Anonymous on Article XVII: Of Predestination and Election

1. It must be granted, that God may have his particular Favou- rites, whom he hath decreed to deliver from Curse and Damnation in, by, and through his Son Jesus. That as we see how Princes de- light to single out some particular Persons, upon whom they heap their Favours to excess ; so I see no Cause why the King of Kings may not fix his Eye and Heart upon some from all Eternity, which in Time he resolves to make the Standards of Religion, and to secure from being deceiv’d or ruin’d, that they may be Vessels of Honour

for ever: For he is doubtlesy at Liberty to do what he will with his

own, and to dispose of his Kindness as he pleases, and may reserve

his peculiar and special Love, for some whom he ordains to be the

Furst-fruits of his Son’s Passion, and the Heirs of the Promise, that his Son may not be incarnate, and preach, and dye in vain, Our Saviour when on Earth, separates John, James, and Peter, to be his intimate Companions; and to shew how his Friendship determin’d in Favour of one more than another, he singles out John from these, allows him to be familiar with him, to lean upon his Breast, to ask him Questions, and to bear the Character of the Beloved Disciple. And as he was thus particular in his Affection upon Earth, his Father ( for ought Iknow ) for some special Reasons , best known to him- self, may sele& some Favourites to stand up in his Name, to avouch the Truth of his Son’s Message, and to defend the Christian Religi- on in all Ages. That as Noah, Abraham, Job, and Daniel were cho- sen and called by him, he may elect others; as his Son chose the Twelve Apostles to be his particular Favourites. This may be done without any Prejudice to the rest of Mankind; who may neverthe- less partake of those common Favours, which his Son hath purchas d for Sinners. Having predestinated ws unto the Adoption of Children by Fesus Christ to himself, according to the good Pleafurs of his Will.

2. This

Eph. 1. 5.

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112 An EXPOSITION of the

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Article XVII.

Joh. 3. 17.

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2. This Predestination unto Life may be Conditional, as it re- spects the Society and Body of Christians. For by his Counsel, se- cret to us, he hath passed by the fallen Angels, and hath chosen us Christians to the use of Means, and promises to deliver us from Curse and Damnation, upon Condition that we repent of Sin, believe in his Son, atid obey the Gospel: And upon our Faithfulness, will

treat us as Vessels made to Honour. This may be easily reconciled

to the Words of the Article ; for he purposes to deliver those, that are chosen in Christ ; that is, according to the Gospel which Christ hath preached ; or according to the Conditions that are propos’d to us in Christ : And hath resolv’d to bring them by Christ and his

_ Gospel to Salvation, or is fully purpos’d to save all those, that are

penitent Believers in, and Faithful to his Son. And in this Sense

| he hath chosen all those Christians that conform themselves to the

Laws of Christ, as well one as another; and is willing that every

one should work out their Salvation, that they may be made Vessels .

of Honour. And thus it is put into our Power to shew our selves the Ele&ed and Chosen of the Lord : For if we truly repent of our Sins, and reform our Lives, we become qualified, according to the Decree of Ele&ion, and shall be happy. After this way of Expla-

nation, we justify the Ways of God to the Children of Men, and

his Absolute and Conditional Decrees become consistent. The Fa- vour of a Prince to some intimate Subjects does not injure the rest ;

and the Dectee of the Almighty to signalize some particular Persons,

does not prejudice any other; or engage him to be the less solicitous

for the Welfare of all ; it rather displays his Kindness to all Man- kind, when he absolutely chuses some to be Guides and Examples to

the rest, and rather confirms his general Promise, by which he in- vites all Mankind to Repentance. For doubtless, let his particular Kindnesses to some be what they will, he must design the Welfare of all, who raises up his particular Favourites to call upon the rest, and to invite them to Repentance, and to partake of his Mercy. For

God sent not his Son into the World, to condemn the World, but that

the World through him might be saved.

II. According to this Choice made in Christ, Men are called, the Conditions are propos’d according to God’s Purpose in Christ, by his Word, and by the Assistances of his Spirit: And in due Season, such as conform to the Conditions, and obey the Calling, are reputed the Sons of God, bear his Image in Christ, are justify’d by Faith in his Blood, walk as religious Men, abound in good Works, and in the End obtain Eternal Life. Or in other Terms , kr willingly accept of the Conditions of Mercy in Christ Jesus, and live accord- ing to the Gospel : That as they are chosen to the Means, improve under them, are renewed and changed by them; so they get ready to be chosen to Happiness, to be found Faithful in the Great Day, to be declar’d worthy, to be cleared, when they are judged, to accepted in the Beloved Jesus, and to obtain Everlasting Happiness by him. So that these are but the Consequents of the Conditional

ecree, the Effects it leads unto, when Men accept of the Mean,

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and improve under them. For at the same Time that God decrees Article to call us to the Knowledge of his Son, and to allow us the Use of XVII.

the Means of Grace, he must decree to help us by his Grace, to pardon us in his Son, and to fave us according to his own Pro- mise, So that it is one and the fame Condition of Decree, which

calls, which pardons, which justities, and brings to Heaven, And

as many as are called, they may comply and en joy the Benefits and Fruits of their Calling. But a few only are chosen, because but a

few obey this Call, fultl that Righteousness which was Conn.

manded, and live up to the Conditions propos’d ; which had they done, they might as well have been chosen as called, and might

have been as certainly saved, as they were invited to Salvation:

For the Conditional Decree included them as well as the rest and God design’d in Sincerity to be as gracious to them as to the rest; and it is owing to their Neglect or Presumption, that they are disappointed. Those that are absolutely predestinated indeed, they are wonderfully brought to be willing and obedient; they are called, and obey without Failure : But those that are conditionall elected may comply, if they will take heed, or may miscarry, if they will presume. But to as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name.

III. The Consideration of this inspirits the Godly to continue in

Well-doing, and puts them upon greater Diligence and Care; for

it brings a real Pleasure to them, and fills them with sweet, plea-

| Gant, and sometimes unspeakable Comfort, to consider the great Love of God in Christ Jesus, to think how he hath given the Pro-

mise of Pardon and Peace in him, and how he hath resolv’d and

decreed to fave all those that sincerely repent, believe, and obey :

This must needs transport them with Joy, when they know they have repented and believed, and feel in theraselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, when they in Earnest by the help of it morti- fy their Lusts, and subduing their Minds, Wills, and Affe&ions to the Laws of Jesus, are faithful to him. This Thought will inflame them with the Love of God, will strengthen and establish their Faith, cause them to be the more resolute and earnest in Duty, and oblige them to take the greater Heed, and to become the

the Promise is made to us and our Children) it is apparent, that God has decreed, that we thould have the Use of the Means of Grace, and the Hope of Glory before us. If therefore we find that we have repented, believed, and obeyed; what Pleasure may we take in our Religion? What Comfort in our Duty? Yea, what Joy and Peace in the Consideration of God’s Promise, and the

Prospect of his Glory ? For as we know we are sincere and up-

right before him, and feel his Grace in our Hearts, we may please our selves with the Expectation of Eternal Life and Happiness, and may assure our selves that if we remain Faithful, we shall be

Q hap-

Joh. 1. 12.

more faithful. For if we make it our Case, (as well we may, for

a>. ta… — S 2

114 I E XPOSITION of the

| Article XVII. A ed

Rev. 2. 17, the latter part.

happy. This is a Pleasure far beyond any Enjoyment that can be found upon Earth, and hath those Transports attending it, which the World knoweth not. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white Stone, and in

the Stone a new Name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it.

IV. It is dangerous for curious Persons to depend upon this De- cree, or to appropriate it to themselves ; for it leads them to Despair or Presumption. If they let their Fancy out-run their Religion,

or their Imaginations dictate to their Minds, it may prove fatal

to them. For carnal Men, who .have not the Spirit, may dote so long upon Decrees, till they fancy they are reprobated, cast off, and left to shift for themselves ; and growing desperate, may run into all Manner of Licentiousness: Or may pretend to be the Chosen of the Lord, his Ele&ed and Beloved in Christ; and may fancy that God sees no Faults in them, that they may do what they will, live as they list, and that they are secur’d by the De- cree : Or ( as our Church expresses it) may fall into unclean -

Living, into Impurity and wretched Pollutions, and think they

may escape. This is a very ill Use made of the Divine Purpose, which God never intended, and which none but carnal, brutish, unclean, wicked Men would admit. And yet as bad and abomi- nable as it is, we live to hear how too many turn the Grace of God into Wantonness, and under the Umbrage of Ele&ion become the worst of Men. Such irreligious Thoughts as these, ought not to be admitted. For though God should have some particular Favourites, he allows none to revel in his Kindness, or under the Pretence of his Love, to be the more wicked. He 1s Holiness it self, and those whom he chuses, he sets a-part for Holiness, that they may become pure, and without rebuke before him in Love :

And whoever presume upon his Goodness, and commit Sin with

Pal. 3. 4.

Greediness, will find, that he is a Terror to evil Doers, and a con- suming Fire. Tis far from him to decree the Happiness of those that break his Laws, or to reward those as Favourites who do the

Service of the Devil. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in

Wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee,

V. “Tis not for us to pry into Decrees , but to receive God’s Promises, as mention’d in his Word, as set forth in the Holy Scri- Pture , and to act, and behave our selves, as he hath com- manded. In all our Doings, we should mind, follow, and obe the Will of God, as it is revealed to us: Would we do this,

we should never trouble our selves about the Decrees, but mind our

Duty, and labour to perform it ; for the Scripture declares, that whosoever believes in Jesus, shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life; it sets forth the Love of God in general Terms, invites all to Repentance, and promises Pardon and Peace to all that re- turn and amend. And the God of all Truth, who calls upon all,

will

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will impart his Mercy to all that are qualified for it. Take then his Promises, as they are, and never presume to streighten his Love, who is the common Father of us all, or to suspe& his Kindnels, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance. By his Order the Angels proclaimed, Glory ro God in the Highest, vn Earth Peace, good Will towards Men. | From this Account observe, That here is not one Word in the Article, of Reprobation ; That if God hath his Favourites, he doth

not cast the rest off; That our Church dire&s us to order our Doings by the Word of God.

Article XVII.

Luke 2. 14

1. Here is not one Word in this Article of Reprobation, or of

a Dectee which casts off the rest of Men, or leaves them to bear their own Burthen : On the contrary, we are directed to receive

and understand God’s Promises, as they are generally set forth in

| Scripture; And as it is manifest, that God offers Mercy to all in his _ Son’s Name, that are weary and heavy Laden; and is willing that his Son should be the Saviour of all Men, especially of those that

believe; we may be sure that he hath reprobated or rejected none that do not reprobate themselves. He is a kind and good Father to all; and as he gives us Food and Raiment, he is willing

that his Mercy should be over all, in the saving of their Souls. : Despisest thou the riches of his Goodness, and Forbearance, and Long-

suffering 2 not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to te- pentance. | |

Rom. 2. 4

2. If God hath his Favourites, which he designs to be the Salt

of the Earth, he does not cast off the rest of Men; but would they perform the Conditions of Grace, they also may be saved. Be- cause David was a Man after his own Heart, he did not cast off Israel ;, because Daniel was high! beloved , he did not negle& his People in Captivity : Because Joby lay in his Saviour’s Bolom, the rest of the Apostles were not fslighted. He hath Kindness enough for all Mankind, over and above what he fixes upon Parti- culars. This his Favour cannot injure others, when he scatters his Friends about to do others good , and makes them invinci- ble, to reclaim and encourage the rest. Abraham is an Example of true Religion in an Idolatrous Age. Lot preaches Righteous-

ness to a wicked World: Daniel pleads for the Deliverance of the

Captives. The Prophets in their Days, the Apostles under the

| Gospel, proclaim’d his Mercy to Men. So that if such were elected, they were serviceable to others, and Instruments in reforming the World. But if this will not satisfy, that though he hath Favou-

rites, he hath a Love for all, I must appeal to his own Words,

where he {wears by himself, that he desires not the Death of a Sin- ner, but is willing that every one should turn and live. He hath therefore Kindness for all in general, and would rejoice in the Hap- ters,

Q 2 3. Our

piness of all. Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the Wa-

Isa. 51. Is

116 An EXPOSITION of th

Article 3. Our Church adviseth you to order your Doings by the Word

XVII. of God, and if ye live as he commands, there is Mercy in store for all: If ye do your Duty, ye need not question or doubt of his Acceptance ; and when he calls us to Duty, we may be certain we may do it; and if we do it, we may be as certain we shall be re- warded : Nay, the Way to his special Favour is by Duty, and if we would be Favourites, we must be faithful. His Decrees can never hurt the obedient, nor prejudice such as are sincere and upright be- fore him. Whom he tid predestinate, them be also called; and

Rom. 8, 30. 20 hom he called, those be also justified . and whom be justified, them he 2 lorified. […] Wo FO SIRE OY — — net nec —

Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

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1 Jonn II. 19.

They went out from us, but they were not of

us; fo: if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they

went out, that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us.

. is counted a Sign of indiscreet Zeal in our Days, to condemn the Seas that abound in Religion, and very uncharitable to anathema-

tize any that differ from us; and Moderation is grown to that Height, that it is almost criminal to oppose the Men of Latitude, and next to Antichristianism to reprove those Occasional Consciences, that can approve of Religion in any Form, or under any Disguise, and encourage those that deny our Lord, and blaspheme the Name by which we are called. But St. 70hn found there was such design-

ing Men got amongst Christians, and warns the Church against

them: He makes no Scruple to call them Antichrists ; and was so far from favouring their 3 of Separation, that he declares, that they did not belong to the Christian Flock. They went out from us, but they were not of us; foz ik they had been ok us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest, that they