will perish; they are a miserable sad and helpless People; their eyes are darkened that they may not see, and their back is bowed down alway: Wherefore? Have they not the means of Grace? Yes verily, and that in goodly measure: First they are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the Adoption, and the Glory, and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the Promises; whose are the Fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever, Amen. What then should be the reason? Why saith he, though they be the Children of Abraham according to the flesh, yet they are the Children of Abra∣ham BUT according to the Flesh: For they are not all Israel (in the best sence) that are of Israel; neither because they are the Seed of Abraham, are they Children; but in Isaac shall thy Seed be called. That is, They that are the Children of the Flesh, they are not the Children of God; but the Children of the Promise shall be counted for the Seed. So then, here you see that they that are onely the Children of the Flesh (as the greatest part of Israel were) they are those that are neither counted for the Seed, the Children of Promise, nor the Children of God; but are rejected, and of the Reprobation. This therefore shall at this time serve for the first Scripture-Demonstration.
2. Another Scripture you have in the Eleventh Chapter of this Epi∣stle, from these words, The Election have obtained it, and the REST were blinded. These words are shedding words, they fever between men and men; the Election, the Rest; the Chosen, the Left; the Embra∣ced, the Refused: The Election have obtained it, and the REST were blin∣ded. By Rest here, must needs be understood those not Elect, because set one in opposition to the other; and if not Elect, what then but Re∣probate?
3. A third Scripture is that in the Acts of the Apostles, And as many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed. And as many; by these words, as by the former, you may see how the holy Ghost distinguisheth or divi∣deth between men and men; the Sons, and the Sons of Adam. As many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed: If by many here, we are to un∣derstand every individual, then not onely the whole World must at least believe the Gospel, of which we see the most fall short, but they must be ordained to eternal Life; which other Scriptures contradict: for there is the Rest, besides the Elect; the Stubble and Chaff, as well as Wheat: Many therefore must here include but some; for though Israel be as the sand of the Sea, a REMNANT shall be saved.
I might here multiply many other Texts, but in the mouth of two or three Witnesses shall every word be established: Let these therefore