The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 8 – Part 9
Election of Gods mercy not mans merit.
MErit is a good work, binding him that doth receive it to repay the like: This no man is able to doe towards God, therefore there is no Merit in man, for whosoever will merit, must fulfill the whole Law, but none can keepe the whole Law: For if we say we have no sinne we deceive our selves, and he1 Ioh. 1. 4. that sinnes against one Commandement is guilty of the whole Law; Then what can he merit that is guilty of the breach of the whole Law? The sufferings of this life, saith S. Paul, are not worthy of the glory to come, if not afflictions,Rom. 8. 18. nothing else that can be done of Man. Eternall life is the gift of God: if then the greater benefit come of grace, the inferiour must proceed from the same fountaine,Rom. 6. 28. I meane such as belong to this life, all which are common, to all that live in the world. The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth is by Jesus Christ, then no merit in our▪selves.
Object. The Lord promiseth Rewards to those that obey him?Iam. 2. 5.
Answ. The Lord rewards his owne worke begunne in us, out of his mercy not of our merit: He promiseth rewards to move us to serve him, as he threatneth judgements to those that disobey him.Deut. 28.
Abraham Being by Faith only: not by Workes justified,Rom. 4. 2.
The Apostles Who before they gave to any: had freely received,Mat. 10. 8.
David Confessing That he had but of Gods owne given him and that his well doing extended not to him.1 Chro. 29. Psal. 16. …. Dan 9. 18.
The Israelits Merited not Who Were of Gods love, not for their number chosenDeut 7 7. Had their Enemies slayne for sinne not for theirDeut. 9. 4. Well-doing: … were pittyed of God not for theirEzech. 36. 22. sake but for his owne.
Iob: Merited not Saying If I justifie my selfe, my owne Mouth shall co… demneIob 9. 20. 30. 31. me: If I make my selfe perfect, a wicked one will God judge me to beChap. 15 15.
Iaacob Affirming himselfe not worthy of the least of Gods merciesGen 32. 10.
Mary That was Gods favour towards her, seeing her lowlinesse,Luk. 1. 30.
Paul Being carnall sold under sin, and called by Grace.Rom. 7. 14, 19. Gal. 1. 15.
Man Cannot Merit He is By Grace: not by the Law justified,Rom. 11. 6. Gal. 5. 4.
Man Cannot Merit He is By Gods Mercy: not by Workes saved,2 T…m. 1. 9. Rom. 3. 9.
Man Cannot Merit He is By Nature borne the Child of Wrath,Tit. 3. 5. Eth. 2. 3.
Man Cannot Merit He is Sinnefull: and the wages of sinne is death,2 Ioh. 1. 10. R…m. 5. 2….
Man Cannot Merit He is An unprofitable servant in all his life.Luk. 17, 10.
He cannot Receive any thing except it be from God.Ioh. 3. 27.
He cannot Answer one of a Thousand before God.Iob … ….
He cannot Bring forth any fruit acceptable to God.Mat. 7. 16.
He cannot Justifie himselfe in the sight of God.Psal. 143. 2.
He cannot Do any thing without Christ to pleaseIoh. 15. 5.
Man Cannot Merit His Bodily exercise profiteth little towards God.1 Tim. 4 8.
Man Cannot Merit His Righteousnes Is as a filthy clout before God.Isa. 44. 6.
Man Cannot Merit His Righteousnes Is not pleasing with God.Iob 22. 3.
Man Cannot Merit His Righteousnes Doth not extend it selfe to God.Psal 16. 2.
Man Cannot Merit His Wickednesse hurteth himselfe not God.Job 35 7. Jer. 79.
Man Cannot Merit His Sinne destroyes himselfe, his helpe is of God.Hos. 13 9.
God Puts away for his owne sake mans iniquity,Isa. 43. 25.
God Giveth Eternall life through Christ with victory,2 Pet. 1 3.Iob. 6 40. Rom. 6. 23. 1 Cor 15. 5. 7.
God Prepared Heaven before the worlds Creation,Ioh. 10. 28.Mat. 25 34.
God Gives Heaven at his pleasure by his ordination,Acts 17. 25.Luk. 12. 32.
God Gives every good and perfect gift without limitationGal. 5. 4.Iam. 1. 17. Rom. 9. 16.
Who Hath first given to God, and it shall be recompensed againe?Rom. 11. 35.
Who In him, and through him, and to him are all things.
Behold God found no stedfastnesse in his Saints, the Heavens are notIob 15. 14. cleane in his sight: How much more is man more abhominable,Rom. 7. 8. that drinketh iniquity like water, having as Paul confessedIob 25 4. of himselfe, no good thing dwelling in him.
Christs Blood cleanseth us from sin, he gave himselfe for our sin, then forgivenesse1 Ioh. 1. 7. of sin is obtayned not by doing, but by receiving, notGal. 1. 4. as Agents but as Patients: for that no man commeth unto theIoh. 14. 6. Father but by him, who is the way, the truth and the life.
The Man That reckons to God his merits doth reckon but Gods mercies▪
The Man Quae bona mea sunt dona tua: My goods are only Gods gifts.Aug. Conf. l. 6.
Ʋse. Workes * Iam. 2. 10. Then cannot keepe us but grace, *Merit expells Mer…y, M…r…y expells Merit.Nothing can be ascribed to humane strength or merit: No man can say his heart is cleane,Prov. 20. 9. he is pure from sinne (saith Solomon.)
Let Papists then boast of perfection, we cry for pardon, they for Merits, we for Mercies, they for justifying workes of their owne, we for our Saviour Christs alone.
Luk. 17. 5. 9. & 18. 4. Ioh. 1. 6, 29, &c. Chap. 3. 3. Chap. 5. 39.Reade: Chap. 6. 40 Chap. 14. 6. Acts 13. 48. Chap 15. 16. Rom. 3. 19, 24. Chap. 9. 32. Chap. 11. 23. 1 Cor. 1 27. Chap. 3. 5. Chap. 4. 4. Phil. 1. 29. Col. 1. 12, &c. Gal. 3. 4. Chap. 2. 1…. Chap. 3. 11. 2 Thes. 3. 11. Chap. 2. 16 Heb. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 10. 2 Pet. 1. 2. 1 Ioh. 2. 12. Chap. 3. 1. Chap 4. 10, 19. Rev. 3. 18. Chap. 21. 6. Wisd 8. 21.
Object. If there be no freewill in man to doe good, why doth GodEzech. 18. 31. exhort men by his Prophets to returne unto him?Isa. 1. 16.
Answ. God exhorts men by his Prophets to returne unto him, commandingIam. 4. 8, 9. the things (as Saint Augustine saith) that we cannot doe, that we might know, what we ought to aske of him, which indeed may appeare even by this, that the Lord doth every where by his Prophets will us to turne unto him, to repent of our sinnes, &c. But Iere…iah answereth, Convert me O Lord, Ier. 31. 18.and I shall be converted: When thou didst correct me I did repent,Ioel. 2. &c. Whereupon S. Augustine handling in another place this Doctrine of Freewill (saith) O Lord give me that whichAug. Confess. thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt,l. 10. c. 31.
Worke with me what thou of me dost request,
Then will I dare the most, and vow the best.
Adam Had no Free-Will or Power To turne to God, slying from him, till God called him,Gen. 3.
Abraham Had no Free-Will or Power To depart from among the Idolaters till God willed him,Gen 12.
Abimelech Had no Free-Will or Power To keepe himselfe from Sarah: but the Lord kept him,Gen. 20. 6.
The Apostles Had no Free-Will or Power To answer for themselves: till the Answer was given,Mat. 10. 19.
Balaam Had no Free-Will or Power To fore-tell what should come untill his eyes were opened.…. 24. 16. … …, …
The …mavits Had no Free-Will or Power To know Christ talking wth them untill their Eyes were opened.Luk. 24. 16, 3…. …
Elishas Man Had no Free-Will or Power To see the Chariots of fire untill his Eyes were opened.King …. 18.
Hagar Had no Free-Will or Power To espy the well of water untill her Eyes were opened.Gen. 21. 19.
Lidia Had no Free-Will or Power To heare Paul preaching untill her Eyes were opened.Act. 16 4.
The Blinde Had no Free-Will or Power To see the Sunne shining untill their Eyes were opened.Ioh. 9. 7.
The Cripple Had no Free-Will or Power To walke and leape till he was by the Name of ChristAct. 9. 18. healed,Acts 3.
Daniell Had no Free-Will or Power To speake to the Lord untill he was with a hand touchedDan. 10. 10.
…saiah Had no Free-Will or Power To do Gods command untill he was with a coal… touchedIsa. 6. 6.
Sauls Subjects Had no Free-Will or Power To follow Saul till their hearts were by God touched1 Sam. 10 26,
Elijas Had no Free-Will or Power To see the Cake on the Coales till he was by an Angell1 King. 19. awaked.
Elisha Had no Free-Will or Power To follow Elias: till he had cast his mantle on1 King. 19.
Ezechiell Had no Free-Will or Power To heare What was spoken till the spirit entred in him.Eze. 2. 1.
Ezechiell Had no Free-Will or Power To heare Or to speak till God opened the mouth of him.Eze. 33. 22.
Ieremiah Had no Free-Will or Power To speake Till God put his word into the mouth of him.Io. 1. 9. & …0. 23. & 3. …
Ieremiah Had no Free-Will or Power To speake Or to convert till God converted him.Lam. 5. 21.
Ionah Had no Free-Will or Power To come out of the Fishes belly till God spake to him.Iona 2. 10.
Ioseph Had no Free-Will or Power To deny his Mistresse, but that Gods feare preserved him.Gen. 39. 9.
Moses Had no Free-Will or Power To goe to Pharaoh till God said he would be with him.Exod. 4. 11.
The Men Had no Free-Will or Power To come to the wedding, till the King sent for them,Mat. 22. 3.
Pilate Had no Free-Will or Power To doe to Christ: other then that was given him,Ioh. 19. 11.
Peter Had no Free-Will or Power To be constant in beleeving till Christ prayed for him,Luk. 22. 32.
Peter Had no Free-Will or Power To repent his denying Christ till Christ looked on him,Mat. 28.
Peter Had no Free-Will or Power To understand the things of God but of Men,Mat. 16. 23.
Paul Had no Free-Will or Power To become a Christian, till a voice called from Heaven,Acts 9.
Paul Had no Free-Will or Power To be an Apostle but by Gods grace bestowed on him,1 Cor. 15. 1…. …al. 1 15.
Paul Had no Free-Will or Power To doe any thing of himselfe, but by Christ strengthening him,Phil. 4. 13.
The Spouse Had no Free-Will or Power To follow the Bridegroome untill he was drawne,Cant. 1. 3.
Zerubbabel Had no Free-Will or Power To reedifie the Temple, till God stirred up the spirit of him,Hag. 1. 14.
Zache… Had no Free-Will or Power To follow Christ, till Christ willed him to come downe,Luk 19. 5.
He is Like the Beasts that perish, seeking his owne notPsalm. 49. 20. Christs,Phil. 2 21.
Man Hath no Freewill He is Sanctified by faith only (not by works) in Christ,Acts 26. 18.
Man Hath no Freewill He is Not sufficient of himselfe to thinke any good,2 Cor 3. 5.
Man Hath no Freewill He is Dead in sinnes and trespasses till he be quickned,Eph 2. 1.
Man Hath no Freewill He cannot Beare fruites except he be in Christ as the Branch in theIoh. 15. 4.
Man Hath no Freewill He cannot Vine: Come to Christ except the Father draw him:Ioh 6. 44.
Man Hath no Freewill He cannot Get substance till God give power unto him; Or walke.Deut. 8. 18.
Man Hath no Freewill He cannot in Gods waies, till he bow his heart unto him: Know1 King. 8 58.Gal, 2. 20. Phil 4. 15.
Man Hath no Freewill He cannot either love or hatred of all that is before him.Eccles. 9. 1.
Man Hath no Freewill The imagination of his heart are evill defiling him,Gen. 6. 5.
Man Hath no Freewill His flesh lusteth against the Spirit, being e…mity to God,Mat. 15. 18.
Man Hath no Freewill There is not one just man to be sound that s…eth God.Gal. 5. 17. Ro. 8
Man Hath no Freewill All Jewes and Gentiles are entangled in the body of sinne,Rom 3. …0 …6.
Man Hath no Freewill All are gone astray, and are to iniquity given: TheirEccles. 7. 20.
Man Hath no Freewill Throat is like an open Sepul…her devou…ing: TheirPsal 14. 1.
Man Hath no Freewill Mouthes speake leasing: Their Tongues slattering.Psal. 5…. 2.
Man Hath no Freewill Their Lippes are annoynted with Adders poyson: TheirPsal. 5. 6.
Man Hath no Freewill Talking is in bitternesse and cursing: Their feete swiftRom. 3.
Man Hath no Freewill to murthering: No good thing is in the flesh of them:Rom. 7. 18.
Man Hath no Freewill Their body is a body of sin.Rom. 7. 24.
Man Hath no Freewill His Helpe and strength are in God, his heart fashionedHeb. 1… 9 by him,Psa. 87. 7 & 33 14.
Man Hath no Freewill His Heart deviseth: but the counsell of God doth stand,Prov. 19. …1
Man Hath no Freewill His Steps, pathes and waies, are ruled by God alone.Ier. 10. 2….
Man Hath no Freewill It is God that turneth the Kings heart as pleaseth him,Pro. 21. 1. 2 T…. 2. 25. D…t. 29. 4. … 31. 33. Phil. 2. 13 Iob 32. 8. giving eyes to see, heart to p…ceive, and repentance to man that worketh both the will and the deed in him.Ez…. 11. 19.Psal. 75 7.
So that it is not,
In him that Willeth but of God to shew mercy,Rom. 9. 16.Isa. …2. 22.
In him that Plantet…. but of God to give increase,1 Cor. 3. 7.I zech 11. 13.
In him that Speaketh but of God that speaketh in us.Mat. 10. 20.1 Cor. 12. 6.
In By whom We live move and have our being,Act. 17. 28.
In By whom Every good worke hath his beginning and ending.Phil. 1. 2.
Isa 63. 17. Ier. 2…. 7. Chap. 31. 14, 33. Chap. 32. 40. Ezek 11.Reade: 19. Chap. 36, 26. Mat. 7. 17. Chap. 16. 17. Iob. … 1…. Rom. 5. 6. 1 Cor 12. 3. Eph. …. 5. 2 Tim 2. 25. Tit. 3. 3. Iam. 1. 14 Chap. 4 8. Psalm. 127. Isa. 63. 17. Mat. 13. 19. Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 8. 6 Chap▪ 5 12▪
Of Gods Power and Divine Miracles
THere is a two fold Power in God, one Actuall and the other Absolute,
Actuall Is that by which he not only can, but hath done whatWisd. 13▪ 3. he will, and by this he created all things, so now he ruleth and doth all things.
Absolute Because God absolutely and simply doth all things, which absolutely and simply are p…ssible to be done of him. Such is that which implyeth not a contradiction, and may have the nature of a thing being: So God could, and can yet make many worlds, as well as he did one: He could save all as well as some, the which though they be possible in the pow…r of God, yet are they impossible in regard of the immutable purpose of God.