The Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, reason, and authorities against the injurious attempts that have been lately made by several adversaries, with manifest design to rendor him odiously inconsistent with Christianity and civil society : in II parts. / The first more general by William Penn ; the second more particular by George Whitehead.

A POSTSCRIPT about the Will of God, Election and Reprobation.

Concerning the Will of God in its Manifestation, both 1st, as unre∣sistable. •…•…dly, as resistable. [sect 1]

FIrst, On what Considerations it may be said to be un∣resistable, shewing forth the Might of his Power; as, 1. In bringing forth the Works of Creation; Whatsoever he pleased that did he, Psal. 135. 6.

2. In fore-ordaining his Son to be set forth in him, to tender Grace and Salvation in due time to Mankind (Who could hinder his first Ordination, though many reject the Tenders?)

3. In extending his Light and Power universally to the final Conviction of Impenitent Evil-doers for their Rebellion (which Light and Power unavoidably at times seizes upon their Consciences, reproving and convicting them while they have a Day; and though they may shun being refor∣med thereby, yet they cannot alwayes avoid the Torment and Trouble thereof in themselves) That God may shew himself clear when he Judgeth.

4. In bringing and executing his Judgments and Wrath as he sees Cause, upon the Wicked and Rebellious, who are finally Impenitent.

By all which God hath manifested his Power (or Sove∣raignity) which on these Considerations hath irresistably shewed it self for the fulfilling his Righteous Will, so far as it hath absolutely extended it self from an Intention or De∣sign of God, to shew forth his Wisdom, Justice, and the

Greatness or Might of his Power, without the Creature Complyance; as,

• 1. God's Work of Creation.
• 2. His Fore-ordination, to bring forth his Son into the World, &c.
• 3. His Power in finally Convicting Rebellious Sinners.
• 4. The Execution of his Judgments upon the Rebellious.

In all these who shall say to God, What doest thou? Who shall let what he will do, so far as his Will inevitably and unresistably hath acted, or doth act in any thing without Man's Complyance, as it was in Making Man; in Convicting and Condemning the Rebellious and Stubborn?

But Secondly, The Will and Power of God as condescen∣ding and reaching gradually to the Creature's Capacity, it is possible •…•…or Men to resist the Manifestation thereof to their own Condemnation:

As the Will of God is manifest in a Way of Friendship and Kindness to Mankind, as,

1. In a way of Counsel, Commands, Instructions, Invitations, Perswasions and gentle Reproofs (which have a tendence to draw Men out of Sin) and

2. In his Patience and long Suffering towards them, waiting to be gratious, desiring their Return, striving with them by his Spirit: Thus his Will is, That all should know the Truth and be saved, 1 Tim. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9.

But Mens Conversion and Salvation is not wrought without their Subjection, Obedience and Complyance with the Spirit and Power of God, co-operating by Faith.

Reprobation What it is?

A Reproving, Disallowing, Rejecting. [sect 2]

Reprobate is, Wicked, Base, Dishonest, Corrupt, so as to be cast out of God s Favour, &c. And the Cause of Persons being given over to a Reprobate Mind, is their Rebellion a∣gainst Light given them; their rejecting the Knowledge of God, till their Minds became so reprobate or corrupt, as to be void of true Sence and Judgment, Rom. 1. As they who w•…•…re called Reprobate Silver (or as corrupt, drossy, false Coyn) were rejected of the Lord, Jerem. 6. 30.

The Word Election explained.

Election is Choice, which respects both: [sect 3]

I. The chusing of some from amongst many, as Christ said to his Followers, I have chosen you out of the World, Joh. 15. 19.

II. The Excellency or Choiceness of that which is chosen; And this relates,

First, To Christ, the Elect Seed, of whom it is said, Behold my Servant, mine Elect, in whom my Soul delighteth, Isa. 42. 1. And He is also called a chief Corner-Stone, Elect, Pretious, 1 Pet. 2. 6.

Secondly, To the true Church or Elect People, who (being chosen through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth) are the faithful Followers of Christ; these are choice and pretious in God's Sight, and therefore are called the Elect of God, Holy and Beloved, Col. 3. 12. a chosen Genera∣tion, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a peculiar Peo∣ple, &c. 1 Pet. 2. 9. They that are with the Lamb, are Called, Chosen and Faithful, Rev. 17. 14. the Pretious Sons of Sion, comparable to fine Gold, Lam. 4. 2.

This God's Election or Choice of his Church or People, is gradually manifest and experienced in them: as,

1st, When they have known the Work of God by his Grace begun it them unto their Separation from the World, through a Decree of Faith and Sanctification, are called Elect, that is, as chosen out of the World, or from among Men, being more peculiar to God then others; while yet they are not perfectly grown and established in the Truth: as Israel of old was Elect, and Jerusalem chosen (before their Estrangement from God, Esa. 44. 1. 1 Kings 11. 13.) Paul was a Chosen Vessel, when first he had received and obeyed the heavenly Vision and Call, Acts 9. 15. and Chap. 26. 19. Who notwithstanding after that said, I keep my Body under, and bring it into Subjection, left that by any means, when I have preached to others, I my self should be a Cast away, 1 Cor. 9. 27. and those whom the Apostle Peter, in his first Epistle calls Elect, in his second Epistle he exhorts to give all D•…•…ligence to make their Calling and Election sure, that so they might never fall, 2 Peter 1. 10. Exhorting or warn∣ing them from divers Examples of them that fell from Grace, denyed the Lord that bought them, backslid, and became Enemies, Chap. 2. throughout; And this second Epistle was to stir up their pure minds, Chap. 3. 1.

2dly, Election in the heighth or perfection of it, as at∣tained to in the full Growth of the Elect Seed, and Establish∣ment

of the Children of Light, in and by the Grace of God (through Diligence and Faithfulness on their parts) this admits not of being deceived, nor of falling, nor of backsli∣ding, as Christ intimates an Impossibility that the very Elect should be deceived, Mat. 24. 24. And they who through Diligence have made their Calling and Election sure, shall never fall, 2 Pet. 1. 10. being grown up in the Life, Nature a•…•…d Image of the Elect Seed, which the Prince of the World hath nothing in.

Oh! All you in whom there yet remains a Sincerity and Breathing after the Lord, labour in the Light of Christ by the Assistance of his Grace in you, to make your Calling and Election sure, in this Elect Seed, and none conceit your selves secure out of it: For,

God's Fore-knowledge and Fore-appointment of his Peo∣ple [sect 4] unto Life and Glory, is in this his own Seed; in this they are known of him, related to him, in this chosen of him, and Choice to him, and in his sight as his peculiar Treasure; in this he did fore-know, and doth predestinate or appoint them to be conformed to the Image of his Son, that he might be the First-Born in many Brethren, Rom. 8. 29. (yea and the sanctified Children of believing Parents) Their Growth and Security was to be in this Elect Seed of Life, or otherwise they might degenerate, as Israel of old did, after they were planted of a Noble Vine, and an holy right Seed.

If it should be said, that this of Rom. 8. intimates some special Fore-knowledge and Purpose of God, concerning these many Bre∣thren thus Conformed, as unto Witnesses chosen before of God, Christ s Resurrection was manifest for them to preach, Act. 10. 40, 41. To this I say, Grant it doth; We confess both God's Fore-sight and Fore-knowledge of his own, and deny not his Omniscienc•…•…, nor limit his Power or Omnipotency from shewing forth it self both how, af∣ter what manner, at what time, and in whom soever he pleaseth, as

sometimes he doth miraculously upon Eminent Occasions, and for peculiar Works, Ends and special Services, as is that of true Prophets, Apostles, Ministers of Righteousness; or those many Brethren unto whom in their Day Christ was first manifest, and in whom he was first revealed, formed and born, who in their Day were first raised up to witness forth his Power, as the Prophet Jeremiah was sanctified be∣fore he came forth of the Womb, for his peculiar Service, as an Eminent Prophet; and John was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers Womb, that he might be a Wit∣ness to the Messiah; and Paul was miraculously stopt from Persecution by a Heavenly Vision, which he obeyed, and was called into the Work of a Faithful Apostle, God having se∣parated him from his Mothers Womb, and called him by his Grace, to shew forth his Universal Kindness and Love to others, to turn People from Darkness to the Light: and many other Instances might be shewn of God's taking par∣ticular notice of his Witnesses and Servants for peculiar Services (yet the Growth, standing and Security of all was by Faith and Obedience in the Power of God) who, though in their Age and Times were as the first (and so Choice) Fruits to God; yet, this neither hinders his second Fruits (but rather to further them and his Work, so as his Name might be the more spread) Nor do these Instances prove any Limitation of God's universal Love in Christ (as only to a few) Nor frustrate the free extent of his Grace; nor yet hinder Salvation from being common in the Freeness and free Tenders of it to Mankind.

Notes

• These many do slight and refuse, and both resist, grieve & quench the Spi∣rit in its low and tender Appearance to their own Destruction and Misery, when the Love and long Suffering of God is tur∣ned into Wrath and In∣dignation against them.
• How long before their Conformity to Christ were they appointed? Was it from all Eternity, or rather in their Age and Time? Had not this and all other meer Acts and Works of God a beginning in their time and season (considered as meer Acts) Could this of his appointment then be from eternity and so far a Preappointment meerly respecting particular Persons, and with exclusion of all besides from any saving Grace? This is still harsh, and partial, and unequal, contra∣ry to God's Wayes; although as the general Fore-appointment and Ordination of God concerning the true Believers and obedient, is, that they shall be saved: So this Predesti∣na ion, or Fore-appointment includes or reaches all the many holy Brethren in whom Christ is formed.