Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

$ e e T.XI. inWs, Statutes, ,ivld keeping his yuáement's. 577 all Eternity ; and the Eledion of God, that is Abfolute, and that cannot be fruffrated ; Reade. ons.ar. where the Apoille in a grave and profitable way handling this fublime Myftety of Predeftination; he argiteth, That Gods Will and Purpofemuff take effect, Eledion bath obtained, and it will obtain t Ifthen the Eledionof GodbeAbfolute, and that muff ftand, then the Proihife ofConverlion, which is nothing but a gracious Manifeffation of this Eledion, muff alfo be Abfolute. And this (hall futñce for clearing the Nature of this Abfolute Promife.; but becaufe this ¡'chine is fubje9 to. carnali Ca. vils , I fhall .Anfwer one or two Objections which a froward Heart not humbly fubmitting to the Authority of Scripture, is apt to ralle. And Firft, It may be raid, If this Promife of Conver6on be Abfolute , God Objek.É; will work it, and there is no Conditiononour part, that we can by our Na- ture perforate: Then What need We come to hear the Word preached:? What need we waite on the Ordinances ? if God willtakeaway the heart of (tone, he will do it though we beeating and drinking, and makingmerry, as well as if we be praying and hearing the Word preached. But take heed of fuck deffru- dive conclufions, for they donot follow from this truth. For Firft, Thasgh Uir fay se be an Abfolute Promife, yetthe meaning aà not , as if Anfiö¡ it wereaccomplilhedwithoatfad) means God bath appointed. Therefore the Prey mile may be laid tobe Abfolute, either in oppofition to Conditional, as if it required fomething asa Condition tobedone onour part, and in this fenfe it is Abfolute; or elfe it may be calledAbfolute, asitdoth oppofe that which is to be ordered by fome means, and in this fenfe it is not Abfolute. Paul had abfolutely fore-told, That none in the Ship that were with him fhould die; yet he alto raid, That they muff ufe the meanes, keep in the Ship; And thus God told David many times before he went to the Battel, That he fhould have the Vidory, yet he was careful, to order his Army, and to prepare the Souldiery : So that Gods Promifes though they are many times Abfolute, yet they alto include Meanes for that end. Now there are Meanes of two forts, The one External having no immediate influence. upon Grace, onely it is the neceffary way that God bath sommanded every one to walk in, and filch are coming to the Ordinances, and hear- ing of the Word. A man bath Free-will or Power of Nature to doe this, as any other civil Allions. Indeed to hear with Faith, to hear with godly Attention and brokenneffe of Spirit, that he cannot ; but limply co come to hear, and in a general manner to attend to what is delivered; that by Nature he can doe; Now even this very bearing, and this bodily prefence God bath required, as a Meanes wherein he will difpcnfe his Grace ; So that whofoever doth wilfully neglect the ufe of thefe, cannot promife to himfelfe any Converlion ; yea he maycertainly conclude God will not convert him ; fo that here is noplace for thy prophane Cavil ; What need I come and hear? what need I frequent preaching? Yes, every way; for though God bath abfolutely promiled this Mercy, yet it is in the ufe and exercile of thefe Meanes Oh then that thofe who cuffomarily and wilfully abfent themfelves from the preaching of the Word, would confiders that they turn their backuponGod, and in effect fay, They will not be con- verted, Wewill not have this newHeart, this new Life. Ifaman fhall wilful. ly refufe to eat ordrink, will henot beaccounted a felfimurderer? and if thori careleflyorobffinately refufeft theWordof life, will not God judge thee fora felf-damner? But then in the next place, There areformall and internall tlieases that doe immediately receive Chrifb in the foal , fuch as Faith,'' or hearing in Faith, and theta a man bath no power of himfelf to perfoenae, Faith being the Eeee gift

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