Q. 2 Secondly, Whether may a Christian in this life be assured of his eternal Election; for as much as Election was done in the decree of God, before ever he had a being, or the world was? Therefore seeing we are not privy to Gods decree and counsel, how can it be said, that we may know and be assured of our Eternal Election? Indeed the Papists, they beat down this doctrine. And hence it is that in the Council of Trent there was this Canon made, that if any man should say he was bound to believe, that he was of the number of them that God hath predestinate, or elected to life, let him be an accursed man. They did endeavour to beat down assurance, and held, that all that a man could have, must be only a conjectural assurance, or some kind of hopes of salvation, and no other. Now that you might not err in this point, see what the Scripture speaks in this case. That though Election be an act of God from eternity, yet a believer may firmly and fully know his own election: And this I shall make good by several places of Scripture. Read Luke 10.20. Rejoice not, saith Christ to his Disciples, that you have power to cast out ⟨p. 202⟩devils, that they are subject to you, but rejoice rather in this, that your names are written in the book of life. That is, rejoice not, that you can work miracles; that wicked men can do, that are not elected; but rather rejoice, that your names are written in the book of life; that is, that in Gods decree you are elected to salvation. Now, how could they rejoice, unless they knew this? So, 1 Thes. 1.4. Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God. The Apostle takes it for granted, that believers did know they were elected. So Ephes. 1.3, 4, 5. The Lord hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world was, having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Many more Scriptures I might urge, but in the mouth of two or three witnesses, it is enough to confirm every truth.
Q. 2 Secondly, Whether may a Christian in this life be assured of his eternall Election; for as much as Election was done in the decree of God, before ever he had a being, or the world was? Therefore seeing we are not privy to Gods decree and counsell, how can it be said, that we may know and be assured of our Eternall Election? Indeed the Papists, they beat down this doctrine. And hence it is that in the Councell of Trent there was this Canon made, that if any man should say he was bound to believe, that he was of the number of them that God hath predestinate, or elected to life, let him be an accursed man. They did endeavour to beat down assurance, and held, that all that a man could have, must be onely a conjecturall assurance, or some kinde of hopes of salvation, and no other. Now that you might not erre in this point, see what the Scripture speaks in this case. That though Election be an act of God from eternity, yet a believer may firmly and fully know his own election: And this I shall make good by severall places of Scripture. Read Luke 10.20. Rejoyce not, saith Christ to his Disciples, that you have power to cast out ⟨p. 202⟩divels, that they are subject to you, but rejoyce rather in this, that your names are written in the book of life. That is, rejoyce not, that you can work miracles; that wicked men can doe, that are not elected; but rather rejoyce, that your names are written in the book of life; that is, that in Gods decree you are elected to salvation. Now, how could they rejoyce, unlesse they knew this? So, 1 Thes. 1.4. Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God. The Apostle takes it for granted, that believers did know they were elected. So Ephes. 1.3, 4, 5. The Lord hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him, before the soundation of the world was, having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Many more Scriptures I might urge, but in the mouth of two or three witnesses, it is enough to confirme every truth.
