An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 10. It is not a Sinner merely as a Sinner that God will damn: else all Sinners should be damned. But it is only a certain sort of Sinners, who prevalently and finally reject remedying means and mercy. Therefore it is only such that are the Objects of the particular Decree of Damnation.

§. 10. It is not a Sinner meerly as a Sinner that God will damn: else all Sinners should be damned. But it is only a certain sort of Sinners, who prevalently and finally reject remedying means and mercy. Therefore it is only such that are the Objects of the particular Decree of Damnation.

§. 11. In the first instant we are Men, in the second innocent, in the third guilty of Sin against the mere Law of Innocency; in the fourth we are brought under the Law of Grace upon the Promise of a Redeemer, and in the fifth we have the Common Mercies of that Law and Redemption given us, ⟨p. 43⟩as means to our performance of the Duty which that Law requireth and obtaining further Mercy. In none of these instants is a man the object of the Decree of Damnation: God damneth not any man merely as a Man, or as Innocent, or as a Sinner against the mere Law of Innocency, nor as redeemed and under the Law of Grace, nor as receiving the common means and mercies of that Covenant; Nay, nor as in the sixth Instant he is guilty of sinning against such Mercies; (for else all that do so should perish.) But only as in the seventh instant he is found a prevalent, final rejecter of the special Grace, and abuser of the common Mercies of that Covenant. And therefore the Decree is to be accordingly denominated; though God's essential will have no Cause, nor Dependence upon any Creature.

§. 11. In the first instant we are Men, in the second innocent, in the third guilty of Sin against the meer Law of Innocency; in the fourth we are brought under the Law of Grace upon the Promise of a Redeemer, and in the fifth we have the Common Mercies of that Law and Redemption given us, ⟨p. 43⟩