Vert 7, 8. the Epifile to the Romans. 435 Reafon. Vfe. fcribed in the Word; for many pray and S I L. That all the dea (hall cer- never obtain, becaufe they pray amiffe ; and many flrive to entet and never enter becaufe they thrive not aright; fo many Meek and never finde, becaufe they Peek God not for himfelf but themfelves,and for their own benefits, and not for love of his goodneffe,that they may pride his grace, and fct for forth his glory. T am. What other Dollrine from this feventh verfe? S L. That in the bofome of the Church 9f God,there have alwayes lived two kinds of people, fome ele& and cal - led,fome reprobate and hardned. This divifion began in Adams family, in Cain and Abel, whence did fpring two Cities (as AuguJtine obferveth) one of God, a- nother of the world; it was continued in the family of Abraham, in Ifaac, and Ifmael, the one of them being the childe ofthe flefh, and the other the child of the promife. Alfa in the houle of Ifaac, in Efau and Jacob : and Chrifl faith, That at his coming two (hall be in the field , the one taken, and the other re- fufed, Luke 17. 34. And lafily, Paul writeth, That of the fame lumpe of mankinde , there are made fome veffels of mercy to honour, others veffels of wrath to de(tru&ion. The high and foveraigne caufe hereof is the will of God, {hewing mercy to whom he will, and hardning whom he will, Romans 9. 17. The fubordinate caufe and fecònd reafon is, that there are two beginnings of mankinde, the feed of the woman Chrift Jefus, the head of the Ele &;and the Serpent Satan, the Prince of this world, which begetteth chil- dren of differing and contrary difpofi- tions and qualities, I John 3. 8, 9. atad John 15.19., Ti M. What ufe are £hriffian$ to mal;eof this truth ? S I L. It reproves both fuch as beleeve all men are ele& and thali be Paved, and fuch as live fo fecurely, as if none thould perilh, and warnes us not to fumble though we fee many wicked to be is the world. T r m. What is the next DoElrine from this verfe? tainly be faved, for they attaine what they leek for,(to wi )Chrift and his fal- vation : as it is not pollible for the Re- probate to be faved, fo it is impufiible that any of the ele& fhould perifh. The reafons hereof be; firfl, the elt&ion of God,which is unchangeable. Secondly, the prom ifes of God which are unde- ceiveable. Thirdly, the prayers ofChrift which can never be denyed. Laffly, the power of Cbrii}, to whófe keep- ing they are committed,which is unrea- fiflable. Ta M. What ufe of this point? S I L. Fir(' they are from hence con- futed, which fay, the -ele& may utterly and for ever fall from Gods favour and faith in Chrif', Secondly, here is great comfort to fuch as have the true marks of *their own ele&ion, to affure unto them their (landing in grace Tinto falvation, in defpite of Satan, fin, themfelves, and thewhole world. For they are by grace ofeleftion kept from being hardned to deflrn&ion. DIAiocuE VI. Ver f. 7, 8. The re ft tore hardned,as is is writen,God bath given them the fpirit of (umber, eyes tk at they (bould not fee, &c. TI MOT n E US. What is the fume of this Text ? S I L.That the refs of the Jews, whom God hadnot elated, were hard - ned by the jufl judgement of God, as he proveth by a teftimony and oracle of holy Scripture: T I'ot. What be the parts of this Text? S r L. Two : Firft , a propofition ; The cell were hardnëd ; namely, fo .ma- ny as not being freely chufen of God, did not obtain Chrift and his righteonf. neffe unto falvation, all the ref( betides thefe were blinded. Secondly, a proofe out of holy Scripture to confirme the hardning of the Jewes : it proveth two things, not onely that many Jewes were hardned, becaufe the Scripture had P p foretold Reafons. Summe. Part t:
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