338 file @ion is of the ,,put- pole of God and the Food pleafure of himwho calleth. orsptn. An ExpoJtion upon Chap. g,d bation,what need he fay, 0 the hepth ! or obje &;It there iriguity with God t and therefore it neceffarily tolloweth, that ele &ion is moft free and abfolute,with- ou.t any dependence upon them. Yet God did not éhufe usto the end with- out refpe& to the means, for his decree concerneth both means and the end. This is fuflìcientto flop the clamours of the Lútherans. T t mt. Do )e, think lo ofreprobatim, that it is free alfo without dependence on infidelity or ill works, fore feen ? S t t.. In that fome are not chofen to life, it is without all refpcít of their unbelief, as a moving cattle; but in that they are not only re!uted -but alto appointed to 'deftru &ion, this is not with reference to infidelity and fin, which as it is the proper caufe of dam- nation, fo it moved God to ordain to deftru &ion, brit not to refute, and raft out from falvation : for this was dç ne to Efau ere he had done evill:Secondiy, it is written,God hardened whom be wil:bi s wil then is the high and firft caufe why men are not faved. Thirdly, God as aîPotter may make veffels to ignominy for his wils fake. Fourthly, as we were corrupt in Adam, God could fee no- thing in any man,fave unbelief and fin. And therefore if thefe had moved him not to chufe, all had been reprobated, then Paul alfo fhould have Paid, that the purpofe might remain according to merit. Laftly,there is no unrightecuf- neffe to raft off and refufe for fin, all will confeffe this to be juft. T Ito. What lithe end or ftuall caufe of eletlion i S i L. The utmoft end, is the praife of his free grace, Ephef. t. 5. Hence ele& are called veffels of mercy, Rom. 9. 23. The neareft caufe is mans falvation, to attain eternall life ; and the finall caufe of reprobation, is the praife of his ju- ftice, and the defiru &ion of (inners. T i M. What be the eff'etls of Eletlion? S t L. Twó : Firft, grace in this life as redemptionby Chrift,vocation,faith, juftification, adoption, fan&ification, repentance, good works, perfeve- rance in grace. Secondly, unfpeakable and own purpofe and will, calling us to hinifelfot his meer purpofe and good pleafure, Ephef. i. 3. Job. 3. i8. Not works pail, for men are chofen from everlafting ; nor works prefent,for Ja- cob was loved and chosen ere he was born ; nor works fore -feen, for men were all corrupt in Adam : and not by works,whic:h in none are good by na- ture,but evil in all (contrary to Pelagi. alit ;) not forefeen faith, for it is given according to elation, whereof it is a fruit,and then we had chofen God, and not he us : yea, nor Chrift is not the impulsive or moving caufe: for the love of God moved him to give his Son. And finally, not our worthineffe or unworthineffe, for by naturall cor- ruption we are all alike unworthy, for Jacob and Efau, were equall in this. T i ms,. Give us fomereafont to prove that nothing in m n could move God to chufe him. S Firfi then ele &ion fhould not remain firm by him which calleth,but depend upon Rome good thing in our felves, be it faith or works, that the purpofe of God might remain firm by merits ; which is dire&ly againft the text here. Secondly, then we fhould have Tome good things in us which God giveth not. Thirdly, then grace fhould not be the high and foverain caufe of all good, if there were fome- thing in us before it,as a moving caufe. Fourthly , ele &ion is derived from grace,and not from ought in us, Rom. I I.6.Fiftly, all good things come after the grace of ele &ion,as effe &s and fruits ofit,Ephef. I.. Sixthly, ele &ion is re- ferred to the will and mercy of God,in this Chap.verf. i 6.Seventhly,God hath asnsuch right over men, as aPotter over hispots,which for hiswill fake,he maketh noble or bafe. Eighthly, Paul faw no other caufe ofele &ion but the will ofGod, and it is dangerous to af- fign that to be a caufe of ele &ion , which Paul pu rpofely entreating of this mattenfaw not ; this is to make our (elves wife, and him blockifh,nay,our (elves wifer then the holy Ghoft. Ninthly, if the caufe of ele &ion were wQrks,or faith,or unbeliefcaufe repro- Ele dios commeth from the will of the Aledor>not from any thing in the elected. Reprobn;. on riva. rive end pofitìvt. We ought to bt con. tent with this that Gndswill is the only court of eltoion, Pp im. II
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