Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Section 2
SECTION 2.
BUt here, 1. Two main doubts propounded & anſwered in this Treatiſe. 1. Whether Gods promiſes be doubtfull, becauſe conditionall?It may be objected: of what validity is this motive from bleſſedneſſe, or what comfort or encouragement to weldoing can this be, when bleſſedneſſe here is promiſed only upon condition: …f ye doe them? What bleſſedneſſe is this, which (ſeemes) thus to depend on …ffs and Ands?
2. It may be asked, 2Whether it be in our power to keepe the conditiōs, and to doe the things required. And if not, to what end are ſuch precep…s & … hortations.whether it be in our power to keepe and performe theſe Conditions, and indeed to doe theſe things, ſeeing its here required of us; and …f we be not able of our ſelves to doe ſuch things, to what end is it that God requires them at our hands, or exhorts and excites us to the doing of them?
To the former I anſwer: This Cōdition here ſeemes indeed to make the Happineſſe of Saints doubtfull, ſeeing Happine is not here or elſewhere in the Goſpell promiſed, but upon Condition, and that both of our doing (as doing hath been explained already) and of our continuance and perſeverance in weldoing.1Concerning the validity of Gods conditionall promſes & force of the motives thence to w…ldoing, …c. Ge. 4.7 J…hn 7.17. Happ…neſſe from ſed … weldoing. La. 13 9.2 I et. 1.10 And to conſtance therem. Gaſ. 6.9.
For the firſt, if thou doſi… well, (that is, repenteſt, believeſt, and becomeſt ſincere,) ſhalt thou not be accepted? Or ſhall there not be a r…miſſion, ſaid God to Caine? who yet not doing well, found no acceptation.
And ſaith our Saviour Chriſt: If any man will doe …is will, hee ſhall know of the Doctrine, &c. And if it beare …ruit, well, (thou maiſt ſpare …t) and if not, then after that …hou ſhalt cut it downe; …nd if yee doe theſe things, …ee ſhall never fall. And for perſeverance: be not wea…y of weldoing, for in due …eaſon, we ſhall reape if we faint …ot.
But not withſtanding ſuch …onditionall promiſes wee …re taught by the ſame mouth and pen, Yet is not the Happineſſe of the Elect uncertaine either in it ſelfe.that the …eaping the bleſſedneſſe, …he acceptation here, and …he Eternal… Salvation of Gods people and Elect is not barely doubtfull, either …n it ſelfe, or yet alwayes to them …fter their effectuall ca…ling.
1. Not in it ſelfe, ſeeing i… depends not on man barely, but upon another cauſe and ground; namely, on Gods eternall and immutable decree of Election, 2 Theſſ. 2.13.who hath from the beginning choſen them to ſalvation through ſanctification of the Spirit, and beliefe of the truth. Which two (ſanctification and Faith▪ and ſo repentance, obedience, and perſeverance in them all) as hee requireth them of us, as Condition… and Meanes of Life and Salvation; ſo doth hee alſo promiſe, and by vertue o… his election effect theſe conditions in us; as wee ſhal… anon ſee in the particulars.
2. Not to them, Or to them alwayes after Converſion.after their effectuall calling; And that the Conditions fore named, (not of their Election, but) of their Salvation, be fulfilled in them; And, through Gods grace, by them: For ſo their Election (yea and Salvation unto which they are elected) is alſo ſure to them; For (ſith S Peter) if ye doe theſe things yee ſhall never fall, (as wee heard even now.
So that here wee may take notice, How Gods word ſpeakes differently of the ſame things.that the Scripture ſpeakes of the ſame things differently, ſome times as required of us, otherwhiles as promiſed by himſelfe; ſometimes as duties and as our workes, other whiles as bleſſings and his owne workes; ſometimes as the graces required, & the glory promiſed, may be called the Fruit of the Goſpell, and the effects of the Miniſtery, as the inſtrument, otherwhiles as effects of his owne eternall decree of Election, and good purpoſe towards us in Chriſt; and ſo ſometimes as belonging to the execution of his eternall decree, otherwhiles as belonging to his eternall decree to be executed; ſometimes as he is pleaſed to make them knowne to us in his word and will revealed, ſhewing what he requires of us, and what is and will be pleaſing unto him, otherwhiles as he hath purpoſed in himſelfe from all eternity to worke them; ſometimes as in common propounded to all in the Church, otherwhiles as proper to his own peculiar, in whom he will glorify his mercy; And …ence it is that ſometimes …is promiſes are propoun…ed with condition, otherwhiles without condition …bſolutly and indepen…antly.
God knowes who are his, …nd what he will doe himſelfe, and accordingly hee workes all his workes, as …epending meerely on his owne, moſt wiſe, juſt, gra…ious, and good will and pleaſure, which nothing can or ſhall hinder, or diſappoint; And ſo with reference to his owne counſell and purpoſe, he ſpeaks abſolutely, and as things ſhall be: Yet for the effecting of his purpoſe, hee diſpenſeth things in his word▪ as he pleaſeth by propounding things generally to all promiſcuouſly in the Church, (paſſing by others as hee pleaſeth) and that with and under condition, and ſo as (for ought at leaſt wee know) they may or may not be, as the event alſo doth declare, and yet in regard of his elect ones all his purpoſes (and promiſes) of grace and glory ſhall moſt undoubtedly take place, and they ſhall not miſſe of that Salvation, whereunto (through Faith and Sanctification of the Spirit) they were elected.
This courſe (becauſe w… ſee it and doe obſerve it in the Scripture) wee muſt conceive God hath thought fitteſt for the manifeſtation of his glory, by ſhewing forth his mercy, Juſtice▪ Liberty, and other his attributes.
Now if wee underſtand and conceive it not ſo well as wee would, yet ſhould wee not by any meanes queſtion it, or frame things as we pleaſe according to our eaſieſt apprehenſion, but rather reſt (denying our owne reaſon, judgement, will,) in that wee ſee to bee the courſe which God pleaſeth to take.
And this is that which now wee come particu…arly to ſhew and prove …ut of his Word, Two conſiderations for the clearing of the firſt doubt.preparing …he way, and endeavour…ng to make all plaine, by …andling of two maine Conſiderations.