A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. Concerning the second Objection, whether it doth not infringe our comfort, and discourage men from looking after their Salvation? If I am elected, I shall be saved, if I am not Elected, I shall be damned: thus many men plead (say they) and how will you stir up the negligent, and encourage the distressed, supposing that doctrine which you have laid down.

2. Concerning the second Objection, whether it doth not infringe our comfort, and discourage men from looking after their Salvation? If I am elected, I shall be saved, if I am not Elected, I shall be damned: thus many men plead (say they) and how will you stir up the negligent, and incourage the distressed, supposing that doctrine which you have layd down.

I Answer, this scruple is but affected, not offered, and therefore should be chidden, and not Answered: a questioning Gods secret will when we know his revealed: Gods secret will hath relation to his own actions, his revealed will to ours; we must not look to Gods Will in the depths of his Counsel, but his precepts: not what God will do himself, but what he will have us do; God saith, Believe in Christ and thou shalt be saved, that's our rule, a Physician offereth cure to all that will come; 'twere a madness to dispute away the opportunity, and say, I do not know whether he intendeth it to me: if men were ready to perish in the deep waters, and a Boat should be offered to carry to land as many as would come in it, to be making scruples when we are ready to be drowned, whether this help be intended to us yea, or no, were a very fond thing: in such cases we would not wrangle ⟨p. 186⟩but thankful, take hold of what is offered. 2. This Doctrine can be no ground of despair to any, because reprobation is a sealed book▪ no man for the present can know his reprobation; nor is to believe himself to be a Reprobate; but is called upon to use the means that he may be saved: he is no Reprobate that falleth into sin, but he that persevereth in sin unto the end; therefore it is no good conclusion, I am a sinner, therefore I am a Reprobate, 'tis midnight, therefore 'twill never be day: this is a Book sealed with seven seals, none but the Lamb can open it. 3. The opposite opinion, is encumbered with more difficulties and scruples: what comfort can a man have in Universal Redemption? a man cannot have solid comfort in that which is common to good and bad, to those that shall be damned, and those which shall be saved, all comfort ariseth from a practical syllogism, now make the practical syllogism, according to the principles of Universal grace, Christ dyed for all men, I am a man, therefore for me, where humanity, or being a man, is made the ground of claim and interest; and then unless with Puccius and Huberus, we hold universal salvation, as well as universal redemption, the argument will yield no comfort? how can I according to that opinion, comfort my self in the death of Christ, when men maybe damned that have no interest in it. 4.