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

1. That this future Faith is mentioned as an effect and fruit of being given to Christ, as also of Christs Prayer and Death for them, So that he doth not only pray for them which shall believe, but also that they may believe, and in this sense the Orthodox interpret it.

1. That this future Faith is mentioned as an effect and fruit of being given to Christ, as also of Christs Prayer and Death for them, So that he doth not only pray for them which shall beleeve, but also that they may beleeve, and in this sense the Orthodox interpret it.

Or 2. It may be interpreted as if Faith were here supposed as a condition on our part, antecedaneous both to Gods Election, and also Christs Intercession and death, So that the sense should be, These were given to Christ, and Christ he prayed and died for them, because it was foreseen by God, that such would believe upon the means of grace offered, and others not; In this sense Meisner a Lutheran urgeth it, and thus all Arminians and others must take it, who hold that we were Elected from a foresight of our Faith and perseverance therein.

Or 2. It may be interpreted as if Faith were here supposed as a condition on our part, antecedaneous both to Gods Election, and also Christs Intercession and death, So that the sence should be, These were given to Christ, and Christ he praied and died for them, because it was foreseen by God, that such would beleeve upon the means of grace offered, and others not; In this sence Meisner a Lutheran urgeth it, and thus all Arminians and others must take it, who hold that we were Elected from a foresight of our Faith and perseverance therein.

But that this cannot be the meaning of our Saviour is evident, because the ground of Christs Prayer even in respect of those who shall believe is, because They were given to him by the Father, as appeareth vers. 9. I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me; Seeing therefore the Foundation of Christs Intercession is because they were given by Election to Christ as a people to be saved through him, it's plain, that Christ prayed not because he foresaw that they would believe, but because they were Elected: It's true, the Arminians do in a most violent and strange manner wrest that phrase of being given to Christ; They understand it not of an action of the Father, but of the disposition of the Subject; Hence it is they speak so much of a probum ingenium, or a docilis indoles, as if it were some towardly disposition in man, that fitted him for grace, but thus it would be rather who have given themselves to Christ rather then that the Father had given them, and indeed this is such a thorn in their sides, that they cannot pull out, if by such who shall believe were to be understood, those that upon Gods foresight were known to improve the means of Faith better then others, then all the difference from others, and the utmost resolution of salvation, yea and Election would be unto a mans self, when yet the Apostle doth expressly stop such mouths, What hast thou that thou hast not received? and who made thee to differ from another,