§. 91. Of the multitude of them that shall be saved.
THe sons before mentioned are said to be a 1.1 many. Though this include not all the sons of Adam: for they that have done evil shall come forth unto the resurrecti•…•… of damnation, John 5. 29. and this Captain of salvation will say to multitudes at the last day, Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, Matth. 25. 41. Yet this inclu∣deth a very great multitude. For it was in relation to these sons, who are the spi∣ritual seed of Abraham, that God said to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Thy su•…•… shall be at the starres of heaven, and as the dust of the earth, Gen. 15. 5. & 26. 4. & 28. 14. And the Prophesies of multitudes to come in are meant of these sons: such •…•… these, Many people shall say, Let us go up to the house of God, Isa. 2. 3. Mic. 4. 2. Ma•…•… shall come from the East and West, &c. Matth. 8. 11. and, My righteous servant 〈◊〉〈◊〉 justifie many, Isa. 53. 11. The sonne of man came to give his life a ransom for ma•…•…y▪ Matth. 20. 28. His blood is shed for many, Matth. 26. 28. By the obedience of one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 many be made righteous, Rom. 5. 19. In particular Iohn saith, I beheld, and loe, a g•…•… multitude, which no man could number of all Nations, and kindreds, and people, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tongues, stood before the throne, &c. Rev. 7. 9. All these were the sons here mention•…•… See Chap. 6. v. 14. §. 107. And Chap. 9. v. 22. §. 140.
Obj. It is oft said, that Few are chosen, Few enter in at the straight gate, M•…•…* 1.2 7. 14. & 20. 16. Hereupon the flock of Christ is stiled a little flock, Luke 12. 31▪ and they are stiled a remnant, Isa. 1. 9. a tenth, Isa. 6. 13. a vintage, Mic. 7. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they are resembled to those few that were in the Ark, when the whole world 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drowned; and in Sodom, when the four Cities were destroyed with fire and br•…•… stone. See chap. 11. v. 7. §. 32.
Answ. Comparatively they are indeed but few, in regard of the multitudes 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 evil ones that ever have been, and ever will be in the world. But simply consider•…•… in themselves they are very, very many. When Elijah thought that he alone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been left, the Lord gave him this answer, I have reserved to my self seven thousa•…•… Rom. 11. 3, 4.
This is a matter of great comfort, in regard of the multitudes that perish, that th•…•… are also many that shall be saved.
It is also a great incouragement to enquire after the way to salvation, and to •…•… the means sanctified for attaining thereunto. There is a fountain opened to cleans•…•… from sinne, Zach. 13. 1. Let us not fear that it will be dried up because many go•…•… partake thereof. Be rather incouraged to go with those many thereunto. F•…•… not that heaven will be filled up: for there are many Mansions, John 14. 2. A po•…•… man long waited at the Pool of Bethesda, though the time of cure was but at a ce•…•…∣tain season, and only one could be cured at that season, Iohn 5. 4, 5, &c. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pool for salvation cureth at all times all that go into it. We reade of three th•…•…∣sand converted by one Sermon, Acts 2. 41. and five thousand by another, Acts 4▪ and it is after this registred, that multitudes of beleevers were added to the Lord, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 5. 14.) and that the number of disciples was multiplied, (Acts 6. 1.) and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily, (Acts 16. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and that a 1.4 many thousands of Iews beleeved, (Acts 21. 20.) besides the Gentiles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 imbraced the faith.