Truths Victory Over Error, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of EFFECTUAL CALLING.
Question I.
ARE all those whom GOD hath predestinated to life, and those onelyonly, in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually called, by his Word and Spirit, out of the estate of sin and death, in which they are by Nature, to Grace and Salvation, through Iesus Christ?
Yes. Rom. 8. 30. Rom. 11. 7. Ephes. 1. 10. 11. 2 Thes. 2. 13, 14. Rom. 8. 2. Ephes. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 3. 36.
Well then, do not the Papists, Arminians, and Lutherians err, who maintain, That men not Elected, are sometimes effectually Called?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, Faith belongs to the Elect only; Titus 1. 1. (2) Because, whom he did predestinate, those onelyonly, and no other hath he called; Rom. 8. 30. (3) Because, though many hear the Gospel, yet none believe, but such as are ordained for everlasting life; Acts 13. 48. (4) Because, the Apostle testifies, that the Elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded; Rom. 11. 7. (5) Because, Christ manifested his Fathers name, to those only whom he choised out of the world, and gave to him; Joh. 17. 6
Quest. II.
DOth GOD, whom he effectually Calls, Enlighten their minds Spiritually, and Savingly, to understand the things of GOD?
Yes. Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 10, 12. Eph. 1. 17, 18.
Well then, do not the Arminians err, who maintain, That no supernatural light infused into the intellective Faculty, and thereby elevating it, is requisite to the saving understanding of these things, which are needful (in the Scripture) to be believed, done, and hoped for?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, the Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of GOD; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned; 1 Cor. 2. 14. (2) Because, the carnal mind is enmity against GOD, for it is not subject to the Law of GOD, neither can it be; Rom. 8. 7. (3) Because, all unregenerate men are darkness; Ephes. 5. 8. And darkness cannot comprehend the light; Iohn 1. 5. (4) Because, Christ sayes, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes; Matth. 11. 25.
Quest. III.
DOth GOD take away from them, whom he effectually Calls, the heart of stone, and give unto them an heart of flesh, renewing their wills, and by his Almighty power, determining them, to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Iesus Christ?
Yes. Ezek. 36. 26. Ezek. 11. 19. Phil. 2. 13. Ezek. 36. 27.
Well then, do not the Arminians err, who maintain, that the will of man, when he is regenerate, is not renewed, nor furnished with any new and Spiritual qualities?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, Moses sayes, GOD shal circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live; Deu. 30. 6. (2) Because, the Lord says, A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and will take away the stony heart out of your flesh; and I will give you an heart of flesh: and I will put my Spirit within you; and cause you to walk in my statutes, and cause you to keep my judgements, and do them; Ezek. 36. 26, 27. (3) Because, It is GOD, that worketh in us, both to will, and to do, according to his good pleasure; Phil. 2. 13. (4) Because, all the faculties of the Soul are renewed; 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new crearure: old things are past away, behold, all things are become new.
Do not likewise the same Arminians err, who maintain, That when the Grace of GOD begins to make an Infall upon the heart, in order to a mans conversion, it is indifferent, and may be resisted, and withstood; so that a man may be converted, or not converted by it? Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, if this Doctrine were true, a mans conversion, would be of him that runneth, and of him that willeth, but not of GOD, that sheweth mercy; which is contrary to the Apostle, Rom. 9. 15, 16. (2) Because, by this way, it should not be GOD, that worketh in us both to will and to do; Phil. 2. 13. (3) Because, by this way, a man himself should make the difference, and GOD should not make one man to differ from another, which is contrary to the Apostle; 1 Cor. 4. 7. (4) Because, if so, a man might glory, that he had in himself, what he had not received; which contradicts 1 Cor. 4, 7. (5) Because, it is GOD, that draws a man, before he comes to Christ; Iohn 6. 44. (6) Because, Conversion is a new Creation; 2 Cor. 5. 17. (7) Because, it is a resurrection from the Dead; Ephes. 2. 5. (8) Because, conversion is no less, than to be born over again; Iohn 3. 3.
Quest. IV.
IS this Effectual call, of GODS free and special grace alone, and not from any thing at all foreseen in man?
Yes. 1 Tim. 2. 9. Titus 3. 4, 5. Eph. 24, 5, 8, 9.
Well then, do not the Papists and Arminians err, who maintain, That an unregenerate man, may by the strength of Nature, and his Freewill do some good works: nay, often times hath actually done such good works, as may prepare him, and dispose him, for the receiving of the Grace of God?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit; Matth. 7. 17. (2) Because, the carnal mind is enmity against GOD: for it is not subject to the Law of GOD, neither indeed can it be; Rom. 8. 7. (3) Because, we have nothing in our selves, which we have not received, whereby we may differ from others; 1 Cor. 4. 7. (4) Because, whatever is not of Faith, is sin; Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6. (5) Because, we are not able of our selves to think a good thought, but all our sufficiency is of GOD, 2 Cor. 3. 5. (6) Because, before conversion we were dead in trespasses and sins; Eph. 2. 2, 5. (7) Because, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost; Titus 3. 5. (8) Because, we were sometimes, that is, before conversion, darkness; Eph. 5. 8. (9) Because, Christ says, without me, ye can do nothing; Iohn 15. 5.
Quest. V.
IS a Man in effectual calling onelyonly passive, until being quickned, and renewed by the holy Ghost, he is thereby enabled, to answer this call, and to embrace the Grace offered, and conveyed in it?
Yes. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom: 8. 7. Ephes. 2. 5. Iohn 6. 37. Iohn 5. 25. Ezek. 36. 27.
Well then, do not the Papists and Arminians err, who maintain, That a Man in his conversion is not passive, but active?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
Before I do this, it is to be observed, that when I say a man is passive in his Conversion, I do not think he is physically passive, as a stock or a stone; while an Artist is about to make a Statue of them: but Morally, or rather Spiritually, as a Man is Spiritually dead, which is a true and real death, though he be naturally living. The (1) Reason, by which they are confuted is this, because we are dead in trespasses and sins; Ephes. 2. 1. (2) Because, we are the servants of sin, until we be made freemen by the Son of GOD; Iohn 8: 34, 36. (3) Because, we are by Nature, under the power of Satan, and of darkness; Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 26. (4) Because, it is God, that worketh in us, both to will, and to do, of his own good pleasure; Phil. 2. 13. (5) Because, the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit; Gal. 5. 17. (6) Because, tho Scriptures ascribe that whole work to God, and no part of it to Man; Eph. 2. 8, 9, 10.
Quest. VI.
ARE Elect Infants, dying in infancy Regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when and where, and how he pleaseth?
Yes. Luke 18. 15, 16. Acts 2. 38, 39. Iohn 3. 3, 5. 1 Iohn 5. 12.
Well then, do not the Anabaptists err, who maintain, that no Infants are Regenerated?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, Iohn the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his Mothers Womb; Luke 1. 15. (2) Because, the Propher Ieremiah, was sanctified, from his mothers Womb; Ier. 1. 5. (3) Because, the promise is made to believing Parents, and to their Children conjunctly; Gen. 17. 7. Acts 2. 39. (4) Because, of such, says Christ, is the kingdom of Heaven; Mat. 19. 14. (5) Because, the Apostle calls Children, which are descended, but of one Parent, in covenant with God, holy; 1 Cor. 7. 14. (6) Because, God hath promised in the second Command, that he will shew mercy, unto thousands, that are descended of believing Parents; Exod. 20. 6.
Quest. VII.
CAN any not elected, although called by the Ministry of the Word, and having some common operations of the Spirit, truely come to Christ, and so be saved?
No. Matth. 22. 14. Matth. 7. 22. Matth. 13. 20, 21. Heb. 6. 4, 5. Iohn 6. 64, 65, 66. Iohn 8. 24.
Well then, do not the Arminians err, who maintain, that there is sufficient Grace given to all Men, for their conversion, to whom the Gospel is preached?
Yes.
Do not likewise the Quakers err, who maintain, that every man hath so much grace given of God, as if he would improve it, would bring him to heaven?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, Christ says to his Disciples, to you it is given, to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them, it is not given; Mat. 13. 11. (2) Because, it is said, of the Jews, they could not believe because God had blinded their eyes, and hardned their hearts; Iohn 12. 39, 40. (3) Because, Christ said to his Disciples, there are some of you, that do not believe: therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father; Iohn 6: 64, 65: (4) Because, the Prophet Isaiah complains, who hath believed our report, or to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? cap: 53: 1. (5) Because, many are called, but few are chosen; Mat. 22. 14: (6) Because, men in nature, do not discern, neither can they know the things of the Spirit of God; 1 Cor: 2. 14. (7) Because, the most part of the World, are buried in gross darkness, and have their understanding darkned, and are alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance, that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts; Eph. 4: 18.