Antidote Against Quakerism, Part 7
Concerning Election and Reprobation.
I Should not have medled with this deep myſterious point, but that by his additional depravation of Gods truth, he hath engaged me thereunto. I ſhall therefore God aſſiſting, briefly lay down, manifeſt, and vindicate the truth, ſo far as I ſee it oppoſed. And here, this Propoſition. That God did moſt freely, unchangeably, and from all eternity chooſe ſome particular perſons, to partake of ſaving grace and ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, for the praiſe of the glory of his grace. From whence it will neceſſarily follow, that he hath reprobated, or paſſed by others. I muſt manifeſt this by parts.
1. Gods Act, which eſſentially takes in the object thereof, he hath choſen ſome particular perſons, 2 Theſ. 2.13. God hath choſen you. Jo. 15.19. I have choſen you. Eph. 14. He hath choſeu us. This being directly denyed I ſhall adde Arguments.
Arg. 1. Particular perſons in time receive mercy, are converted, made to perſevere, are ſaved; therefore did God decree this before hand. For God worketh according to the Counſel of his own will, Eph. 1.11.
Arg. 2. God hath made abſolute promiſes of the firſt ſaving grace; Ezek. 36.25, 26. I will ſprinkle clean water upon you, and you ſhall be clean. A new heart will I give you. Chap. 11.19, 20. I will give them one heart, and I will put a new ſpirit within you: I will take the stony heart out of their fleſh, and give them a heart of fleſh, that they may walk in my Statutes, Jer. 31.33. This is the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael in thoſe dayes, ſaith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their inward parts. Iſa. 54.13. All thy Children ſhall be taught of the Lord. Theſe promiſes are but a declaration of his purpoſe or Decree; and they are not made concerning all, but particular perſons, whom God hath in his eye to ſave; otherwiſe every one would be made clean, would have a new heart, a heart of fleſh, Gods Law written in his heart, would be taught of God, and ſo come to Chriſt; but experience ſhews the contrary.
Arg. 3. Perſons by name, are particular perſons; but God hath choſen perſons by name: Rev. 13.8. All that dwel on the earth ſhall worſhip the beast, whoſe names are not written in the ſlain Lambs book of Life from the foundation of the world. So may the words be read.
Arg. 4. All that are choſen do infallibly believe in time, and partake of Chriſts Righteouſneſs: Act. 13.48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Rom. 11.7. The Elect have obtained it: Therefore ſome particular perſons were Elected; for if all were Elected, all would infallibly believe, and ſo partake of Chriſts Righteouſneſs.
Arg. 5. Jacob was a particular Perſon, and loved, before he had done any good according to Gods purpoſe of Election; Rom. 9.11.
Arg. 6. God knows his Elect from others, and this not only after, but alſo before they are called. 2 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God ſtands ſure, having this Seal; the Lord knoweth them that are his. Jo. 13.18. I know whom I have choſen. Jo. 10.14. I am that good ſhepheard, and know my ſheep. ver. 16. Other ſheep I have, which are not of this Fold; them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall hear my voyce. Therefore are they particular Perſons. Theſe and not others that the Lord hath choſen. Jo. 6.37. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me.
Arg. 7. This appears from the very Nature of Election, for where all are taken, or all are left, there can be no Election.
2. The end and intendment of this Act. This, with reſpect to Man is, that he might partake of ſaving grace. Eph. 1.4. According as he hath choſen us that we ſhould be holy; That we might alſo partake of Salvation by Jeſus Christ. 2 Theſ. 2.13. God hath choſen you to Salvation. 1 Theſ. 5.9. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord with reſpect to God, that the glory of his grace might be praiſed, as we have it expreſt, Eph. 1.6. verſe 11, 12. Predeſtinated that we ſhould be to the praiſe of his glory.
3. The Properties of his Act.
1. Moſt freely did God Elect thoſe that are Elected. Rom. 9.11. The Children not being yet born, neither having done good or evil, that the purpoſe of God according to Election might ſtand, not of works, but of him that calleth; it was ſaid the elder ſhould ſerve the younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, and Eſau have I hated. Though theſe laſt words were ſpoken when Eſaus poſterity was the border of wickedneſs, Mal. 1. Yet, whatever G. W. ſaith, p. 45. were they ſpoken to ſignifie the free choice that God long before bad made of Jacob and his ſeed; which free choice was manifeſted in thoſe words of Love concerning Jacob, the elder ſhall ſerve the younger, for they were ſpoken before the Children had done good or evil: nothing had Jacob done to move God thus to preſerve him before his brother. And further the Apoſtle tells us this was done that the purpoſe of Gods Election might ſtand or take place: So that God did but Act then as he had decreed of old to do. And further yet, the Apoſtle tells us, this Election is not of works, but of him that calleth. No mans good works foreſeen are the things that move God to chooſe, but it is the meer good pleaſure of God who effectually calls and prevails on whom he will. This is further manifeſt from Ver. 16. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that ſheweth mercy. The Truth is we have naturally no will to that which is ſpiritually good; how ſhould we when we cannot know the things of God? when holineſs and faith in Chriſt are fooliſhneſs to us? ſo Ʋer. 18. He hath mercy on whom he will. The Apoſtle goes on Ʋer. 21. Hath not the Potter power over the Clay, of the ſame Lump to make one Veſſel to honour, another to diſhonour? The Lump is Men and Women to be created; the making of Veſſels, is Gods creating mankind with a decree of permitting their fall; the making of this Veſſel to honour, that to diſhonour, is Gods creating ſuch a perſon with a Reſolution to recover him out of his fallen ſtate by ſaving grace; this reſolution is moſt free: ſuch a perſon with an intention to leave and never recover him out of his fallen ſtate by renewing grace. Thus God doth not make any a wicked creature as G. W. imagines we muſt ſay, p. 46. Nor doth God conſume any man meerly as his own workmanſhip; but God endureth with much long-ſuffering unregenerate men, and they fit themſelves for deſtruction. This he that is recovered will acknowledge. 2 Tim. 1.9. Not according to our works, but according to his purpoſe. The reaſon of God ſaving us in time by the waſhing of regeneration is not to be fetcht from our works, any thing that we have done; but from Gods purpoſe of old, who freely and of his good pleaſure did decree it. Eph. 1.5. Predeſtination unto the Adoption of Children by Jeſus Chriſt, is according to the good pleaſure of his will.
2. Gods Election is unchangeable. He will certainly bring in, he will never finally reject that ſoul he hath taken liking to. Chriſt must bring in his ſheep, and he hateth putting away; nor ſhall it be poſſible to deceive the Elect. Pſal. 33.11. The Counſel of the Lord ſhall ſtand for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all Generations. Election is that product of Gods counſel, the determination of infinite wiſdom conſulting. Rom. 9.11. The Purpoſe of God according to Election muſt ſtand. So that here is purpoſe upon purpoſe; a purpoſe to ſave ſuch a ſoul, and a purpoſe not to alter that purpoſe, but infallibly to bring it to paſs. Men change their purpoſes for want of fore-knowledge; but nothing can fall out, not ſin it ſelf, cauſing God to alter his purpoſe; he foreſaw all, and can give repentance. From this Doctrine, grace will not cauſe a Child to ſin the more boldly, but to loath himſelf the more for ſin. As in other things, the Lord purpoſeth, and none diſanulleth it, Iſa. 14.27. So in this Pſa. 135.6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he, in heaven, and in earth and in the Sea, and all deep places.
3. From all Eternity did God Elect. In time doth God convert, and cauſe to perſevere; but Acts 15.18. Known unto God are all his works from the foundation of the world. Eph. 1.4. According as God hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world. 2 Theſ. 2.13. From the beginning hath God choſen you. Rev. 17.8. Whoſe Names were not written in the book of Life from the foundation of the World.
Obj. p. 41. This puffs up.
Anſw. It works ſelf-abaſing admiration of Soveraign grace, it gives great reſt, and engageth the heart of a ſincere believer to an utter deteſtation of all ſin.
Obj. If the everlaſting ſtate of perſons is thus ſecured, all Warnings are impertinent and vain.
Anſw. No, God that decrees their ſalvation, decrees by ſuch warnings to work in them his fear, and a holy caution to keep in his ways that they may be ſaved. From this Doctrine of Election, thus manifeſted, thus vindicated by moſt evident conſequence, appears the Truth of the Doctrine of Reprobation. viz. That God hath rejected or refuſed others from all Eternity, or Decreed never to convert them by beſtowing ſaving grace on them; but for ſin to damn them, for the praiſe of the glory of his Juſtice. For if God hath choſen ſome, who can deny that he hath refuſed others? And the Scripture, if we will believe it, will make it manifeſt in all the parts of it.
1. That God hath refuſed ſome particular perſons. Jo. 10.26. You are not my ſheep. Rom. 11.7. The reſt were blinded. Rom. 9.18. Whom he will he hardeneth. Peter deſerved hardening as well as Judas; that God hardeneth Judas, not Peter, proceeds from the meer pleaſure of his Will. He makes, as the great Potter, what Veſſel he pleaſeth to diſhonour; that is, God makes him with an intention to ſuffer his fall, and never recover him by renewing grace.
2. That God hath from Eternity thus refuſed them. Jude 4. There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this Condemnation. Rev. 17.8. Whoſe Names were not written in the book of Life from the foundation of the World. Add this Argument. As there are Particular Angels whom God ſuffered to fall, though he could as eaſily have preſerved them from it as he did the reſt: ſo there are Particular Men and Women whom God never recovers by ſaving grace out of their fallen condition, though he could as eaſily have recovered them as others, if he had pleaſed; but he endures them with much long ſuffering to fit themſelves for deſtruction: Therefore from all Eternity did God decree thus to do concerning them in particular, for known to God are all his works from the foundation of the world.
3. That God hath decreed to damn theſe perſons for ſin. Prov. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himſelf, yea even the wicked for the day of evil. He damneth particular perſons for ſin; therefore of old did he decree to damn thoſe particular men for ſin, 2 Pet. 2.12. As Beaſts, made to be taken and deſtroyed
4. That all this is for the praiſe of the glory of his Juſtice. Rom. 9.22. What if God, willing to ſhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much Long-ſuffering, Veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction? And though God hath no pleaſure in the death of him that dieth, conſidered barely as his Creature; for he is willing to receive to mercy every returning Sinner; yet if a perſon perſeveres in wickedneſs, as ſuch, God will laugh at his Calamity, and mock when his fear cometh.
This Doctrine of Reprobation being the Truth of God according to Scripture, from it I draw theſe Conſectaries.
1. That it cannot be inconſiſtent with his Prohibitions, p. 42. Eat not. His Conditional Promiſes, If thou doſt well, ſhalt not thou be accepted? If you ſeek the Lord, be will be found of you. Whoſoever believeth ſhall not periſh; ſhall not abide in darkneſs. His Conditional Threats. If thy heart turn away, thou ſhalt periſh. If you forſake him, he will forſake you. His ſending his Son into the world not to condemn the world. His giving his Spirit to inſtruct them in theſe things. His ſetting Life and Death before them in the Promiſes, and in the Threats. Or his giving men up to their Luſts for ſin. For there can be no Repugnancy in Gods actions between themſelves. On the contrary, all theſe are ſubſervient to the Soveraign Deſign of Gods Decrees: the magnifying his Mercy and Grace in the ſalvation of all the Elect, who enabled by his ſpecial Grace, to believe and obey, are ſaved, according to the Promiſes: the magnifying his Juſtice, or making known his wrath in the Reprobates, who, according to the Soveraign Dominion of God, left to themſelves, reject Chriſt, and increaſe in their Rebellion againſt God, and ſo are juſtly given up and damned, according to the Threats.
2. That God is neither partial nor cruel in decreeing to deny ſaving Grace to ſome, whilſt he decrees to give it to others; that he is not the Author of ſin, in decreeing to permit, or in fore-ordaining it, p. 41, 42. For what God doth, can neither be partiality, nor cruelty, nor unholineſs. Is he partial that gives his Alms where he pleaſeth? Is he cruel, that never denies any due Compaſſion? Who can prove, that converting, confirming Grace is a due Debt to every fallen man and woman? Who hath firſt given to him? Or is the Judge cruel, that hangs up a Murtherer? God doth actually damn none, but the finally impenitent, Acts 2.23. Chriſt, being delivered by the determinate Counſel and Fore-knowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and ſlain. Chap. 4.27, 28. Againſt thy Holy Child Jeſus, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Governors and People of Iſrael, were gathered together, to do whatſoever thy Hand and thy Counſel determined before to be done. Is God the Author of Sin in determining or fore-ordaining the wicked actions of theſe men? It is one thing to decree the permiſſion of ſin, or to fore-ordain it; another thing to commit it. Between Gods fore-ordaining the ſin, and the actual commiſſion of it, came in the Will and Wicked Hands of men. This Will, and theſe wicked hands were the Author and Cauſe of ſin, and not Gods Fore-ordination.
3. That it doth not become us to have the leaſt Riſings of heart againſt it, and ſay, as p. 41. If any are reprobated, they cannot avoid Hell and Damnation whatever they do. Or as p. 45. Then the blame of mans Damnation is to be laid on God. This is the ſame with that, Rom. 9.19. For why doth he yet find fault, who hath reſiſted his Will? What the Apoſtle ſpeaks in the following Verſes, muſt quiet us, Nay, but O man, who art thou that replieſt againſt God? Shall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus? Hath not the Potter power over the Clay, of the ſame Lump to make one Veſſel to Honour, another to Diſhonour?
4. That it tends not to drive any to a ſinful Deſpair, p. 41. It is indeed a dreadful Doctrine, and to be trembled at; yet doth it leave room for comfort. It tends to make an impenitent man that loves his ſin, to deſpair of Salvation, whilſt ſuch; but this is a good Deſpair. But it tends not to make any that have not ſinned the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, how vile ſoever they be, abſolutely to deſpair. Had the Lord paſſed by all, there had been no hopes for any, Rom. 9.29. Except the Lord had left us a Seed, we had been as Sodon, and been made like unto Gomorrah. But though all fallen Angels are, all fallen men and women are not reprobated. This is ſome comfort, and it importunately urgeth all, in compaſſion to their own immortal Souls, to turn from ſin to God in Chriſt, and to ſeek after good Scripture-Evidences of their Election. I ſhall lay down two or three.
1. Haſt thou ever had a heart to chuſe Chriſt? Joh. 16.16. You have not choſen me, but I have choſen you. He that can aſſure his own Soul, that he hath choſen Chriſt for his Saviour, for his Teacher, for his Governour, for his Portion, with his very heart and deareſt affections, may be confident he is a choſen Veſſel of Mercy.
2. Haſt thou an heart to believe in Chriſt for Salvation? John 10.26. You believe not, becauſe you are not my ſheep. He that can be aſſured that ſeeing himſelf loſt in himſelf, and renouncing all truſt in his own performances, placeth all his confidence in the Obedience and Death of Chriſt, for Pardon, Acceptance, ſhelter from wrath, and the ſalvation of his Soul, as Paul, who knew whom he had believed, and was perſwaded that he was able to keep what he had committed to him againſt that day; this perſon hath no ground to fear Reprobation. Thoſe that are not the ſheep, do never thus believe.
3. Hath God given thee power over thy Corruptions in ſome good meaſure? a heart to pray ſincerely? and a holy Converſation, ſo that thou liveſt not like the generality of thy Neighbours? 1 Pet. 2.9. Ye are a choſen Generation, a Royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People. Becauſe ye are choſen and dear to God, therefore doth Grace reign over ſin in you; therefore have you hearts to ſeek God uprightly. Therefore are you lovers of Holineſs, and your Converſation differs from other men.
4. Is your heart ſpiritually tender? Rom. 11.7. The Election hath obtained it, and the reſt were hardned. Rom. 9.14. He hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardneth. You are not a Deſpiſer of Mercy, a Neglecter of Salvation, a preſumptuous perſon, giving your ſelf up to known ſinful Practices; but had rather loſe your life than miſs of Chriſt; do grieve for what hardneſs you find; do fear God; and would in nothing offend him. Are theſe things to be found in Reprobates? Let Gods Word give your heart ſecurity that you are not Reprobates. Yea, if heretofore you did in truth experience theſe things, but you are now afraid you have loſt all; for you have greatly fallen, as did David; you are ſorely ſcourged, as was Job; your Faith is even giving up the Ghoſt, with the Diſciples, We thought it had been he: yet are not you fallen from Grace, God hath not forſaken you, Pſal. 89.30. If his Children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgments, I will viſit their Tranſgreſſions with a Rod; nevertheleſs my loving kindneſs will I not utterly take from him, nor ſuffer my righteouſneſs to fail. Nor have you totally forſaken your God. Peter, I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not. Nor ever ſhall you totally forſake him; for the foundation of God ſtands ſure, having this Seal to it, the Lord knows them that are his. There is a Recovery for you, who have ſeemingly loſt your Faith. Thomas, reach hither thy ſinger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thruſt it into my ſide; and be not faithleſs, but believing. And you ſhall yet find more ſtrength againſt the Devil and your own Corruptions; more warineſs, love to God than ever, Rom. 8.28. All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpoſe. Therefore ſtill hope you in God, ſtill truſt in your faithful Advocate. Seek the Lord and his ſtrength; ſeek his face evermore. Never caſt him off, that will not break a bruiſed Reed. Strive to be more and more holy in all manner of converſation. Faint not, nor be diſmayed; the Lord is your God for ever and ever; he will be your Guide unto death: He will not forſake his People; becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his People.
I have now, through Gods help, finiſhed this Work; and do hope, that through theſe poor Labours of mine, God will give ſome that are miſtaken, others that are ſtaggering, to diſcern the dangerous Errours of theſe People, and avoid them. And ſurely, if Perſons whoſe hearts the Lord hath framed, with all readineſs of mind, to embrace Truth, and only Truth; if Perſons to whom Truth is precious, becauſe proceeding from God, and leading to him again; if theſe do but ſee that where there is no Election among fallen Creatures, there is no Salvation; which is plainly viſible in the fallen Angels; they will readily and gladly, and thankfully embrace the Doctrine of Election. If theſe were but perſwaded that they are curſed who ever diminiſh from Gods Word; they will be afraid to reject Chriſts Ordinances of the Supper and of Baptiſm by Water. If theſe heartily believe, (and they will) that Chriſt did not die in vain: Oh, they will be torn Limb from Limb, rather than part with that moſt precious, ſoul-ſaving Doctrine of the Imputation of Chriſt Death and Sufferings, to loſt Sinners for Juſtification. If theſe do but yield, Salvation is not now attainable by the Covenant of Works; that this Law is now weak through the fleſh, that it cannot give Life: How will they at once let go all hope of attaining perfection in themſelves here, and deſirouſly ſeek to have Chriſts Righteouſneſs imputed to them, that they may be found in him; bleſſing, praiſing and admiring God, that he was graciouſly pleaſed to provide it for undone Sinners, and invite them to it. If theſe perſons do but ſeriouſly conſider that Adam fallen, notwithſtanding all the Light he brought with him into the world, was not able to attain to the knowledge of Chriſt, till God revealed him. They will ſurely conclude, the bare Light every man brings with him into the world, cannot be ſaving. And if theſe perſons do but believe verily, the Lord doth beſtow on his Church and People a ſafer and better Rule to walk by, than he beſtows on the Heathen that know not God; they will embrace the Scripture for their Rule, and not prefer the Light that is in every man, as a ſafer and better Rule. Theſe are the Truths I contend for; and theſe, I doubt not, will be precious in the eyes of thoſe whom God loves to the end of the World.
FINIS.
End of the text · Stephen Scandrett, Antidote Against Quakerism (1671)