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ground there is none, nor can be offered by the assertors of the pre- tended universality of God's love. Nor is this proposition, "He that believeth shall be saved," founded on the universality of love pleaded for, but on the sufificiency of the means for the accomplishment of what is therein asserted, — namely, the blood of Christ, who is believed on.
Now, because Mr B. expresseth that the end of his asserting this universality of God's love is to decry his eternal purpose of election, it being confessed that between these two there is an inconsistency, without entering far into that controversy, I shall briefly show what the Scripture speaks to the latter, and how remote the places men- tioned by Mr B. are from giving countenance to the former, in the sense wherein by him who asserts it it is understood.
For the first, methinks a little respect and reverence to that testi- mony of our Saviour, " Many are called, but few are chosen," might have detained this gentleman from asserting with so much confi- dence that the persuasion of God's choosing but a few is an obstruc- tion of men's coming unto God. Though he looks upon our blessed Saviour as a mere man, yet I hope he takes him for a true man, and one that taught the way of God aright. But a little farther to clear this matter: —
1. Some are chosen from eternity, and are under the purpose of God, as to the good mentioned. 2. Those some are some only, not all; and therefore, as to the good intended, there is not a universal love in God as to the objects of it, but such a distinguishing one as is spoken against: Eph. i. 4, 5, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Here are some chosen, and consequently an intention of God concerning them expressed, and this from eter- nity, or before the foundation of the world, and this to the good of holiness, adoption, salvation; and this is only of some, and not of all the world, as the whole tenor of the discourse, being referred to believers, doth abundantly manifest. Rom. viii. 28-80, " We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." The good here intended is glory, that the apostle closes Avithal, "Whom he justified, them he also glorified;" the means to that end consist in vocation and justification ; the persons to be made partakers of this end are, not all the world, but " the called according to his purpose;" the designation of them so dis-
OF UNIVERSAL GRACE AND ELECTION. 555
tinguished to the end expressed is from the purpose, foreknowledge, and predestination of God, — that is, liis everlasting intention. "Were it another man with whom we had to do, I should wonder that it came into his mind to deny this eternal intention of God towards some for good; but nothing is strange from the gentleman of our present contest. They are but some which are " ordained to eternal life," Acts xiii. 48; but some that are "given to Christ," John xvii. 6; " a remnant according to election," E,om. xi. 5; one being chosen Avhen another was rejected " before they were born, or had done either good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand," chap. ix. 11, 12; and those who obtain salvation are " chosen thereunto through sanctification of the Sjjirit and belief of the truth," 2 Thess. ii. 13. All that is intended by them whom Mr B. thiuketh to load with the opinion he rejects is but what in these and many other places of Scripture is abundantly revealed : God from all eternity, " according to the purpose of his own will," or " the jiurpose which is according to election," hath chosen some, and ap- pointed them to the obtaining of life and salvation by Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace. For the number of these, be they few or many, in comparison of the rest of the world, the event doth manifest.
Yet farther to evidence that this purpose of God or intention spoken of is peculiar and distinguishing, there is express mention of another sort of men who are not thus chosen, but lie under the pur- pose of God as to a contrary lot and condition : " The Lord hath made all things for himself ; yea, even the wicked for the day of evd," Prov. xvi. 4. They are persons " whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb," Eev. xiii. 8 ; being "of old ordained to condemnation," Jude 4 ; being as " natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed," 2 Pet. ii. 12. And therefore the apostle distin- guisheth all men into those who are " appointed to wrath," and those who are " appointed to the obtaining of salvation by Jesus Christ,'' 1 Thess. V. 9 ; an instance of which eternally discriminating purpose of God is given in Jacob and Esau, Kom. ix. 11, 12: which way and procedure therein of God the apostle vindicates from all appearance of unrighteousness, and stops the mouths of all repiners against it, from the sovereignty and absolute liberty of his will in dealing with all the sons of men as he pleaseth, verses 14-21; concluding that, in opposition to them whom God hath made " vessels of mercy pre- pared unto glory," there are also " vessels of wrath fitted to destruc- tion," verses 22, 23.