A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty, Part 6 · Proposition
That all and every one of God's Elect,Prop. being once Regenerate and Believing; are and ſhall invincibly be carried on, to the perfect obtainment of Bleſſedneſs and Glory.
Towards the Evidenceing of this Truth, 1. let us take-in things of a lower conſideration, than that of Eternal Salvation; and ſee, how thoſe perſons (formerly inſtanced) being deſtined of God to eminent ſervice in the World, were carried thorow, and that completely, to the end of their work; Notwithſtanding the greateſt difficulties and natural impoſſibilities, that ſtood in their way to impede it. By which will appear the ſure effect of God's Purpoſes, even in the midſt of all intervenient Obſtructions; and will contribute (not a little) to illuſtrate the Truth in hand.
1. I begin with Abraham's ſeed: In Gen. 12. 7. The land of Canaan is given them by Promiſe: Iſaac, in whom this Seed ſhould be called, was not yet born; Nor yet, untill both his Parents were paſt age.Gen. 18. 11. To help this, the Lord bringsback the Sun many degrees; makes it a new ſpring-time with them, and gives them Iſaac. When Iſaac was Married, his wife proves barren:chap. 25. 21. verſe 23. After twenty years waiting, the Lord (in anſwer to prayer) gives her Conception. Now, two Children they had; the Elder of which, the Lord rejects; and the other, (to whom the Promiſe belong'd) in danger every day to be killed by his Brother; and ſo, the line of the Promiſe in danger of failing.chap. 27. 41. chap. 28. 2. chap. 31. 41. v. 23. and 24. Jacob, to ſave his life, flies to Padan-Aram; there Laban deals hardly with him; and when he made homewards, follows him with evil intent: But, the Lord in a dream takes him off. No ſooner is he eſcap'd from him,chap. 32. 6. but Eſau comes againſt him with four hundred Men, full bent to revenge the old grudge: The Lord turns his heart in a moment,chap. 33. 4. v. 12. and melts him into brotherly affection; that inſtead of deſtroying Jacob, he proffers himſelf to be his Guard and Convoy. When Simeon and Levi had ſo highly provoked the Canaanites, chap. 34. 25. chap. 35. 5.that it was a Thouſand to One but they would come and cut off Jacob's family at once; the Lord cauſes a terrour to fall upon them, that they do not ſo much as look after them. When a ſeven years Famine was coming on the land;ch. 37. 28. with chap. 41. 54. (likely enough to eat up poor Jacob and his houſe) the Lord, by a ſtrange Providence, ſends an Harbinger to make proviſion for them in Egypt. When oppreſt by the Egyptians, and all means uſed to deſtroy them, and that both with craft and cruelty;Exod. 1. 12. the Lord ſo orders the Matter, that the more they were oppreſſed, the faſter they grew; and by an high hand brings them out at laſt.
In the Wilderneſs, they carry themſelves as unworthily towards God, as ever People did; doing all that in them lay to cut off the intail of that good land, by their unbelief, and dayly repeated Rebellions; inſomuch that the Lord threatens to diſpoſſeſs them: But, for his Promiſe ſake made with Abraham, withdraws his hand and ſpares them.
I might inſtance alſo, the great ſtreights and dangers they were in at the Red-Sea, which the Lord divided for them; Afterwards for want of water, which he brings them out of a Rock: Then for Bread, which alſo he gives them from Heaven: How they were denied paſſage by ſome, and way-laid by Others; and yet carried on and delivered: and at laſt, how the Lord drove out thoſe Gyants, whom they deſpaired of Overcoming; and ſo gave them the land in poſſeſſion, accordto his promiſe hundreds of years afore: There failed not ought of any good thing the Lord had promiſed: It all came to paſs, Joſh. 21. 45.
2. Joſeph: Little Joſeph is one whom the Lord will honour;Gen. 37, 7, 9, 11. which in ſeveral dreams he intimates to him: His brethren do therefore hate him; and, to fruſtrate his dreams, (which ſignified their ſubjection to him) they conſpire to kill him:v. 18. And how ſhall Joſeph eſcape? They are ten to one againſt him, and he the leaſt. Reuben (who being the eldeſt, was moſt concernd,v. 22. in point of honour, to hinder Joſeph's advancement;) he ſhall relent at the very motion of making him away, and out of reſpect to his Father ſhall deliver him. Well, though they will not preſently kill him, they'l caſt him into a pit;v. 24. where, in all likelihood, he muſt periſh: But, in the good providence of God,v. 28. the Iſhmaelite Merchants paſs by in the very nick of time, ere any wild beaſt ſhall have found him, or his brethren determin'd worſe againſt him: To them they ſell him, and by them he is brought into Egypt, (far enough out of Jacobs inquiry) and ſold to the Captain of Pharaoh's guard; (a perſon likely enough to deal roughly with him.Gen. 37. 2, 3, 4. But, here the Lord ownes him; and to bring him into favour makes all that he doth, to proſper: which his Maſter obſerving, puts the management of all his eſtate into Joſeph's hands. Now there's fair hopes of his coming to honour: But,v. 7. how ſoon is it daſh'd! Joſeph being a goodly perſon, his laſcivious Miſtreſs tempts him to folly;v. 9. Which the fear of God keeping him from,v. 17. the miſreports him to his Maſter, charging her own wickedneſs upon him.v. 20. Hereby Potiphar's favor is loſt, and Joſeph caſt into Priſon; and dealt ſo hardly with,Pſ. 105. 18. that The Iron entred into his ſoul. Now, all hopes of preferment are gon, and what will become of his dreams? Yet ſtill, the Councel of the Lord, that ſhall ſtand; and this downfal of Joſeph, Gen. 40.ſhall prove another ſtep to his riſing: And to make way for it, two of Pharaoh's Servants ſhall fall under their Lord's diſpleaſure, be put in priſon, and committed to Joſeph's keeping: Here they ſhall dream; Joſeph ſhall interpret, and the event ſhall anſwer it. Now the day begins agen to dawn upon Joſeph, and by the chief Butlers reſtorement, ſome hopes of his inlargement: but this agen is ſoon overcaſt, for the Butler forgate him. Notwithſtanding all which, the providences of God do ſtill purſue his Decree,Gen. 41. chap. 42. 6. and ceaſe not, till Joſeph is Lord over Egypt, and his brethren bow down before him.
3. David: 1 Sam. 16. 12.God promiſeth David to give him the Kingdom, and anoints him to it. What, notwithſtanding all poſſible interveniences? Yes, for the promiſe is abſolute: Hath the Lord ſaid it, and ſhall he not do it? If therefore, Saul caſt a Javelin at him (unſuſpected,) to nail him to the Wall; a ſharpeneſs of eye, and agility of body, ſhall be given him to diſcern and avoid it: If he determine evil againſt him, Jonathan ſhall advertiſe him of it.1 Sam. 19. 20▪ 24. If he ſend Meſſengers to Naioth to apprehend him; they ſhall forget their errand, and fall a prophecying: And if he ſend others, and others after them; they ſhall do likewiſe: yea, Saul himſelf ſhall turn prophet for a day and a night together, that David may have time to eſcape, If he be in a City that will betray him, and not a friend among them to adviſe him of it; the Lord Himſelf will be his intelligencer,1 Sam. 23. 12. and ſend him Out. If Saul's Army have encompaſs'd him, and no way left to eſcape; the Philiſtines ſhall invade the land,v. 26, 27. and tidings ſhall come in the very inſtant, and take him off. If an hoaſt do encamp againſt him, Pſ. 27. 3.he'l not be afraid: Why ſo? The Lord had made an abſolute promiſe, and therefore if no help on earth, He ſhall ſend from Heaven and ſave me: Pſ. 57. 3.Yea, David's wavering, (at times) and the weakneſs of his Faith, ſhall not hinder it: and the Reaſon of all, we have in 1 Chron. 17. 7. and 8. The Lord took him to be Ruler over his People, and therefore he was with him where ever he went.
4. Joſiah: A Child ſhall be born to the houſe of David, Ioſiah by name;1 Kings 13. 2. who ſhall offer the bones of Jeroboam's prieſts upon his Altar. If (therefore) Athaliah determine to deſtroy all the ſeed-Royal, Joaſh ſhall be ſtollen from among the reſt,2 Kings 11. 2. and reſerved; and by him Davida's line ſhall be continued: Hezekiah, though ſick unto death, he ſhall not dye;2 Kings 20. 6. with ch. 13. 16. but be healed (as it were) by a miracle; and fifteen years added to his life, rather then Manaſſeh, who muſt be Joſiah's Grand-father, ſhall be unborn.
5. Paul: Paul was a choſen Veſſel, appointed to preach Chriſt to the Gentiles; and at laſt, to bear witneſs of Him at Rome: And this muſt be done, altho' Bonds, Impriſonments, and Death it ſelf, do attend him in every place. If they lye in wait for him at Damaſcus, and watch the gates night and day,Acts 9. 23-25. to kill him; he ſhall be let-down by the Wall in a basket, and ſo eſcape them: If all Jeruſalem be in an uproar to kill him; the chief Captain ſhall come with an Army and reſcue him,chap. 21. 31-33 (tho' no friend to Paul, nor to his Cauſe:) If more than Fourty Men have bound themſelves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink, till they have kill'd him; his kinſman ſhal hear of it,Acts 23. 14, 23 and by his means the chief Captain ſhall be his friend agen, and grant him a ſufficient Convoy; and this attempt ſhall be an occaſion of ſending him to Rome, where his laſt teſtimony is to be given. If Jews and Gentiles make an aſſault together, to uſe him deſpitefully and to ſtone him; he ſhall be aware of it, and by fleeing ſave himſelf; (by which means alſo the Goſpel ſhall be further ſpread.)Acts. 14. 5, 6. But, ſuppoſe he be left in their hands; and they ſo farr prevail, as to ſtone him, and drag him out of the City; then (ſure) his work's at an end? No, All this ſhall not hinder; Death it ſelf ſhall not ſeperate Paul from his work.ch. 16. 19, 20. It is not his being twice ſtoned, nor his thrice ſuffering Shipwreck, Nor his being in deaths often, nor any thing elſe, that ſhall make-void the purpoſe of God for his bearing witneſs of Chriſt at Rome; as is abundantly evident by the ſtories of him, and the event at laſt.
Other inſtances might be produced, to the ſame effect; But, by theſe we may take an eſtimate of the thing under proof; and rationally infer, that if the Lord be ſo exact and punctual, in performing his word touching theſe leſſer things; carrying on His work through ſuch a preaſs of natural oppoſitions; much more will He be, in ſecuring and bringing about the Eternal welfare of his Choſen: That as he dealt by His People of old; He bear them upon Eagles wings, (above the Reach of danger) and kept them as the Apple of His eye; Exod. 19. 4.Deut. 32. 10.(with all poſſible care and tenderneſs) untill He had brought them to Himſelf: So will He carry it towards His Elect; For, he values the World but little, ſave with reſpect to them
II. Now, for a more direct proof of the Doctrine: Though two or three Witneſſes might ſuffice to eſtabliſh it; yet, ſince the Scriptures do abound with Teſtimonies for it; (the Collection whereof may be uſeful to us, for helping our faith in times of obſcurity and danger: as alſo, to fortifie againſt the aſſaults of ſuch as teach final Apoſtacy) I am ſomwhat the larger in bringing them together; with ſome of thoſe Genuine Deductions that flow from them.
In the Old Teſtament, are many Petitions and Reſolves made by holy Men, which import the truth of this Doctrine; As, (namely) That the Lord will perfect that which concerns them: Pſ. 138. 8.That He will not for ſake the work of His own hands: That He will guide them by His Councells, Pſ. 73. 24.and after receive them to Glory: And that, in the mean time, None of their ſteps ſhall ſlide; and this, becauſe It is God that girds them with ſtrength, and He will make their way perfect, Pſalm 18. 32. (with many others,37. 31. 26. 1. as alſo in Paul's Epiſtles.) In every of which is implyed a Promiſe of the thing prayed for, or concluded upon: For, without ſuch a Promiſe they could not have done it in faith; nor meetly have given them down as matter of inſtruction to Others. But, we know they ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt;2 Pet. 1. 21. Who knowing the deep things of God; What His Decrees were; and what was contained in the Promiſe of Eternal life before the World; Tit. 1. 2.drew out their hearts to Believe, and formed their prayers accordingly. But, beſides theſe, we have many expreſs promiſes and affirmations of it.
In the 10th. of John, v. 28.Our Saviour ſayes, His ſheep ſhall never periſh; which is, in effect, their faith ſhall never fail: For, ſafe they cannot be from periſhing, without the ſecurement of their Faith:John 4. And in John 4: (ſpeaking of the Spirit of Holineſs which Believers receive from Him) He ſaith expreſsly, Whoſoever drinketh thereof, ſhall never thirſt: (i. e. It ſhall never be dryed up) but ſhall be in him, v. 14.a Well of Water ſpringing up to Everlaſting life.
Prov. 10. 30, The Righteous ſhall never be removed, (i. e. They ſhall never fall back into their former ſtate;) and the Reaſon is, Becauſe the way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright; v. 29. Whether by [the way of the Lord] be meant, His way or manner of dealing with upright Perſons, which is, to increaſe their ſtrength; (according to Job 17. 9.) Or, of the Genuine property of God's wayes; which is, to afford that peace and ſatisfaction to thoſe who walk in them, that they are daily more habituated and connaturalized to them, and eſtranged from all wayes elſe; they are both to the purpoſe in hand.
Prov. 24. 16, A juſt Man falleth ſeven times and riſeth up agen; He falls not ſo as to lye where he fell; He falleth not into miſchief, as the wicked doth: yea, he rather gets ground by his fall, as v. 5, A Man of Wiſdom increaſeth ſtrength; By the ſenſe of his own weakneſs, he is led to ſtrength everlaſting; as was Paul, 2 Cor. 12. 10.
Prov. 12. 21. There ſhall no evil happen to the Jsuſt: Then, not the greateſt and worſt of evils; which is, To depart from the living God: So, v. 3. The root of the Righteous ſhall not be Moved; His fruit may ſometimes be Blighted, or blown off, and his branches toſs'd with a tempeſt; but ſtill, his Root is where it was; His life is hid, and free from all Commotion; and ſhall (therefore) renew both his fruit and branches;Jer. 17. 7, 8. according to that in Jeremy, He that truſteth in the Lord ſhall not ceaſe from yielding fruit.
Jer. 32. 40. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from Me. This (ſay ſome) is the promiſe of affording them Means, but not of effecting the end; Therefore ſee Chap. 3. 19. Thou ſhalt call Me my Father, and [ſhalt not] depart from Me: And this, becauſe He worketh Effectually in them that believe;1 Theſ. 2. 13. As at firſt in cauſing them to believe, ſo now in maintaining and perfecting their Faith.
Pſalm 84. 11, The Lord with-holdeth no good thing from them that walk uprightly: And if ſo, then continuing to walk uprightly, (being a good thing) ſhall not be withheld from them. Which deduction is alſo warranted from Job. 17. 9. The Righteous ſhall hold-on his way, and He that [hath] clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger; as alſo from Prov. 4. 18. The path of the Juſt is as the ſhining light, which ſhineth more and more, unto the perfect day. And David further backs it in Pſalm 26. 1. where from his preſent Faith, he concludes his future progreſs;Pſalm. 66. 7. I have truſted, I ſhall not ſlide; and this, becauſe The Lord holdeth his ſoul in life, and ſuffereth not his feet to be moved.
Mark 16. 16. He that believeth ſhall be ſaved: And John 11. 26. Whoſoever lieth and believeth in Me (ſayes Chriſt) ſhall never dye: i. e. He that once has Faith ſhall never loſe it: For, to ſay, He ſhall keep it, if he do not loſe it, (as ſome would give the ſenſe) had been a Comfortleſs and empty Notion, and an injudicious way of ſpeaking. This is yet further confirmed by John 5. 24, He that believeth is paſſed from death to life, and [ſhall not] come into condemnation. The Reaſon of all which is, that their Faith is founded on a Rock; Math. 7, 15.which Wind and Waves may beat and break themſelves againſt; But never the Rock it ſelf, nor That which is built upon it: He that truſteth in the Lord, is as Mount Zion, which [cannot] be moved: No, Not ſo much as One of the ſtakes of that Tabernacle ſhall be removed, Pſalm 125. 1.Iſa. 33. 20.Chap. 45. 17, 1 Pet. 2. 6.and that for ever: They ſhall not be aſhamed nor confounded [World without End.]
It would very much allay that ſuperlative cauſe of Rejoycing, [That our Names are written in Heaven,] If poſſibly they might be blotted out agen; ſince we find in our ſelves ſuch a proneneſs to Revolt, (which every one acquainted with his own heart, muſt acknolwedge:) But we are ſure, Chriſt would not propound to us a failable ground of rejoycing: For, that would have been an inviting us to lean on a breakable ſtaff: which kind of dependence, He is evermore calling us from.
Believers (indeed) are ſometimes foyl'd, but never overcome: Though they fall, (and that ſeaven times in a day, as was ſaid) As often do they riſe agen: And it's no diſparagement to their leader, (yea, it is the Glory of a General) to give his enemy advantages, and take them agen at his pleaſure, to his enemies greater confuſion and overthrow. Satan got nothing by his Winnowing Peter; Peter loſt ſome of his Chaff, (which well might be ſpared) and the Tempter loſt many an after-advantage; For, the World of Believers have been the warier ever ſince.
To this ſecond ſort of evidence, I ſhall onelyonly add That of the Holy Apoſtle, in Rom. 8. He was perſwaded (that is, He was throughly ſwayed in his faith, to believe it for himſelf, and deliver it down to the Ages to come, as a Truth infallible) That neither Height nor Depth, Nor any other Creature ſhall be able to ſeparate from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. Rom. 8. 38, 39.He reckons up all that can be named; and, leſt any thing might have ſlipt him, he brings in Height and Depth; as being thoſe two extreams that take in All, and more than Men can think: and then reſolves, That even Theſe ſhal not be able to do it. And ſurely, if the ſuper-celeſtial height of God's Holineſs, Nor the infra-infernal Depth of ſin, ſhall ſeparate from that day of Glory, (which the ſons of God were Predeſtinated to, and for which they were both made and Redeemed, called into and groan for;) then are Believers Roundly ſecur'd againſt final Apoſtacy.