ligiously in good Works, and at length by God's Mercy attain to everlasting Felicity: Whereas the Patrons of conditionate Predeftination maintain, that of those who were called according to God's Purpose by his Spirit working in due feafon, 1. Some might thro' their own Fault not at all obey that Calling, &c. 2. Others, tho' they did obey the Calling for a while, and were accordingly during that Space juftified freely, and made God's Son's by Adoption, and made like the Image of Christ, and walked religiously in good Works; yet might thro' their own Fault afterwards fall from Grace; and that both these Sorts, those that never obeyed at all, and thofe that after an Obedience for fome time did again return to their Impiery, and perfift in it, do not at length attain to everlafting Felicity.

Now let any Man seriously confider this, which is the true State of the Controverfy between the refpective Patrons of abfolute and conditionate Predeftination; and then I challenge him to find me any one Syllable in the First Paragraph of this Article, that favors abfolute Predeftination in Opposition to that which is conditionate.

As for the Second and Third Paragraphs, that nothing therein contained does contradict the Do&trin of the Patrons of conditionate Predeftination, is fo evident, that it needs no Proof. Or if it does, I once more refer the Reader to Mr. Plaifere.

After fo much has been already faid, perhaps it may not be strictly neceffary; however, I ftill think it advisable to refolve this Article into its several Propofitions. It contains Six.

1. Predeftination to Life is the everlafting Purpofe of God, whereby (before the Foundati

ons

ons of the World were laid) he hath conftantly decreed by his Counfel, fecret to us, to deliver from Curfe and Damnation thofe whom he hath chofen in Chrift out of Mankind, and to bring them by Chrift to everlasting Salvation, as Veffels made to Honor.

2. They which be endued with fo excellent a Benefit of God (that is, those who are predeftinated to Life) be called according to God's Purpose by his Spirit working in due feafon : they thro' Grace obey the Calling: they be juftified freely: they be made Sons of God by Adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jefus Chrift: they walk religiously in good Works, and at length by God's Mercy they attain to everlasting Felicity. 3. The godly Confideration of Predeftination and our Election in Chrift, is full of fweet, pleasant and unfpeakable Comfort to godly Perfons, and fuch as feel in themselves the Working of the Spirit of Chrift, mortifying the Works of the Flefh, and their earthly Members, and drawing up their Mind to high and heavenly Things; as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their Faith of eternal Salvation, to be enjoyed thro' Chrift, as because it doth fervently kindle their Love towards God.

4. For curious and carnal Perfons, lacking the Spirit of Chrift, to have continually before their Eyes the Sentence of God's Predeftination, is a most dangerous Downfal, whereby the Devil doth thruft them either into Defperation, or into Wretchlefnefs of moft un

clean

clean living, no lefs perilous than Defpera

tion.

We must receive God's Promises in fuch wife as they be generally fet forth to us in Holy Scripture. 6. In our Doings, that Will of God is to be followed, which we have exprefly declared unto us in the Word of God.

The First Propofition is our Church's Definition of what the means by Predeftination to Life. She faies, 1.'Tis the everlafting Purpofe of God. Now every Purpose of God is everlafting; becaufe God from all Eternity knew all contingent Events; and was refolv'd concerning them, either to permit or prevent them. 2. By this Purpose he conftantly decreed. For Inconftancy is impoffible in God. 3. He decreed before the Foundations of the World were. laid. This muft needs be true, because his Purpose. was everlasting. 4. He thus decreed to deliver those whom he has chofen in Chrift out of Mankind, from Curfe and Damnation. Now that fome are to be delivered from that Curfe and Damnation, into which Original Sin had plung'd them, the whole Tenor of the Scripture fhews. And that God has in Chrift chofen fome out of Mankind, is evident. Because those that embrace Chriftianity, are upon this account frequently call'd the Elect or Chofen. But then those who embrace Chriftianity, are not all of them deliver'd from Curfe and Damnation ; because fome of them do not perform the Conditions of the Gofpel: and confequently tho' they enjoy the First or Temporal Election, yet they do not enjoy the Second or Eternal one, which is unattainable without Perfeverance in good Works. Now 'tis this Second, even the Eternal Election,

which the Church speaks of in this place. Because those that are here called the Chofen in Chrift, are delivered from Curfe and Damnation; whereas fuch as enjoy the Temporal, but mifs of the Eternal Election; do fall into that Curfe and Damnation, from which the others are delivered. 5. Those that are chofen in Chrift, viz. thofe that enjoy the Second or Eternal Election, God not only delivers from Curfe and Damnation, but he alfo brings them by Chrift to everlafting Salvation, as Veffels made to Honor. That he brings them to everlafting Salvation, and that this is done by Chrift, that is, by the Merits of Chrift, in whom they believe, and whofe Gospel they obey; and that upon this account they are treated as Veffels made to Honor; none can queftion. 6. All this is done by God's Counsel fecret to us. For God is the only Contriver and Finisher of the Happiness of the Elect; and what particular Men thofe Elect are, whom he has thus decreed to fave, we know not. Because he alone can fearch the Heart; nor has he revel'd to us, what particular Chriftians will perfevere. So that this Counfel of his, for the Salvation of particular Chriftians, muft needs be fecret to us. This Definition therefore of Predeftination to Life, needs no farther Proof, being fo manifeftly built upon the conftant Doctrin of the Scriptures, repeated in almost every Page of the New Teftament, that 'twould be ridiculous to refer to particular Texts. And indeed the Doctrin of this Definition is univerfally allowed, except by fuch as deny God's certain Prefcience of future contingent Events; concerning whofe abfurd Tenet fee the Twelfth Queftion of Turretin's Locus Tertius.

The Second Propofition fets forth the Manner of God's bringing this great Work to a Conclufion.

The

The Church faies, That those who are endu'd with fo excellent a Benefit, that is, those who are predeftinated to Life, are called according to God's Purpose by his Spirit working in due feafon; that is, they not only become Profeffors of Chriftianity, but are inwardly moved and prompted by God's Grace to the Performance of his Will. 2. They thro' Grace obey the Calling; that is, they are effectually wrought and prevailed upon thereby. 3.They be juftified freely; that is, they are efteemed righteous by God, who extends his free Mercy to them for Chrift's fake. 4. They be made Sons of God by Adoption. You'll fay, all Chriftians are fuch by Virtue of their Profeffion. But then those that are thus effectually chofen, do come to the Poffeffion of that Inheritance, which their Elder Brother Chrift has purchased for them with his Bloud: whereas others, tho' for a while they are honor'd with the Name of Adopted Sons, are afterwards caft off by their Father upon the account of their Difobedience. 5. They be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jefus Chrift, that is, 6. They walk religioufly in good Works; for without Holinefs no Man fhall fee the Lord. 7. At length, viz. after they have finished their Chriftian Course, and perfifted in fincere Piety to the end of their Daies, by God's Mercy they attain to everlasting Felicity. The Truth of all thefe Particulars is fo readily acknowledged by all Parties, that I need not refer to particular Texts or Authors for the Confirmation of them.

But I muft obferve, that tho' the Church defcribes in this Propofition a certain Method and Order of bringing the Elect to Heaven; yet, 1.She therein speaks of the Cafe of thofe elect Perfons only, who arrive at Years of Difcretion. For our H

Church