controverfie, is their uflng Scriptures ( 77) Scripture without Reafon, snd Reafon without Scripture ; the which wliocver doth, will be fure to run himielf and his followers into a Labyrinth of dark and uncertain Interpretations of the molt plain Text of Scripture, whence comes (mod commonly) Giymerlcaf and Enthu- fiaftical Notions, which are attended (as really) Vvi:h aSatanicalEnergie, to de- ceive Earthly Minded Feopie^ as the true Word of God is attended with a Divine Energie and Posv^er^. to tesch and g.uide Gods Elect to the frying knowledge of GodinChrilt. Here they feem ("to the ignorant and unwary Reader) to have Scripture on their fide, when oppoilng thofe who af- fert and defend the D-oSrine of particu- lar Eledtion againit thefe Oniverfal'ifts, (viz..) thaCQ Scriptures above quoted; in which Godfeems to have intended the Redemption purchafed by hrs Son, for every individual Son and Daughter of Mam-, and that becaufe the Term fci down isUniverfal. But now, thefe Men inhering in the bare Letter of the Scriptures, and laying afide the ufe of Reafon, (the which they fhould make ufe of in diftinguilhing Terms) they therafeives, and their poor deluded Profelytes loo^ the true Senfe of E 4 the (78) the Scrlptures,never looking farther than ihe bare Letter, never regarding whether they take the Senfe of the Spirit with them, yea or not. Ami hence ic is, that with fuch unbri» <1Ied Licentiournefs fome Men do with higheft confidence pofitively affirm, that the Salvation of the Gofpel is purchafed and intended for all, and fingular the Po- Iterity of the firft Adam^ and that an| iinivei fal offer thereof is (accordingly) made to each Man and Woman : Whiere- as (iiidted) when the judicious and un- prejudiced Reader joins Scripture and fa.>dificd reafon together, accompanied with Self denial, andfincere and hearty Prayer to Gods Throne of Grace, for the obtaining from ^od the truefenfe of the Scriptures fo much boafted of, he will plainly fee how egregioufly they are miftaken in both the one and the other -^ for neither doth Cod intend the Death of his Son for Salvation to any of Adams Children, fave thofe whom he Ele(iied, and (from Eternity) Chofe in Chrill*, neither doth God. make fucb an Univerfal tender of it to all Men, as the Qnakers rafhly and boldly affirm he doth. This lyes on me to demonftrate and make good againft thefe boafting Uni- verfalifts ; the which, that I might do to I j^ ( 79 ) tofatisfaftion of the judicious and unpre- - judiced Reader, I (hall propound my Ar- gumentdilerama-wife, thus: The Terms - AH, Any and Every, on which: they ground their Uafcriptural AfTertion, they are to be taken either in an Univerfal ; fcnfe, intending every individual of Man-, kind; or elfethey are to betaken in a : limited and reftrained fenfe, as intend- ^ ingfomeofall forts, ranks and degrees > of Men indifferently. If by the Univerfal Terms above na* - med, fomeof all forts, ranks and degrees - of Men indifferently, be to be underftood^ ,. then the Allertion of the Adverfaries is > (manifeftly) falfe, and confequently the :: Dodtrine of particular Eledion is true. If by-thofe Univerfal Terms all Mea> and Women without exception be in^ tended, (as the Adverfaries will have it) } then muft I be allowed to demand of them '. how any oiuidams.ChiidtQn come tobe ;: I>amned? ' » For feeing that Cod willed that Chrift 1 fhould Redeem all the Children of Mam^t who fell by-hisTranfgreffion*, I would i fain-know how any creaned Power oan; fV will and purpofe the Salvation of every individual Son and Daughter of^dam^ it is not to be queftioned, but that he be- ing the Eifljaii4ai,t\\Q Mighty God, every way perfed and all fufficient, vj^ould find out ways and means to effed and bring about his own purpofe, feeing thac he works all things according to the Counfel of his own nioft Holy Will: As Paul witnefeth, Ephef. i. u. It is in the Work of Regeneration, as it ii in the Work of the fir 11 Oeation, God Cloaths his Word with a creating Power*, fo that whenever, and where- ever be fends forth that creating Voice of hh Mighty Spirit, neitiier Devil nor Self, nor any other Eneray or Impediment, whether internal or external, ihail ever be able to give any (top to his intended W€^rk : As the Lord hirafelf tells his Church, by the Prophet Efa, 43. 13. T^a, he fore the day iv ait I am he -^ afid ihfre is none that can deliver out of my Hand : 1 will wor\^ and who jJjall let si f Whom God in Juilice and Righteoufnefs will Damn and Sentence to the Flames of Ihis deferved Wrath for Sin, who can lefcae and fave them ? Whom God in :Sovereign Mercy and Grace purpofe th to fa^e and deliver, who can hinder or pre- v?.n:tiai? 3^^, ir, 27. My Sh£fp (faith the lJ>r/ii Jefiis), hear my Volcey mdlkjioro. them^ andthey fcRow me, And I give mto them Eternal. Life^ a'adthey fialf never pe-- rijhy neither (loallany Man pluck, them out^. of my Hand, My Father vchicb gave them m^y is ftronger than all -^ and no Man k, able tophick^them out of my Fathers Hani, I and my Father are one, ' Here 'ds plaint that from the invincH ble Power of G'od and Chrift, the cer- tainty of tbeLife> and Salvation of the Ekd, is inferred and proved, That many of ^ find Deceit dare to affirm or believe? - That of P^.W (alfo) J^s 14, 16. God who in times pafi fnfer^d the Gentiles to 'vsalkin their own way^ Backs and confirnis' . iLh^., prefejit Tj:uth : Ajid doth not the.:, AccQimc. . (85) Axcount we have by Travellers,, who ,correfpond with the moih parts of the ' World, inform u=, that the greateft part > of the Nations have not fo much as the ; Nam€ of Jefus Chrift among xhem y and 1 even in thefe Kingdoms, where Fishery, Armimanifm and Quaherifm prevail : Doth not fad experience teach us how deplorable a Condition the generality of the Kingdoms is in ? as touching the fa- ving Knowledge of Jefus Chriir, or the proper means^ appointed by God, for the faving Difcovery of his julfifying Righre- oufeefs to the Souls of Men s fuch as the pure and unmixed Word of Truth^.Read. and powerfully Preached to them, for calling them out of Darknefs into the marvellous Light of the Knowledge of God iti Chrift: For.wantbf an Ortho- dox TeachingMiniftry, thefe Kingdoms, (efpecialiy England and Irdand)^xit near to a Harvefl: ripenefs, ready for the Sic^ kle of Gods jadgments, through the sffedcd Ignorance cf ibe Lord Jefus Chridij which reigns in the Minds snd Hea^its of the greac-eft part, even of £;?^- lands and IreUnds Prpfefro?:s ^ with the Occult and SpiricTfal Idolatfy of Mens Souls, whereby the Son of God and his pure Gofpel Worfhip are (hut out of Mens. H^aJCiaiJd. Aff^ftiousj thactl^e St^xum (uy of Omrl^ and their Carnal fecular Intc- refts might bear the fway. To which will add, that Deluge of open Debauch ery, and Atheiftical Opprefllon and Pro phanefs, which like a Land Flood over runs the Nations^ the which, (if not very fpeedily prevented by thofe who have the Reforming Power put into their Hands by God) will pull down (from Heaven) fuch fore and defolating Judg- ments, as will make England with her H7pocritical formal ProfefTors an abhor- ring to all Nations.^ More might be of- fered to confideration from Gods Word to the fame purpofe; as the fad and de- plorable Condition the Efhefians^ Fhi* lippianSf and other Countries were in, before the Apofbies were fent among them. The Anceftors and Forefathers of whom, God fufFered to Live and Die like Bruits, and worfe ferving Dumb Idols, thofe Teachers of Lyes, ferving divers Lulls, Atheifts, without the knowledge or hope of God in the Worlds Epbef. 2. 1, 2, 3. To them God fent no Prophet or Apoftle, no Law or Gofpel, which • fhouldbe a means of Salvation to them, til'} God km PaHlto their OlF-fpring. Now, can it (in truth) be faid, that Cod.did equallj love and. will;^ /or deiif^a> I ( ^7 ) tjie Salvation of both the Fathers and their Poftery, feeing the means cf Sal- vation were denyM to ihe Fathers, and fjpeely given to their Poller ity ? As touching the Learned (or rather Silly and impertinent) Queftion, where- in the Quakers defire to be refoh'^dj^viz/^ What Gofpcl of glad Tidings it is which I (and others, who hold the Dcdrine of Particular Eledlion ) have to Preach to thofe, for whom Chrill Died not ? ^nfiif. This miy Queflion is ground- ed on a falfe Suppoiition, that Faith is required of all Men; the which I never taught, neither, dp I (noj^) own, to be true. For, I do not think or believe, that; fach as never heard of Chrift, or who never had the means of knowing him, are required to believe, that .Chrift Died to Redeem them. Secondly^ They are grofdy (ifnot wilfully) miilaken, in thinking and fay- ing, that I prefs on all I Preach to, that it u their Duty to believe, that Jefus Chrift Died for them all, without any Limitation or Reftridlion. 1 do not be- lieve, that thofe People, to whom the glad Tidings of the Gofpel is Preached^ are ( ^» ) are any of them required abfofntelyXaTid wichout Reftri(flion) to believe, that Chrilt Died to Redeem them. All who ever attended on my Miniftry, and who are able to give a Judgement, they will witnefs for me, that the fcope and drift of my Preaching, is to convince and a- waken Sinners out of their natural State, by opening up to them, from God's Word, the happy finlefs State, where- in God Created them in Adam^ their natural and faederal Reprefentative, how they carae to fall from that Happy State, and what the fad and wretched Effe^^s of Khst FaH was to A^h'tI'^ the Head, and now is to ail his Children in their unre- iiewed State : This 1 do (ia ftrumentalij) by opening up to Sinners^ the Sen fe and Defign of the Moral Law, which is ta difcover Sin, and to Damn the Tranf- greiFors of it before God, to let Sinners know how fpotlefs that Obedience and Righteoufnefs muft be, which anfwers its own Demand, in order to its juftify- ingthemat theBar ofaHoly God. As alfo how weak and unable it is, to help a Lapfed Tranfgrefibr. It points our and requires Duty, but can afford no Ability or Strength to do that Duty: And all this, in order to bring Dead Sinners to a fight and fenfe of their need of a Re- deemer. ( h ) dcemcr.' I labour to make them fenfible, that out ofChriH:, no Life or Salvation is tever to be expelled 5 and that until 'Chriftthe Son of God be received by a [true Faith, they themfelves, with all their threadbare polluted Moralicy, and 'all thofe Advantages, wherein they bkfs and count ihemfe-Jves Happy, are all un- jder the Curfe of God, and Living and iDying fo^ they muft (as certainly as iGod is Juft, and bis Law Holy) look to •be eternally feparated from God and jChrift for ever and ever. No Givility, goodnefs of natural Temper, no Mora- ilky, BO Zeal for that whieh they taks to jbethe bell Religion, no learning or ihi- ning Parts, whether natural or acquired, ino Riches or Greatnefs in this World win ever avail to keep thera back from being (by the Laws powerful Sentence) fent down to Hell. When 1 find and perceive, that the Spirkof God hath (by the Law fet home on the Confcience) brought the Sinner (with the Prodigal) to afenfe of hisun- [done Condition, when I hear him cry put (not in a rotary and formal cufioma- jry way, which (God knows) is too much iin ufe and falhion io this fleepy Hypocri- itical Age) in the bitternefs of his Soul, \Mm and Brethren, what Jhall I do to be I Saved i ( 90 ) Saved? \ then open up (as God's Mef- feninfer) the My ftery of God's Covenant of Grace held forth in the Gofpel,where- ia is difcovered the Incomprehenfible All-fufficiency of the Lord Jefus Chrift, , to fave and recorxile to God the greateft ' and vilelfc of Sinners. I prefently fall on direding and fending the poor fm-fick wounded Sinner to the San of God, with his Wounds and Plague- fores , to be healed, preiliiig him to believe in the Son of God, out ofwhom no Salvation is to be found. Hereto I add the peremptory Command of Godbimfelf, that the poor defpairlng Soul believe on the Son of- Ood, I Jo, 2. 23. Mark id. 16. By thefe Methods and Ways of- 6'od's own ap- pointment, God is pleafM to work la- ving Coriverfion and effedual Faith in-, the Souls of elect Sinners. To what hath been offered out of 6'od'^sown Word, to prove the Doctrine of Particular Election before time. I here fet down the Judgment of the moft Or- thodox Proteftanc Churches, concerning the fame. Not that I think the Word of 6*od ftands in any need of Humane Teftimony, to help it out, but rather to fhew forth the fweet Harmony which is between the Holy Scriptures and the Saints of Gody (in their Holy and Or- thodox ( 91 ) thodox Confeflions of their Faith ) con- cerning theprefenc (fo much controver- ted and impugned) Doctrine of Election and Reprobation before time : As alfo to (hame thofe ( nominal ) Proteftants, both Non. and Conformifts, who have fo apparently tum'd the back upon their own Articles of Faith, whereby both the one and the other Party hath ( not a lit- tle) ftrengthened the Foundation of the Jefuics hope of bringing ^£'^/^/^?7^'s Neck (once more) under the Papal Yoke : From which I heartily wifh, and Cncerely pray, that God will ever keep us. 1 begin with the Church of England. Predeftirtation (to Life) is the everlafting Purpofe of C7od, whereby ( before the Foundations of the World were laid) he hath conftantly decreed (by his Gounfei fecret to us) to deliver from Curfe and Damnation, thofe whom he hath chofen in Chrift out of Mankind, and to bring ihem (by Chrift) to everlafting Salvati- on, as VefFeis made to Honour. Where- fore, they which be endued with fo ex- cellent a Benefit of G'od, be called J2C- cording to G'od's Purpofe, by his Spirit, working indue fe-cffon : The> (through Grace) obey the Calling ; they be jufti li- ed freely ; they be made Sons of G^od by Adoption ; they be made like the Image cf ( 9^ ) of his only begotten Son Jcfas Ctirift ; they walk religioully iii good Works ; and at length (by God's Mercy) they at- tain to everlafting Felicity. Sec 39 Ar- ticles of the Church of England. Arti- cie 1 7c h of Predefiination and EkBion. Secondly, The Confeffion ofFaith^^- greed upon by the AfFembly of Divines^ at Weflminfter. By the Decree of 6'od, fortheMani- feftation of his Glory, fome Men and Angels are predeltinaied to everlaltin^ Life, and others ^'to everlafting Death, I Tim, 9. 21. Af^f. 15.41. Rom,(),zl, Thefe Angels and Men thus Predefti- nated and fore Ordained, are particular- ly and unchangeably defign'd, and their number is fo certain and definite, thac it cannot be either encreafed or diminfh- ed. Thofe of Mankind, that are Predefti- nated unco Life, 6'od, before the Foun- dation of the World was laid, accord- ing to his eternal and immutable Purpofe, and chefecret Counfeland good Pkafure of his Will, hath ehofen in Chrill unto everlaffcing G'lory, out of his meer free Grace and Love, without any forefight of Faith, ur ^ood Works, or Perfcve- ranee Ixi either of them, or any other thing r 93 ) thing in tfee Creature, as Conditions or Caufes, moving him thereunto -, and all to the praife or the Glory of his Grace. As God hath appointed the Ekdt unto Glory, fo hach he, by the eternal and moft free Purpofe ot his WiD, fore- ordained all the means thereunto, i Fet. 1,2; Ephef, 1. 4 J 5". Efhef.z. 10. 1. Thef, 2. 13. Wherefore, they who are Eie- ded, being fallen in ^/af^w, are Redeem- ed by Chrift, are efFeduaily called unto Faith inChrift, by his Spirit working in ^ due Seafon, are Juitified, Adopted, San- dified, and kept by his Power, through Faith unto Salvation, 1 The/, 5. p, 10. Tit. 2,14. Rom»S,io, £phef, i. 5, 1 Fet, I . f . Neither are any other Redeemed by Chrift, efFedually Called, Jultified, A- dopted, Sanctified, and Saved, but the Eied'only. Jo. ly. ^, Rom.S, 2^. Jo. 10. 2.6. The reft (of Mankind) God was plea- fed, according to the unfearchable Coun- fel of his own Will, whereby he extend- qchor wichholdech Mercy as he pieaftch, for the. Glory of his Soveraiga Power (over his Creatures) to pafs by> and to ordain them to Diflionour and Wraih for their Sin, to the praife of his glorioas JuHice, ( 94 ) Juftice, Mat, 11.25, 26. Rom, 2. ix, % Ttm.2. 19. I Pet, 2, 8. See The Ajfemhlys Confeffion of Faith^ Chap. 3. of Che eternal Decree of God. To this, the Church of Scotland b^th fully agreed : With this alfo agrees the .Articles (of Faith) of the Church of Ire- land^ in Bifhop Vjhers time. See thofe Articles : And vfier'^s Body of Divinity. Queft, IVhat are the ^arts of Tredefiina- tion f Anfw, Elefiion and Reprobati- on. I Thef.s*9' ^om.^. 13,22,23. Quell. ^Vhat is EleBion ? Arifvo, It is the everlafting Predeitination or Fore- appointing of certain Acgels and Men Hnto everlafting Life and Bleflfednefs, for the praife of his Grace and Goodnefs, iZf>j.5. 21. y ( in ail Ages ) who have held and ( with an unfhaken Confidence) maintain^ to the Deach, the very fame ?aith, concerning the Dodrine of Elefti- on and Reprobation, on whom (with the Pen-men of Holy Writ) the frothy .Arminians of the Age we live in? who are more Crafty, than truly Wife, do notfparetocaftthe bafeft Reflexions, as if they were no way worthy to ompare with themfelves, for eicber Learnings Parts, or Piety. But whatever ocher« think, for my part, I am neither affrpJd jior afhamM to tell them, th^t the Ad- vances they a: e daily making towards the Scorners Scb , in contemning and un- dervaluing i he bright O'.iiji'g ones gone loGlcry; it n to hk au invincible Ar- gument, ( 97 ) gument, not only of their befitgaeftitoteJ of true faving Grace; but that this their priding it over the bell of Men, i^ a fare Prcgnoftick of their own I>efl:ra- dtion, when the Overflowing Scourge threatened in Efa, 18. ijr. comes oij England, The Arminian Drugs of Free- will, (in fallen Man) general Redempti- onV falling from Grace, with temporary Coriditienal Eleftion, revivM and fowa (in England) by the Jefuits Arr, and pro- pagated by too many Preachers of the two Parties above-mentioned, have pro- ved the moffc fuccefsful Expediehcs, to lay England open to utter Ruine, thac ever thofe Incendiaries of the World could devife. And Indeed the poifonous Drugs (now. mentioned) have fo Epide- mically overfpreadthe Nation , that I csnnot fee ho^ the Land can be cured (in an ordinary way) any other way^than- by the Preachers of both Parties, (who have imbibM thofe poifonous Principles, and (by Preaching) conveyed them (in* fenfibly) into the Heads and Affecliions of of the People) Vomiccing up (by found Repentance) chofecnrfed Principles, as fome have done their Do(flrine of Paf- fiVe Obedience and Nonreiiltance-, the which had they not done, the La^.d (be- fore this time) would (in all probability) F 2 H.Wa (98) have been turn'd into an -/^feW^«#»^, or a Papal Slaughter-houfe. Vomitting up, I fay, (by iound Repentance) the curfed Principles above mentioned, and labour- ing in Preaching up the Soul-faving Doctrine held forth in the 39 Articles of CJ,. EliTLaheth^ and the Affembiys Con- feffion of Faith, (on which they have fo fiiamefully and apoftatically turn'd the back) to undeceive the People, who (by their means) have been fo fad I y corrupt- ed in their Principles, and (by reafon of thofe Principles) fo wretchedly engulfed in the Quagmire of Debauchery and open Prophanenefs. It will prove their own, and the Nati- ons great Advantage, to endeavour (feafonably and Cordially) to Retrieve rhe ground they have loft, by their mo- di(h Compliance with the corrupt and erring Humour of the two laft Reigns 5 and that by founding (in their refpedtive Pulpits) a timely Retreat, and exhort- ing the People (with them) to a cordial Reception of their Abdicated Articles of Religion ; from which the Infernal Graft of England'^s Enemies, and their own fr pinelncauteloufnefs have drawn them a- fide. Ic is (infinitely) better for fuch manife^ Corrupters of the true Prote- ftant Doftrine, to own their Errors, and repent repent of them here, while the Gate of Mercy is open \ and all true Proteltants Hearts and Arms are open, ready to re- ceive them , on their return from the Communion of the word and malt per* nicious of the Churches and poor E/ig-^ //i;^^ Enemies>than to own and repent of their Errors and Prevarications in Hell ; of which place fuch Mencpnnoc but knovv it is faid, y^h infernis nulla Redemptio r There is no Redempdon or Returning from Hell, ^his the Inhabitants of that place know (Hxperimentally, ) to their endlefs and remedilefs Sorrow and Grief. From which place, fliould it pleafe the Holy Soveraign of the World, to fend themoft Gigantick Difputers, (againflr the Dodrine of God's free Eledion of particular Perfons before time) which are now Tongue-tyM in that place of Torment, to Z/Whe Duties of Holinefsina Chriftians Life i.nd Converfation, crying out, (iu F 4 the ( 102 ) _^ the Pulpit) j^way wnh your HoUmfs^ m Hell with yoHT Duties am ferfonal QtMli" fie at ions. This Charge, confifts of five branches or pares, to each of which I will fpeak as- diftindlly as I can, and that with as gttac, Serioufnefs and regard to Confcience, as if I were to make the prefent Defence at t^e Bar of the Great Judge. I begin with the fir ft, (t/fz,.) My be-? . ing an Jndependant, I have this to fay for my felf, firft, the Congregational way ( of Church Government ) is the Principle which (according to my pre- fent light.) I apprehend to be neareft to' ^he Platform of Gofpel-Churches, plant- ed by the Apoftles, which to own and pradife, I am ( fully ) convinc'd, is my Duty: For which, 1 humbly hope and charitably believe, none of my Brethren of the Presbyterian Perfwafion dare to cenfure or blame me, until lean fee, that 1 am herein miftaken and out of the way. ' Secondly, As touching my Judgment, (herein) I do affirm, (and that in truth} God knows I lye not,! honeftly and fair]/- acquainted my(now) Reproachers, ^r'^c I was in my Judgment, (as to thisvjry Point) when they firft difcovered an In- clination clination to call me to take the Paftoral Charge of their Souls: About this, they and I had feveral (occafional) Difeourfcs ?ro. and Con. for and againft it i and in conclufion they (with the reft of the Co- venanters with God, in a Church way) did own themfelves fully convinced, thac the Congregational way (of Church Go^ vernment) was (raoft certainly) the way of the Gofpel \ and as fuch, they freely doled with me. If what I have now af» ferted be denyM, IfhallCby Authentique Teftlmonies.) make the fame good co their Faces. I come to the fecond Branch of thf Charge, (wz..) My being a great Enemy, to Mr. Baxter^ &c. In anfwer whereto, I pofBtively af- firm^ that I never (in my Life) had any Prejudice againft Mr. Baxter^ fave only to diflike and caution my Flock againft fome Notions of his, wherein I concei- ved him to be Heterodox in the Founda- tion Printiple of Juftification. I told my Auditory, as plainly as Icodd fpeak,, . that in mendoning Ut* BaxterHH^m^s my defiga was not to meddle in Judgicg. li'imj as touching his Eternal State-, only v;hat of Cx)rruption I found in his Book?, 1 judg'dit my . Ducy to take notice there- c J04 ) of, and to caution my Hearers (who had bis Books) to beware of fuch Notions. And what i did herein, Idid itCGod and xny Confcience knows) in Faithfulnefs ta dbrift, aad the Souls of thofe commit- ted to my Paftoral Charge by the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. ♦ But to fty. that Mr. Baxter was DamaM (in Hell,) I abhor the very hear- ing or thoughts of fuch a thing •, neither dares any one living (except a canterizM and brazen facM Sinner) to charge fuch a Slander on me ; fo far was I ffora utter- ing fuch an uncharitable (I may fay Infer- oal) Expreffion, that I plainly fpoke the contrary, (as my Judgment of him) de- claring, that I hoped Mr. Baxter was tf^ith Chrift in Glory 5* and that 1 dare to think> no otherwife. As for what of Corrupticn, which is mixt with his- Writings, I told ray Auditory, I lockc on that as a part of the Wood, Hay and Stubbie intended by the Apoftle in 1 Cor, 3. 12. of which Mr. 5-;/;^^^^ will ( I doubt not) fuger the Lofs in the Great day^ though he (himfelf; be faved, he hold- ing Chrift the Foundation, firm and fted- faft to the end^ as (in Charity) I hope he 4id. Tfte The third Branch of ihe charge is,that I affirmed, that Ghrift bad buc two or ,^ three right Gofpel Minifters, who Preach Chrifl: (truly) in and about London. To this I anfwer in the Negative, viz.^ That I never thought or fpoke fuch a thing, either in cr out of the Pulpit ia all my Life. The occafion of this Slander was thh^. I was (in a Sermon) bewailing the fmall number of right Gofpel Preachers^ at which time, and on which occafion, I faid, that a great many PreachM up* the Pope : That av^^^&t^, ^ (Iiaov%^^ that Man of SiQ.Others(faid I) Preach uptbeNati^ cnal Hierarchy, and its Intereil ^ Inftcad- of the Kingdom of Chrift. Others there be (faid 1) who Preach up Mofes^ and obe- dience to his do, and live, in the room of Chrilts Mediatorial ipoikfs Righteouf- nefs. for Jufti^ication and Life; fo tiiat fin comparifon) it is (undeniably) trucp that Chrift hath but few who Preach him and his immaculate Righteoofnefs, ss the only Meritorious and procuring caofe of Juftification and Salyation. Tiii^is is what I faid (then) and iruly I lee but ImaO rea» fon to think or fay othervvife : I queilionn • not, but the Orthodox (in and about London) will readily Harmonize with me: fcerein ; But that Ldid limit the true Mi- niftersi (io6) Biftersof Chrift to any certain (definite) number ; or that I mentioned any Mini- fters Names (by way of diftindtion) I ut- terly deny. And I have very good reafon to judge it no breach of the haw of Cha- rity, to believe thatthe fecret defign of the Reporters hereof, was to incenfe and provoke the Spirits of Godly Minifters, and their refpedive Congregations againib me. And (hereby) to prepare them for a more facil and ready reception of the other black and fcandalous Reproaches, which were to be brought dn the Stage, on purpofe to do my bufinefs ; as one of their Confederates was heard to fay he would do. I come to the fourth Branch of the Charge, which is, That I fhould bid a publick challenge to Mr. WilUam^^, (and the reft of Mr. Baxters followers), to Difpute certain Pofuions held (and afierted) by Mi. Baxter^ andthofe who go his way. To which I reply, That this is as tru€ as the reft , and did (J am very fuie) proceed frora'the fame lying Spirit which Coined and Forged their other lying Sto- |j lies againft me ; thedeffgn whereof, was * jiot only to corroborate that their Defign (in its Foundation) but a^fo to draw over Mr; Williams (and oihers, whom they i3;iemta..be impatient: to hear any Oppo- fuioa. ( rc7 ) fifiion given to any Notions of Mir. i?^;fi ters^ to them-, to help and encourage them to break that Church, whereof themfeives were an EfTential part, and to • force my flight from my. Station in C to which their own Eledting Voice called me. The occalibn of this Slander was thus, 1 did one day (in Preaching) lay down this Pofition, w;^. That an Eled Sinner is (Id effedlual Galling) freely juftified i&omall charge of Sin, both Original and A<^ual,by the alone MediatorialRighte.- ■oufhefs of the Lord Jefus Chrift, freely imputed by God^ and that without any regard had to any Conditions performed? by, or Qualifications inhering in the Per*- fon of the^Siiiner-, (as con Caufes with Ghrift in Juftification) ThirCfaid l)isa truth fo clearly, laid down and aiferted in the Gofpel, and fo backM wich the wit- nefsof Gods Spirit (in the Hearts of all aflilred Believers) that all the Difputers in the World, (who ©ppofe the fame) -will never be able to overthrow it, be their Wit and Parts never fo iharp and admired. And whether I be ralftaken (herein) ! freely appeal to the Judgmene ^nd DetermintitioFi of all Orthodox Pro- reftants ; who (in the point of Juttifica- tion) are not m. 3.36. Jo. 8.24. This is what X faidCthea,) Chrift knows I Lye not, nay Gonfcience alfo bearing, me witnefs ia the Holy Ghoft. When I have to do with believing Ghrillians, I prefs them to the Duties .of pra^ical Holinefs and good Works, #asif they were to be juftified andfaved by them. But ftill, with this feafonable Caution, that Believers do never join their Works of Sandification wiih Chrid's jtjftifying Righteoufnefs in the Work of Juftification. Befides the black Charge brought a- gainft me, to which 1 have fpoken by way of Apology, mine Acciilers (the better tO: palliate their, own black and horrid Climes) ("» ) Crimes) charge me with Defedivenefs in my Life and Converfadon, as not pracftifing what 1 Preach. To this I re- ply in four Particulars. >Vr/?, By wayGfConcefllon(orGrant) my Life and Converfation is not accord- ing to my Preaching ; in a fenfe I own ir, I do (humbly) acknowledge, (with fhame and grief J that I find my felf vaftly fliort ; of that Perfedion (in San^ification > f which (in Preaching) I prefs (as Dlity) on my felf and others ; and the Searcher af Hearts belt knows of how great a I Concern it is to me, to rtfled on the vaffc Difparity which 1 (fenlibly) peteive is between what I am, and what 1 ought to I be in point of Conformity toChrid, in ;Life and Converfation, which lays me ! under an indifpeniible necefFuy of fub- fcribing to that Fideo meliora frcboque deteriora feqmn I know and approve better things, but follow or encline to things whic^ are worfe: And to that of wretched man that I am-, &c. 1 Secondly.^ By way of Negation, if my lAccufers intendiend mean^ that I give Iray felf up to a courfe of dlfiblute and 'loofe Living, or that I allow my felf in the. ( "2 ) the approved Pras^ice of any Immorality, which is incompatible with a Regene- rate State, or which is Inconiiltent with a Holy PofTefRon ; I abfolutely (through fpecial Grace) deny the Charge, and do bid ray InvidiousBefpatterersCand all fucK as do (uncharitably credit fuch malici- ous Reports of me) a fair and fober Challenge, to make good fuch a Charge againfl; me, by any Authentick Witnefs, which is not knov^n to be prejudiced av gainftme, ( if not one or more of them) who have plotted to overthrow my Re- putation and Miniilry. Thirdly^ If (hort coming in living Up^ to what I Preach and Profefs, be a faffici- ent Warrant for Church Members ,* to prevaricate and run away, (like Children of Belial) throwing off the Yoke of Duty, ( in the Church ; ) I would gladly know how it is polTibie for any Churches to be kept up on Earth, confideringthaC the Inftruments, by whofefdiniftry God^ fees fie to gather and Baild up Churches, to fit them for Glory, are frail Men, not finlefs Spirits. For my own part, aifceit I am far from pleading for any Sin, (though but ^he lealt In&rmity) whereof either I my felf, or or any other know me Guilty. I mull needs ,fay> that I never yet could find, that ever God the Father (in the Old Te^ ftamentt) or Chrilt his Son (in the Newj) did CciU or fend any to be Prophets or Appftlcs, who were exempt or free from |>erf0nal Faillags •, or who were ever a- ble 10 lire up (perfe<^iy) lo the Dotoine they Preached toothers : Yea, it ismoft ^ evident, (to ary intelligent Reader) that ,,^ confiderable part of the Canon of Holy '■ iScripture is Gccupant about difeovering, acknowledging and bewailing the fmful Mifcarriages and ihort comings of the Pen-men thereof, as the Learned snd Godly well know. Fourthly^ and Laftlyj Suppofing that , my Brethren knew and could prove me : guilty of as great Fails as ever any par- ' (iGned Sinner fell into ^ is it not the duty of Church Members, to endeavour my Recovery, by coming to meintheSpi^ ritofMeeknefs, and Brotherly Love, to call ofj me, and to ftir me up to Repen- ^ lance and Reformation? knowing that the Hoiieil: of Saints, (even thofe of the Mghefl: Attaiflments in Grace) while in the pody, are Obnoxious to theforeft Temptations I and by reafon thereof i (and ( "4 ) .| (and the remains of indwelling Corrupt!- f| on) are liable to the foreft falls thereby. The Word of God proves, that fo to do is the undoubted Duty of Church Members one towards another, Lev, 19. 17. /^;if. 18.15. GaL6,\, Bucthismyi] Schifmatical Brethren never did to me,* though never foearneftly Courted, and - lovingly Entreated thereto; and that both in and out of the Pulpit: As can be fufficiently provMifneedbe. Satan and his plotting Agents knew And tooccafion their (ferioufly) con- Cdering, how (every way) unbecoming the Gofpel it is, for one Cbriftian (efpe- cially fuch as are called to Sacred Office) to be openEar'd, and of too credulous a Temper, in liftening to, and improving (cothe great Prejudice of thofe, whom the Law of Charity commands them to love) any Reports, which looks^ like a Defign to blacken or ftaia the Reputation of a Brother, efpecially a poor Stranger, who ( for Chrid and the Gofpel ) hath loft his All •, and who (for witneffinga- gainft t& fpresding Errors of the times) is furrounded and befieged with Enemies of all forts. To frown on, and (Carry it ftrange to fuch, will neither pleafe God, credit Religion, or help to make a dying Bedeafy and comfortable, Exod.iz.ii. Dent, 10. 19. Mat,';, 12, O/t?/. 3.12,13, 14,15. Obfequium jimicos , Veritas Odium far It, .Flattery begets Friends, fpeaking Truth caufeth Enemies. Compare £/^. 130. 10. with jimos 5. 10. FIN I. s. -I