Chap. 36. e../fr, exp/ition iepon the Book, of J o a. Verf. 2I. Sin firiely and 2btlrat ly eonfidered cannot properly be chafen. A rational creature cannot choofe fin properly,becaufe fin is evil; and eleôtion being the office of the Will, whole adaequate obj;!et is good, fin, llrialy taken, cannot be chofen. But fin is often chafen, and 'cis the choice of moil; rata, they choofe iniquity ra- ther than aíAielion ; iniquity is the eholee and the belovedof ma- ny a mans foul. But how ? It is under the pretence of fomething that is good ; no man can choofe it as'tis evil. For though îome love fin and choofe fin for fins fake (fuch come up highea and neareft to the frame of the devil, as they that do good for goods fake come neareft to the holy Angels) yet, I fay, fin is alwayes chofen under foe confederation or fhadcw of good ; and if any man choofe to finwithout refpea to profit or gaine, yet he bath fame good in his eye, namely to pleafe hiaafelf, he would have his will,and will notlet Godhave his will ; and thisis good to himwho is ftarke naught. But ufually fin is chalen uponone of chefethree accounts. Firft, fin is very often chofen (by a miflake) for that which is good. Theywho (asthe Apoffle fpeaks, lieb. 5. t s .) Are oen- skil ful in the word ofrigbteoufnefr, they who have not fence! axer- cifed to difcern between goodand evil, are very apt tó ch oe evil in Read of good, that is, thinking it to be good. Thus error in opinion is chafen, upon a mif}ake, for truth ; and iniquity inpra- &ìfe, is chafen, upon a miaake, for duty. Of fuch the Prophet fpeakes (dfa. 5.2o.) They call evil good, andgood evil, theypet darknefs for light, and lightfor darknefs : which,as Tome doknow- , ingly,out of perverfenefs of fpirit ; fo others ignorantly,our of un- foundnefs of judgement, imagining that to be good which is e- vil, and that tobe light which is nothing elfe but darknefs, that to be found do&tine which is errour,and that holy worí 'ii which is ftiperf}ition. So did Paul before hewas converted, he chofe iniquity, and thought he had done very well : 7 thought ( faith 1,1e) I ought to do many things againli the name of yejtts (hr:ftt (Acts i6.) I thought it my duty, I verily thought I ought to perfect= and vex thofe who beleeved inJefus, where-ever I found them. And Jefus Chrifl himfelf forewarns his Difciples ( John 16. 2.) that the time was cosning,that whof ever killed them would think they did Godfervice. Thus many do not underhand what is right, and fo choofe "that i$ wrong, Secrrdlv,. 329
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