The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

This holdeth in natural causes, which necessarily produce their effects, but moral causes, work according to the agreement and liberty of the Persons that are moved thereby. As for Example, God the Father, is moved through the death of Christ to pardon the sins of such persons, for whom he dieth. This agreement is to be made good, in that time they shall pitch upon in their transaction. Now it pleased the Father, that the benefits and fruits of Christs death should be applied unto the believer, and not till he did believe, though this faith be at the same time also a gift of God through Christ. It is good therefore, when we either call Election absolute, or say, Christ died absolutely, to consider that Absolute may be taken as opposite to a Pre-requisite Condition, which is to be fulfilled by us, so that upon this, Election, and the fruits of Christs death shall depend; or else Absolute, may be taken, as it opposeth any Means or Order which God hath appointed, as the way to obtain the end; and in this later sense, it would be a grand absurdity to say, Election is absolute, or Christ died absolutely, for if this were so, the profane Argument about Election, would have truth in it. If I be elected, let me live never so wickedly, I shall be saved. And the Arminian Argument, That every one were bound to believe that Christ died for him, though wicked and abiding so, would not well be avoided.

This holdeth in natural causes, which necessarily produce their effects, but moral causes, work according to the agreement and liberty of the Persons that are moved thereby. As for Example, God the Father, is moved through the death of Christ to pardon the sins of such persons, for whom he dieth. This agreement is to be made good, in that time they shall pitch upon in their transaction. Now it pleased the Father, that the benefits and fruits of Christs death should be applied unto the believer, and not till he did believe, though this faith be at the same time also a gift of God through Christ. It is good therefore, when we either call Election absolute, or say, Christ died absolutely, to consider that Absolute may be taken as opposite to a Pre-requisite Condition, which is to be fulfilled by us, so that upon this, Election, and the fruits of Christs death shall depend; or else Absolute, may be taken, as it opposeth any Means or Order which God hath appointed, as the way to obtain the end; and in this later sense, it would be a grand absurdity to say, Election is absolute, or Christ died absolutely, for if this were so, the prophane Argument about Election, would have truth in it. If I be elected, let me live never so wickedly, I shall be saved. And the Arminian Argument, That every one were bound to believe that Christ died for him, though wicked and abiding so, would not well be avoided.