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The fruits also and effects of Gods Loue towards vs, doe serue as strong arguments to moue vs vnto a godly life. As first, his decree of election, whereby from all eternity he hath chosen vs in Christ, out of the corrupt masse of mankinde, vnto eternall life and happinesse, and
vnto all the meanes which may bring vs vnto it. What greater mercy can be imagined, then that God of his free grace should chuse vs in Christ, who were vtterly lost in Adam, dead in our sinnes, and the children of wrath as well as others, not vnto some meane estate or low degree of happinesse, but to the highest & greatest priuiledges, as to be his owne peculiar people, and seruants of his owne family, yea, to be his adopted children & coheires with Christ, not of some earth∣ly patrimony, or worldly kingdome, which though it were neuer so great and glorious, yet is it mutable and momentary, but of an heauenly inheritance, which is incorruptible, vndefiled, and fadeth not away, as the Apo∣stle speaketh? The which benefit will be much amplified, if we con∣sider his infinit Maiesty and Glory, who hath thus chosen vs; and our owne vilenesse and vnworthinesse, whom he hath aduanced to these rich and wonderfull priuiledges, seeing we were dust and ashes, cor∣rupt and sinnefull, strangers, yea enemies vnto God: which if it be well weighed, may iustly make vs cry out with the Psalmist; O Lord, what is man, that thou art mindfull of him, and the Son of man, that thou visitest him? Especially, if we consider vnto what dignity wee who were so low are exalted; For if it had beene a matchlesse mercie, for vs that were so base, to haue beene made the meanest of Gods family, euen doore∣keepers in the House of our God, what incomparable kindenesse and loue is this, to be made his owne Sonnes, and Heires of his King∣dome? The which mercie is not indefinitely communicated vnto all, though all haue deserued it as well as we, but to the least part of man∣kinde; and yet such is his goodnesse towards vs, that passing by many great Kings and Monarches, many rich, noble and wise in the world, he hath vouchsafed to make vs of this small number. Not because wee deserued such extraordinary fauour more then others that want it, but of his meere grace and free good will. O how should our hearts be inflamed with the Loue of God, in the sight and sense of such an inestimable benefit? How should it fill our hearts with thanke∣fulnesse, and our mouthes with his prayses? How zealous and diligent should it make vs in his seruice? And to thinke all time lost, which is not spent in doing something which may tend to his glory, who of his meere Loue hath done so much for vs? Out of the same lumpe, of which haue beene made so many vessels to dishonour, he hath chosen vs, that he might make vs vessels of grace and honour; O how should we delight to be seruiceable to so gracious a Lord, and to shine in the light of godlinesse to his glory, who hath thus aduanced vs? He hath chosen vs, which were children of wrath, as well as others, out of that huge multitude and cursed crue, to be his owne children by adoption and grace; how then should this inflame our desires, to glorifie so gracious a Father, and to carry our selues in all things as beseemeth his children? But if the meere Loue of God will not worke this in vs, let vs consider further, that the Lord hath propounded this end to the decree of our election, that we should glorifie him by our Holi∣nesse and vnblameablenesse, according to that of the Apostle; He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and
without blame before him in loue; and therefore vnlesse we thinke that God, infinite in wisedome and power, can faile of his end, we can haue no hope that we are elected to happinesse, vnlesse we attaine vnto some measure of Holinesse. He hath predestinated vs, that we should be confor∣med to the image of his Sonne, as in glory and blessednesse in the world to come, so in this life, both in his sanctity and suffrings: and therefore as we must not thinke that we can by the broad way of carnall plea∣sures, attaine to Christs heauenly happinesse, and to be crowned with him before wee haue suffred with him; so much lesse let vs imagine that we shall euer come into his ioyes, if wee doe not follow him in that path of righteousnesse, which he hath beaten before vs, seeing the Apostle hath plainely told vs, that without Holinesse we shall neuer see God. So that the consideration of our election ought to be a strong motiue to perswade vs vnto a godly life, both that we may glorifie God by our holy conuersation, who hath beene so gracious and good vnto vs, and that we may be assured, that he will glorifie vs, by attayning vnto that end of Holinesse, for which we were elected. Whereof it is that the Apostle hauing largely intreated of the doctrine of Gods prede∣stination, doth out of this doctrine inforce this vse, that we should offer vp our selues a liuely and holy Sacrifice, acceptable vnto him, by our reasonable seruing of him. And the Apostle Peter perswading vs to make our election sure, could prescribe no other course for the obtayning of this assu∣rance, then by ioyning one vertue and grace with another, and bring∣ing forth the fruits of them all, by doing these things, that is, seruing and glorifying God who hath chosen vs, in the duties of a godly life.
1. Pet. 1. 4, 5.
Psal. 8. 4.
Rom. 9.
Eph. 1. 4. 1. Pet. 2. 9.
Act. 14. 22.
2. Tim. 2. 12.
Heb. 12. 14.
Rom. 12. 1.
2. Pet. 1. 10.