Exposition of Revelation 13, Part 9
Rev. 13. 8.
And all that dwell on earth ſhall worſhip him whoſe names are not written in the booke of life of the Lamb, &c.
YOu have heard that upon the recovery and healing of the wounded head of the Catholick Church, ſundry effects followed; the Dragon gave unto the Beaſt a four fold power, Power to ſpeak great things, power to continue and to be active 42. moneths, power to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them; Power of ſoveraignty and Authority over all Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations, and that even to worſhip, that all that dwell on the Earth ſhall worſhip him, believing as the Church believes, and neither more nor leſſe, ſubmitting themſelves in conſcience to all their decrees, and expecting their ſalvation in the fellowſhip of that Church, which is divine worſhip peculiar onelyonly to the Lord Jeſus. In the words now read, you have theſe that worſhip the Beaſt, that is, that give this divine honour to the Catholick Church, to believe as they believe, to ſubmit their conſciences to the power of this Beaſt, taking up all their obſervations for worſhip, for Government from them, not from God, and looking for their ſalvation in reconcilement with this Church; I ſay theſe men that doe thus worſhip this Beaſt, they are deſcribed here by their ſtate, by their ſpirituall and eternall ſtate; that is to ſay, they are deſcribed by a deniall of their elect eſtate, and that is expreſt in a deniall of the proper adjunct of that ſtate, and that is, the writing of their names in the Lambs book of life, for that is the proper adjunct of all the elect people of God, that their names are written in the book of life of the Lamb; theſe men men therefore being denied this proper adjunct of an elect ſtate, they are the refore here deſcribed by their damnable condition and ſtate; now this therefore is here predicated of them all, that their names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lambe, who ever they be that worſhip this Beaſt; and he ſaith, All did worſhip him, ſave onelyonly they whoſe names were written in the Lambes booke of life: They that did worſhip the Beaſt, had not their names written in the Lambs book of life. So then this book in which their names are ſaid not to be written, it is ſet forth by the end, and by the ſubject of it.
1. By the end, It is the Book of life: Not that it was a living book, but becauſe they that are written in that book, are written unto life, that they may live to eternity to grace and glory.
2. It is deſcribed by the ſubject, It is the Lambs Book of life; either he is the poſſeſſor of it, God giving it to him that he might take notice of all the names therein, and keep them ſafe to ſalvation: or elſe he is the ſubject of it, as being the firſt and principall perſon who is written in it; for he of old hath been obſerved to be the head and cheif of the elect of God, in Epheſ. 1. 4. He hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world, therefore he choſe him firſt, and us in him, as he is well pleaſed, firſt with Chriſt, and in Chriſt with us, Mat. 3. 17. whether you ſpeak of Gods everlaſting complacency, or of the manifeſtation of it in effectuall vocation, it is in Chriſt that he is well pleaſed; firſt with Chriſt, and in his name with us, ſo he is ſaid to be fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1. 20. So therefore it is ſaid to be the book of the Lamb, the Lambs booke of life, becauſe that the book is given to him, and becauſe alſo that he is the principall perſon, that is firſt, and primarily, and fundamentally written in this book. I ſay it is firſt given to him, as if all the perſons that God intends life unto, he did give them as it were in a ſcroul or book to the Lord Jeſus, (but of that I ſhall ſpeak a little more by and by.) In the mean time I ſpeak now to the Analyſis of the Text; but if you ſhall not traſ…e it, whoſe names are not written in the Lambs Book of life (but as it is here and indeed ſo it holds in the Originall) the Book of life of the Lambe; Though it be the like ſence, then it may hold out a further notion and meditation, and that is this.
1. That the Lambe is the ſubject of that life whereof it is ſaid, it is the Book of life of the Lamb.
2. He is the Author of it, to the elect people of God, in John 14. 19. that holds forth both that he is that life to us: Chriſt as God-man is the ſubject of this ſpirituall and eternall life; and his man-hood, ſo receives it as a common veſſell to all his elect members, and becauſe he lives, we ſhall live alſo, therefore he is the Author both of giving and preſerving this life to his heavenly Kingdome.
Now by this Lambe, I need not tell you is meant Chriſt the Lambe, without ſpot, John 1. 29. We are redeemed by the precious bloud of Chriſt as of a Lambe without ſpot, 1 Pet. 1. 19. This Lambe is here deſcribed by his ſuffering which was ſlain, was put to death, a violent death: and that ſuffering of his is amplified by the ancient vigour and efficacy of it, ſlain from the beginning of the world.
Now the note that firſt offers it ſelfe from this verſe is this.
That ſuch whoſe names are written in the lambs book of life,Doctr. 1. they all and they onelyonly are preſerved from the worſhip of the Beaſt: For here it is ſaid, That all that dwell upon the Earth ſhall worſhip him, ſaving they whoſe names are written in the Lambes Book of life, they ſhall not worſhip him; but all whoſe names are not written in the book of the life of the Lambe, they ſhall worſhip the Beaſt: So then they whoſe names are written in the Lambes book of life, they doe not worſhip him; (for if their names be written there, they are expreſly exempted;) but they that doe worſhip him, they are ſaid not to have their names written in the Lambes book of life: So that ſuch whoſe names are written in the Lambes book of life, they and all they, and they onelyonly are preſerved from the worſhip of the Beaſt. It is a ſpeech to the like purpoſe that you read in Rev. 17. 8. and upon the like occaſion: The Beaſt that thou ſaweſ… was, and is not, and ſhall aſcend out of the bottomeleſſe pit and go into perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth ſhall wonder (whoſe names were not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the world, &c.) They admire and adore him, where he tells you of an ancient act, hee doth not tell here when it was written, there he doth, that ancient book wherein from the foundation of the world they were written, and therefore before the world ſuch as were written in the Lambes book of life, were lockt up to be preſerved from the adoration of the Beaſt, and all the reſt were left to worſhip the Beaſt.
For opening this point, here a Queſtion or two may be moved for explication of the termes of the Doctrine (which have been a little expounded before.) Firſt▪
Queſt. 1. Then it may be demanded, what is this Book of life?
Anſw. You read in Scripture of ſundry books according to which our eternall ſtate ſtands or falls (if I may ſo call them) that are ſaid to be opened at the judgement day, whether at the laſt judgement, or ſome repreſentation of the laſt judgement, it is all one for the Doctrine: In Rev. 20. 12. it is ſayd, When the Thrones were ſet, the Books were opened; and another book, which is the Booke of life: So here is one book, according to which, his Saints were judged, beſides the booke of life, but that alſo was opened. Theſe bookes are truly obſerved by others, to be firſt the book of Gods Providence, in Pſal. 139. 16. which is alſo called in Mal. 3. 16. the booke of Gods Remembrance, wherein he takes notice of all perſons and actions; that is, keeps as exact account of them as if they were written before him in a book, which day by day were faſhioned, &c. In the providence of God there was a deliniation of all creatures and actions that ſhould come to paſſe. There is truly alſo the booke of conſcience; for alſo in that God regiſters all our actions, according to which we ſhall be judged, the conſcience bearing witneſſe about our perſons and actions, ſo farre as they are enlightned by God. And you read alſo of another booke; The word that I have ſpoken, that ſhall judge them at the laſt day, John 12. 48. he ſhall judge all the world by it, Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of men by Jeſus Chriſt according to my Goſpel: Theſe books will be opened; the booke of Gods Providence, the booke of the Scripture, and the book of conſcience, by which we ſhall be judged.
But there is alſo the booke of Life, by which wee ſhall be judged, in Rev. 10. 12. Now for the book of life that hath a double exception in Scripture, for ſometimes it is put for the Church regiſter, in which all are regiſtred, as thoſe that were the living in Jeruſalem. Iſa. 4. …. It is ſaid, Every one that remaineth in Hieruſalem ſhall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Hieruſalem: Or as the word is in the margent or bigger Bibles written, To life in Hieruſalem; In the Originall it is capable of both conſtructions, Every man capable of life is written in Hieruſalem:
There is a book written of them that live there, of which it is ſaid, Pſal. 87. 6. the Lord will recount when he writteth up the people, that this or that man was born there: Of this book alſo you read in Ezek. 13. 9. where the Lord doth threaten the falſe Prophets, that his hand ſhall be upon them that ſee vanity, and devine lyes; they ſhall not be as members of my people, nor ſhall they be written in the writing of the houſe o… Iſrael; they ſhall neither have fellowſhip with Church nor Common-wealth: There is a writing, therefore a Regiſter, a Record of them, which in the Old Teſtament were counted Geneologies, and very carefully did they keep them; that if they could not ſhew their pedigree from this Geneology, they were as polluted. Ezra 2. 59. as alſo verſ. 62. where he tells you of ſundry that came in among the people of Iſrael; but becauſe they could not find their names in the Regiſter, they were left aſide till they could finde further proof of their pedigree; they might be received as other Proſelytes, but not as native Iſraelites, who were counted of the Church from the line of their Parents, and ſome of the ſonnes of Barzilli, ſome of the Prieſts, they thought it more honour to fetch their pedigree from their father Barzilli, whom David had advanced to ſit at his Table; and they thought it more honour to be counted of the houſe of Barzilli, then of the order of Aaron: And they, when they would have preſented themſelves to the Prieſts office, they were not received: why? becauſe they were not found in the Churches Regiſter, and they had no direction from the Word to take Noble mens ſons to be Prieſts, but only of the ſons of Aaron: So this is the book of Life, it is called The writing of the living in Hieruſalem; This is the book of life, the Church-book, it is nothing but a counterpane of the book of life, but not exactly agreeing to it; ſometimes we put in more then God doth, and ſometimes leſſe: There be that belong to life whom we do not receive: Others they do not preſent themſelves, or we do not receive through ſome failings in them or us; but if they belong to life, they are written in the Lambs book of life, they may not be written in the Church book; but this is not the book here ſpoken of, the book of the life o… the Lamb: The Church is the body of the Lamb, but they cannot diſcern who are his: The Lord knows who are his, ſo do not we, nor the members of the Church, therefore you heare here of a diſtinct booke of the Lambs book of life, of which book it is expreſly written, Rev. 20. 15. That whoſoever was not found written in the Lambs book of life, was caſt into the lake of fire.
All men therefore that are written in the book of Life, or in the book of the Lamb, they are written to life. Now this we cannot ſay of the Church-book; for as hath been obſerved of ancient time, there are many wolves within, and many ſheep without: Sometimes the Church hath caſt out her moſt precious members, both Officers and Members, ſad experience hath made it true in our times, therefore that is not a certaine rule, that if a man be left out of the Church, he is left everlaſtingly, unleſſe there be ſuch contempt of means of grace, as in thoſe whom the Lord hath branded for ſuch whom he takes no pleaſure in to eternity: For it is ſaid, whoever was not found written in the Lambs book of life was caſt into the lake of fire; Therefore this is ſome other then that booke of the Church: What book is that? no other but the eternall record and regiſter of Gods election, that is, the Lambs book, whoever is not found, he is indeed caſt out into the lake of fire, being ſhut out from ſalvation by Chriſt, and then what hope of ſalvation is there in himſelfe?
Now of this book it is, of which Moſes ſpeaks, Exo. 32. 33. If thou wilt not forgive the ſin of thy people, then blot me out of the book which thou haſt written; not which the Church hath written, but which thou haſt written, which the Lord hath written of life in Chriſt, in which the Lord hath written all the names of his Elect: This is the book out of which hee deſires to be blotted out of; ſuch was the extaſie, I cannot ſay of his zeale, but he was filled with ſuch ardent zeale, that rather then ſuch a reproach ſhould be caſt upon God, that he was not able to bring them to the Land of Canaan, let him be blotted out of the book which he had written, let damnation it ſelfe fall upon him, rather then the name of the Lord ſhould be reproached by the uncircumciſed Heathens; and in that ſence Paul wiſheth himſelfe ſeparate from Chriſt, for his brethren, his kinſmen according to the fleſh, Rom. 9. 3. He doth not ſay, he would be caſt out of the Church; but he found, that zeale for the whole Church, and for the Lord Jeſus, that rather then the Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould be hindered, if it may ſtand with Gods liking, he could rather wiſh ſuch a wretch as he ſhould be cut off, then that the whole body of his people ſhould be caſt off: This is the Lambs book of Life, called the book of Life, not becauſe the Lord ſtands in need of a book, but becauſe thoſe whom in his eternall purpoſe he hath decreed to ſave, his unchangeable purpoſe doth fixe them as faſt in his remembrance, as if they were written in a book before him: For that end his decree hath taken ſuch particular notice of them, that if they were written in a book before him, they could not be more ſtedfaſtly and particularly recorded.
It is a phraſe borrowed from men, that when they would remember ſuch a man, or ſuch a freind, they ſet them down in a booke; God ſtands not in need of books, but his clear, and everlaſting love to them is ſuch, that they are engraven as on the palmes of his hands, as the Shew-bread was preſent before the Lord continually, which repreſented the 12. Tribes, that his eye might be upon them from one end of the week to another, and the word which the Septuagints uſe for Shew-bread, it is tranſlated as the word which the Apoſtle uſeth, Rom. 8. 28. and the Greeke Tranſlators and Hebrew expreſſe it, it is the bread of Gods purpoſe, or of Gods face, and what is his purpoſe? it is not with him as it is with us, that whiles we ſpeak of one man, we forget another; but his purpoſe is alwayes the ſame; and theſe being the bread of Gods purpoſe, they are ever before him from one end of the week to another, and from one end of the year to another, now that is the meaning of the Queſtion, what is the Booke of life? It is the booke of Gods eternall election, that is, it is the regiſter or record of the names of all whom God hath choſen to life and ſalvation in Chriſt.
Queſt. 2. If you ſhall aske why it is called the Lambes Booke of life?
Anſw. Firſt, becauſe the Lord hath given this booke to Chriſt, and all the names of his elect by name to be brought to ſalvation, and kept in a ſtate of ſalvation to imortality, and therefore you ſhall read in Scripture, when God puts forth an eternall love to his people, wrought eternall ſalvation for us, I mean when he did eternally elect us to grace and glory in this eternall election of his, there was accompanying an eternall donation in giving them to Chriſt, Chriſt knew his fathers counſel from eternity, and the Lord gave them to Chriſt by him to be brought, and he undertaking that they ſhall be brought to ſalvation, the Lord requiring that he ſhould keep them to immortality; he ſhall work the means and apply the ſame effectually to the end of the world: This is evident from thoſe Scriptures that ſpeak of the grant, and of the gift of them to Chriſt before their effectuall calling, though donation go before that; for from that love of God by which he gives us to Chriſt in our effectuall calling, he gives us Chriſt, and faith to receive Chriſt; but before this, there is a giving, a donation of us to Chriſt, as John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come unto me; So this coming to Chriſt is believing on Chriſt, and it is ſo expreſt in ver. 35. He that cometh to me ſhall never hunger, and he that beliveth on me ſhall never thirſt: To come to Chriſt, is to belive on his name; thus much doth hee expreſſe himſelfe; that all that the Father give him in his eternall counſell, they ſhall come unto him, to wit, in effectuall calling him: the Father will draw none but whom in his eternall counſell he hath given to Chriſt; and whom he drawes, I will not caſt out, in ver. 37. to 44. So then when this act of Gods eternall election paſſed on thoſe whoſe perſons are deſigned to grace and glory, hee gave all by name to the Lord Jeſus, as if they were particularly regiſtred in a booke: And he promiſed, that in fulneſſe of time, he would draw them to him, and required that the Lord Jeſus ſhould keep them under his wing to imortality; it is called therefore the Lambs booke of life, becauſe he is the ſubject receptive of it.
Anſw. 2. And again, it is called the Lambs booke of life, becauſe he is the head of all Gods elect; they are all elect in him, not beſides or out of him, not as actually believing in him, for it is long before any work of ours, Rom. 9. 11. Not of workes, but of him that calleth, the children being not yet born, neither having done good or evill, that the purpoſe of God according to election might ſtand. Election i… before any worke of ours, God gives us in his eternall councell to Chriſt, but we are not then in him by faith; faith is an effect of our election, not the cauſe of it: As many as were ordained to eternall life believed, Acts 13. 46. 48. But this is the thing; It is a true diſtinction that ſome give in that caſe; we are in Chriſt, not by actuall exiſtence in beleiving; nor as ſo conſidered, but by virtuall comprehenſion: the Lord looks at us as in him, we are not in him by faith; but the Lord comprehending us in his everlaſting decree, we are in him by Gods charter, even children not born, the Lord hath wrapped us in his everlaſting armes, in his electing love, promiſing in time to give us faith to beleive on him, and therefore to come to him, and to give him to us that wee may live in his ſight; therefore it is the Lambs book of life, as he is the ſonne of man, the ſonne of the Virgin Mary, to be united to the ſecond perſon in Trinity, long before his humane nature was in being.
Anſw. 3. And it is called alſo the book of the life of the Lambe; if you have reſpect of referring to Chriſt this life, then you take Chriſt as he is the ſubject of this life, in John 14. 19. Becauſe I live, you ſhall live alſo; I live, and then you live: and he is the author, the efficient, the procreant, and conſervant cauſe of life in us to eternity; the Lord hath given us eternall life, and this life is in his ſon; He that hath the ſonne hath life, 1 John 5. 12. So you ſee the meaning of theſe words, theſe perſons that are thus given to Chriſt, elect veſſels to grace and glory that are given to Chriſt, they are preſerved from the worſhip of the Beaſt, and none but they, they onelyonly; for this purpoſe you read that falſe Chriſts (whereof Antichriſt is chief) Mat. 24. 24. They ſhall deceive many, yea if it were poſſible the very elect: It implies thus much, that none of them ſhall be deceived by all falſe Chriſts, but all others ſhall be deceived; earthly minded men, and ſuch whoſe names are not written in the Lambes book of life, they ſhall be deceived, the Beaſt ſhall go into perdition, and they with him, Rev. 17. 8. Not but that for a time they that are Gods elect may be taken with a fond admiration and adoration of the Beaſt, to beleive as the Church of Rome believes, and may look for peace of conſcience from the diſpenſations of the Church of Rome; it may be ſo as Bilney and Latimer, that were marvellous devout to that Church; though it pleaſed God that Bilney, you may read it in his Epiſtle to Biſhop Tonſtall, that being troubled in conſcience, he had taken all the courſes that their Religion enjoyned him; had made confeſſion to the Preiſts, and they enjoyned him pennance and whipping of himſelfe, but for all theſe his wound bled as freſh as before; till in the end he took an Engliſh Teſtament, as it was tranſlated by Eraſmus, not with any intent to finde any thing in it that might eaſe his trouble, but becauſe he was a perfect Latiniſt; but reading that place in 1 Tim. 1. 15. theſe words did ſo affect him, that immediately the Lord letting him ſee his love in Chriſt Jeſus: The Lord (ſaith he) let me ſee that I had taken a wrong courſe all this while; I have ſought for ſalvation where it was not to be had, and prayed thoſe to whom he ſpoke, not to take it ill, for it was not out of any neglect of them, but out of his faithfulneſs, having had experience, that the courſe they preſcribed, that was not the way; but it ſo farre prevailed, as that he was marvellouſly eſteemed; but he was taken up by Latimer, he made Bilney hear him Preach a moſt fearfull Sermon againſt Lutherans, that were then better then he; yet Bilney ſaw that he had zeal, but not according to knowledge, and he knew not how to come within him; but he went to him in private, and deſired to ſpeak with him, and he muſt not ſay him nay; then he up and tells him what a miſerable wretch he had been, how he had wounded his conſcience; how he had confeſt his ſin to this and that Preiſt; how unprofitable all thoſe meanes were to him which they preſcribed; and there was no means in the world to finde peace till the Lord applyed that everlaſting redemption in the bloud of Chriſt; why ſaith Latimer, he comes to ſeek for pardon from me to his ſoul; and ſaith he, I ſaw I ſtood in more need of being taught by him, and therefore ſtiles him in his Sermon Saint Bilney, that caught his ſoul, and revealed that to him which he never heard of. Therefore it is poſſible that Latimer and Bilney may be devout Catholicks for a time; but now when this electing love of God puts forth it ſelfe in the fruits of it, which is effectual calling; now they are fully ſatisfied that all this devotion, beleiving as the Church beleives, they ſee they are ſo farre out of the way, as faith is contrary to ſence and reaſon: So that thoſe whom God reſerved and choſen to life, they are preſerved from totall and finall adoration of the Beaſt, they may for a time through ignorance worſhip the Beaſt, as the beſt of Gods ſervants in thoſe times did, and many times have been moſt zealous for the Catholick cauſe; and yet when the Lord hath called them effectually to his grace, then, not one that are written in the Lambs book of life doe worſhip him; ſo that though they worſhip him before, yet now they do not, when they come to ſee their folly, and have the love of God made known to them.
The Reaſon is firſt taken from the experimentall knowledg of every child of God effectually called,Reaſon 1. from the evident experience that he hath of the vanity of the Roman Catholick Church, and of the emptineſſe of calling on any to look from Church power, to heale or wound the conſcience, as of themſelves, further then they diſpence the Ordinances of Chriſt: and then it is not they, but Chriſt in them, and for them to look for ſalvation in the communion of that Church, and in reconcilement to that Church; They are ſo experimentally beaten off from that, and poſſeſt of the contrary by their own experience, that you need not take them from adoring the Beaſt; for they ſee it is a Beaſt, and they ſhall as wel utterly deſtroy their ſouls, as worſhip the Beaſt; and therfore the love of Chriſt conſtrains Bilney, and he draws Latimer, and Latimer draws others, till they have propogated the truth of God to all ages. But that, though it be one reaſon, yet it is the leaſt.
Let me ſhew another reaſon why the elect of God,Reaſon 2. after the electing love of God comes to be diſpenced to them in outward execution: For, before it may come to paſſe, they may worſhip the Beaſt, but then they will not doe it finally: but when the electing love of God is ſhed abroad in their hearts, then they will not do it; and the reaſon of that (you cannot give a demonſtrative reaſon but from this) to prevent impoſſibility, it is not poſſible that they ſhould: now there are three fundamentall reaſons of the impoſſibility of it; two properties there are in Gods electing love: There is in Gods election, firſt, immutability, as God himſelfe is unchangeable, Mal. 3. 6. ſo are his decrees unchangeable, the foundation of God ſtands ſure, 2 Tim. 2. 19. and what he hath purpoſed, he will bring to paſſe: The counſell of the Lord is true for ever, in Pſal. 33. 10, 11. he diſappoints all the decrees of men, but his own counſels they take place for ever in every age, therefore it is not poſſible that any of his ſhould periſh; and periſh they ſhould, if they ſhould worſhip the Beaſt; but it is not poſſible, his unchangeable decree keepes them.
Again, there is another property in his electing love, which is the efficacy of it, for Gods electing love doth chooſe us out of the world, John 15. 19. And if he chooſe us out of the world, the efficacy of that is, that it delivers us from the evill world: God electing us out of the world, hath redeemed and delivered us from this preſent evill world, Gal. 1. 4. Now if the electing love of God be of ſuch efficacy, that when he elects men of his grace, he will in fulneſſe of time deliver them from the world, then they ſhall not run headlong to the worſhip of the Beaſt, whom their hearts cannot cloſe withall; the Lord redeemes them from that vaine converſation received by tradition from their Fathers, I, though there be ſuch efficacy in the bloud of Anceſtors, yet the electing love of God redeemes them from that: But that will more appear in the ſecond Reaſon.
And that is the faithfulneſſe of Chriſt, and the efficacy of of his redeeming bloud. All that the Father hath given me ſhall come unto me, and thoſe that doe come unto mee, I will by no means caſt out, John 6. 37. Of thoſe that thou haſt given me, I have loſt none, but the ſonne of perdition, that (but) is not an exceptive, but an adverſative; he that was never given, was loſt, he did not bring him on to ſalvation; For this is the will of the Father that ſent me, that of all that he hath given me, I ſhould looſe nothing, &c. John 6. 37, 38, 39. That is, his faithfulneſſe, and with his faithfulneſſe there is ſuch efficacy in his bloud, that though the bloud of Anceſtors run very warme, that a man would chooſe to live no better life, nor keep a better houſe then his Father or Grandfather, but wiſh their ſouls might be but as ſafe as theirs, when men are once redeemed by the bloud of Chriſt, and that is ſprinkled upon their conſciences, then the bloud of Chriſt is warmer then the bloud of Anceſtors: though the Religion of our Fathers ſhould be ſtrong in the hearts of devout Catholicks, as in Bilney or Latimer, then alaſſe for our poor Fathers, what is become of them? they pity them, and ſee plainly, that unleſſe the Lord led them a further way then the Religion of thoſe that taught them, they are gone everlaſtingly, and then they wonder that God ſhould ever chooſe ſuch a dunghill, thee and me, that they ſee a broad difference between the Religion of their Anceſtors, and that which they ſee now; but that is the efficacy of the bloud of Chriſt, there is that efficacy in it, that it waſheth away all relations to Fathers, to antiquity, and univerſality, he is crucified to them all; God forbid (ſaith the Apoſtle) that I ſhould glory ſave in the croſſe of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, Gal. 6. 14. So that though all the world runne after the Beaſt, they will not; the world looks at them as baſe unworthy creatures, and ſo they look at the world.
And there is a third fundamentall Reaſon,Reaſon 3. and that is taken from the power and preſence of the Spirit of Gods grace, in the hearts of his people. We are kept by the power of God, through faith unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1. 5. That is, by the ſpirit of God, and by the power of that ſpirit, he keeps our faith, and by faith keeps us in the way of his ordinances, and in the way of ſanctification to ſalvation: Little children, yee are of God, and you have overcome theſe Antichriſts; why? for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world, 1 John 4. 4. The power of God is in you, they are of the world, and the world is carryed away with them; you are of God, and you hear them not; for greater is he tha… is in you, then he that is in the world. Theſe are three fundamentall Reaſons which are indeed the demonſtrative cauſe of the impoſſibility of them to be finally carried to the worſhip of the Beaſt, the election of God will not ſuffer it, the unchangebleneſſe thereof, the faithfulneſſe of Chriſt, the efficacy of the blood of Chriſt, and the power of the ſpirit, and that which flowes from it is the experience of Gods love, and the vertue of their faith in Chriſt: Their faith is unchangeble, not poſſible to be rooted out, in Luke 22. 31, 32. I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not: It may be ſhaken, but it ſhall not finally fail; I will put my fear in their hearts that they ſhall not depart from me, Jer. 32. 40. and that is the proper act of faith: Be not high minded, but fear; his mercy is ſufficient for us, truſt ſteadfaſtly on the grace of Chriſt; and though Peter ſeemed not to truſt on the grace of Chriſt, yet in his worſt ſtate he knew that all the courſes of Satan were vanity, and he durſt not but in his heart believe that Chriſt was the Meſſiah: ſo all the elect of God know the Beaſt is a Beaſt, and the Catholick Roman Church is a Beaſt, and the head of that Beaſt is a beaſtly head, and they know that their Doctrine is ſenſuall, and carnall, and that they all ſhall go into perdition; and withall, their experience doth evidently convince them, that were it not in a pang of temptation in which they are not able to abide by it, yet by a renewall of the blood of the Lord Jeſus ſprinkled on their ſouls, they are brought a freſh to ſee the work of Gods grace ſtirred up in them; but otherwiſe their conſtant courſe is, as in Rev. 14. you hear them coming as on a ſtage, repreſenting the Lambe in their carriage and converſation, and follow the Lambe whereſoever he goes: but for the Beaſt, a ſtranger, they will not follow; but both their faith and experience yeild them a third cauſe, and that is, the ſpirit of God carying them an end: My ſheep hear my voyce, and they follow me; but they know not the voyce of ſtrangers, they ſee a difference between good and evill; and therefore if they hear a man ſpeak, and doth not ſpeak of ſalvation by him, but of the world, or of himſelfe, they will not follow him, John 10. 45. Thus you ſee the Reaſon why none of them worſhip the Beaſt: But on the other ſide, all the reſt of the world doe, meaning where Antichriſts power comes, ſpeaking of thoſe times when there was great power given to him, to ſpeak great things, and no man might ſay, Sir, why do you ſo: in that time when he had power to be active forty & two months, when he had power to make Warre with the Saints, and to overcome them, and when all Nations worſhipped him, and did not ſhake off that Religion; but in former times, before reformation of Religion, this was an univerſal practice; they all, Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues gave their power to the Beaſt; and the reaſon of that was, from Gods juſt judgement, for their not receiving the truth in love, therefore he gave them over to ſtrong deluſions to believe lyes.
Secondly, from the efficacy of Satan in the power of deceitfull ſophiſtry, and doing wonders.
And thirdly, by the plauſibleneſſe, trumpery, and bravery of that Religion, ſo ſuitable to carnal reaſon, that they were carried away thereto, and it could not be, but they ſhould be carried away by the man of Sinne.
The uſe firſt may then be thus much;Ʋſe 1. If all that dwell on Earth, whoſe names are not written in the book of life, do worſhip the Beaſt, and none are excluded but thoſe whoſe names are written in the Lambs booke of life, then this will unavoidably follow, that a Papiſt by his Religion cannot go beyond a Reprobate; what he may, and renounce his Religion, is another matter, as Bilney and Latimer ſometimes did; they were written in the Lambes booke of life: but by his Religion, take them that do believe, as the Catholick Roman Church believes, and believe no more, but practice that which that Religion directs them to, and goe no further, and they continue and live and die in that, then I muſt pronounce it from the Text, they cannot go beyond a Reprobate, the reaſon is evident from the Text; for if none of them whoſe names are written in the Lambs booke of life doe worſhip the Beaſt, and onelyonly they do worſhip the Beaſt, whoſe names are not written in the Lambs booke of life, then if they be not written in the Lambs booke of life, the Text is very ſtrong & clear in Rev. 20. 15. Whoſoever was not found written in the Lambs Book of life, was caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone: But thoſe that worſhip the Beaſt, are not written in the Lambs, booke of life, that is in the Text: Here are two propoſitions very evident; All that are written in the Lambs booke of life doe not worſhip the Beaſt: But thoſe that worſhip the Beaſt, are not written in the Lambs baok of life. Then the concluſion is, They ſhall be coſt into the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone: That if it appear that this Beaſt is the Roman Catholick Church, and the head of this Beaſt is the Pope: The concluſion will be moſt evident, that no man living and dying a Papiſt, can go beyond a Reprobate: I dare not ſay, but ſome that are ignorant, whom devotion hath carryed to that Religion; it is poſſible ſome of them when they come to death, may ſee the vanity of that Religion of worſhipping Saints, and of confining their Faith to them, but that is not by their Religion: but if they dye in that Religion, and if their faith and worſhip be thruſt upon them from the Roman Catholick Church, and they worſhip Saints and Angels, and believe in their owne merits for their juſtification, I do pronounce to you, that a Papiſt, living and dying a Papiſt, cannot go beyond a Reprobate; I meane ſuch an one was not written in the Lambs booke of life: And they that are not, are caſt into the lake that burns with fire and brimſtone, that is the iſſue: And therefore what a fearfull thing is it in ſuch that do all they can to reconcile Nations to the Church of Rome, and are mad upon Romiſh religion? what deſperate ſervice do they undertake, to bring men to ſuch a religion as deſtroys many millions of ſoules? It is true, Thoſe that are written in the Lambs booke of life; God looſeth none of his ſheep: but it is evident they are bloody Butchers of many Chriſtians not choſen, yet devout Chriſtians, many an one under pang of Conſcience, with ſence of many ſinfull paſſions and luſts, are not able to get out but by a Prieſts abſolution; and if they be covered with a Fryars coule, they hope they ſhall do well enough: Such a conſcience as can be opened and healed by ſuch wooden keys as theſe, if they know no more, ſuch cannot be ſaved.
I will not enlarge it, but it were neceſſary to be preſſed and urged in ſome places, look not at it as a matter of curioſity and circumſtance what Religion a man dyes in, and think as ſome Stateſ-men doe, that if it were not for hot-ſpur'd Jeſuites on the one ſide, and hot-ſpur'd Puritans (as they call them) on the other ſide, Proteſtants and Papiſts might be eaſily reconciled. Theſe are the whiſperings of fleſh and blood; but that which is written in the word, doth bear expreſſe teſtimonie againſt ſuch a concluſion: For if Jeſuites were removed, and Puritans too, yet if there were any left that thought they could worſhip the Church of Rome, as they require, that you muſt believe as they believe, your faith is built upon the Church, and upon the diſpenſation of the keyes of that Church, ſuch a faith and obedience as fals ſhort of Chriſt Jeſus, that all ſalvation is to be expected from him, if both Jeſuites, and thoſe they call Puritans were removed, if there were none, but that take up their faith and obedience in that worſhip they hold forth: I ſay there is not any one of them that ſo live, and ſo dye, knowing what they believe, that can be ſaved. Indeed you read in Rev. 3. many know not the depth of Satan, and it is another matter what God may diſpence to them in private; but men that know what they do, and believe according to the doctrine of that Church, and worſhip according to the direction of it: I ſay, men living, and ſo dying, there is not one of them whoſe names are written in the Lambs book of life, and therefore ſhall be caſt into the lake that burns with fire and brimſtone.
This may teach us a true ground of any mans preſervation from the pollutions of the world,Ʋſe 2. bewitching pollutions; ſometimes a Catholick Strumpet carries all the world after her, as in thoſe times: Sometimes the world ſwallows up the Church, and every man thinkes him happy, if hee may be clad with thick clay; others are taken up with proviſions for their belly, and ſenſuall Epicurean luſts, there be a world of ſuch people: Now what doth preſerve the people of God, that they are not carryed away either with the Catholick religion, or with worldly ambition, they are not taken with theſe: but ſee the vanity of them; what, are any of us better then thoſe that have been bewitched by theſe? but what puts the difference? The originall difference is, God hath written them in the Lambs book of life, and what hee hath written, he hath written, as Pilate ſayd: Hee hath written ſuch to life, and his decree is irrecoverable: My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will do all my pleaſure, Iſa. 46. 9, 10. Therefore there is the Originall, from thence it flows, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt concurring with the Fathers counſell, he hath given us redemption from the blood of Anceſtors, and redeemed us from the preſent evill world, and will ſeek up every ſtragling Lamb, and preſents us ſpotleſſe to his heavenly Father, and then the ſpirit of God, by which he works all in the hearts of his people that receives us, for Chriſt and the ſpirit; for Chriſt comes and takes poſſeſſion of us, and ſo thereby girds up our loyns to a dependance on him, and his grace, that we are preſerved and ſaved from thoſe fearfull temptations that overcome others, and all the world are over-whelmed withall.
It may teach us the marvellous freedome of the love of God;Ʋſe 3. and therefore to admire the wonderfull love of God, the cauſe of all this our preſervation from ſuch prevailing evills as ſwallow up the whole world; how doth it appear? why, I pray you conſider, when the Lord wrote down thy name, or mine, or any mans name, who ſtood by at his elbow (if I may ſo ſpeak) to put him in mind of my name or thine? he thought of us, if our names be there, and he ſet us downe, and he delivered us to Chriſt Jeſus by name; what ever thy name is, he took notice of thy name; ſuch a man in ſuch a place, he will live in this or that Countrey, he is one, take notice of him, lay down a price for him; in fulneſſe of time ſend a ſpirit into this heart; if he live in a Popiſh Countrey, ſave him from Popery; If in a worldly Countrey, ſave him from the world: where ever he lives, ſave him from himſelf, and bring him to my heavenly Kingdom; but what was there in us that could commend us to God? or what could there in us but what he appointed, but what he ſhould put into us; he could not fore-ſee any thing, but that hee muſt work it, therefore it muſt certainly be his undeſerved love that muſt take notice of them, and give them ſo to come to Chriſt, and all that the Father hath given him ſhall come unto him. The Lord will draw them, and then they ſhall come; in the meane time he keeps them from his Fathers eternal donation, in John 17. 17. Thoſe whom thou haſt given me, I have kept. Hee hath not loſt any, but one that was not given him to keep, he prays to God to keepe them through his own name, he keeps them by his own ſpirit, and this was agreed on from the foundation of the world, when this book was written; and it was not written yeſterday, but before the foundation of the world, Rev. 17. 8. His thoughts were about thee and me; and whoever is written therein, a matter of much praiſe and glory to God, that he ſhould have ſuch marvellous precious thoughts to us. Pſalm. 139. 17. How precious are thy thoughts to me O God. And ſo in Pſal. 40. 5. we read of the precious thoughts of God towards us; that hee ſhould have ſuch thoughts, when time yet was not, neither we nor our fathers; and all he did fore-ſee in thee and me, would but provoke his wrath; what was good he muſt work, and that was from his counſell: If you ſee any vaniſh away, or fall away from his grace, and from his Saints, and he hath no pleaſure in them, they are not given to Chriſt, you ſee he is the giver of them; but if men be not given to Chriſt, they will fall away: All that the Father gives me ſhall come unto me, it is my Fathers will I ſhould not looſe one of them. If men will not hearken to the Biſhop of their ſouls, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſee the deſperate danger thereof, and the originall root, They are not written in the Lambs book of life.
It may be of ſingular comfort to all the elect of God,Ʋſe 4. whoſe names are written in the book of Life: It is a great comfort that a man is written to life, hee might have beene written to death, had not the Lord been pleaſed ſo to doe: You read in the Epiſtle of Jude, verſ. 4. Of certain men crept in unawares, who were of old ordained to condemnation: The word in the Originall is, fore-written, written afore-time to deſtruction: Now I ſay, that a man is not written to deſtruction, but to life, and to life in Chriſt; not as Adam, that was to ſtand by his own ſtrength, and ſo long as he uſeth grace well, he ſhall live; but if not, he ſhall dye: and he ſo uſed it, that if God give him not life in Chriſt, he dyed for ever: This is in Adams covenant, not in Chriſts, that was for a man to live by his own righteouſneſſe: Do this and thou ſhalt live, Levit. 18. 5. How wofull was our condition in this caſe, but to be written to life, and to life in Chriſt; that is, Becauſe hee lives, we ſhall live alſo: I am the way, the truth, and the life: And by this being written in the Lambs book of life, that the Lord ſhould think upon us, when we had no thoughts of him; nay had no being, that he ſhould then undertake for us; that when the Father gives us, he will receive us; and by receiving us, keep us ſpotleſſe to his heavenly Kingdome, that he wil preſerve us from poſſibility of damnable Errors: They ſhall ſeduce if it were poſſible, the very Elect, Mat. 24. 24. But there is no poſſibility; what a marvellous matter is it, that it is not poſſible that any of thoſe that are given to Chriſt ſhould be ſeduced; it is ſuch a mercy that may ſwallow up all diſcouragements, all afflictions, all blaſphemy of a mans good name and ſtate, and wealth, and health, and all whatſoever; this may ſupport him, that it is not poſſible he ſhould be ſeduced: For the Lord knows who are his, the foundation of God ſtands ſure; the Lord hath written it, and he is more conſtant then Pilate, or the Kings of Perſians and Medes: The Law is written and eſtabliſhed by the Kings Ring, and God is more ſtedfaſt then any of the Kings of the Earth, what he hath written ſhall be accompliſhed; the Lord will draw them to Chriſt, and Chriſt will keep them, not one of them ſhall periſh, not one of them ſhall worſhip the Beaſt; or if they do, they ſoone ſee their folly, and are recovered out of all ſnares, they ſhall not prevaile againſt them.
It may be of inſtruction and exhortation,Ʋſe 5. to provoke you to make your election ſure, then you make your ſalvation ſure, and preſervation from Popery and the world, and from the Devill, and from your own corrupt Nature, ſure that you ſhall not be carried captive with the polutions of the times and places you live in, though hundreds run from God one way, and ten thouſands another way, & fall off hither and thither, yet you ſhall ſtill be preſerved: in John 6. 68. where our Saviour asked his Diſciples, will ye alſo go away? when many of thoſe that were his Diſciples went away and fell off from him, being offended from ſomething which he had ſpoken to them, and that was that Doctrine that we have now in hand, and ſome other corolaries from it, they walked no more with him; then ſaith Chriſt to the reſt, will yee alſo go away? Peter anſwered in the behalfe of the reſt; Lord, to whom ſhall we go, thou haſt the words of eternall life: As who ſhould ſay, whether ſhall a man go to mend himſelf? Thou haſt the words of eternall life? and having the words of eternall life, how ſhall they do better elſe where? ſo it behooves us then as we deſire, to be preſerved from all apoſtacy and backſliding from God, notwithſtanding all the temptations of the flattering world, or buſie world, or from the deſtroying world, by perſecution, and flattering by proſperity, and buſie world, by the cares of the world, and continuall cumber about the world, and diſtempers in our hearts on that ground, in ſuch a caſe as this what ſhall preſerve us? If our names be written in the Lambes book of life, truely we ſhall be preſerved, that neither the world, nor our paſſions and luſts ſhall prevail againſt us. My father (ſaith Chriſt) is greater then all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand: and I and my Father are oue, my Father and I will keepe them, Joh. 10. 27, 28.
Obj. You will ſay, it is a needleſſe exhortation to make our election ſure, if that be not done long ago; for it is not begun in this world, but long before; it is concluded long before, or elſe we are not written in the Lambes book of life; one of theſe two is concluded in Heaven: Chriſt knows thoſe that are given to him by his Father, before he knows them by name, John 10. 14. It is worthy of memory that Chriſt knows them all by name, that argues the particularity and ſingularity of them, as he knows all the Stars in Heaven, ſo doth he much more know all his elect; if he know them all by name, hee then particularly obſerves them, and prevents us with bleſſings of goodneſſe, and preſerves us from prevailing evills, but if it be recorded of God, is it not in vain to exhort to make it ſure.
Anſw. If it were in vain, methinks the Apoſtle ſhould not have uſed it, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Then that is it that lyes upon all Chriſtians; ſome think it is not poſſible, but then it were a vain exhortation, Make your calling and election ſure; if you do, a wide and open door of entrance ſhall be miniſhed unto you; well then though I cannot make ſure my election in it ſelfe, for it is ſure in it ſelfe; but the Queſtion is, whether it it is ſure to me, that is my duty, for he knowes who …, and knows them by name, and keeps them in his name, and hath given his Angels charge over us, and they will all watch over us, and therefore our Saviour in Luke 10. 20. ſaith to his Diſciples, Rejoyce not in this that the Devils are ſubject unto you, but that your names are written in Heaven. Our election is ſure enough in heaven, no ſtormes will alter it there: But now (in a word) can we make our election ſure? the Apoſtle intimates when you make your calling ſure, you make your election ſure: your calling, that is but the actuall execution of this eternall election; but they are ſo neere, that many the Lord puts them one for another, he tells his Diſciples, you have not choſen me, but I have choſen you, John 15. 16. he means of his ſelection, his calling them out of the world, then he doth communicate his electing love to ſuch; it is wrought for us before in Chriſts death, in Gods councell, and in his effectuall redemption, wrought for us on the Croſſe: but yet it is not manifeſt to our conſciences till calling, but make your calling ſure, and then election is ſure: When you are called according to his purpoſe, Rom. 8. 28. that is this book of life, that is his purpoſe, that we are in Gods purpoſe written to life, look to that he hath ſaved us, and called us, Not according to our workes, but according to his own purpoſe and grace which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 1. 8. that is the book of life and grace; of free grace, purpoſing us to life; and you read in Rom. 8. 30. Whom he predeſtinated, them he hath called; and whom he called, them he juſtified: now if a man be effectually called to grace that doth ſearch election, let me briefly touch it, that which makes ſure calling.
1. In our effectuall calling, there is a declaration of Gods love to the ſoul in Chriſt Jeſus by the ſpirit of grace, in the doctrine of the Goſpell, for that is Gods call; in our calling, God calls for his part by his grace and ſpirit, and we anſwere that ſpirit, by that faith, which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts; I ſay, God calls effectually to his grace by manifeſting the rich grace of God in Chriſt, electing freely, calling freely, from the obedience of ſinne and Satan, to the liberty of the ſons of God, as to thoſe in Queen Maries time, when they wandered up & down like Lambs in a large place: Bilney he fetches in that one word in his loſt and forlorn condition; He read this promiſe, and the ſpirit of God applies it; Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chiefe: This being applyed by the ſpirit, it falls on him with power, and he ſees the goodneſſe of God in Chriſt, and the vanity of all things elſe: and ſeeing ſo much glory in Chriſt, and in particular to him alſo, this lets him ſee the vanity of all other courſes; for this manifeſtation of Gods ſpirit doth effectually and manifeſtly open our eyes to ſee, and hearts to believe what the Lord offers, for faith is ſaid to receive what the Lord gives of grace; here is then that which makes calling ſure, for otherwiſe how can we know it, but by the manifeſtation, and declaration, and revelation of the Spirit: The things that eye never ſaw, nor eare heard, nor ever entred into the heart of man, but he hath revealed them by his ſpirit, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. As no man knows the things of man, but the ſpirit of man, ſo no man knows the things of God, but the ſpirit of God: And we have not received the ſpirit of this world, but the ſpirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given us of God. The ſpirit of God it is that ſearcheth all things, even the deep things of God, and reveals them to us, and lets us ſee the treaſures of grace, and lets us ſee them thus applyed, this is the ground of effectuall calling, God calling by his ſpirit, and we anſwering that call, and from both theſe ſprings another fruit of our effectuall calling, which is likewiſe a certaine pledge of it that being thus called: Bleſſed be God (ſaith the Apoſtle) that hath called us to the fellowſhip of his ſonne actually and effectually.
2. Thence it comes to paſſe, that wee chooſe the Lord for our God: We have none in heaven but him, nor none on earth that we deſire in compariſon of him: Away then with thoſe beautifull Strumpets, and all works of iniquity, and wayes of darkneſſe, wayes of ambition, theſe are all blaſted; now I deſire to know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. and now it is, that he rejoyceth in nothing, ſave in the Croſſe of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 6. 14. Now this electing love in that we elect God, we could never chooſe God, had not he choſen us, and in ſome meaſure diſcovered what his electing love was to us, this brings the heart back again to chooſe him, and none but him: now that is another ſecurity of our election, and therein it differs from all others; a man may have a kinde of ſanctification by common gifts, which will leave him ſtill to work for himſelfe, but this is to abuſe the very gifts of God, which the ſpirit hath wrought in us, though they be not ſuch as accompany ſalvation, ſtill we are not lift up above our ſelves, but when we are called effectually to Chriſt; now no motion ſwayes us, but as we ſee the will of God in it, we cannot beleive as the Church beleives: but we beleive our brethren and the Church, as we ſee the Church follows the foot-ſteps of the will of God; If I now pleaſe men (ſaith the Apoſtle) I am not the ſervant of Chriſt, 1 Theſ. 2. 4. Nor of men ſought we glory, when we might have been burden ſome, as the Apoſtles of Chriſt: If a man be left to faſt for himſelfe, or pray for himſelfe, or worke for himſelfe, and all is for himſelfe, that he work… from a principal reſpect unto himſelfe, truly this will darken a mans effectuall calling; and if it be his conſtant courſe, doubtleſſe his heart is not right with God: It is true, in a pang of temptation a man may be wheeled about, as Peter and David, yet the ſight of Gods electing love quickens them to ſee their ſinne, how farre they are turned aſide from God; but there … ſoul is bent, as it were, with the point of a compaſs touched with a Load-ſtone, it may be jogged by windes and ſtormes, yet it lookes ſtill to the North pole; though you may ſhake it from its courſe, yet let it but ſtand a while, it will directly look to the North pole, there it will ſtand; ſo it is with all the children of God, they cannot but worke; for Chriſt in John 16. 14. He ſhall glorifie me, for he ſhall receive of mine, and give it unto you: So that the heart that is ſincere, it workes from Chriſt, and for Chriſt, and with Chriſt; I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, 1 Cor. 15. 10. So that you ſee what the manner of Gods people in this caſe is, they are from Chriſt, and for Chriſt, and with Chriſt, and it is a ſeal of Gods election; the higheſt ſeal is, God knowes who are his, and that ſeal he manifeſts by his ſpirit in the Goſpel, it is the ſpirit that ſeals up our adoption, and here is another ſeal we ſet to our ſeal, while we cleave to him with all our heart and ſoul, and ſeek after him, and have none in heaven but him, nor on Earth that we deſire in compariſon of him.
And thirdly, the laſt aſſurance of a mans election and calling (which I ſhall name at this time) is that which Peter himſelfe doth expreſſe, in 2 Pet. 1. Give all deligence to make your calling and election ſure; How ſhall they do that? he tels us in ver. 5. Moreover adde to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, &c. He reckons ſundry ſorts of graces, and he calls upon them to adde grace to grace and one degree of grace to another; and (ſaith he) if theſe things dwell in you, and abound, by this means an open entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto you abundantly into the everlaſting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, as if men that did not grow in grace, and g…ow from grace to grace; if they get to heaven at length, they muſt mend their p…ce, thruſt and croud for it; but if theſe things be in you and abound, ſo an open entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto you; as if the great gates of Heaven were opened to you: there muſt be a growing, you are blind elſe, and cannot ſee afar off; you ſhall not ſee your ſtate, unleſſe you grow from faith to faith, and from knowledge to knowledge, then an open entrance ſhall be miniſtred to you, that you ſhall die in full aſſurance of faith, and of the love of God: And thus ſhall a man make his calling and election ſure; and by ſo doing, he ſhall make ſure to himſelfe his preſerva…ion from this world, and ſhall be tranſlated to everlaſting reſt wi…h the Lord in due time, where there ſhall be neither falſe Prophet, nor Jeſuit…, nor worldlings, whoſe names are not written in the Lambs book of life.