CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Reasons. 2 2. This Election is merely of Gods goodness, because it's not for any foreseen ⟨p. 251⟩merits or faith; We had nothing at all to be more acceptable to God then others, for there are some who are enemies to the grace of God, and under the praise of nature and free-will hide their secret opposition to Gods grace; Whereas Bonaventure said well, If we must err it's safer to err in giving too much to grace, then too much to free-will; These corrupt Doctors they have no way to vent their poison but by saying and maintaining, that though God hath chosen some before others, yet it was because he did foresee who would by Faith and good works, with perseverance therein, continue faithful to God; But how extreme injurious is this to Gods Election, for by this means we shall choose God first and not God us? But what saith our Saviour, I have chosen you and not you me, 1 Joh. 4.10. Not that we first loved God but God us: Here you see that it's God who first beginneth with us, God first chose us, God first loved us, and then we loved him: Therefore let not the Godly heart endure such Doctrines that shall tell us, God saw a better use of thy free-will in thee then in others; And hence it is that thou art Elected to glory and not others, for then it would not be pre-destination but post-destination; And besides, then no man could be Elected before the last moment of his life; For who can tell whether he shall persevere or no? So that these Doctrines rob God of his honour, and his people of their comforts.

Reasons. 2 2. This Election is meerly of Gods goodnesse, because it's not for any foreseen ⟨p. 251⟩merits or faith; We had nothing at all to be more acceptable to God then others, for there are some who are enemies to the grace of God, and under the praise of nature and free-will hide their secret opposition to Gods grace; Whereas Bonaventure said well, If we must erre it's safer to erre in giving too much to grace, then too much to free-will; These corrupt Doctors they have no way to vent their poison but by saying and maintaining, that though God hath chosen some before others, yet it was because he did foresee who would by Faith and good works, with perseverance therein, continue faithful to God; But how extream injurious is this to Gods Election, for by this means we shall choose God first and not God us? But what saith our Saviour, I have chosen you and not you me,