A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 1.10…

Thirdly, you that have been scandalous in your lives before calling, for your comfort know, that God in his eternal counsel doth commonly make the profane and wicked and the worst of men, the objects of his election, rather then civill honest men, rather then men that are of an honest and civill, and moral conversation here in this world. And the Lord doth it upon this ground, the more to magnify the freeness, and the riches of his own grace in electing men to life. For should God only choose moderate and civill honest men in the world, men would be apt to think it is that mans morality, and that mans civility, that was the motive which provoked God to elect them; and therefore God, to overthrow these thoughts, he lets election run rather unto men that have been notoriously gross and sinful in their lives, then other men; Manasseh a notorious bloody man, yet falls within the compass of Gods election, when many a ⟨p. 242⟩civill man is left out. Mary, a common harlot, yet chosen, when many a modest chaste woman was cast into hell. Matth. 21.31, 32. There Christ urgeth a parable of two men. One that said he would go and follow Christ, but did not; and the other said he would not go, but did; now which of these twain did the will of Christ? and they said, the first. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that publicans and harlots shall go into heaven before you. But you will say, was this common? this was only one single time: therefore mark the next words, For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you believed not; but the publicans and harlots believed in Christ. John came preaching, and you would not believe, you Pharisees, strict moral men, that did not fly out into such scandals as other men did, you would not believe, saith Christ, but Publicans, men that were most addicted to extortion, and unconscionable gain, they embraced Jesus Christ, when moral men would not. This therefore should be another comfort for you, that many times election runs rather to the profaner sort of men, then to men that are civill and righteous dealing men here in the world; and this God doth to magnify the riches of his own grace.

Thirdly, you that have been scandalous in your lives before calling, for your comfort know, that God in his eternall counsell doth commonly make the profane and wicked and the worst of men, the objects of his election, rather then civill honest men, rather then men that are of an honest and civill, and morall conversation here in this world. And the Lord doth it upon this ground, the more to magnifie the freenesse, and the riches of his own grace in electing men to life. For should God onely chuse moderate and civill honest men in the world, men would be apt to think it is that mans morality, and that mans civility, that was the motive which provoked God to elect them; and therefore God, to overthrow these thoughts, he lets election runne rather unto men that have been notoriously grosse and sinfull in their lives, then other men; Manasseh a notorious bloudy man, yet falls within the compasse of Gods election, when many a