An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Neither do we call those Decrees of God Absolute and Irrespective, as if hereby all means were excluded from accomplishing the end we are elected to. When God elects a man to salvation, we say, in this Election is comprehended holiness, as the way to happiness. And therefore to impose such an Irrespective Decree upon the Calvinists, as if their meaning was, God had decreed to save some men, whether wicked, or not wicked: That it was all one, whether profane or godly. This is an horrible calumny. It is true, we say, it's Absolute, because God did not look to any thing in us, as a cause, or a merit, antecedently to his Election, yet we say, God elects to faith and holiness, as well as to salvation. Therefore we do not injure the merciful Nature of God; but they do his holy, just and wise Nature; yea they diminish his grace and mercy in our Election, and attributing too much to man. For whereas the Apostle saith Rom. 9. It is not of him that willeth or runneth, but of God that showeth mercy; They will make it to be as well of him that runneth, as of God that showeth mercy: And though in words they seem to give the priority to Gods grace and mercy, yet in reality they do not. If then that of Austin be true, Gratia non est gratia ullo modo, nisi sit gratuita omni modo, then all those are enemies to the grace and mercy of God, who take in the least measure from it.

Neither do we call those Decrees of God Absolute and Irrespective, as if hereby all means were excluded from accomplishing the end we are elected to. When God elects a man to salvation, we say, in this Election is comprehended holiness, as the way to happiness. And therefore to impose such an Irrespective Decree upon the Calvinists, as if their meaning was, God had decreed to save some men, whether wicked, or not wicked: That it was all one, whether prophane or godly. This is an horrible calumny. It is true, we say, it's Absolute, because God did not look to any thing in us, as a cause, or a merit, antecedently to his Election, yet we say, God elects to faith and holiness, as well as to salvation. Therefore we do not injure the mercifull Nature of God; but they do his holy, just and wise Nature; yea they diminish his grace and mercy in our Election, and attributing too much to man. For whereas the Apostle saith Rom. 9. It is not of him that willeth or runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy; They will make it to be as well of him that runneth, as of God that sheweth mercy: And though in words they seem to give the priority to Gods grace and mercy, yet in reality they do not. If then that of Austin be true, Gratia non est gratia ullo modo, nisi sit gratuita omni modo, then all those are enemies to the grace and mercy of God, who take in the least measure from it.