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WHerein is presented, 1. Cer∣tain Queries of weighty concern, relative to the foregoing Discourse. 2. The general and special (or particular) expressi∣ons as stated in the Scripture, about the ge∣neral and special Grace of God to Men.
Querie 1. Whether to believe that God reprobated any of Mankind, by an Eternal Decree to sin and be damned, is not contra∣ry to the whole Scripture (Name and Na∣ture
of God) in which it's expresly said, that he made all Good, Gen. 1. 31. And that it was sin brought in (and will bring in) the condemnation, as the deserving cause thereof; and whether we have not grounds to believe it to be impossible, for so Wise, Holy, Just and Good a God, to make Crea∣tures designedly for so bad an end? And whe∣ther this Principle of Christian Faith, do not destroy the very Foundation of the Go∣spel? Being contrary to the whole manifest∣ed design of God therein.
Quer. 2. Whether to believe that God loved not the World in the gift of his Son, but a few only? And that Christ gave not himself for the life of the World, nor a ransom for all, but for a few only, i•• not contrary to the express Letter, Reason and Scope of the Scripture? Joh. 6. 51. 1 Tim. 2. 6. And whether so to believe, do not root up the Foundation of Gospel-Faith? 2 Cor. 2. 2. & 15. 3, 4, 11.
Quer. 3. Whether we have not suffici∣ent ground to believe, that the general love of God to the World in the gift of his Son,
and the general Sacrifice of Christ for the World, is the alone Foundation of the ge∣neral Commission for Preaching the Gospel to the World. If so, (it being granted by all, that the Commission, Mar. 16. 15. is general, and ought not to be limited;) then whether to understand the Commission for Preaching the Gospel, to be larger than the Foundation and Basis thereof, (viz. The Fathers Love, and the Sons Sacrifice, with∣out which could have been no such Com∣mission) tends not to null and make void the Commission it self, for Gospel Preaching, it out-running of, and being larger than the Foundation thereof; or at least to render the Lord inconsiderate in stating so large a Commission on so narrow a Foundation? it behoves those who deny the general Love and Sacrifice, to ponder this.
Quer. 4. Whether to believe, that Men have no power to believe and obey the Gospel with its own helps, without a migh∣ty, miraculous and irresistible power, (which God does not effect, and yet will damn Peo∣ple Eternally for not believing, be not con∣trary to the whole Reason, Light and Truth
of Scripture? and contrary to the whole Name and Nature of God, and contrary to the whole Light and Law of Nature and Reason placed in Man by God. Then whe∣ther these things are not meet to be explod∣ed by all true Christians?
Quer. 5. Whether to believe any other terms between the Father and the Son, about the work of Gospel, Redemption and Sal∣vation, than what are the exprest terms thereof in the Gospel, does not tend to null and make void the Gospel it self? Or at least (and best) render it uncertain, if we suppose any other secret terms besides (and contrary to) what is exprest, or a secret will contrary to his revealed Will.
Quer. 6. Whether to deny Jesus Christ in his Person to be the Son of God and the Son of David, the true Messias promised, and as Crucified, Raised and Ascended, to be the alone Foundation of Gospel-Faith, head Lord and Lawgiver to his Church, without mens inventions or additions. And whether to de∣ny him in Word or Deed in any of these, be not deeply dangerous?
Quer. 7. Whether to assert there is no such thing in God as Love, or a natural pro∣pensity to do us Good, from his Goodness, or any other property? And that he intends not as he speaketh, either in his precepts or his promises, that they declare our Duty, not his intentions, is not wholly contrary to the Scripture? And the Right and Reverend thoughts we ought to have of God. And whether it does not tend to root up the Foun∣dation of all Christian Faith and Religion of all hope and trust in God? And whether it does not really make God a lier, if his Commands and promises be not his in∣tentions?
Quer. 8. Whether to believe that when Christ the Lord and Judge of the World comes again from Heaven, to raise and Judge the Quick and the Dead, and when that is over, will burn up the World, so as not to restore it and make it new, and carry away the Saints with him to Heaven, and send all the World besides, to Hell with the Devil, there to be tormented Eternally, is not con∣trary to the whole Body of Scripture, con∣tradicting
the Restitution, World to come, and the Kingdom and Glory of Christ there∣in with his Church and the Glory of his great undertaking for the World? And if so; Whether this Faith be right or vain?
Quer. 9 Whether those who grant the thousand years reign, and limit the Restitu∣tion, World to come, and the Glory of that Estate to the thousand Years, are not much mistaken? And whether the Kingdom and Glory of Christ and the Saints in the World to come shall not be Eternal? Dan. 7. 14, 27. Mar. 10. 30. And whether they do well to confine the Eternal Kingdom, Life and Glory, within the compass of a thou∣sand Years? There being no other World, Life and Glory promised, beyond that in the World to come.
Quer. 10. Whether those who grant, that after the Conflagration of the World by fire, that there shall be new Heavens and new Earth follow, wherein dwelleth Righte∣ousness, after the Judgment, according to the Scripture, 2 Pet. 3. 13. And yet af∣firm,
that Christ will send away all the wick∣ed of the World to Hell with the Devil eter∣nally to be tormented, and carry away all the Saints with him to Heaven; (I say) whether they have considered who shall be the inhabitants of this New and Restored World, wherein shall dwell Righteousness; or whether it shall be the habitation (only of Birds and Beasts) or of nothing? And whe∣ther it it does not concern us prudently to consider, whether the Traditional Faith of going away to Heaven, has not led us be∣sides, and so (in our Faith) lost the true in∣heritance, and heirship promised in the World to come?
Quer. 11. Whether it is to any sort of Faith that owns Christ in Name, to which the promise of Life is made, or to the true Faith and Life of the Gospel? If to any Faith that owns the Name of Christ, then why may not all the World called Christian be saved as well as any? If not; but that the Life of the Gospel is promised to the true Faith thereof, (called the Faith of God's Elect.) Then whether it does not greatly concern all, without delay, to endeavour to
come right in the Faith and Life of the Go∣spel to which the promise is made? And not to content our selves with any sort of Faith and Life?
Quer. 12. Whether bad and corrupt Principles of Faith, tho attended with a good life, be not as dangerous and pernici∣ous, as good Principles of Faith, attended with a bad life? Rom. 10. 2. Phi. 3. 4, 5, 6.
Quer. 13. Whether some of those Prin∣ciples of Faith before mentioned, viz. the reprobation of the World by Eternal Decree both to sin and Judgment, does not really tend to render God to be most Cruel, most Unholy, most Unrighteous, and most False, &c. in Decreeing, and so in being the first and Foundation cause, of all the Cruelties, Un∣holiness, Unrigheousness, Falseness and Wick∣edness, either in Devils or Men? It being a maxim, that the first cause of that which is bad, is worst of all, as a bad Life, has a worse Heart, because both Words and Works, flow from (and shew) the badness of the Heart, which is the first cause. Mar. 7. 21,
22, 23. And then whether it do not deeply concern men, principally concerned in these Notions, speedily to relinquish them?
Quer. 14. And tho probably the persons concerned in these things, may deny some of the bad things so essentially included therein, yet whether it does not very greatly concern them now to consider, and deeply to ponder, that if to deny one fundamental truth of the Gospel, namely, that of the Resurrection, 1 Cor. 15. 12. did by consequence, end all Faith and Christian Religion, vers, 13. to 17. tho very probably they intended it not, nor understood the dangerous Consequences couch∣ed in their Opinion, till the Apostle informed them therein, then whether to deny (or at best, corruptly to hold) almost all the Prin∣ciples of Christian Faith and Religion, is not more abundantly dangerous to the persons concerned herein? and whether it concerns not all to look well to themselves in time, about these great matters of Faith, to come right therein, seeing no man can rightly claim an interest in the grace of life from Gos∣pel grounds, whose faith is not right in the substantial things thereof?
And although I take most of the things mentioned, to be in themselves deeply here∣tical, yet I shall not pass the Sentence of Hereticks on those that hold them, nor dare I have so foul a Mouth; (let themselves look to that) I had rather they pass the Sentence of Heretick on me, than I on them, (tho I desire neither) because I really desire the good of all, and I know it will not be to their honour in the end, but I hope I have learned better things from Christ; I find none in Scripture stigmatized with that foul Name, but those that denied the Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. 2. 1. and that too, after they had profess'd Faith in him; it's a black Name, and let them use it that delight in it; I think it's learnt from the great high Priest and Apo∣state at Rome, who stigmatizeth all for Here∣ticks, that believe not as his Church belie∣veth; and well were it, if those who profess to be come quite away, did not walk too much in the same steps.
Quer. 15. Whether we have not cause well to consider, whether those manifold and great Miscarriages, in the greatest matters of the Gospel, arise not very much from Tradi∣tional
Receptions from Forefathers? by rea∣son of which our Eyes are blinded, that we cannot see into the great and plain things of the Gospel, it being most apparent, that not only the Jews in general (but the better sort of them, even the Disciples of Christ) re∣ceived by tradition, that Christ was to come as a King, to restore the Kingdom to Israel, (which was a truth in it self, and shall be effected at his next coming) by reason of which, they understood not his first coming and suffering in order thereunto; nor could they believe it, being blinded by their for∣mer received Notion, (tho true in it self,) viz. that he should reign, but not suffer, tho Christ instructed them therein (at least) three times; and if it be so, that the recep∣tion of one truth may (through corruption) blind persons in another part of truth, (which I fear is too common) Whether it do not con∣cern us all to look well to our selves in this matter? lest we for ever miss of truth, and spend our time and strength to maintain our Traditional Receptions (the devices of others that have gone before us) directly contrary to the Word of Truth, and so endanger to lose our selves eternally.
Quer. 16. Finally, Whether those Scrip∣tures, that exhorts us to lay up our treasure in Heaven, and that the inheritance is reserved in heaven for believers, will not all be per∣formed in the new Jerusalem, that shall come down from God out of Heaven, and Heaven shall be on Earth, viz. in the new Jerusalem, in the new Earth and World? And so the Scriptures stand in unity in this matter; and Peter explains it, 1. Pet. 1. 5. It's ready to be revealed in the last time; i. e. revealed from Heaven, v. 13. 2 Thess. 1. 7. which fully agrees with Rev. 21. 2.