Defense of the Synod of Dort, Chapter 2 · Adversary 1
CHAP. II.
Of Election.
THeir first head of Predestination being ended, theyPag. 34. 35 come next to Election: which they consider, not as a part of the former with the Scriptures, and all good Authours; but as clean another thing. But what, may rather bee guessed, then gathered from their words.
And first, in laying down the supposed errours of their Adversaries concerning Election, they doe us and the truth, manifold injuries, as the Reader may evidently see, who pleaseth to compare with their calumnies, the Confession of the SynodeOf divine Predestination, Art. 7. thereabout, which is, Electio autem est immutabile Dei …rop…stium &c. Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, by which, before the foundation of the world were laid, out of all mankind, faln from its primatiue integrity into sin, and destruction, by i…s own fault, according to the most free good pleasure of his will, he out of his meer grace, hath chosen to salvation in Christ, a certain multitude of such as were neither better, nor more worthy then others, but lying in the common misery with others: vvhom (to wit Christ) he hath appointed from eternity for Mediator and Head of the elect: and accordingly to giuegive them to him to be saved▪ and to call and draw them effectually to fellowship with, him by his word and Spirit: or hath decreed to bestow upon them true faith to justifie, sanctifie, and at the length being powerfully kept in the fellowship of his Son, to glorifie them, for the declaration of his mercy▪ and praise of the riches of his glorious grace, as it is written: He hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame in his sight, with louelove; having predestinated us to the adoptien of children, by Iesus Christ to himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will: to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in that beloved one. Eph. 1. 4. 5. 6. And elsewhere; Whom hee hath predestinated, them also he hath called; and whom he hath called, them also he hath justified; and whom he hath justified, them also he hath glorified, Rom. 8. 30.
And by this joynt Confession, all equall Readers will judge of the faith of the Evangelicall Churches in this point, and not by the partiall and perverse relations of such Adversaries, as catch here and there a piece divided from the rest▪ and ometimes altering the words, alwaies perverting the meaning, therby cast stumbling stones in their own, and others way.
ADVERSARIES.
THese things premised, the particulars follow: the first whereof is a similitude brought, as they say by us to exemplifyPag. 34. … 36. our opinion by, of a phisition entring into the house of sick men and curing some, and that for nothing; who are bound to thank him; and not cureing others who hauehave no cause to complain of him, because he ows them nothing. This similitude they except against as that in which comparison is made between a phisition, who hath litle mercy in him in healing but a few, and …aving infinite numbers unhealed and God and Christ, who are most mercifull, saying Come unto me (all) that are laden, and I Mat. 11. 28will ease you. They therfore to correct this, will hauehave Christ compared to a Phisition truely mercifull, that going into the house of sick men, proclaims, that he will heal all that will take a medicine; which some taking are cured, others refusing, because it is bitter, as to Deny a mans self, Take up his crosse and follow Mat. 11. 24Christ, remain uncured.