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Thirdly, Satan Tempts to Despair, by causing the Soul to study that, which it should not, viz. God's Secret Will. Thou art not Elected, (sayes the Devil) and therefore all thy Praying and Read∣ing, and taking Pains with thy Heart will be but in vain.
The only way to invalidate Satan's Arguings in this Respect, is by con∣sidering, that he hath no Skill in the Black Book of Reprobation. Neither Good nor Evil Angels can look into the Book of God's Decrees: There∣fore
thou canst not; for thou needst not: Hast thou not the Book of thy Heart? look into it, and see what is Written therein. He that finds the Bible Copied out into his Heart, his Nature Transform'd, the Byass of his Will turned, the Signature and Engravings of the HolyGhost upon him, looks not like a Reprobate. When you see the Fruits of the Earth spring up, you conclude, the Sun has been there. 'Tis hard to climb up into * 1.1 Election; but if we find the Fruits of Holiness springing up in our Hearts, we may conclude, the Sun of Righteo•…•…sness hath Risen there. By our Sanctifi∣cation (saith one) we must Calcu∣late our Election. The Infa•…•…lible Signes of Election (in my Opinion) should satisfy any one, touching his Election: Why now? Hast thou not the Saving Graces of † 1.2 Faith, Love and Repentance? What are these, but the Infallible Signes of Electi∣on?
Being not unsensible of the Intri∣cacy, which attends this Subject of ‖ 1.3 Election, and how the Devil puzzles many poor Souls by some Nice Questions resulting there-from. Some∣thing already I have said of it: But I do find much thereof for Substance, Elegantly treated by the Elegant Cul∣verwel in his White-Stone; the Read∣ing of which did exceedingly re∣fresh my Soul; and therefore ho∣ping, that it may have the like Effect upon thee, I shall here insert it; knowing, that I cannot mend it my self, what-ever others may be able to do. The Lines are these:
That Astrologer (sayes he) was deservedly Laught at, that was so in∣tensly gazing upon the Stars, so admi∣ring their Twinkling Beauties, as that unawares he tumbled into the Water; where-as before, if he had been but pleased to look so low as the Water, he might have seen the Stars there represented in that Crystal-Glass. Such as will needs be prying into Stars, that will Ascend up into Heaven, and gaze upon * 1.4 Ele∣ction; they do but dazle thine Eyes,
and sometimes by this are over-whelm'd in the Depths of Satan: where-as they might easily see the Stars in the Water; they might see Election in Sanctifica∣tion. Now, † 1.5 Vocation does plainly and easily appear by that great and eminent Alteration, which it brings along with it. It is a powerful Call; 'tis an aud∣ible and quick'ning Voice; the Voice of the First Trumpet, that awakens Men out of the Graves, and makes them Happy, by having their Part in the First Resurrection; great and sudden Alte∣rations, they are very Discernable.
Now, here's a most notorious and signal Change made; Old things are past away, and all things are become New: Here's a Change from Death to Life, from Darkness to Light; and what more Discernable than this? A Living Man may know, that he is Alive, and that without any further Proof or Demonstration, what-ever the Scepticks Old or New would perswade us to the contrary. Will you not allow a Man to be certain, that he Lives, till a Iury of Life and Death hath past upon him?
Could not the Blind Man in the Gos∣pel (think you) perceive, when his Eyes were opened? Could he not easily tell, that now he could see, and discern Variety of Objects? or must he only conjecture, that he sees, and guess at a Sun-Beam? Must he still at Noon-day go groping in Uncertainties? And is there not an easie and sure Difference between those thick Veils and Shadows of the Night, between those Dark and AEthiopick Looks, and the Virgin-Blushes of the Morning; those Beauti∣ful Eye-lids of the Day? The Smilings
and Flow'rings out of Light, much more the Advancement of Light to its Zenith and Noon-day-Glory? And why then cannot an Intellectual Eye discern as well, that now it sees? that now it looks upon God with an Eye of Love, with an Eye of Faith, with an Eye of Con∣fidence? and that now God looks upon him with an Eye of Tenderness and Compassion, with an Eye of Grace and Favour, with an Eye of Delight and Approbation? Who but an Anaxagoras will go about to perswade a Man, to dis∣believe his Eyes? And if a Corporal Eye deserve such Credit, why may not a Spiritual Eye then expect as much? Say not then in thine Heart, Who shall Ascend into Heaven, to bring down Assurance from Above? Who shall Un∣clasp the Book of Life, that is Sealed, and turn thee to thy Name? or who shall bring thee a Certificate, that it is Written there? Behold, it is nigh thee, even in thine Heart: The Work of Grace there the Law Written on the Tables of thine Heart, by the Finger of the Spirit, is the Exemplification and Counterpane of that Decree. The
safest Way, the best Way, the only Way to make sure of Election, is first to make sure of thy Vocation.
The way to make our Election sure, is first to ma•…•…e our Calling sure. Cul∣verwel's White-Stone
Tis plain, we are not to make Ele∣ction a Ground for our Faith, but our Faith a Medium or Argument to prove our Election. Gurnal's Christian Armour, Part. 1. Pag. 131.
[These Sentences in the Mar∣gent are the Notes of se∣veral Fa∣mous Eng∣lish Divines about this Subject; who all agree in this, That a Man may k•…•…ow his E∣lection by his Effectual Calling]
It is alto∣gether Irre∣gular & A∣nomalous, for the Soul to pry into Election. 'Tis dangerous to tread on the highest Round first.
Vocation Comments upon Electi∣on. God's Decrees, that were set from E∣verlasting, do bud and blossom, & bring forth Fruit in time. The Book was written before the Foundation of the World were laid; but it was not Publisht, till God himself gave it an Imprimatur. The Letter was Dated from Eternity, the Superscription was Writ in time, in Vocation. Now, you know, though the Letter be Writ first; yet the Superscription is Read first by him that receives the Let∣ter. 'Twas decreed from Eternity, that Decrees should be known in time. And the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Fulness of Time is the Time, when God's Decrees are fulfilled: When the Decrees of God are Ripe, then he lets the Soul tast them; and then they are Sweetest. Then thou perceivest, that thou art a Vessel of Honour, when God puts thee upon an Honou∣rable Employment. That Fountain of Love, which ran under-ground from Everlasting, bubbles and flows to thee in time. That 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that was in Election, becomes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Vocation.