The Worlds Resurrection, Section 12 – Section 13
A remnant.
From the warrant and authority of this and the like places, it euidently appeareth, that the number of the Elect and of those that shalbe saued is (at all times) verie small and few in comparison of those that are reprobates and that perish; but especially in the time of a generall or long continued defection and Apostacie, Luke 18.8. Math. 7.14.Luk. 21.32. They are a little and a contemptible flocke, they are but, a remnant and reseruation, a tenth: Isaias, and Paul say, though the number of the children of Israell were as the sand of the sea, yet shall but a remnant bee saued Isay 10.21. et 22. Rom. 9.27. Narrow is the way that leadeth vntol…fe, and few there are that enter into it. Math. 7. ver. 13, and 14.
The cause of this small number of them is, not because Christ doth enuy saluation to any,Math 1…. v. 27 for he doth most kindly inuite and allure all to come vntounto him, but because the greatest number refuse the grace of saluation offered vntounto them, and will not by faith receiue and apply it.
1 Vse. It ouerthroweth the error of them that determine of a church by a perpe…uall multitude; whereas alwaies (though sometimes more and sometimes lesse) it is the least number (by many degrees) that treadeth in the right way, that followeth the truth and that entereth in by Christ.
2 Vse. We must comfort our selues against the paucity and fewenes of Gods children, that his can neuer fall a way, neither can they perish, these God alwaies hath a tender regard of, he doth take notice of them, & confirme and defend them against all crosse euents and after-claps. And as for other mens profanesse, vnbeliefe, Apostacy, it shal, nor can, neuer any whit preiudice their fauor and felicity; for eueryevery man shall beare his owne burden: and eueryevery man shalbe saued by his owne faith, or condemned for his owne vnbeliefe and impenitency.
V. 6. And if it bee of grace, then it is no more of workes, or els were grace no more grace, but if it be of workes, it is no more grace, or els were workes no more workes. And if it be of grace.
Sens….The election, calling and reseruation of a remnant, proceedeth onelyonly from Gods meere merciemercy and fauour, and not from any fore-seene faith, workes, or any outward priuiledge whatsoeuer, for els grace. i. not of grace, but wages giuen vntounto them, for the worth and dignitie of the worke: But if it …ee of workes then it is no more of grace. i. arising from the gratious louelove, pleasure and good will of God …sls. i. …f it be of grace, were worke no more worke. i. the merit of workes were no more merite but a free gift.
From the Apostle his practise, reasoning and concluding thus; from the contraries, the affirming of one of which doth necessarily deny and take away the other, this fundamentall point offereth it selfe to our view and consideration; That in the matter and mysterie of mans predestination,Doctr. iustification, and saluation, all disposition of mans will, all fore-seene faith and workes, all naturall and peculiar prerogatiues, are wholy debarred and shut out from beeing a…y impulsiue moouing and working cause of it, and that they proceed onelyonly and wholy from the euerlasting decree and good pleasure of God.
The Scriptures are most plaine and pregnant for the demonstration of this principle. Romanes 9.11. Ephesians 1.5. Iohn 15.16. Acts 13.48. Deut. 10.15.
Further reasons to backe and fortifie this assertion are these, first all disposion of mans will followeth predestination, (as doth likewise faith and workes) and therefore cannot possibly be any cause of it.
Gen. 6. ve. 5:Secondly, it is, naturally bent vntounto euill continually, and therefore cannot deserue ought at Gods hand, and as for faith and workes they are fruites and effects of election, therefore no cause of it: they are also vnperfect and therefore voide of merite: Thirdly they are the gifts and workes of Gods spirit in vsus, therefore not of our selues or from our owne worthines: and touching natural and speciall prerogatiues they (in the Iewes) proceeded from Gods couenant, and not from naturall generation, for Iewes and Gentiles are alike conceiued and borne in sinne. Fourthly the holy Patriarkes neuer rested, much lesse gloried in them.
More-ouer if Gods predestination were caused by foreseene faith and workes,Rom. 9. v. 20. then might an euident reason be giuen of it, which Paul vtterly denieth, and if workes could merit ought by their owne worthinesse, then grace should be destroyed, Gods glory empaired, and all the workes of our redemption obscured.Eph. 5. v. 5 Rom. 19. v 23 Lastly, God hath chosen vsus from euerlasting in himselfe, in Christ to the praise of his glorious grace, and hath made vsus vessels of mercy, of gold and siluer, &c. 2. Tim. 2. v. 20 Therefore in the worke of our predestination and redemption, Gods mercy and goodnesse is all in all, and hath not any respect to any thing that is without, and not partaker of his owne nature and essence.
It serueth to beate downe all pride and humane glory, and all confidence in any of our owne workes, because all the workes and glory of our saluation is from Gods grace and mercy onelyonly, and not from our selues, or any thing in vsus,Math. 11.26 Rom. 9.18.
2. Vse. And if it did hang vponupon our owne workes wee should bee vncertaine, because wee cannot satisfie GODS iustice. Secondly, in that GOD hath beene so good vntounto vsus,Psal. 50. v. 14. &▪ 23. wee must pay vntounto him the continuall impost of praise and thanksgiuing, and for a document and proose hereof, labour to frame and conforme our liues, wayes and workes, to the rule of his written word.
3. Vse. Lastly, wee must not doubt a…d remaine in suspence of his louelove and fauour, but take notice of it, secure and perswade our selues of it more and more. For God is full of merciemercy and goodnesse, who is a louing Father, a kinde and sweete Sauiour in Christ, and doth by the perfume and magneticall attraction of his mercies, prouoke and allure all men to worship, feare, louelove, inuocate and trust in him; And therefore wee cannot offer greater indignitie, nor doe more notable iniurie to so good a Maiestie, then to call his grace, goodnesse, or mercy into question.
Text. v. 7.What then, Israell hath not obtained that he sought. 2. Section.
i. What shall wee say and confesse, namely this, as the trueth is, that Israell, i. those carnall Israelites, who boasted themselues to be Israelites,Parapras. and gloried in the flesh, hath not obtained that he sought, i. that whereas they went about and endeauoured to attaine vntounto iustification and eternall life by their owne workes and merits, they hauehave not obtained it, v. 22.
But the election hath obtained it. i. the elect as farre forth as they are elect, hauehave obtained it, in, and by the force of election, and because they sought it onelyonly of grace through faith. But the rest. i. they are not elected but reiected, hauehave beene hardened. i. their heart hath in Gods iust iudgement, through their owne malice and contempt of Christ, beene so brawned and drawne with such an hard skin, that no doctrine of saluation and faith can bee wrought or rooted in them. According as it is written. i. by the Prophet Isayas, Isai. 6. v. 9.God hath giuen them. i. powred out vponupon them in his iudgements and indignation; the spirit of pricking (according to the translation of the septuagint, which Paul followed) i. all ill affection and bitternesse of spirit, against the light of truth, and sharpe and greeuous biting of minde or the torments of enuie and of a galling conscience, by reason of the preaching and successe of the Gospell, or (according to the Heb…w) the spirit of slumber, i. a dull and drowsie minde, and a deepe and dead sleepe, in so much that they are depriued of all iudgement and feeling, eyes that they should not see. i. such a minde, whereby they cannot vnderstand the true doctrine of saluation: and eares that they should not heare. i. such an heart whereby they cannot obey the Gospell, and thereby bee conuerted: vntounto this day, i. from Elias his time, vntounto the time of Pauls preaching, for so long continued their hardening, and euer since vntounto our present time.
Quest. Why should not Israel obtaine that he sought for, seeing that Christ is the doore, and Heauen gates stand open day and night?
Ans. First, because they would not acknowledge nor receiue Christ the true Messias and mediator. Secondly, they did not, nor would not goe the right way to saluation, but by their owne workes.