Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Section 30 – Section 31
SECTION. 30.
BUt now, 2Converted, who are put in mind to ſtirre up grace in them. 2 Tim. 1.6.laſtly, let u… conſider the Elect a… thus already converted, and then ſuch precepts and admonitions are not in vaine For 1. now having receive… a new Life, they are th… put in minde to ſtirre … (as one would do fire) God grace in them; which with out ſuch Exhortations, … a weake fire under gree… wood would ſoone decay And to worke out the Salvation with feare a… trembling, that is, w… much humility, and w… as little ſelfe-confidence.
2 They are thus ad… niſhed to ſeeke after pe… ction, 2To ſeek after perfection, and to be thankfull.to ſeek to Chriſt … for their preſervation … …erſeverance; And to conſi…er what Chriſt hath done …or them, that ſo they …ight bee more thankfull …nd carefull, by all holy & …ood endeavours, to doe …nd performe what God on …eir parts doth and may …aſtly require by way of re…itall at their hands.
Such Exhortations then … them doe help to keepe … this Heavenly fire; For …od preſerves thē by ſuch …eanes, who otherwiſe of …emſelves are ready to de…rt from, yea and to fall …om grace received.
Therefore is that Caveat, …e heed Brethren, Heb. 3.12.13.leaſt there … any of you an evill heart … beleefe, in departing from … God; But exhort … the… daily, while it is …ed to day, leaſt any of you be hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. 2 Cor. 6.1.Thus alſo doth Paul and Timothy exhort the Corinthians, ſaying: We beſeech you, that ye… receive not the grace of God i… vaine. Such exhortation… are not to inſinuate tha… men may or ſhall at lea… fall from the grace of pra… deſtination, or from th… grace of Gods effectua… calling, which proceed from God, and comes to … by way of Gods eterna… purpoſe; for this is mo… conſtant and unchangabl… Rom. 11.29. But leaſt the fall away, God preſer… them by ſuch exhortati… (his owne and others) as … the meanes of their ſafe…
And God may juſtly … quire of thoſe whom … hath once effectually call… …nd quickned by grace, the …ight uſe and employment of ſuch talents as they have …eceived. Yea it would …ow bee greater ſhame to …hem, if being made ſtrong, …nd furniſhed with Spiritu…ll Weapons, they ſhould …ot reſiſt Satan, ſinne, and …mptation, but ſuffer the …heefe to robbe, & ſpoyle …em of their graces.
SECT. 31:
TO conclude all; Theſe exhortations expell ſecurity, though Gods grace work all.theſe Exhortations and com…ands, though they be not … our owne power to doe …d keepe accordingly, yet …e ſee they are not in vaine …t have their ſpeciall uſe any wayes, yea we are by … meanes to neglect them, …leſſe we will neglect our owne Salvation. Though the power be Gods, yet th… duty is ours; And God promiſing his power, require yet of us our endevours▪ Therefore ſaith he, Labo… or worke not for the meat th… periſheth, Iohn 6.27.but for that whic… endureth to everlaſting Life which the Sonne of Man ſh… give unto you. Though th… Sonne will give it us, ye… not without our labour ſo worke cut your Salvation For it is God that worketh? Philia. 12.13.you, &c. Though it be God that workes, yea an… will worke in us, yet we muſt not neglect to work…
As wee Miniſters the… muſt labour and ſtill caſt … our Nets, Miniſters muſt exhort.yea bee patie… though of a long time we catch nothing, in meekn… inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, (expecting if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledging of the Truth; 2 Tim. 2.25and muſt reſt aſſured, that we bring glory to God even in thoſe that periſh, and that the peace which we preach in and by the Goſpell, (whereof they judge themſelves unworthy,) ſhall returne to us a gaine, and our worke ſtill be with the Lord.
So all generally are hence taught to depend on the publike miniſtery, And the people muſt depend on the publick miniſtery.and on the Word of Exhortation, ſeeing God compels us not, but gently drawes us; and neither to expect that God by Enthuſiaſme and immediate revelation without the word ſhould inſpire us, or yet ſo farre to preſume on Gods decree of praedeſtination of us (either the one way or the other) as either to expect and hope to attaine eternall Life, (being the end) without a care…ll, conſcionable, & conſtant uſe of the Meanes, or yet to deſpaire of attaining …nto Life, if wee with any good conſcience doe uſe the Meanes.