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

¹2. This Truth although it be not wholly to be buried, yet it ought to be preached with much sobriety and circumspection, that so no just offence be given; It ought to be preached though there are those that would have this light under the bushel, For we see the Apostle Eph. 1. and in many other places doth greatly encourage and comfort the godly with that mercy of God in choosing of them before the Foundation of the world, Certainly if this be not known, we cannot set forth the riches of his glory and grace, as the Apostle implieth. The godly are hindered from much of their duty and much of their comfort, while they do not attend to this, yet because this is not milk but strong meat, we must regard the auditory and subject to whom it is preached; It's Nazianzens excellent Rule, [Greek or Hebrew], two or three qualifications as so many battlements he must build to this roof, lest men fall down, as 1. That notwithstanding this predestination, the Fathers giving of some to Christ, yet as every man is saved by the grace of God, so every man is damned from his own proper fault and demerit; So that we see the Scripture is clear in these three things, that God from all Eternity did choose some to eternal salvation, which cannot be frustrated, and that these he will in time effectually call, and change their hearts, nothing shall prohibit or hinder their conversion; and 3. Those who die and are damned, have cause to blame none but themselves, Thy destruction is of thy self, Death and hell is always made the Wages of sin: Now if you say, how can Gods Election and converting grace in time be reconciled with the use of means, this is clear, the Scripture asserts one and commands the other, and if we could not untie this knot, it were our weakness, not any disparagement to the Truth.

¹2. This Truth although it be not wholly to be buried, yet it ought to be preached with much sobriety and circumspection, that so no just offence be given; It ought to be preached though there are those that would have this light under the bushell, For we see the Apostle Eph. 1. and in many other places doth greatly encourage and comfort the godly with that mercy of God in choosing of them before the Foundation of the world, Certainly if this be not known, we cannot set forth the riches of his glory and grace, as the Apostle implieth. The godly are hindred from much of their duty and much of their comfort, while they do not attend to this, yet because this is not milk but strong meat, we must regard the auditory and subject to whom it is preached; It's Nazianzens excellent Rule, , two or three qualifications as so many battlements he must build to this roof, lest men fall down, as 1. That notwithstanding this predestination, the Fathers giving of some to Christ, yet as every man is saved by the grace of God, so every man is damned from his own proper fault and demerit; So that we see the Scripture is clear in these three things, that God from all Eternity did choose some to eternal salvation, which cannot be frustrated, and that these he will in time effectually call, and change their hearts, nothing shall prohibit or hinder their conversion; and 3. Those who die and are damned, have cause to blame none but themselves, Thy destruction is of thy self, Death and hell is alwaies made the Wages of sinne: Now if you say, how can Gods Election and converting grace in time be reconciled with the use of means, this is clear, the Scripture asserts one and commands the other, and if we could not untie this knot, it were our weaknesse, not any disparagement to the Truth.