The Worlds Resurrection, Section 84
Might hauehave mercy on all.
Quest. Will God saue all (none excepted) or can it bee soundly gathered hence, that hee will saue the greatest part of men in the world?
Ans. No, for the greatest number is reiected; Christs flocke is but a little flocke, a remnant, an handfull, a tenth, a gleaning in comparison of them that perish, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many goe that way, but narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few finde it. But the meaning of the Apostle here is, that God will hauehave mercy in some, of all rankes, states, orders and conditions, and that hee will hauehave it notified that all that are saued, are saued by his mercy onelyonly.
Quest. If God will not shew speciall mercy on all men, but doth reserue it onelyonly for the elect; why doth hee by preaching offer it to all men in many Countries and Kingdomes, and other particular Citties and places, and hereby allure and inuite them to faith and repentance?
Ans. The more to conuince them, and to leaue them without all excuse in the daye of the Lord, because they doe not, nor will not admitte or receiue it being offered. Iohn. 9, 39. and 41. Rom. 2. verse 6. Iohn. 15. verse 24.Rom. 9.
Secondly, all cannot receiue it, because they are not vessels of mercy.
As yee hauehave obteyned mercy,
So now they — may obtaine mercy.
From this sampling,Doctr. and paralleling of both places and members together this doctrine naturally ariseth. In the order of saluation the Iewes and Gentiles are like and equall, and by nature children of wrath, and enemies to God, but they by grace and mercy onelyonly, and not any merit of their owne, are called, conuerted and saued. Ephe. 2. v. 3. 1 Pet. 2. v. 25.
For first, God in sauing and conuerting all, is one and the same, without change and alteration, and the ministery of his law for conuincement and direction, and the Gospell for faith and conuersion is alwayes one, and the same. Finally the spirit that is promised to both is one and the same, the doctrine of the old and new Testament one and the same, and so the Church one and the same. Secondly, Gods workes are semblable, and one serue for the illustration and demonstration of the other.
Vse. Let vsus not despaire of the Iewes conuersion, or of the calling and saluation of any, but hope well of it, pray for it,1. Cor. 13.7. and labour to further it, seeing that without Gods mercy and grace none is better then others, and that Gods mercy which hath beene vouchsafed vntounto vsus, may extend it selfe in good time vntounto others, yea vntounto those that wee hauehave least hope of. Titus 3. v. 3.4. and that are last called and furthest off, Luke 13. v. 30.
V. 31. So now they — by your mercy may obtaine mercy.
Heere wee see a notable effect and end of good zeale in godly men, namely, that by the example and president thereof, others bee stirred vppe to emulation and to follow them. For here we see that the calling of the Gentiles and their zeale and holy example are so far from preiudicing or hindering the Iewes saluation, that God shall take an occasion hence, to prouoke them to follow the Gentiles, and to imbrace the Gospell, so that they shal not perish, but at length be cōuerted & saued. How much zeale and good examples of godlinesse, kindnesse, liberalitie, courage and constancie, may prouoke and profit others, as by many other examples, so by these following it is most manifest and demonstrable in Iosua and the Elders of his time, who by their authoritie and example reteyned the people all their daies in Gods sincere seruice. Iosua, 24.31.
In the woman of Samaria, who by her example and rereport induced and prouoked many of the Samaritans to heare and beleeue in Christ.Ioh. 4. V. 29.30. Acts 18.8. In Crisp… the chiefe Ruler of the Synagogue, who by his faith, and by the sweet perfume of his familie, moued many of the Corinthians to heare, beleeue and receiue the Gospell.
2. Corinth. 8.Lastly, the Macedonians (albeit otherwise in affliction and extreame pouertie) by their free and willing contribution and collection for the reliefe of other distressed Saints, prouoked the Corinthians to doe the like.
1 Vse Hereby lette vsus learne and be admonished what should be the scope of our doctrine life, and zeale, namely that it may bee a motiue and prouokement vntounto others to resemble vsus in good things, that are pleasing and acceptable in Gods sight. Let vsus then breake-off and surcease from enuie, spites and all contempt, for hereby we rather kill them, then conuert them, and harden them then helpe them forward.
2. Vse. Here is condemned the ill zeale and example of Papists, Turkes, Anabaptists, Schismatikes and the like, who hereby seduce and scandallize others, and if they do not destroy their faith, yet they much impaire and weaken it: woe to these that giuegive and raise great offenses; better it were for them (if they repent not) that they had neuer beene borne.Luk 17. v, 1.2.