An Enquiry afteramans eflate. 7 fore, z Pet. r. to He that atteineth to th at faith which the A- poftle calk th thefaithofGods eles, Titus r.r. and receiveth the word of God, as'Paul faith theTheflalonians did, and thence concludeth they were chofen of God, i Thef. I. _I, 5. he may attain tomuch Aflùrance of his elehion.But though a godlyman mayknow he is elutedofGod, yet for reprobrion the cafe is not alike : r. Becaufe ungodlinefle is not alwayes joyned with perfeverance. 2. Derides, God hath many realons why he doth not reveal mess reprobation unto them : They would then be outragious in evil, defperate in wickedneffe; there could be no order or government inhumane life : Berides that, the form of Chrifìs adminiftration of his kingdome could not be fo as it now is: for Chrift hathbid his Minifters preach the Gofpel to every creature, to whole parifhes and towns, and except none : Chrift will not tell his Minifters which be reprobates and which not, that they may preachunto all, and labour to work upon every foul ; and there is none in a parifh but the Minifter muff look upon him as one who maybe faved : Chrift will not tell his people which be reprobates, that they may look upon every one as one that may be wonne to the faith for any thing they know : Chrift will not tell the reprobates them. (elves that they are reprobates , that every one of them may come to the afe of the means;How do they know but that they may Ende grace ? yea and the Lord doth ferioufly call them; and it is their fault if they obey not. It is Gods infinite mercy, that elation, which isfuch a comfortable point, may be reveal- ed to Gods children; and that reprobation, which is fo intole- rable andbitter, is not revealed to the reprob.ate.Neverthelefle let me adde, That foire particular men have known their own reprobation, as Cain and yudau, &c. And there be fhrewd Ganes of it: (I do not (peak it as though I meant to perfwade any man that he is one, but onely that he may take heed of them.) i. Malicing the known truth is a very fhrewd ligne: As,when men know that godlineffe is pleating to God,and yet they hate a man for it; whenmen know the Minifter is commanded to rebuke tin, and yet they will fpite him for fo doing : this is a ve- ry shrewd fgns of it.
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