A30198:164
Reprobation asserted, or, The doctrine of eternal election & reprobation promiscuously handled in eleven…
Reprobation asserted, or, The doctrine of eternal election & reprobation promiscuously handled in eleven chapters wherein the most material objections made by the opposers of this doctrine are fully answered, several doubts removed, and sundry cases of conscience resolved / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for G.L., 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The First REASON.
And that first, To show that this Reprobation doth not in its self make any man absolutely uncapable of salvation: for if God had intended that by the Act of Reprobation, the persons therein concerned should also by that only Act have been made incapable of everlasting Life, then ⟨p. 35⟩this Act must also have tied up all the means from them, that tendeth to that end; or at least have debarred the Gospels being offered to them by Gods Command, for that intent; otherwise who is there but would have charged the Holy One as guilty of guile, and worthy of blame, for commanding that the Gospel of Grace and Salvation should be offered unto this or that man, whom yet he hath made uncapable to receive it, by his Act of Reprobation. Wherefore this very thing, to wit, that the Gospel is yet to be tendered to those eternally reprobated, showeth that it is not simply the Act of Gods Reprobation, but Sin, that incapacitateth the Creature of Life everlasting. Which Sin is no branch of this Reprobation, as is evident, because the Elect and Reprobate are both alike defiled therewith.
And that first, To shew that this Reprobation doth not in its self make any man absolutely uncapable of salvation: for if God had intended that by the Act of Reprobation, the persons therein concerned should also by that only Act have been made incapable of everlasting Life, then ⟨p. 35⟩this Act must also have tied up all the means from them, that tendeth to that end; or at least have debarred the Gospels being offered to them by Gods Command, for that intent; otherwise who is there but would have charged the Holy One as guilty of guile, and worthy of blame, for commanding that the Gospel of Grace and Salvation should be offered unto this or that man, whom yet he hath made uncapable to receive it, by his Act of Reprobation. Wherefore this very thing, to wit, that the Gospel is yet to be tender'd to those eternally reprobated, sheweth that it is not simply the Act of Gods Reprobation, but Sin, that incapacitateth the Creature of Life everlasting. Which Sin is no branch of this Reprobation, as is evident, because the Elect and Reprobate are both alike defiled therewith.