Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

2. This is farther evident, because the Elect of God are but few. Eternal Life runs parallel with the line of Election, Rom. 8.29, 30. All, and only those shall be saved, that belong to the Election of Grace, 2 Thes. 2.13. But the Elect are but few in number. Indeed the Elect, considered in themselves, without comparing them with the Reprobate World, are many, (as before was hinted at) which may be one Reason why the Elect are expressed by ⟨p. 185⟩that term of the World, 1 John 2.2. Christ is the Propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole World. The Elect there are called, the whole World; the main Reason of that Expression may be, because the Elect do consist in a great part of Gentiles, who are called the World oft in Scripture, in opposition to the Jews, formerly the only people of God. Christ (saith the Apostle) is a Propitiation, not only for our sins, who are Jews, but for the sins of the Gentiles also, whom he calls the World. But another Reason of the Expression may be, because of the multitudinous number of the Elect absolutely considered; yet compare them with the non-Elect, and then they are but very few. The word Election doth import this; for to elect is to choose or pick a few out of a greater number, Joh. 15.19. Hence the Elect are called a Remnant, Rom. 11.15. and a little flock, Luke 12.32. The Greek is, where there are two Diminutives signifying, a little, little flock, that is a very little flock, The Israelitish Nation was a Type of the Elect of God; hence the Apostle calleth the Elect an Holy Nation, 1 Pet. 2.9. alluding to the Israelitish Nation, which typified the Elect. Thence also the Elect are called by that name of Israel;