Might haue mercy on all.
Quest. Will God saue all (none excepted) or can it bee soundly gathered hence, that hee will saue the greatest part of men in the world?
Ans. No, for the greatest number is reiected; Christs flocke is but a little flocke, a remnant, an handfull, a tenth, a gleaning in comparison of them that perish, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many goe that way, but narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few finde it. But the meaning of the Apostle here is, that God will haue mercy in some, of all rankes, states, orders and conditions, and that hee will haue it notified that all that are saued, are saued by his mercy onely.
Quest. If God will not shew speciall mercy on all men, but doth reserue it onely for the elect; why doth hee by preaching offer it to all men in many Countries and Kingdomes, and other particular Citties and places, and hereby allure and inuite them to faith and repen∣tance?
Ans. The more to conuince them, and to leaue them without all excuse in the daye of the Lord, because