Then & Now · 44 of 44
5. God’s Secret Decrees
5. God’s Secret Decrees
BY working a ſinner to mind more982 the ſecret decreaſe and counſels of God, then his own duty. What needeſt thou to buſie thy ſelfe about receiving, embracing, and entertaining of Chriſt? Saith Satan, if thou art elected, thou ſhalt be ſaved; if not, all that thou canſt doe will do thee no good. Nay, he will worke the ſoule not onely to doubt of its election, but to conclude that he is not elected, and therefore let him doe what he can he ſhall never be ſaved.
- 982. 5 Device. [dropped from the edition]
BY working a sinner to mind more the secret decrees and counsels of God, than his own duty. What needest thou to busy thy self about receiving, embracing, and entertaining of Christ? Saith Satan, if thou art elected, thou shalt be saved; if not, all that thou canst do will do thee no good. Nay, he will work the soul not only to doubt of its election, but to conclude that he is not elected, and therefore let him do what he can he shall never be saved.
THe firſt Remedie is, ſeriouſly to conſider,983 that all the Angels in heaven, nor all the men on earth, nor all the Devills in hell cannot tell to the contrary, but that thou maiſt be an elect perſon, a choſen veſſel. Thou mayeſt p. 378 be confident of this, that God never made Satan one of his Privie Councel, God never acquainted him with the names or perſons of ſuch that he hath ſet his love upon to eternity, &c.
- 983. 1 Remedy [dropped from the edition]
The first remedy is, seriously to consider, that all the angels in heaven, nor all the men on earth, nor all the devils in hell cannot tell to the contrary, but that thou mayest be an elect person, a chosen vessel. Thou mayest be confident of this, that God never made Satan one of his Privy Council, God never acquainted him with the names or persons of such that he hath set his love upon to eternity, etc‸.
The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device984 of Satan, is, to meddle with that which thou haſt to doe; ſecret things belongs to the Lord, but revealed985 things belongs to thee; thy worke ſinner, is to be peremptory in believing, and in returning to the Lord; thy worke is to caſt thy ſelfe upon Chriſt, lye at his feete, to waite on him in his wayes, and to give him no reſt till he ſhall ſay, Sinner, I am thy portion, I am thy ſalvation, and nothing ſhall ſeparate between thee and me.
The second remedy against this device of Satan, is, to meddle with that which thou hast to do; secret things belongs to the Lord, but revealed780 things belongs to thee; thy work sinner, is to be peremptory in believing, and in returning to the Lord; thy work is to cast thy self upon Christ, lie at his feet, to wait on him in his ways, and to give him no rest till he shall say, sinner, I am thy portion, I am thy salvation, and nothing shall separate between thee and me.
- 780. Deut 29:‸29. ‸
FINIS.