A30241:1179
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1And first of Election which is the first step of Gods love to us, this we shall find to be only of Gods gift, and that is demonstrated thus.
1And first of Election which is the first step of Gods love to us, this we shall finde to be only of Gods gift, and that is demonstrated thus.
- 1I. Election is free.
Reasons. 1 1. From the Original of it; It's only the mere pleasure of his will: If it be asked why hath God mercy on this or that man so as to make him happy to all Eternity, the answer is, So is the will of God, Eph. 1. Rom. 9. You see there all is resolved into this, The counsel of his will: and Mat. 11. Even so Father, for so it pleaseth thee: Hence Rom. 9. It's not of him that willeth or runneth, but of him that showeth mercy; Those therefore that find the certain effects of this ancient and unchangeable love of God, with what praise and glory are they to break out unto God, if they had not only the tongues but the hearts of men and Angels, they were not sufficient for this work to glorify God, for what is a drop to the Ocean, a spark to the fire, a stone to the Mountain, a candle to the Sun: Hence it is for this use that it's necessary, as the Apostle doth often to inform the Children of God concerning their Election, because that is the first round in that Ladder of Gods mercies descending upon us: Oh then be thou astonished at this goodness of God, it lay in his will to refuse thee and take another; There was nothing but his mere Sovereignty and absolute good counsel hath made thee a fit vessel for glory, and left others as vessels of wrath by their own voluntary Apostasy in Adam; Oh say in thy Meditation, O Lord I am silenced, I can go no further, the waters overflow me.