5thly. I argue from the Nature of the Election of the Blessed Angels: All the Angels that stand were elected, and it was this that secures them and preserves them from falling: Those that fell were not elected; and as evident it is, not one of the Elect Angels are fallen, nor can fall. I marvel any thinking Christians should doubt of Election, as it results from the absolute Sovereignty of God's Grace, or good Pleasure of his Will, since God by Election took hold of some of the Angels, as well as some of the lost Sons and Daughters of Adam. Was God unjust, because he did not secure, by his unchangeable Decree, the standing of all the Angels, but left some of them, and only fixed upon so many as he in his own Wisdom thought good? They may as well charge this upon the Divine Majesty of God, as so to charge the Doctrine of particular Election of lost Sinners. Brethren, Though Christ is not a Redeemer of Angels, the Elect Angels needing none, yet he is the Head of Angels, and a Confirmer of them; He is the Head of Principalities and Powers: by him, and for him were all things created that are in Heaven, that are in Earth, visible and invisible; whether 1they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers; all things were created by him, and for him. Christ is God, and he is the preserver of the Elect Angels; they are committed to him, and under his Power, and he upholds them, though he never died for them; and shall we think he will not preserve his Elect Saints, or that their Election should not as absolutely secure them, for whom he as their blessed Lord and Head died, and to whom he is a Redeemer, as the Elect Angels to whom he is only a Confirmer? And ye are complete in him, who is the Head of Principalities and Powers: 2Ye are complete, fully complete; ye stand in him, in his Righteousness, complete, who is your Head, and shall be preserved in him, in whom you are elected to everlasting Life.
5thly. I argue from the Nature of the Election of the Blessed Angels: All the Angels that stand were elected, and it was this that secures them and preserves them from falling: Those that fell were not elected; and as evident it is, not one of the Elect Angels are fallen, nor can fall. I marvel any thinking Christians should doubt of Election, as it results from the absolute Soveraignty of God's Grace, or good Pleasure of his Will, since God by Election took hold of some of the Angels, as well as some of the lost Sons and Daughters of Adam. Was God unjust, because he did not secure, by his unchangeable Decree, the standing of all the Angels, but left some of them, and only fix'd upon so many as he in his own Wisdom thought good? They may as well charge this upon the Divine Majesty of God, as so to charge the Doctrine of particular Election of lost Sinners. Brethren, Though Christ is not a Redeemer of Angels, the Elect Angels needing none, yet he is the Head of Angels, and a Confirmer of them; He is the Head of Principalities and Powers: by him, and for him were all things created that are in Heaven, that are in Earth, visible and invisible; whether 1they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers; all things were created by him, and for him. Christ is God, and he is the preserver of the Elect Angels; they are committed to him, and under his Power, and he upholds them, though he never died for them; and shall we think he will not preserve his Elect Saints, or that their Election should not as absolutely secure them, for whom he as their blessed Lord and Head died, and to whom he is a Redeemer, as the Elect Angels to whom he is only a Confirmer? And ye are compleat in him, who is the Head of Principalities and Powers: 2Ye are compleat, fully compleat; ye stand in him, in his Righteousness, compleat, who is your Head, and shall be preserved in him, in whom you are elected to everlasting Life.
- 1Col. 1. 16.
- 2Col. 2. 10.
