A62053:194
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock.
London: printed for Geo. Swinnock, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 15: The reason of Christs severe Sentence, and a question resolved, whether the Righteous,…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. In that Christ tells them, That this Kingdom was prepared for them before the foundation of the World. Now what could they do before they had a Being to deserve this Inheritance. And the Apostle is positive, that all is to be referred to the Purpose of God, not to the piety of any men. For (saith he) the Children being not yet born, neither ⟨p. 99⟩having done any good or evil, that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand, (mark) not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, The Elder shall serve the younger, Rom. 9.11, 12. Eph. 1.4. Rev. 13.8.
If it be Objected, That God foresaw that they would improve their Free will unto the performance of such good Works, whereby they would deserve Heaven, and therefore chose them to Heaven, which the Papists stand much upon. I answer,
1. The fore-sight of their Faith and good Works cannot be the cause of their Election, because their Election is by God himself declared to be the cause of their Faith and good Works. If their Faith and Obedience be the effect of Election, they cannot be the cause of it; but so they are, Joh. 6.37. All that the Father hath given me shall come to me, i. e. believe on me. Again, As many as were ordained to eternal life believed,