Obj. 1. The King putteth forth a general Proclamation to all Thieves: 1Oh (saith one) but he may mean others but not me; Why? he means Thieves in general, he accepteth none: why shouldst thou say not me, Christ belongeth to sinners as sinners, he receiveth sinners as sinners, 2yea he ascended on high to give gifts to the rebellious, therefore there's no qualification required in men, that believeth in Christ, no nor doth unbelief debar a man from Christ, it only excludeth him from the experimental knowledge that Christ is his. Ans. 1. Its true, the Gospel excepteth no man from Pardon, and all that heareth the Gospel are to be wearied and loaden, and to receive Christ by faith, as if God intended to save them: But the Promises of the Gospel are not simply Universal; as if God intended and purposed, that all and every one should be actually redeemed & saved in Christ, as Arminians teach, and so God accepteth in his own hidden Decree, not a few, though he reveal not in the Gospel who they are, yet he revealeth in the Gospel the general, that Many are called, but few are chosen: 3And I grant there's no ground for any one man not to believe upon this ground, because some are reprobated from Eternity, and it may be I am one of those, for the contrary is as sure Logic; many ⟨p. 156⟩are chosen to life Eternal, & it may be that I am one of those. 2. It is most untrue, that Christ belongeth to sinners as sinners, for then Christ should belong to all unbelievers, how obstinate so ever, even to those that sin against the Holy Ghost. Nay, Christ belongeth only to sinners elected to glory, as elected to glory in regard of Gods gracious purpose, and he belongeth only to believing sinners as believing, in regard of actual Union with Christ, Eph. 3.17. Gal. 2.20. 3. Its false, that sinners as sinners doth receive Christ, for so Judas and all sinners should receive Christ: Now the Scripture showeth that Believers only receive him, Joh. 1.12. Gal. 2.20. Eph. 3.17. 4. Its false that sinners as sinners believe in Christ. This way of Libertines is a broad way for Sorcerers, Thieves, Murderers, Parricides, Idolaters, remaining in that damnable state to believe; whereas sinners as such, sinners thus and thus qualified, are to believe; that is humbled, wearied, and self-condemned sinners only are to believe, and come to Christ. Its true, all sinners are obliged to believe;
Obj. 1. The King putteth forth a generall Proclamation to all Theeves: 1Oh (saith one) but he may mean others but not me; Why? he means Theeves in generall, he accepteth none: why shouldst thou say not me, Christ belongeth to sinners as sinners, he receiveth sinners as sinners, 2yea he ascended on high to give gifts to the rebellious, therefore there's no qualification required in men, that believeth in Christ, no nor doth unbelief debar a man from Christ, it only excludeth him from the experimentall knowledge that Christ is his. Ans. 1. Its true, the Gospel excepteth no man from Pardon, and all that heareth the Gospel are to be wearied and loaden, and to receive Christ by faith, as if God intended to save them: But the Promises of the Gospel are not simply Universall; as if God intended and purposed, that all and every one should be actually redeemed & saved in Christ, as Arminians teach, and so God accepteth in his own hidden Decree, not a few, though he reveal not in the Gospel who they are, yet he revealeth in the Gospel the generall, that Many are called, but few are chosen: 3And I grant there's no ground for any one man not to believe upon this ground, because some are reprobated from Eternity, and it may be I am one of those, for the contrary is as sure Logick; many ⟨p. 156⟩are chosen to life Eternal, & it may be that I am one of those. 2. It is most untrue, that Christ belongeth to siners as siners, for then Christ shuld belong to all unbelievers, how obstinate so ever, even to those that sin against the Holy Ghost. Nay, Christ belongeth only to sinners elected to glory, as elected to glory in regard of Gods gracious purpose, and he belongeth only to believing sinners as believing, in regard of actuall Union with Christ, Eph. 3.17. Gal. 2.20. 3. Its false, that sinners as sinners doth receive Christ, for so Judas and all sinners should receive Christ: Now the Scripture sheweth that Believers only receive him, Joh. 1.12. Gal. 2.20. Eph. 3.17. 4. Its false that sinners as sinners believe in Christ. This way of Libertines is a broad way for Sorcerers, Theeves, Murtherers, Paricides, Idolaters, remaining in that damnable state to believe; whereas sinners as such, sinners thus and thus qualified, are to believe; that is humbled, wearied, and self-condemned sinners only are to believe, and come to Christ. Its true, all sinners are obliged to believe;
- 1Crisp. Ser. 7. pag. 208 209, 210. seq.
- 2Sinners as sinners, are not fit to receive Christ.
- 3How Christ belongeth to sinners, under the notion of sinners.
