Page 91 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

thorough-paced predestinarian?

45. Lutherus, De Serv, Arbitr. in respons, ad ult. part. præfat. Erasmi.

46. De Bono Persever. cap. 21.

47. De Bono Persever. cap. 16.

48. De Bono Persever. cap. 20.

49. The venerable English Reformers, in the 17th of their XXXIX. Articles, make the very same
observation, and nearly in the same words: "The godly consideration of predestination and our
election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, because it
doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of everlasting salvation to be enjoyed through Christ,"
etc.

50. Certus sum, Ar. Montan. Certa fide persuasum mihi habeo, Erasm. Victa omni dubitatione,
Bengel. "I am assured," Dutch version.

51. Epist. 105, ad Sixt. Presb.

52. De Predest. Sanctor, lib. 1, cap. 9.

53. 2 Peter 1.10, Give diligence to make your calling and election, bebaian, undoubted; i.e., to get
some solid and incontestable evidence of your predestination to life. bebaioV is de quo fiducia
concipitur; is de quo nobis aliquid certo persuademus.—Unde apud Thuc. 3. bebaioV eimi, touto
poihsein certa fides habetur mihi, hoc facturum me esse. BebaiwV, certo explorato. Bebaioumai,
fidem facio; pro comperto habeo." Scap—So, elpiV bebaia is an undoubting hope (2 Cor. 1.7.),

and BebaioteroV logoV is a more assured and unquestionable word of prophecy (2 Peter 1.19.).

54. Bishop Davenant instances particularly in the great religious duty of prayer. "The consideration
of election," says this learned and evangelical man, "doth stir up the faithful to constancy in prayer,
for, having learnt that all good tending to salvation is prepared for them out of God's good pleasure,
they are hereby encouraged to call for, and as it were to draw down from heaven by their prayers,
those good things which, from eternity, were ordained for the elect. Moreover, the same Spirit of
adoption, who beareth witness to our spirit, that we are God's chosen children, is also the Spirit of
prayer and supplication, and enflameth our hearts to call daily upon our heavenly Father. Those,
therefore, who from the certainty of predestination do pretend that the duty of prayer is superfluous,
do plainly show that they are so far from having any certainty of their predestination that they have
not the least sense thereof. To be slack and sluggish in prayer is not the property of those who, by
the testimony of God's Spirit, have got assurance of their election, but rather of such as have either
none or very small apprehension thereof. For as soon as anyone by believing doth conceive himself
to be one of God's elect children, he earnestly desireth to procure unto himself by prayer those good
things which he believeth that God prepared for His children before the foundation of the
world."—Bp. Davenant's Aniamadversions on an Arminian treatise, entitled "God's Love to