364 An Expofition upon Chap9, worldlings, which regard not fuch a bation in the vifible Church ? none re jelled which be in Noabs Arke, in the outward Church i S I L. We may not determine or give final fentence upon any that they are Reprobates, Rom. 14. 10, i t, 12. but leaving fecret things to God, who only knoweth who is his, and who be not, 2 Tim. 2.19. we do fo out 3 Doll, y p g of charity hope well of all, as yet we hold it fora certain truth,that of in the vifible Church be not ele &.That this is fo,appeareth firft by Scripture, Mat. zo. 16.Many called, few chofen. Alto i yob. 4 Doll. 2.29. Some went out from us, that were not ff us. Again, the Jewes being Gods p eople, i tis written of them, that they were not all Chrifs fheep, nor given to 5 Dal l. him of his Father, Joh. 50.29, nor were Jewes wi thin, Rom. 2. 29. nor children of the promife, Rom. 9.4. nor the chil- dren of Abraham, yoh.8. 39. Secondly, this truth may be proved by the fimi- litudes ofScripture,which fet forth the eftate of the viltble Church ; for it is likened unto a floore having wheat and chaffe, Mat. 3. 12. to a drag, having good fifh and bad, Mat. 13. 47. to a field oftares as well as of good corn, Mat. 13. 24. to a houfe wherein are vef- fels of earth, and of gold; to Noahs Arke, wherein were unclean beafls, as well as clean, Thirdly, it may be 'con- firmed by examples, as of Efau, Rom. 9. 12. and yudas, Yoh. 6. 70. who were both reprobates,and yet lived in the vi- fible Church ; fo of Cain, Ifhmael, Saul, Demos. Laftly, this appears by rcafon, becaufe were allele &,all muß be Caved, which is not true,Mat.7. r 3. Secondly, it opens a gap to fecurity.Thirdly,were all ele &,then fhould all have an effe&u- all calling to Chriß, Mat.' .Sc 3 zo. We are therefore thus to hold and beleeve, that the holy and invihble Church conhfts only of the ele& and none other : but in the vifible Church there be both Goats and Sheep, chofen and refufed ones. The infallible difin &ion whereof,pertains to God alone. T I M. But how is it then that Paul wri- tingto whole vifibleCburches,doth intitlethem holy,eleCr, and Saints? as I Cor. t. i Thef. 1. 4/5. SIL. blelling. Secondly,it warns fuch as live under the word preached,to nourifhan hope that they are called according to Gods purpote, and therefore to labour to get an inward fpiritual calling, joy - ned to their common calling. T I M. Have yeyet any other infirullions out of the ftrft part of this ? S t L. Yea : b Paulo uttin himfelf into the number [ Vi,] we learn, that his ownele &ion was certainly ¡known unto him, and fo it may be, and is to every child e of God that lives to years of difcretion. Secondly, that by the to ork of a true calling, the Apoftle was affored of his own falvation, there- fore not by fpecial revelation oily.' Thirdly, by his example he inftru &- eth us to hope well of the falvation on of others that be members of the vifi- ble Church. The reafons be, firft, be- caufe they have the Sacraments of Gods grace, whereby they are fet a part and fealed up to God to be his people. Se- condly, God inviteth them by his word,to faith and repentance. Thirdly, they make profeffìon of God to be their father,and Chrift their redeemer. Laftly,in their lives they do yeeld out- ward obedience to the word. Now cha- rity requireth us to think, that all this isdone in truth, and therefore to hope well of them, that they belong to Gods ele &ion ; as Paul doth here by fpeaking in the plural number of others as well as himfelf. T I M. But what may we think o f thofe Chriflians that are apparently wicked ? S t L. Even of fuch we are not to defpair, becaufe weknow not what to morrow will bring forth. Alto the parable of the vineyard, fhewes, that God cals at all hours, even at the laft and the example ofthe Theef, and Paul, being wicked men, and yet called in the end of their life,inffrufl us that we muff not cat} away hope ofany how wicked foever they be; none more wicked then fuch as have been called. Alto it is as eafie for the infinite power to convert a grievous as a leffe (inner. T t M. What then ? is there no repro- Keafons. Reafon.
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