A30198:196
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.
2. They differ as to the nature, in this; the Faith, and Hope, and Love that the Chosen receive, it is that which floweth from Election it self; He hath blessed us according as he hath chosen us, even with those Graces he set apart for us, when he in Eternity did appoint us to Life before the foundation of the World: Which Graces, because the Decree in it self is most absolute and infallible, they also, that they may completely answer the end, will do the work infallibly likewise, still through the management of Christ: I have prayed that thy Faith fail not. Ephes. 1.4, 5. Luk. 2.32.
2. They differ as to the nature, in this; the Faith, and Hope, and Love that the Chosen receive, it is that which floweth from Election it self; He hath blessed us according as he hath chosen us, even with those Graces he set apart for us, when he in Eternity did appoint us to Life before the foundation of the World: Which Graces, because the Decree in it self is most absolute and infallible, they also, that they may compleatly answer the end, will do the work infallibly likewise, still through the management of Christ: I have prayed that thy Faith fail not. Ephes. 1.4, 5. Luk. 2.32.
But secondly, As they differ in nature, they differ also in degree: for though it be true that the Reprobate is blessed with Grace, yet this is also as true, that the Elect are blessed with more Grace: It is the Privilege only of those that are Chosen, to be blessed with [ALL] spiritual ⟨p. 42⟩Blessings, and to have [ALL] the good pleasure of the goodness of God fulfilled in and upon them. Those who are blessed with [all] spiritual Blessings, must needs be blessed with Eternal Life; and those in whom the Lord, not only works all his good pleasure, but fulfilleth al the good pleasure of his goodness upon them, they must needs be preserved to his Heavenly Kingdom: But none of the Non-Elect have these things conferred upon them; therefore the Grace bestowed upon the one, doth differ both in nature and degree from the other.