The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute hatred or reprobation of the vessells of wrath, or, An answer unto a book entituled, Gods love unto mankind ... in two bookes, the first being a refutation of the said booke, as it was presented in manuscript by Mr Hord unto Sir Nath. Rich., the second being an examination of certain passages inserted into M. Hords discourse (formerly answered) by an author that conceales his name, but was supposed to be Mr Mason ... / by ... William Twisse ... ; whereunto are annexed two tractates of the same author in answer unto D.H. ... ; together with a vindication of D. Twisse from the exceptions of Mr John Goodwin in his Redemption redeemed, by Henry Jeanes ...

Minister.

Christ came into the World to seeke and to save what was lost; and is a propitiation, not for our sinnes only, i. e. the sinnes of a few particular men, or the sinnes of all sorts of men, but for the sinnes of the whole World; therefore he came to save thee, for thou wast lost; and to be a propitiation for thy sinnes, for thou art part of the whole World.

CONSIDERATION.

Still he continues to afford thee as much comfort as any Reprobate in the world; and if thou desirest no more, thou maist rest satisfied with this; but withall I confesse, he affords thee as much comfort, as he can afford any of Gods elect, for he maketh elect and Reprobate all alike in receiving comfort from Gods Word. Christ came into the world to save that which was lost, but unlesse he came to save all that is lost, it will not follow that he came to save thee. We know that pardon of sinne and salvation is procured by Christ, for none but such as believe; and therefore be not de∣ceived, without faith looke for neither; by faith be assured of both, and that thou art one of Gods elect and no Reprobate. And observe well he tells thee nothing of Christ meriting faith and repentance; this now a dayes is plainly denyed by the Re∣monstrants; and this Authour is content to say nothing of it; when he is put to it we know what must be the issue of it; if he sayeth Christ hath merited faith and repen∣tance * 1.1 for thee, the meaning is but this; Christ hath merited that if thou wilt be∣lieve thou shalt believe, if thou wilt repent, thou shalt repent. And that Christ hath merited that God should bestow faith and repentance not on whom he will according to the meere pleasure of his will, but according to mens workes.

The comfort that our doctrine ministers unto thee, is this, If thou dost believe in Christ, thou maist be assured thou art an elect of God, if thou dost not believe, there is no cause why thou shouldest thinke thy selfe a Cast-away; for albeit thou hast not faith to day, yet thou maist have faith to morrow. Give thy selfe to Gods Word: and waite upon him in his ordinances, thou maist be so wrought upon as that unbeliever was, 1 Cor: 14. Who is there represented falling downe on his face, and confessing that God was in the Preacher of a truth. And though at first thou attendest to it, but in a carnall manner, yet God may open thy heart as he opened the heart of Lidia, and make thee attend unto it in a gracious manner. * 1.2

Notes

• * 1.1

  Censura Cen∣surae. p. 59.
• * 1.2

  Act. 16. 14.