Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

The chief Argument to the contrary is fetched from the Parable of the Labourers, that coming in at several hours, received every one a penny. But this is much misunderstood: For here is not a word in it contrary to our Assertion. The Parable only saith that [Glory shall not be proportioned to the Time; but they that come later shall have never the less for that]. Which is nothing to our ⟨p. 46⟩question about the Degrees of Holiness. For many that are first in Time may be least and last in Holiness; and many that are last in Time, may in that little time come to be best and greatest in Holiness: and consequently in Glory. The Parable in Matth. 25. shows that God will give different degrees of glory according to the difference in improvement of our Talents: And the other Parable shows that he will not give out his Glory according to mens Time and standing in the Church seeing a weaker Christian may be of longer standing, and a stronger of a later coming in: And what show of discord is there between these? 2. And yet it's doubt ul in the Judgment of good Expositors, whether the Parable of the penny do speak of Heaven at all or not: or whether it speak not only of the Vocation of the Gentiles, and taking them into the Gospel Church in equality with the Believing Jews: though the Jews being Gods ancient people, had been longer in the Vineyard, and the Gentiles were called but as at the eleventh hour, yet God will make the Gentiles equal in the Grace of Vocation, because in this he hath not engaged himself, but may do with his own as he list: Which ever of these two is the thing intended in the Text, or possibly both, it is certain that this general is the sum of the Parable [That the first may be last, and the last first]: that is, That God will not give men the greatest reward that were first called: but he never said that he would not reward them most, that had done him the truest service and were highest in Holiness.

The chief Argument to the contrary is fetcht from the Parable of the Labourers, that coming in at several hours, received every one a penny. But this is much misunderstood: For here is not a word in it contrary to our Assertion. The Parable only saith that [Glory shall not be proportioned to the Time; but they that come later shall have never the less for that]. Which is nothing to our ⟨p. 46⟩