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2. The words of the apostle Paul, in 1 Tim. iv. 1. are produced for the same purpofe; Now the Spirit speaketh exprefly, that in the latter times fome fhall depart from the faith; but this is to be underflood, not of a falling away from the true grace of God, but of a departure from the doctrine of faith; fince it follows, giving heed" to feducing Spirits, and doctrines of Devils, Speaking lyes in hypocrify, having their confcience feared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats; which manifeftly points at the general falling away from the truths of the gospel, when the man of fin, and fon of perdition, the Pope of Rome, was revealed.

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V. This would be a proper place to confider the inftances of David, Solomon, Peter, Demas, and others, that are ufually alleged as proofs of the faints apoftafy; but these are not mentioned by the celebrated writer I chiefly attend to. However, I shall just obferve, that as to David, though, by his fall, his bones were broken, and the joy of falvation was gone, yet his falvation was fafe and fecure; and though the graces of the fpirit might lie unexercifed by him, yet the fpirit it felf was not taken from him, as appears from his own words, when v. Act. S. nod. p. 252, &c. most

2 Theff. ii. 3.

Limberch. 1. 5. c. 82. F. 712, i co

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r. As for Solomon, though his vacaubung was great, and attended with aggravated c cumifances, ver it does not appear to be tocal, from fome qualifying expreffions in the account of it"; as that his heart eus not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the beart of David his father; and that he went not fully after the Lord, as did David his fa ther; nor was it final; which is not reatonable to fuppofe of one who was to eminent a type of Chrift; and befides, would be contrary to the promife God made concerning him, faying, I will be his father, and be fhall be my Jon: If he commit iniquity, I will chaften bim with a rod of men, and with the ftripes of the children of men; but my mercy Shall not depart away from kim. Belides, he had repentance for his fins; and the book of Ecclefiaftes was penned by him in his old age, as an acknowledgment and retraction of his former follies; and after his death, foine perfons are spoken of with a commende tion for walking in the way of Devid and Solomon. As for Peter, his fall

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tal; Chrift pray'd for him, that put,
failed not; nor final, for he was
ftored by repentance. And for Frith,

Prak H. 11, 12,

vii. 14, 15

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very probably, was a good man, fince he is mentioned with fuch as were fo, Col.iv. 14. Philem. ver. 24. what the apoftle fays of him, as that he had forfaken him, having loved this prefent world, is not fufficient to prove him an apoftate, any more than Mark's departure from Paul, and others at Pamphilia; or that too much love of the world, which is to be obferved in many otherwise valuable good men, would prove them to be fo; however, these instances are recorded in fcripture for our admonition; that he that thinks he ftand, should take heed left be fall.

NUMB. XLV. 1 Tim. ii. 4.

Who will have all men to be faved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

HESE words are often ufed to op

Tpofe God's decree of reprobation, and

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in favour of univerfal redemption; but with what fuccefs will be feen, when it is obferved,

N Tim. iv. 1o.

a Remonftr. in Coll. Hag. Art. ii. p. 134. A&. Synod.

circa Art. ii. p. 321, &c.

P 332. Whitby, p. 29, 30, 74, 120, 121.

Limborch.

Curcellaeus, p. 364..

J. That

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racon. which he has fremmed ter tail are. he has provided mi fered a ce covenant of his grace, fent is on to this werd to effect, and is fully effected by im

II. That the will of God, that ul men should be faved, is not a conditional will, or what depends upon the will of man, any thing to be perform'd by him; for :f this was the cafe, none might be faved; and if any should, falvation would be of

that willeth, and of him that runneth, and not of God that feweth mercy, contrary to the exprefs words of fcripture; but this will of God, refpecting the falvation of men, is absolute and unconditional, and what infallibly fecures and produces it: Nor is it fuch a will as is diftinguishable into antecedent and confequent; with the former of which it is faid, God wills the falvation of

b Vorft. in loc.

Inid. & Amica Collar, cum Pifcator. p. 8, 13, 19, be cell. Relig. Chrift, Infit. 1 6. e. s. §. 7. p. 3.

4 Rom. is. 15.

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all men, as they are his creatures, and the work of his hands; with the latter he wills or not wills it, according to their future conduct and behaviour; but the will of God, concerning man's falvation, is one entire, invariable, unalterable, and unchangeable will; He is in one mind; and who can turn him? and what his foul defireth, even that he doth. Nor is it merely his will of approbation or complacency, being only expreffive of what is grateful and well pleafing to him; but it is his ordaining, purpofing, and determining will; which is never fruftrated, but is always fulfilled. I know it is obferved by fome, that it is not faid that God will, ooal, falvos facere, fave all men, as implying what he would do; but that he would have all men, oval, falvos fieri, to be faved, as fignifying their duty to feek after falvation, and ufe all means for the obtaining of it; which, when effected, is well pleafing to him: But the other fenfe is to be abundantly preferred.

III. That the all men, whom God would have to be faved, are fuch whom he would also have to come to the knowledge of the truth ; that is, not to a mere nominal, but experimental knowledge of the gospel of Jefus Chrift, as the way, the truth, and the life,

Job xxiii. 13.

OF

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