E L E C T. 295 pie that FORGET GOD. This too is a thort, but full, Anfwer to that nefarious Portion, " The Ele& {hall be faxed, do what they will ; the Reprobate than be damned, do what they can." When ele& Saints (not pretended ones) can have a Will to live and wallow in Sin ; and reprobate Sinners (hall do what they can, and ftrive to do more, for Salvation : Certainly GOD will change Sides, and fend the Firfi to that Deltruaien, which (it feems, according to this Plan) He had de- figned, though by a great Miftake, for the fecond. -- May GOD deliver us from entertaining a Sytlem, which, while it allows a [lrange Compofition of Folly and So- phistry, takes in likewife a large Portion of fuch horrible Blafphemy and Boldnefs, as ought never to be named amongft Men. The Words of the excellent Herman Witfius afford a more noble and grateful Inquiry. He invites the Chrif- tian tò afk, and to alk of GOD ; " Haft Thou, O Lord, proedellinated me to Holinefs, fo lovely in itfelf, fo'neceffary for me, as that without it there is no Sal- vation ; and thall I nor walk therein ? Shall I presume fo to fophilticate with Thee, O Thou bright Teacher of Truth, that, feparating the End from the Means, I [hall fecur.ely promife to myfelf the End, as being prm- deflinated thereto, in a Neglef2 of the Means, to which I am no lets prsedeftinated ? Is thy Purpofe, concerning my Salvation, fixed and immoveable ; and lhall I every Hour be changed, now for Thee, now again giving up my Service to Satan? Shall I not rather adhere to Thee with fo firm a Purpofe, as rather ro finer a thoufand Deaths than perfidioufly depart fromThee ? Shall I not beftedfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in the Turk of the LORD, knowing that my Labor is not in 'pain in the LORD ? Wilt Thou make me afI'ured of thy Love, which paffeth all Undemanding; and ¡ball not I again love Thee with all my Heart, with all my Mind, withall my Strength? Wilt Thou allure me of my Salvation; and (hall not I, having this Hope, purify tnyfeif even as Thou art pure ?" Who (adds he), underttandina there Things, will
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