Sixthly: they should long since have been ashamed §6of the argument they bring for universal ⟨p. 120⟩promises.1 For themselves are faulty in that which they object unto us. You answer the argument, and yet use it. If this universal promise did pertain to all men, what a confusion of impiety & absurdity would follow? But if it must be restrained unto those that believe (as indeed it must) we also maintain this universal truth and comfort, having learned out of Gods word, that all and they alone which believe be heirs of eternal life, and so received into favour by God, that they shall for ever all continue then, and not one perish, according to those scriptures: No man shall take away my she•pe from me: Of that which my father hath given me I will not loose &c: 2That, if it were possible, the very elect should be seduced. Whom he hath chosen, 3them he hath called, justified, & glorified. This is the conclusion of Christian faith and consolation,4 and this article is placed in the end of the creed, that we might believe eternal life, and with the Apostle sing• that triumphant song, who shall separate the elect, &c. They on the other side do openly and grievously wrong the majesty of God, whilst they imagine his love to be mutable as the love of man: as for the goldy, them they deprive of their comfort, they weaken, disgrace, and vilify the force, use, and comfort of universal promises, whilst they feign, that some truly believing may finally fall aware & perish: that they which are new in favour with God were not so from all eternity, nor shall be everlastingly: which being most absurd, it followeth necessarily, ⟨p. 121⟩that because they will not be certain of Gods future and eternal grace, therefore they can not be certain of the grace present. The scripture teacheth, that as many as believe are to be sa•ed: they oppose the contradictory, that s•me which believe are not to be saved. Where is now your comfort, by which you may include your self in the universal fall? These are those secret sleights of the• devil, which must be observed & avoided.
Sixtlie: they should long since haue beene ashamed §6of the argument they bring for vniversal ⟨p. 120⟩promises.1 For themselues are faultie in that which they obiect vnto vs. You answeare the argument, and yet vse it. Yf this vniuersall promise did partaine to all men, what a confusion of impietie & absurditie would follow? But if it must be restained vnto those that beleeue (as indeed it must) we also maintaine this vniuersall truth and comforte, hauing learned out of Gods worde, that all and they alone which beleeue be heires of eternall life, and so receiued into fauour by God, that they shall for euer all continew thenn, and not one perish, according to those scriptures: No man shall take awaie my she•pe from me: Of that which my father hath giuen me I wil not loose &c: 2That, if it were possible, the verie elect should be seduced. Whom he hath chosen, 3them he hath called, iustified, & glorified. This is the conclusion of Christian faith and consolation,4 and this article is placed in the end of the creed, that we might beleeue eternall life, and with the Apostle sing• that triumphant song, who shall seperate the elect, &c. They on the other side do openly and greeuousely wrong the maiestie of God, whilest they imagine his loue to be mutable as the loue of man: as for the goldy, them they depriue of their comfort, they weaken, disgrace, and vilifie the force, vse, and comfort of vniuerfall promises, whilest they feine, that some truely beleeuing may finally fall aware & perish: that they which are new in fauor with God were not so from all eternitie, nor shall be euerlastingly: which being most absurd, it followeth necessarily, ⟨p. 121⟩that because they will not be certaine of Gods future and eternall grace, therefore they can not be certaine of the grace present. The scripture teacheth, that as many as beleeue are to be sa•ed: they oppose the contradictory, that s•me which beleeue are not to be saued. Where is now your comfort, by which you may include your selfe in the vniuersall fall? These are those secret sleights of the devill, which must be obserued & avoyded.
- 1The promises are universal unto those that believe.The promises are v•iuersall vnto those that beleiue.
- 2Joh 10. 28. &. 6. 39.Ioh 10. 28. &. 6. 39.
- 3Ma•. 24.
- 424 Rom. 8. 30.
