4. Election is a sure infallible thing, such as never ⟨p. 252⟩fails: Hence it is called [Greek or Hebrew], a Predestination, or praedefinition, such as never misses the mark. Thus the Apostle, Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; whom he called, them he also justified; whom he justified, them he also glorified, Rom. 8.30. The words (whom and them) fasten every link to its precedent, and appropriate all throughout the whole chain to the same persons: every person, who is predestinated and called within this Text, must be justified and glorified, or the golden chain of Grace is broken. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Tim. 2.19. Election is a foundation, not an human one, but a foundation of God, laid in the Divine Will, standing in eternity, sure in immutability, sealed up with infallible knowledge and unvariable love towards the elect: Nothing is more momentous than this, That God have a Church, Christ a Body, and the Spirit a Temple. This is the highest of designs, the aim of the Sacred Trinity, the very thing upon which God hath set his eyes and his heart more than upon all the world besides; yet if Election be not sure and infallible, that high and precious design may be frustrate and of no effect: And what a blot would this be to Providence? And how unbecoming would it be to the Holy one, who sits at the Stern and rules all? If so accurate a thing as Providence could, which it cannot without disparaging it self, stumble or falter in the things of nature; yet surely it cannot do so in its master-piece, in the high and precious concerns of Grace: Election therefore must be sure and infallible.1 That distinction of the Socinians (that there is a double Election in God, an infirm ⟨p. 253⟩one of those, who assent to the Gospel, and a firm one of those, who live according to the Gospel) is frivolous and blasphemous; it is in effect to say, that there is infirmity in God, that Gods choice is weak or rather none at all, and mans choice supplies and strengthens it. The great design of a Church could not be secured by such a choice as mans, nor by any thing less than Gods; his Election is a sure foundation, his special call according to purpose, and his gifts without repentance. Hence it appears, That according to the opinion of the Remonstrants, there is indeed no such thing as Election.
4. Election is a sure infallible thing, such as never ⟨p. 252⟩fails: Hence it is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a Praedestination, or praedefinition, such as never misses the mark. Thus the Apostle, Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; whom he called, them he also justified; whom he justified, them he also glorified, Rom. 8.30. The words (whom and them) fasten every link to its precedent, and appropriate all throughout the whole chain to the same persons: every person, who is predestinated and called within this Text, must be justified and glorified, or the golden chain of Grace is broken. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Tim. 2.19. Election is a foundation, not an human one, but a foundation of God, laid in the Divine Will, standing in eternity, sure in immutability, sealed up with infallible knowledg and unvariable love towards the elect: Nothing is more momentous than this, That God have a Church, Christ a Body, and the Spirit a Temple. This is the highest of designs, the aim of the Sacred Trinity, the very thing upon which God hath set his eyes and his heart more than upon all the world besides; yet if Election be not sure and infallible, that high and precious design may be frustrate and of no effect: And what a blot would this be to Providence? And how unbecoming would it be to the Holy one, who sits at the Stern and rules all? If so accurate a thing as Providence could, which it cannot without disparaging it self, stumble or faulter in the things of nature; yet surely it cannot do so in its master-piece, in the high and precious concerns of Grace: Election therefore must be sure and infallible.1 That distinction of the Socinians (that there is a double Election in God, an infirm ⟨p. 253⟩one of those, who assent to the Gospel, and a firm one of those, who live according to the Gospel) is frivolous and blasphemous; it is in effect to say, that there is infirmity in God, that Gods choice is weak or rather none at all, and mans choice supplies and strengthens it. The great design of a Church could not be secured by such a choice as mans, nor by any thing less than Gods; his Election is a sure foundation, his special call according to purpose, and his gifts without repentance. Hence it appears, That according to the opinion of the Remonstrants, there is indeed no such thing as Election.
- 1Volk l. 5. c. 17. de praedest.
