The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. The estate of Grace.
Ephes. 1.4.
As he hath chosen vsus in him, before the foundation of the world.
HItherto of the second estate of man.
The third estate is the estate of Grace, which is three waies to bee considered:
1. First, in respect of the means of the foundation of it.
2. Secondly, in respect of the subiect of the possession of it, which is the Church.
3. Thirdly, in respect of the degrees of application, and manifestation, which are two: viz.
Iustification,
Sanctification.
The meanes of foundation is twofold.
1. Election in God:
2. Redemption in Christ.
Concerning Election, there are these euident Principles:
First, that there was a choice and Election made by God, Eph. 1.4. As he hath chosen vsus in him, before the foundation of the world.
Secondly, that this choice was before the foundation of the world, Ephes. 1.4. as immediately before, Rom. 9.11. For ere the children were borne, and when they had done neither good nor euill, that the purpose of God might remaine according to the Election, not by workes, but by him that called, &c.
That onelyonly some men are chosen, not all men. If all were taken, how could there be Election? &c, Matth. 20.16. Many are called, but few chosen Mat. 22.14.
That the cause of our Election is the onelyonly free grace of God, not our workes, Ephes. 1.5. Who hath predestinated vsus, to be adopted through Iesus Christ vntounto himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will, &c.
Rom. 9.15.18. For he saith vntounto Moses; I wil hauehave mercy on him, to whom I will shew mercy: and will hauehave compassion on him, on whom I will hauehave compassion.
Therfore he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will, he hardneth.
That Gods Election is vnchangeable, all the Elect shall bee saued, Rom. 8.30. Moreouer, whom he predestinated, them also he called; and whom he called, them also he iustified; and whom he iustified, them also he glorified, &c.
Isaiah 46.10. My Counsell shall stand, and I will doe whatsoeuer I will.
2. Tim. 2.19. But the foundation of God remaineth sure, and h…th this seale; The Lord knoweth who are his, &c.
Iohn 6.37. All that the Father giueth me, shall come to me; and him that commeth to mee, I cast not away.
Matth. 25.34. Then shall the King say to them on the right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father; inherit ye the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world.
The consideration of this doctrine of mans Election should teach vsus diuers things:
EueryEvery one of vsus should study this doctrine of our Election, and labour to make it sure, seeing here lieth the foundation of our grace: now one labor doth both, if we make our calling sure, wee make our Election sure, 2. Pet. 1. 10: and we may be sure our calling is right, if we adde vertue to our faith, if we can find the gifts of grace in our hearts: for this (I fay) we must study the doctrine of the signes; of which before.
If we find assurance of our Election, we should with all thankefulnes acknowledge Gods goodnesse to vsus, and the riches of his free grace, as the Apostle teacheth vsus, Ephes. 1.3. and 2. Thes. 2.13. But we ought to giuegive thanks alway to the Lord for you brethren, beloued of God, because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and the faith of truth: and so rest in this happines, as our chiefe desire to God should bee still to vouchsafe vsus this fauour to blesse vsus with the fauour of his chosen, Psalm. 106.4.5. Remember me, O Lord, with the fauour of thy people, visit me with thy saluation,
That I may see the felicitie of thy chosen, and reioyce in the ioy of thy people, and glory with thine inheritance.
And for euer stand and gase at the maruelous riches of Gods grace, that suffered vsus not to perish in the condemnation of the world.
Our Election should work vponupon vsus a wonderfull care of holinesse of life. Are we Elect? then how should wee confirme our selues in separation from the world? shall wee euer louelove the world and the things thereof, that heare, that God hath chosen vsus out of the world? Yea, why fashion wee our selues vntounto this world? Rom. 12.2. And fashion not duplicate page duplicate page your selues like vntounto this world, but be yee changed by the renewing of your minde, that yee may prooue, what is the good will of God, and acceptable, and perfect.
Deut. 14.2. For thou art an holy people vntounto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a pretious people vntounto himselfe aboue all the people, that are vponupon the earth.
God hath chosen vsus, and called vsus with a holy calling; and therefore we should as a people peculiar vntounto him, be zealous of all good workes, and shew forth the vertues of him that called vsus, and walke before him with all desire to please him, that hath thus Elected vsus; we should euer be ready to choose the Lord to bee our God, and to shew it by auouching him, and by walking in his waies, as these Scriptures plentifully shew.
Deut. 7.6.7. For thou art an holy people vntounto the Lord thy God, the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a pretious people vntounto himselfe, aboue al the people that are vponupon the earth.
The Lord doth not set his louelove vponupon you, nor chuse you, because yee were more in nūber then any people: for ye were the fewest of all people.
Deut. 26.16.17. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these ordinances & lawes, keepe them therefore, and doe them with all thine heart, and with all thy soule.
Thou hast set vp the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walke in his waies, and to keepe his ordinances, and his commandements, and his lawes, and to hearken to his voice.
Ephes. 1.4. As he hath chosen vsus in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in louelove.
1. Pet. 2.9.16. But ye are a chosen generation, a roial Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the vertues of him, that hath called you out of darknesse into his maruelous light.
As free, and not as hauing the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnes, but as the seruants of God.
Wee should giuegive our names to God, as they that will subscribe and deuote themselues only to the God of Iacob, Isaiah 44.1.5. Yet now heare, O Iacob, my seruant, and Israel, whom I hauehave chosen.
One shall say, I am the Lord; another shall be called by the name of Iacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand vntounto the Lord, and name himselfe by the name of Israel.
4. It should teach vsus to imitate God, and chuse the godly, as the persons wee would most obserue, admire, louelove, defend, and liue withall, Ioh. 15.17. These things command I you, that yee louelove one another. Iohn 17.26. And I hauehave declared vntounto them thy name, and will declare it, that the louelove wherewith thou hast loued me, may be in them, and I in them, &c. Yea we should not hauehave the glorious faith of Christ, in respect of persons to despise poore Christians, and onelyonly respect great men: for God hath chosen the weake things of this world to confound the mighty, and the poore hee hath chosen to be made heires of the Kingdome, and rich in faith, Iames 2.5. 1. Cor. 1.27. Yea, we should be content, as the Apostle saith, to suffer all things for the Elects sake, seeing they are so deare to God, 2. Tim. 2.10.
We may know our Election by two sorts of signes: First, the one respects God: Secondly, the other respects our selues. God declares his eternall choise by diuers markes of it, and man proues himself to be Elect of God by diuers tokens of it.
God shewes whom hee hath chosen from euerlasting three manner of waies:
1. By Election in time, when God separates a man from the world vntounto himselfe and his seruice: It is a manifest signe of Election: it shewes an eternall choise, when God singles a man out from the multitude of carnal and carelesse men, and inspires him with an vnchangeable resolution to deuote himselfe to God: it is an euident declaration of Gods predestination to glorie; God separates a man from the world, when he makes him a wearie of wicked and vnprofitable society; and takes away from him the taste in earthly things, so as the louelove of the world is not in him, and sanctifies him to his owne vse.
2. By the entertainement God giues them in his house, and especially by the efficacy of the word, and principally by the life of the promises: for God makes his word a word of power, and the holy Ghost falles vponupon their hearts, and they at sometimes feele a maruelous assurance in hearing, and so much comfort, that they can receiue the word, though it be with much affliction, and reioyce greatly in it; and the word transformes them also to a constant desire of practice, & imitation of the godlines of the Saints, 1. Thes. 1.4.5.6. Knowing, beloued brethren, that ye are Elect of God:
For our Gospell was not vntounto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance:
And ye became followers of vsus, and of the Lord, and receiued the word in much affliction, with ioy of the holy Ghost.
Psalm. 65.4. Blessed is he whom thou chusest, and causest to come to thee, he shall dwell in thy courts, and we shal be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen thy holy temple.
Rom. 9.8.11. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God: but the children of promise are counted for the seed.
3. By the sanctification of their afflictions, euen by the many experiences of Gods louelove in afflictions, as when God comforts their hearts in the midst of distresse, when they come to him making their mone; and when he turnes the crosse to a blessing to them, making them more humble by it, exercising their gifts, purging out their sinne, &c. and at the length giuing gracious deliuerances, causing all to worke together for the best, so as they themselues being Iudges, they can say it was good for me, that I was afflicted, Rom. 8.28.29. Also we know, that all things worke together for the best to them that louelove God, euen to them that are called of his purpose, &c.
Psalm. 119. in many places.
Now as God manifests his owne choie by these and such like signes; so the godly make sure their owne election by diuers markes of it, as generally by the sanctification of the Spirit, and beliefe of the truth, 2. Thes. 2.13. But we ought to giuegive thanks alway to God for you brethren, beloued of the Lord, because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit, and the faith of truth, so in particular.
1. By the vertues of Christ, which more or lesse in some measure shine in them, such as are humilitie, piety, knowledge, temperance, and contempt of the world patience in aduersitie, and other excellent sauing graces in them, 2. Pet. 1.5.6.7.10. 1. Pet. 2.9. By their fruits you may know them, Ioh. 15.16.
2. Secondly, by the affections of godlinesse, that are in them aboue al others, Ephes. 1.5. 1. Ioh. 3.14. They approue themselues to be elect by louelove; that is, by their great affections to God, to the word of God, and his ordinances, and by their brotherly kindnesse to the godly, and this louelove is the more euident marke, when it lasts euen in affliction, when no distresses makes vsus abate of our affection to God, or good things, or good men, Rom. 8.28.
3. By their Priesthood: Gods elect are a kingdome of Priests, they offer God daily sacrifice, they hauehave the spirit of prayer, & they daily mortifie (the beast) their sinnes vponupon the Altar of Christ crucified. So then by their praying and their mortification, Gods elect may bee euidently knowne, 1. Pet. 2.9.10.
4. Fourthly, they are vsually knowne by the opposition of the world: If they were of the world, the world would spare, and louelove his owne: but because they are chosen out of the world, therefore the world hates them, and pursues them with reproches, and indignations of all sorts, Ioh. 15.18.19. If the world hate you, you know that it hated mee before you.
If ye were of the world, the world would louelove his owne: but because ye are not of the world, but I hauehave chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
5. Lastly, this doctrine of Election should fill the hearts of all the godly with vnspeakable reioycing: Euerlasting ioy should be vponupon their heads, and sorrow and mourning should fly away: and the rather, if they consider the maruellous priuiledges of their Election, and the wonderfull happinesse, vntounto which they are chosen of God. For if by the former signes thou know thy selfe to be one of Gods Elect.
1. First, thou art sure of thy saluation, and the glory of heauen when thou diest, 2. Thessal. 2.13.14. Whereunto hee called you by the Gospell to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ.
2. The louelove of God to thee is vnchangeable, God will neuer cast off the people whom he hath chosen, Rom. 11.2. God hath not cast away his people whom hee knew before.
3. Thou art sure of gratious entertainment in Gods house, and sweete communion with God whilest thou liuest, Psal. 65.4. Blessed is he whom thou chusest, and causest to come to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts, and we shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine house, euen of thine holy Temple.
Esa. 65.13.14. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold my seruants shall eate, and ye shall bee hungry: behold my seruants shall drink, and ye shall bee thirsty: behold my seruants shall reioyce, and ye shall be ashamed.
Behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart, and ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howle for vexation of mind.
4. Thou shalt be sure of protection against all aduersaries, that dare, or can rise vp against thee, Esa. 41.10.11.12.13. Feare thou not, for I am with thee: bee not afraid, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, and helpe thee, and will sustaine thee with the right hand of my iustice.
Behold, all they that prouoke thee shall bee ashamed and confounded, they shall bee as nothing; and they that striue with thee shall perish.
5. Fifthly, all thy afflictions shall be sweetned vntounto thee, and work together for the best, Rom. 8.28. Also we know that all things worke together for the best, vntounto them that louelove God, euen to them that are called of his purpose.
6. In all thy suites to God, thou art sure of audience, and compassionate respect, howsoeuer thou bee neglected in the world, Ioh. 15.16. Yee hauehave not chosen mee, but I hauehave chosen you, and ordained you, that yee goe and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit remaine, that whatsoeuer ye shal aske of the Father in my name, hee may giuegive it you.
7. Christ will graciously communicate to thee the secrets of God, and the mysteries of the kingdome, vsing thee therein as a most deare and carefull friend, Ioh. 15.16, as before.
8. Lastly all complaints brought vntounto God against thee, are sure to be non-suted and cast out, so as nothing can bee laid to thy charge, nothing can condemne thee, in as much as Christ hath paid all thy debts, and sitteth at the right hand of God to make request for thee, Rom. 8.33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen: It is God that iustifieth, &c.