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

Secondly, that the fewest sort of men and women that God ⟨p. 254⟩hath made are the the objects of his election. God in his own counsel hath elected to life and salvation the fewest sort of men and women in the world. And this is a very dreadful point, Many are called, but few are chosen. Matth. 22.14. Rom. 11.5. A remnant, according to the election of grace. And here in pursuing this head, I shall lay down two things under this proposition: First, that there are but few rich men chosen by God to life and salvation. Secondly, there are but few civill honest men chosen by God to life and salvation. There are but few rich men that fall within the compass of Gods purpose to save, 1 Cor. 1.26. Not many mighty, (he doth not say, not any; but not many mighty) not many Noble, not many great ones of the world are chosen. You read Matth. 19.24. That it is as easy for a Camel to go thorough a Needles eye, as for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. As easy for a Camel. It is not meant in this sense, as some expound it. That there was a gate in Jerusalem, called the Needles eye; a little and low gate, which their Camels being laden could not go through, and therefore they must unload the burden, and the Camel stoop before they could enter. Some think Christs speech had relation to that Beza saith, that instead of [Greek or Hebrew] a Camel, they read [Greek or Hebrew] a Cable; which, if untwisted may be put through the eye of a Needle, but the knot is not untied, but cut by this exposition. But the words were a proverbial speech among the Jews, who had this proverb amongst them, that when any one spake things either unlikely or unprobable, they would say, This can be as easily done, as a Camel can go through a Needles eye. And Christ, alluding to this Proverb, saith, that rich men, that dote upon their riches, and cleave to their wealth, and rather part with heaven, and Christ, and soul and all, then part with their riches, Christ makes it an unpossible thing for such rich men to come into heaven. As I once told what Buchanan said, lying upon his death-bed in a message to King James, I am going to that place, where few Kings come. And, beloved, the speech is true, for not many wise, not many mighty, not many Noble hath the Lord chosen. Secondly, few civill honest men do fall