1. That God's Decree is both of Ends, and Means. For all his Purposes are executed by fit Means. He that hath chosen us to Salvation, hath also chosen us to be Holy, and to believe the Truth. And without the Means, the End cannot be obtained. For without Faith and Holiness, no grown Person shall see God, or escape Condemnation. As to Faith it is clear. John 3.36. He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him. And Holiness is indispensably necessary. Heb. 12.14. Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. God had assured Paul, Acts 27.22. That there should be no loss of any Man's Life amongst them, except of the Ship; and afterward, Vers. 31. Paul telleth them, Except these abide in the Ship, ye cannot be saved. How could the assurance given to Paul from God, and Paul's caution to the Mariners stand together? Doth the Purpose of God depend upon the will and actions of Men? I answer• Not as a cause from whence it receiveth its force and strength, but as a means appointed also by God, to the execution of his Decree. For by the same Decree God appointeth the Event, what he will do, and the Means by which he will have it to be done; and the Lord revealing by his Word this Conjunction of End and Means, there is a necessity of Duty lying upon Man, to use these Means, and not to expect the End, without them, ⟨p. 270⟩God intended to save all in the Ship, and yet the Mariners must abide in the Ship. And therefore what God hath joined together, let no Man separate. If we separate these things, God doth not change his Counsel, but we subvert his Order, to our own destruction. The Scripture maketh it a grievous Sin, a tempting of God, to expect the End, without the use of Means. In vain is the Cavil then of those, who would impeach the Doctrine of God's free and unchangeable Will, concerning the salvation of the Elect, upon the pretence, that it taketh away the Duty of Man; and the necessity of our Faith, and Obedience. No, God executeth his Decree by the proper Means. And wretche• is their inference, who say, If I be elected, I shall be saved; no Salvation can be obtained but by the Sanctification of the Spirit, and the belief of the Truth. And worse is their confidence, who profess assurance of their Election, and yet walk after the Flesh: No, till a Man purge himself from Youthful Lusts, he is not a Vessel of Honour sanctified and set apart for God, 2 Tim. 2.21.
1. That God's Decree is both of Ends, and Means. For all his Purposes are executed by fit Means. He that hath chosen us to Salvation, hath also chosen us to be Holy, and to believe the Truth. And without the Means, the End cannot be obtained. For without Faith and Holiness, no grown Person shall see God, or escape Condemnation. As to Faith it is clear. John 3.36. He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him. And Holiness is indispensibly necessary. Heb. 12.14. Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. God had assured Paul, Acts 27.22. That there should be no loss of any Man's Life amongst them, except of the Ship; and afterward, Vers. 31. Paul telleth them, Except these abide in the Ship, ye cannot be saved. How could the assurance given to Paul from God, and Paul's caution to the Mariners stand together? Doth the Purpose of God depend upon the will and actions of Men? I answer• Not as a cause from whence it receiveth its force and strength, but as a means appointed also by God, to the execution of his Decree. For by the same Decree God appointeth the Event, what he will do, and the Means by which he will have it to be done; and the Lord revealing by his Word this Conjunction of End and Means, there is a necessity of Duty lying upon Man, to use these Means, and not to expect the End, without them, ⟨p. 270⟩God intended to save all in the Ship, and yet the Mariners must abide in the Ship. And therefore what God hath joyned together, let no Man separate. If we separate these things, God doth not change his Counsel, but we subvert his Order, to our own destruction. The Scripture maketh it a grievous Sin, a tempting of God, to expect the End, without the use of Means. In vain is the Cavil then of those, who would impeach the Doctrine of God's free and unchangeable Will, concerning the salvation of the Ele•t, upon the pretence, that it taketh away the Duty of Man; and the necessity of our Faith, and Obedience. No, God executeth his Decree by the proper Means. And wretche• is their inference, who say, If I be elected, I shall be saved; no Salvation can be obtained but by the Sanctification of the Spirit, and the belief of the Truth. And worse is their confidence, who profess assurance of their Election, and yet walk after the Flesh: No, till a Man purge himself from Youthful Lusts, he is not a Vessel of Honour sanctified and set apart for God,
