3. 'Tis utterly impossible that Faith ⟨p. 60⟩and Perseverance should be the causes or antecedents to Election, when these are the fruits and effects thereof. If we search the Scripture for the Well-head of these, we shall find it to be in the Decree of Election. Therefore when the Apostle blesses God for the work of Faith in the Thessalonians, he elevates his praises as high as Election it self, knowing brethren beloved your Election of God, 1 Thess. 1. 4. And in the very same strain of praise, blessing God for blessing the Ephesians with all spiritual blessings in Christ, (amongst which Faith cannot but be a prime blessing) he sets forth the eternal Rule of dispensing them, he hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, [Greek or Hebrew], according as he hath chosen us, Eph. 1. 3, and 4. Where it is plain, that those whom God blesseth with Faith and Perseverance, he chooseth unto Faith and Perseverance, because he blesses according as he chooses. The Remonstrants strangely interpret these words, he hath chosen us in Christ, that is, say they, being in him in the divine Prescience. But this Interpretation cannot stand; the Apostle saith not, he hath chosen us [Greek or Hebrew], or [Greek or Hebrew], but he hath chosen us [Greek or Hebrew], in him, that is, ⟨p. 61⟩in Christ; now where in all the Scripture do the words [in Christ] import our being in Christ in the divine Prescience? The words [in Christ] in such Scriptures as relate to Justification or Adoption, do import our being in Christ by actual Faith; but in such Scriptures as relate to Election, they do import that all the Grace and Glory, prepared in Election, is conferred in and through Christ: this appears in that famous place, 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began: here the words [in Christ] relating to Election, do not import our being in Christ; for the Text saith, that he called us according to his Grace given us in Christ, and Calling goes before Faith or being in Christ, and is the immediate cause or fountain thereof: but they import that Vocation and Salvation, with all the blessings thereof, are communicated unto us in and through Christ, and that the eternal Decree or Design was so to communicate them.
3. 'Tis utterly impossible that Faith ⟨p. 60⟩and Perseverance should be the causes or antecedents to Election, when these are the fruits and effects thereof. If we search the Scripture for the Well-head of these, we shall find it to be in the Decree of Election. Therefore when the Apostle blesses God for the work of Faith in the Thessalonians, he elevates his praises as high as Election it self, knowing brethren beloved your Election of God, 1 Thess. 1. 4. And in the very same strain of praise, blessing God for blessing the Ephesians with all spiritual blessings in Christ, (amongst which Faith cannot but be a prime blessing) he sets forth the eternal Rule of dispensing them, he hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, according as he hath chosen us, Eph. 1. 3, and 4. Where it is plain, that those whom God blesseth with Faith and Perseverance, he chuseth unto Faith and Perseverance, because he blesses according as he chuses. The Remonstrants strangely interpret these words, he hath chosen us in Christ, that is, say they, being in him in the divine Prescience. But this Interpretation cannot stand; the Apostle saith not, he hath chosen us 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, but he hath chosen us 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in him, that is, ⟨p. 61⟩in Christ; now where in all the Scripture do the words [in Christ] import our being in Christ in the divine Prescience? The words [in Christ] in such Scriptures as relate to Justification or Adoption, do import our being in Christ by actual Faith; but in such Scriptures as relate to Election, they do import that all the Grace and Glory, prepared in Election, is conferred in and through Christ: this appears in that famous place, 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began: here the words [in Christ] relating to Election, do not import our being in Christ; for the Text saith, that he called us according to his Grace given us in Christ, and Calling goes before Faith or being in Christ, and is the immediate cause or fountain thereof: but they import that Vocation and Salvation, with all the blessings thereof, are communicated unto us in and through Christ, and that the eternal Decree or Design was so to communicate them.
