Antidote Against Arminianism, Discourse · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of the Sixth and Laſt Property of the Divine Decree, it is Extenſive.
THE Sixth Property of the Divine Decree is Extenſive, there is a general Decree that relates to all Created Beings, both Animate and Inanimate, Coeleſtial and Terreſtrial; this indeed, extends it ſelf to every Individual in the whole Creation, for as it gave a Being to all Things, ſo it preſerves them in that Being while they continue in the World. The Creator is not herein like the Carpenter, that builds an Houſe and leaves the Preſervation of it to the Care of others, but the Work of Providence (which extends it ſelf from Angels down to Worms) ſucceeds the Work of Creation: But this ſpecial Decree of Predeſtination is not Extenſive (as the General is) to all Individuals, but is diſcriminating and particular as before, and yet tho' it be not extended Ad ſingula generum, yet is it Ad genera ſingulorum: Though the Exception lay not in the Goſpel (which is to be preached to every Creature) but in the Decree; yet is the Decree an Extenſive Thing; as it extends it ſelf,
1. To all Ranks.Firſt, To all Sorts and Ranks of Men, to Princes and Peaſants, to High and Low, to Rich and Poor, to Bond and Free: It extends it ſelf to Kings, 1 Tim. 2.4. for among them God hath his choſen Veſſels, his Davids and his Solomons. Though the Scripture ſay, Not many Noble and Mighty, yet doth it not ſay, not any; for God hath had ſome great Ones to own his Ways in all Ages: It extends it ſelf to Servants alſo, Tit. 2.9,11. for God beſtows his Love on thoſe in Rags, as well as on thoſe in Robes; and the Poor do receive the Goſpel, Mat. 11.5. God is no Reſpecter of Perſons.
2. To all Sexes.Secondly, To all or both Sexes is the Decree extended, to Male and to Female, God hath his Elect Ladies, 2 John 1. and both Male and Female are one in Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 3.28. Electing Love hath appeared to both Sexes in the Old Teſtament and in the New.
3. To all Ages.Thirdly, To all Ages: To Young and to Old, to Children and to thoſe of Riper Years: Yea, to very Infants that lay in the Womb of the Eternal Decree, before ever they come out of their Mother's Womb: Jeremy was ſanctified and ordained before he came from the Womb, Jerem. 1.5. and John Baptiſt was filled with the Holy Ghoſt even from the Womb, Luke 1.15. and 'tis probable, David did believe that his Child belonged to the Election of Grace, and that its Soul was bound up in the Bundle of Life, when he comforted himſelf with this; I muſt go to it, but he cannot come to me, 2 Sam. 12.23. David's going to the Grave to it, could yield him very little Comfort.
4. To all Nations.Fourthly, To all Nations: It is not immured in any one Nation but is extended to Jew and Gentile, to Barbarian and Scythian, Col. 3.11. ſome of every Nation under Heaven, Acts 2.5. This Predeſtinating Love effectually calls its Sons out of all Quarters, Iſa. 43.4,5,6. and threw down the Partition Wall betwixt Jew and Gentile, ſaying, I have other Sheep that I muſt gather, John 10.16. Yea, and while this Wall ſtood, this predeſtinating Love brought over it ſundry Proſelites to the Church, as Jethro (who was the firſt Proſelite that was added to the Church in the Wilderneſs, as it became a Church) and many others.
5. To all Generations.Fifthly, To all Generations doth it extend it ſelf: Predeſtinating Love is like a River that runs under Ground, and breaks out in certain Places above the Earth: So freſh Veins of Election breaketh forth ſometimes in One Generation, and ſometimes in another. It is not bound up as to Time, neither before the Law, nor under the Law, nor after the Law; but in every Generation God hath his Church Viſible on the Earth, and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail againſt it. As God is no Reſpecter of Perſons, ſo nor of Places, Nations, nor of Generations; but hath his Hidden Ones to the Worlds End.
Conſectaries.1. If predeſtinating Love extend it ſelf to all Degrees, then they which are poor of Wealth may be Rich of Faith, and a Maſter's Servant may be the Lord's Freeman.
2. If to both Sexes, then the Weaker Veſſel may be a choſen Veſſel, and may be in Chriſt before the Stronger Veſſel, as Priſcilla was.
3. If to all Ages, then Believing Parents may have Faith for their dying Children, they may belong to the Election of Grace, and may be bound up in the Swadling Bands of the Covenant of Grace, ſo they are not as without Hope for them.
4. If to all Nations, then the Ends of the Earth may look towards Chriſt (the Serpent lift up on the Pole of the Goſpel) and be ſaved, Iſa. 45.22.
5. If to all Generations, then predeſtinating Love is an Inexhauſtible Fountain crying always, Is there yet any of the Houſe of Mankind, that I may ſhew the Kindneſs of God unto, 2 Sam. 9.3. as David's Love did.