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2. And the motive of it is his COMPASSION.-The Lord sent to them by his messengers: because he had compassion on his people. But they mocked the messengers, &c. 2 Chron.xxxvi, 15. See 2 Chron. xxiv, 19; Mark xii, 6, 7: Beloved and called. Rom. i, 7.—I will mention the loving-kindness of the Lord.— He was their Saviour; in all their afflictions he was afflicted; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit. Isa. Ixiii, 7-10.---With this affection the Lord calls such as are finally disobedient, (See 1 Peter iii, 19, iv, 6.) till they provoke him to wrath that there be no remedy left. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16. This affection is testified, by options and intreaties, by expostulations and increpations, by his lamentations and oath. See the proofs of the Seventh Affirmative, page

127.

3. His CHARGE.-Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die!, if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezek. xxxiii. 7; Acts xx, 28.

4. His EXPECTATION.-He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. Isai. v, 2. See 1 Pet. iii, 20.

5. His appeal to our own JUDGMENT in the cases.-Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, [ dare any man alledge the want of a serious inward call?,] that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Isai. v, 3, 4.- [See Luke xiv, 21. He was angry at their refusal.]-O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? Ezek. xviii, 29, &c.

6. He charges their non-conversion (as was proved above) upon their own REFRACTORINESS: and punisheth them for it.--Jer. xxv, 4; xxxv, 15; 1 Sam. ii, 30.-(1.) With desertion. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16; 2 Thess. ii, 10, 11, 12. See Rom. i, 28 --And (2.) With destruction. 2 Thess. i, 8.--See the proofs of the Seventh Affirmative, page 127.

REJECTION VI.

They do utterly DENY, that "there is a secret will in God, so contrary to his will revealed in his word, that, according to his secret will, he nilleth the conversion and salvation of the greatest part of those whom, by the word of his gospel and revealed will, he seriously calleth and inviteth to faith and salvation; so as there should be acknowledged in God, a holy simulation and a double person."

THE REASON.

1. He calls us out of compassion and according to his purpose and grace. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 15; 2 Tim. i, 9. See 2 Chron. xxiv, 19; Mark xii, 6.

2. He is a God of truth, and adds his oath for confirmation of our faith in this particular. "He cannot lie, nor deny himself.” Numb. xxiii, 19; Tit. i, 2; Heb. vi, 18; 2 Tim. ii, 13.

3. He condemneth a double heart and punisheth dissemblers and hypocrites, no less than unbelievers. Matt. xxiv, 51; Luke xii, 46.

4. And besides, our conversion, sanctification, and salvation, are according to his secret, acceptable and perfect will. Ephes. i, 9; 1 Thess. iv, 3; Rom. xii, 2. See the proofs of the Seventh Affirmative, page 127. See 1 Tim. ii, 3, 4.

REJECTION VII.

They do utterly DENY, that "God calleth Reprobates for these ends, viz. that he may harden them the more, make them unexcusable, punish them the more grievously, manifest their weakness; and not for this end,—THAT THEY MAY BE CONVERTED, BELIEVE AND BE SAVED."

THE REASON.

1. See it in the Reasons of the Fifth and Sixth Negatives, immediately foregoing, (page 134,) to which add Ephes. iv, 1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” * And what answer doth such a call deserve, as is given to no other end than those now mentioned? But God calleth us with an holy calling. 2 Tim. i, 9.—And he saith unto me, write: Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb! And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Rev. xix, 9. See Luke x, 24; Matt. xvi, 17.

2. He upbraids such as make no better use of his calls, than to aggravate their own damnation. Deut. xxix, 2-6; Ezek. ii, 5; John xv, 22, 24.-These things I say, that ye might be saved. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. John v, 34, 40.-Despisest thou the riches of his goodness-not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness, and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath? Rom. ii, 4, 5. See Proofs of the Seventh Affirmative, page 127.

See 2 Chron. xxiv, 19. His design is to reduce them [bring them back]. Mark xii, 6. Beloved, and called Rom. i, 7.

REJECTION VIII.

They do utterly DENY, that "by the force and efficacy of the secret will and decree of God, not only good things but [also] evil do necessarily come to pass."

THE REASON.

1. It is man's duty to eschew evil and do good; 1 Pet. iii, 11 Psalm xxxiv, 13; (see 2 Sam. xxiv, 12, 13; 1 Sam. xxiii, 11, 12 ;) good being commanded upon promise of LIFE, and evil forbidden under peril of DAMNATION.-If thou wilt enter life, keep the commandments. Matt. xix, 17.-The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness. Rom. i, 18. See verse 32.

2. The good and evil which men do, are matters of CHOICE. See John xix, 11; Josh. xxiv, 15, 22.-If ye be willing and obedient, &c. But if ye refuse and rebel, &c. Isai. i, 19, 23.Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, &c. Ezek. ii, 5. See Jer. xxxvi, 6, 7.-Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds: when the morning is light they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Mic. ii, 1.-Let him do what he will. 1 Cor. vii, 36. See Matt. xvii, 12; Deut. xxx, 19.

3. God's exprobration. Jer. v, 22, 23, under different laws. 4. Good and evil are attended with PRAISE and DISPRaise, which such actions deserve not as come to pass necessarily.The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Prov. iii, 35; see Rom. ii, 29: Phil. iv, 8.-Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. Rom. xiii, 3. See 1 Cor. iv, 5.--This is thank-worthy with God. 1 Pet. ii, 19, 20.-Well done, good and faithful servant! Luke xix. See Gal. vi, 4.--Who seek for glory and honour and immortality. Rom. ii, 7.

5. God propounds examples to our imitation.

6. That is omitted which God loves, and that comes to pass which he hateth. See Jer. xliv, 4, 5.-They did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Isai.. lxv, 12, and lxvi, 4.-All these are things that I hate. Zech. viii, 17. See 1 Kings xx, 42.

7. Lastly, God is sometimes said to expect that which does not come to pass. See Mark xii, 6; Ezek. xxii, 30.-When once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, 1 Pet. iii, 20. He looked, that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. Isai. v, 2, 4.-See the places cited. for God's hatred of sin, and against absolute antecedent decrees, pages 94 and 103.

K

THE STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY

TOUCHING

THE WORK OF GRACE IN THE CONVERSION OF MAN.

Whether a man, when God seriously wills that he believe, and be converted, can nill to believe and convert.

THE FIFTH ARTICLE CONTROVERTED

IS TOUCHING

PERSEVERANCE.

WHAT THE REMONSTRANTS HOLD.

TENET I.

They hold, that God doth furnish the true believers with supernatural power of grace, as, according to his Infinite Wisdom, he judgeth sufficient for their perseverance and conquest over the temptations of the Devil, the flesh, and the world; and that he is never the cause why they persevere

not.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"God furnishes true believers with supernatural powers of grace, sufficient for their perseverance." Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John iii, 9.-Whosoever

drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst See John iv, 14, and vi, 53.-My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor. xii, 9.—I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. iv, 13.-My yoke is easy, and my burden light. Matt. xi, 30; 1 John v, 3.

"And sufficient for their conquest over temptations." They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John x, 28, 29.-If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom. viii, 21.-God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able. 1 Cor. x, 13. See Luke xxii, 32.Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. John xvii, 11.-For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee! 2 Cor. xii, 8, 9.-Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Rom. viii, 35.-For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world. 1 John v, 4, 5.— I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John ii, 13, 14.-Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John iv, 4.

"He is never the cause why they persevere not." Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. i, 8; Phil. i, 6.-The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep ye from evil. 2 Thess. iii, 3. See 1 Thess. v, 23, 24. -Now to him that is able to keep you from falling. Jude 24. -Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. xv, 57.

TENET II.

They hold, that true believers may fall from true faith, and into those sins which cannot stand with true and justifying faith; neither is this only rOSSIBLE, but oft COMETH

TO PASS.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"True believers may fall from true faith," &c. They on the rock, are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and, in time of temptation, fall away. And that which fell among thorns, are they which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches, and pleasures of this life, and

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