Chapter XII
Whether these four words, perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, intend one and the same in a various manner of expression, or whether they have seve-
raHij a peculiar import answering particularly to temptations of a differing sort to which we are obnoxious. The meaning of the word perfect explained: sometimes it is understood of the complete accomplishment of a work. When
applied to the work of grace, as here, it denotes the supplying or making up
of imperfections and wants ; and that it imports either the adding further
degrees of perfection unto the imperfect work of grace first begun in us ; or
it reaches the case of lapsed Christians, and signifies their being recovered and
restored again. That there are such cases of backsliding, which is not a
total apostasy. To make [perfect] such fallen soids, is to repair what was
torn and broken in them by their sin. Those who fall into grosser sins are made perfect again by a new conversion.
A third question will be, Whether for our support against all such temp
tations, the accumulation, or heaping up of so many words (four), should
be intended by the Holy Ghost, as signifying only one and the same thing, and so to be made up, so many ingredients, into one dose, as a catholicon,
or general medicine and antidote, which may altogether be applied, and
taken for relief against any, or all temptations, as they befall us ? Or whe
ther there may not be some specific, particular, distinct sort of cordial in one
* See Lorinus, who hath summed up the several interpretations the most briefly and fully of any. Cornelius a Lapide, in his interpretations of the first word xar|-
Tiffet, ut si quid in patientia, vitio impatientise et pusillanimitatis sit lassum, instau-
ret, &c.
378 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
more than another, in reference unto some special sorts of temptations, as
they shall occur to us.
Some interpreters do make them up into one bolus, or lump, and to import but one and the same thing,* and yet to be thus multiplied into four, for an exaggeration (as their word is), or more vehement and deep asserting the
same, to shew, quam magna) difficultatis sit, nos perseverare, of how great
difficulty the matter of oar perseverance is. I would further say, that this
is done to the end, to give all believers full assurance of faith that God will
infallibly perform it ; he would never have made so many words about it else. And truly, if there were found no other, or further end and use herein, this favourable construction might content us, that God should give four words
for one, when one might have been enough, it argues he would have us have abundant consolation from it. That as lawyers multiply words, though to one and the same purpose, thereby to make all sure, and to bind, and fetch
in, and comprehend all, that there might be no exception, nor any doubt
: which, if there were no peculiar distinct meaning to each word, had been a great security unto us, a fourfold security and
left, so here the apostle
obligation, by four words, and the rather, because whereas Jesus Christ our Lord had, in his command to Peter, mentioned but one of these words, ffr^oi^ov
<tov t stablish, or confirm thy brethren, and no other; and the
ro\Jc ab&.<povs
apostle enlarges to four, when he comes to perform the command. By one word of God was heaven and earth on the first day made and founded upon nothing ; and sure so many words as these may well serve to found, stablish, and settle our unbelieving, unstable hearts, in this so great matter of con cernment to us.
Yet over and besides this general use to be made hereof, I desire it may be thoroughly searched into, what peculiar confortatives and cordials, in re ference unto particular cases in our lives, from sins and special sorts of
temptations, the singular and proper import of each in their use in the New Testament will afford UP.
I dare not undertake to demonstrate the particulars of this ; how the pro per and distinct significations of them, of one from another, do rospectively promise and speak an answerable proper relief to any and every temptation in their particular variety, although I am apt to think with Gerard, that not
only whatever belongs to our salvation (namely, after calling) is summarily comprehended in these four words ;f but further, that all sorts of temptations whatever are reducible, and might be referred under some one of these heads of succours and remedies ; for it is apparent that each of these words do not
simply express a positive promise, as of strengthening, making perfect, &c., but do connotate the privative, or want in us, of the thing promised, for the use of which the promise is intended ; as that he will strengthen us against weakness } he VfiH perfect us out of imperfection; and against former imperfec tion (as in the prophet Isaiah, chap. Ixi. 3,
* He will appoint beauty for ashes ; and verse 7, For shame you shall have double, &c). The remedies here do intimate the maladies they are the cures of, and out of which he proraiseth deliverance.
And for the genuine meaning of each, I take this rule, which Gerard
* Quattior ilia verba pene Synonima. JEstius. Hsec omnia idem vel quasi idem sunt. A Lapide. And whoever will read Gerard s allegation of the use of these several words in the Septuagint, will find their significations much do run into one another ; and prove in sense much one and the same. See his Comment, in Loc.,
p. 794, 795 ; and A Lapide and Lorinus do cite Gagnejus on the word ; Kem eandem verbis multis idem significantibus exaggerari.
t Summatim, quicquid ad salutis nostrse principium, medium, eifinem pertinet ; illud omne Petrus quatuor hisce verbis comprehendit.
CHAP. XII.] OF ELECTION. 879
pitched on, that omnium optima ewplicatio sumitur ex emphasi Gracorum verborum. The best explication of them all (or of all others given by others) is to be taken from the emphasis which the Greek words have, as in the sacred language of the New Testament they are used.
Will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. This word xaragriasi is sometimes used for the perfecting and completing a work simply, abso
lutely, and at once, and without having any respect to a former imperfection, it being once had. And thus it is spoken of the human nature of Christ, Heb. x. 5,
< A body hast thou perfected me (it is the word that is here); and that body was formed or articulated (as the word also signifies) by the Holy Ghost, with the human soul, in all the parts of it, in one instance* of
its union with the Son of God, for it subsisted not alone a moment. And, Heb. xi. 3, when it is said God framed or perfected the worlds, it is the same word; and the supreme world, the highest heavens, were in one instant created absolutely perfect the first day. But when in the New Testament it
is applied to the works of grace, as it is in the text, it takes into it a con notation of, and a relation to, an imperfect degree of being, which is further to be perfected, and out of which God makes perfect. And unto such a sense the word in general expresseth a supplement, or making up of wants ; as 1 Thes. iii. 10, Might perfect that which is lacking or deficient in your faith. And the word iiaregwa (there used) is in its
proper signification want, and elsewhere is used to signify needs in outward
things, 2 Cor. viii. 14 and chap. ix. 12, which we usually term want; but is
there, in the first to the Thessalonians, applied to spiritual wants, and fallings short therein. Now, spiritual sufferings being included in the sufferings here
in the text as well as outward, and spiritual imperfections occasioned by outward being intended, this word therefore imports a meet supply, and
making up of spiritual wants; even as there, in 1 Thes. iii. 10, it is meant of the perfecting of faith, and what is wanting in it. Now, this perfecting of what is wanting in graces to us, may receive a double intendment :
1. Simply; viz. that the work of grace begun in any of us being at first short and imperfect in its degrees which are requisite to make it fully per
fect, in respect thereunto God s promise here is, that he will go on to per fect that work begun ; as Philip, i. 6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. It is said of the person who, walking up to the grace
received, is without any wilful failure or neglect in his course, and is not
guilty of gross or perverse imperfections ; which was Paul s case after his
calling, who yet says he was not already perfect after a long stage in Chris
tianity: Philip, iii. 12, Not as though l had already attained, either were
already perfect ; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which
also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
And this is the case which the text respects ; for it may, yea, and doth,
befall several Christians, who have had the special privilege so to have walked from the first, who yet need further additions to make them perfect ; and to whom God will, above all other Christians, perform this promise, of making them perfect more and more on earth, unto a consummation of them in holi
ness in heaven, yet so as the common law of sufferings first must take hold
of them; a law common to them, with all others of their brethren, as in the
text. And those sufferings, either outward, wherein the apostle Paul
abounded ; or perhaps inward assaults from Satan, though still resisted, so
as not to be overcome by them; after which conflicts God comes anew, * Qu. instant ? ED.
380 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
wonderfully to perfect and establish such in faith and holiness. And this seems to have been the case and present state of those Thessalonians when
the apostle wrote that epistle to them for we read of no church he wrote
to whom he so commends for having kept their first conversion work so
pure, and without the least defection, as by his rejoicing in them in that
epistle appears and yet he tells them in the words fore-cited, that there were things wanting in their faith, the supply of which he expresseth by this word (which is the end I cite it for), That we might perfect that which is
lacking in your faith. Let men called have had never so great and eminent conversions (as these had, as in chap, i.), yet God hath in store reserved, and in design laid up, for them, great and glorious accesses of grace to per fect them, which they all afterwards attain, in their resistance and over-
comings of temptation, and strict walkings with him. Whereof there is an instance likewise in that decaying church of Sardis (of which by and by), a few elect, choice Christians in God s account were found even there ; who
are mentioned in Rev. iii. 4, Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments ; and they shall walk with me in white ; for
they are worthy.
The word um^/zara, in that to the Thessalonians, translated lacking in
your faith, is the same that is used by the apostle, Col. i. 24, of our suffer
ings for Christ; which, as it is translated, runs thus, To fill up that which
is behind of the afflictions of Christ. And the filling up of these is the matter of the promise here in Peter; as if he had said, The God of all grace, that hath called us, will fill up what is behind in his ordination ; and lacking to what we received at first calling, unto an higher perfection. Besides what
is wanting in the doctrinals of faith, there are additional to the special faith of Christians. God hath an all-riches of full assurance, to be added unto our faith of recumbency received at first ; and to that rich assurance of
understanding, he hath joy unspeakable, and full of glory, to be superadded; and unto making our election sure, he hath an abundant entrance into heaven, begun in this life; for which compare 2 Peter i. 10, 11, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure : for if you do these things, ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting king dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And as thus in point of faith, so in holiness; as we receive at first the Spirit to regenerate us, so there is the promise of pouring out the Spirit after. As we read in Christ s
speeches, and the story of the apostles times, there is an adding of one
grace to another, as our apostle in his second epistle exhorts : 2 Peter i.
5, 6, And besides this^ giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness. And they are degrees of the same
grace, as each is to have its perfect work, thereby to make us entire, wanting nothing: James i. 3, 4, Knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing. And these accesses are not always wrought anew insensibly, as plants that grow we know not how; but some times sensibly, discernibly in the addition, with a notoriety to themselves and others. There ariseth up a new autumn spring in some, which is as a
first conversion, and is by Christ styled a second conversion : Except ye be
converted, &c., Mat. xviii. 3, says Christ to his disciples, that were con verted already. There are great windfalls of the Spirit, who blows when and where he lists, after regeneration, that do befall some Christians, and
especially such as have kept their garments pure from the first; for to him
CHAP. XII. J OF ELECTION. 331
that hath shall be given. And disciples growing up in such additaments as these are termed a perfection
: Luke vi. 40, The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And there fore let such Christians expect eminent fulfillings of these promises, in this manner as hath been spoken, after they have suffered a while.
But yet, lest we should restrain the promise here solely, and only to such Christians as have continued to walk up to their conversion principles, and so exclude all those that after calling have foully fallen into grosser evils against light, or declined and swerved greatly from the first zeal, I shall therefore shew you out of the Scriptures, that,
2. This same word, make perfect, under the import of which the promise here runs, doth in the significancy of it, yea, and the application of it also, reach and extend unto such cases, unto this of lapsed Christians also ; and if to such, then certainly to all, or any other sort, that may be supposed to fall out in God s true called ones. The God of all grace hath in store for such riches laid up, to restore and perfect them again, although it usually costs them very full dear in soul sufferings and sad trials, for and from such
extravagancies, ere they attain it. For of such sinnings of his people, God hath said, It is bitter, and reacheth to the heart, Jer. iv. 18 ; and every one doth and will feel them such, sooner or later, whom God hath called, ere they arrive at the performance of this promise, of being made perfect, stablished. But after they have so suffered a while, his grace will perfect and stablish them ; and yet perhaps, when they are restored to that perfection God intends to them afterward, it is but in respect of some greater measure of substantial spiritual faith and holiness than ever they had afore, without those superadditions and overpluses of glorious joys, &c. that themselves once had, or others, Athat have kept their garments pure, have the privi lege of.
I need not stand long in shewing that there fall out such cases of back
sliding, that yet are not sinking into a total falling away, or extinction of
: as, 1, the case of leaving one s first love, and declining from that
grace
spiritual fervent zeal of good works, which a Christian had once at his
first calling, or afterwards, and therewith a cooling and defervescency in
holy actings, inward and outward. This was Christ s charge against the
angel and church of Ephesus
: Eev. ii. 4, 5, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember from whence thou art
fallen, and do thy first works ; and that this is said to them that had true
grace still, in an eminent measure, abiding in them, and who continued still to act holily, though in a lower degree, I need not stand to prove ; read the verses afore and after. Again, 2, you read of a far deeper defection in the
angel of the church of Sardis, even to the lowest degree, next to a total loss of grace and the state of it: Rev. iii. 2, I have not found, says Christ, thy works perfect afore God. This also is spoken unto them that were true be
* Be watch
lievers, that had some spiritual life remaining in them ; ver. 2,
ful, strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. And they were not those principles you are wont to call the remainders of pure nature
in Adam, as natural conscience, &c., but of that life they had received by regeneration from Christ ; for we may not think that all conscience was a-dying in these professors, for Christ writes to them as a church that had many good works, which they still exercised, though comparatively dead to what
they had been. But their condition was fallen to this, that their spiritual
life was ready to die, and like a snuff or wick sunk into the socket (which Christ s comparison reaches) was ready utterly to go out, and expire its last with the next attempt which it made to shine. And this befell them through
882 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
a drowsiness which their wills had entertained, by degrees come on them ;
so as they were greatly declined through that negligence, which a willing and indulged sleepiness brought upon them ; although the second verse, Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to
die ; for I have not found thy works perfect before God ; this insinuates
that they had life, but were next degree to death ; in a dead-hearted
frame as to spiritual actings, especially inward ; so the words, be watchful, and strengthen, do import. Now when it is said of them, that their works
were not found perfect afore God, or not full, it notes that they omitted some duties which they afore practised, or were declined so far, as not to
perform them ; or if they did, it was formally, customarily, deadly, without much agitation of spiritual life in the exercise of them. Not from out of
renewed, inward principles stirred up and exerted, and put forth in them,
(though habitually they remained in them) of love to God, zeal for God,
faith unfeigned, continually exercising itself upon Christ afresh every day, both for justification and for deriving new strength for the acting of them,
< without whom we can do nothing, accompanied with holy aims at the
glory of God, and that proceeding out of a pure conscience, without the pre dominancy of by-ends, prevailingly influencing the good works they did, and carrying them on to those duties, more than the energy and provoca tion of God s glory in their hearts thereto ; and this lifeless, dead frame of
heart had not been for a spurt or a short paroxysm or fit, but by the re
proof Christ gives it appears it had been for some long space and continu
ance of time.
Yea, 3, we further find that not only such a privative cessation and de
praved omission and obstrnctiveness in the motion, and circulation of good
works, but convulsion fits of falling into the commission of grosser acts of
sinning, do sometimes befall true believers that have been called, whereof
there are many instances in Scripture. But we need no further than the
case of our apostle Peter, and which was the occasion of Christ s command
to him, in obedience whereunto he wrote this confortatory or consolatory of our text. You know how he did with oaths and curses thrice deny our Lord after he had true faith ; and yet that principle of faith was not utterly extinct by his so grievous a transgression. His heart, poor man, throbbed
within, and beat some inward, though faint, resistances to the contrary, even when his will gave consent to perpetrate that high wickedness. And both
these things of him our Saviour s words insinuate, Luke xxii. 32, But I
have prayed that thy faith fail not ; therefore he had faith afore, and that
faith not extinct, but smothered as in a smoke, which a look of Christ s blew
up into a flame of the deepest and most vehement repentance ; and Christ
fully recovered and restored him again, and made him perfect, and
strengthened him more than ever; and it was a new conversion to him, as
Christ there terms it. But my business is to inquire, for the support and comfort of such Chris
tians, whether none of these four words in the text be not in their signification
applicable to these cases, and so the promises thereof to reach them ; and
although many other promising scriptures may be intended to that purpose,
yet my design is, and undertaking hath been, all along my handling this text,
to keep myself to the words thereof, and take only such supports as they give a ground for ; and I look upon this scripture as an abundary and magazine, as to perseverance-comforts, to make a Christian complete therein, and I
shall therefore invite them but to drink and taste the waters out of this one
cistern, and draw them forth out of this well of consolation ; and if this pro mise of perfecting reaches the cases of these Christians, then any other, the
CHAP. XII.] OF ELECTION. 3g3
worst snpposable, that of total apostasy excepted, which God never suffers his called ones to fall into, but setting that aside, these fore -mentioned cases are the worst that do befall any of the true saints after calling, in the course of their lives, between their calling and their deaths.
Now for the whole or total of these cases, and as touching them all at once, it is certain that the word xaragr/w, imports a making whole, or per fect again of what is anyway rent, torn, tattered, maimed, broken, disjointed, or the like, and signifies an instauration, a restitution, or restauration of anything despoiled ; and in the proper and original use of it, signifies the making whole of anything that is endamaged or spoiled.* And from hence this its proper signification, fitly in a way of metaphor, comes to be trans lated here to men s souls, and the sinful impairments thereof, that sense be ing used in the text; and so it doth most aptly include the foresaid cases, and imports the setting up again and restoring of a soul or person once truly called (for of one after calling he only speaks), that yet after calling hath been both greatly wanting, decayed, and deficient in good works, and also fallen into great and enormous crimes, or both (for both these do ofttimes accompany one the other), as well as of the carrying of the soul on in an unblameable course of uninterrupted strictness. And for this the proper signification of
it, interpreters (and it is a famous instance among them) do, for expounding of this word in the text, allege and apply out of two evangelists what is more properly spoken of the apostles mending their nets, whilst fishermen, when broken, Mat. iv. 21, Mark i. 19 ; from which they take occasion by way of metaphor or similitude (which is the form of language used in all these four words f) to explain this particular word, it being one and the same word that is used by the evangelists that is here. And the subjects of this promise of making perfect by God being our souls, in respect of sins, the sense of it comes to this, that in some likeness and analogy, God s promise is to mend and make our broken souls whole again, after they have been rent and tattered, in the impairment of their graces begun in them, either by decay or more grievous sinnings, so far as to be fitted again for their wonted use and service, as we say, or meet for the Master s use, as the apostle speaks, 2 Tim. ii 21, and to that end to make them as tight and as strong as ever, that first of their mending nets being the proper signification of the word, and this, in our apostle, the metaphorical ; and it is the law of the use of metaphors or borrowed speeches, by way of likeness thus to apply them
according to their several kinds, and therefore must be admitted in this. And here I need not tell you, how much more obnoxious our sinful souls are to miscarriages in their kind, than fishermen s nets are to ruptures and breaches in their kind, which yet is as great as of any other thing a man makes use of, as from falling upon anchors or through wrecks in the sea ; yea, by multitudes and bigness of fishes when drawn up, Luke v. 6. It is use enough to make of this similitude, and to my present purpose, that whatsoever the breaches be on our parts, God s promise here is to them that are called, to make them perfect again, and not to suffer them to run
into such, as shall utterly destroy them.
I shall further but cast in this, agreeable to my general scope I have all
along prosecuted, that if art and nature in empty man (as in Job xi. 12 man is styled) have skill, and are able to repair the works of their hands,
surely the God of all power, and the God of all grace, knows how, and is
* Tygurina vertit, instauret, ut si quid vitio impatientiae, et pusillanimitatis sit luxatum, laesum, divisum, fractum, hiulcum, distortum, debilitatum ; Deus instauret, conformet, uniat. A Lapide in verlmm ibidem.
f Verba hsec quatuor, sunt omnia metaphorica. JEstius in verba.
884 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
able much more, yea, and by grace and the engagements thereof, most
willing to restore the workmanship of his own hands (which he cannot but
love), which he hath on purpose created unto good works, Eph. ii. 10. And this then, when his and our adversary Satan (whose work and endeavour
it is to spoil that new workmanship, which God by regenerating of us hath
begun in us) attempts to ruin us, by stirring up our lusts in us ; and with whose temptations those corruptions being irritated do join ; whereupon
yet, God is so far from being provoked to destroy us or forsake us (which is
Satan s aim), that he is provoked, through his grace that he bears in his
heart towards us, to repair what Satan in malice, through our weakness, had
attempted to undo. And accordingly, in full opposition to Satan and the
strength of lusts in us, he sets himself, with a but God, &c., as here, to undo
this ruining work of the devil, notwithstanding all our sinfulness ; and
further, hath been most graciously pleased thus aforehand to relieve us by such a promise, made under the significancy of this most elegant metaphor, to mend us, and restore us, and make us perfect again, and our souls as
strong and fit for his service as ever.* Oh how often doth the devil in our
lives break in upon us, and upon what we have wrought, and in a manner undoes what we have done ; yea, when for a long while together we have walked more strictly, and our hearts have been kept up in a holy frame and
close communion with God, and gone on in a constancy, performing spiritual duties with much spiritual life ; how doth a wretched lust rise in us, stirred
up by some occasion, and then strongly withal enforced and impregnated by
Satan s temptations and infusions (as in David, Satan is said to have done, when he numbered the people, 1 Chron. xxi. 1) ; and so in a great measure mars what we have been so long aworking, insomuch that we are apt to
think ourselves utterly undone, and in reality are wonderfully cast behind hand thereby. Ay, but this God of all grace here in the text, sends then
his Holy Spirit into our hearts, who provokes us to, and renews unfeigned
repentance in us (as there he did in David), lifts us up when we are fallen, and restores us to our former, yea, and often to a much far better and holier
constitution and disposure of spirit than ever. And oh, how often is it that God visits us and renews such gracious dispensations upon our sinnings,
verifying that blessed manifesto of his gracious heart in the prophet, Thy destruction is of thyself; but in me is thy help. This from the proper use of the word, as it is appliable, by way of meta
phor, unto God s perfecting our souls in the cases afore specified ; but as
yet only in the general.
But let us further see, if that the word be not in its metaphorical use, in
particular applied by the Holy Ghost himself, unto a restoring us in and out
of those very particular cases, concerning grosser sins and neglect of known
duties.
I begin first with that of falling into grosser sins, which are the worst ;
according to that rule, that sins of commission are greater evils, and have more of peccancy in them than sins of omission in good works ; of which
sort the two first cases afore mentioned were.
In Gal. vi. 1, If a man (or although a man, who is supposed by the
( be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; consider
apostle to be a brother and true Christian)
ing thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Which last words shew he supposeth the most spiritual may fall into the like. The word restore such an
* Significat ergo apostolus, telam bonorum operum et justitise quam texiinus, cito,
et facile in hac vita rumpi ; nisi accedet Dei /.aragTiff/tbg, says Gerard in applying that of mending their nets unto this word here.
CHAP. XII.] OF ELECTION. 385
one, is our very word in the text here, and in a way of metaphor, applied to the case afore us, although under another metaphor than the former (yet having the like general import of making perfect what is impaired, &c.) ;
applied, I say, to the making whole again a sinner fallen into a gross sin. And it is expressly so applied to this very case by the Holy Ghost himself. The metaphor there (as generally interpreters agree, and needs no distinct
proof, for the scriptures I shall allege in the prosecution of this, and in the
margin,* will clear it so to be) is a metaphor taken from surgeons that set a bone, a limb or limbs, which by some grievous dangerous fall is become loosened from its joint, or perhaps (which is worse) broken or bruised ; and
the word -TrasccTrrw/Aa there also suits too, and complies also with this other
metaphor of a broken joint. It is translated indeed a fault, but signifies
properly & fall, and but metaphorically a sin ; yea, and sometimes is 6vw,aa-
GTIXOJS, and by way of eminency, put to signify some singular great sin, as when we say Adam s fall, as it was to the ruin of himself and us all ; and
accordingly his sin and disobedience is in that singular sense termed by the
apostle vaourtTtafltt,, Rom. v. 14, which is the word here, and sounds some
noticed sin fallen into. And this is a worse matter than the case of that
spiritual drowsiness to good works we spake of, out of Rev. iii. Now his
exhortation is to such as were more grown and able Christians, whom he
terms, you that are spiritual, that is, comparatively to others ; and these he exhorts with meekness and all tenderness of spirit (such as we use to say
surgeons hands ought to be), to set him into joint again ; or if it were
broken by the fall, to set it again. A member thus dislocated, and out of
joint, or a limb and bone broken, are not yet thereby quite severed or cut
off from the body it is in, or the head it [is] joined to, but its union still with
the body continued ; but it is loosened or misplaced, or not in its right socket. So it is with such a man in respect of his union with Christ, and with his
mystical body. And it cannot be that he should mean sins of ordinary
infirmity (of which the apostle James says, In many things we offend all ) ;
these have not so dangerous an effect as to bring a dislocation upon a mem
ber ; no, nor do ordinary strains and wrenches, though violent, produce such
an effect as this fall here spoken of is said to do. And from which falls
also the apostle supposeth these that are spiritual to be free in their ordi
nary Christian course ; for he says, Lest ye also be tempted. It is there
fore an heinous sinning he means (however some interpreters would lessen
it). And from hence I infer that,
* The allusion which this word hath to the setting right a member dislocated, is
further confirmed, in that it is used in the case of a church fallen into divisions,
whereby the members are disjointed one from another, and by consequence from
Christ their head. Thus 1 Cor. i. 10, 11, Now, I beseech you, brethren, that there
be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joined together. For it hath been
declared to me that there are contentions among you. It is the same, both word and
metaphor there, that is used in this Gal. vi. 1, taken from the members of a body
that are out of joint among themselves, and their reducement to their right order
again ; it is termed a being perfectly joined together, or compacted together again. Now what is there spoken of the members of Christ s hody, considered as a body, is
in the Galatian text applied to the soul of a particular Christian, a member of that
body, that sets loose unto Christ the head. And divisions in a church as a church,
the body of Christ, among themselves, are in their kind as great disjunctions as gross
sins in a particular soul, as a soul, in its setting loose unto Christ. The same use of
this word to this sense and purpose also, you have 2 Cor. xin. 9, in ver. 11, be pei
feet ; in ver. 9, I wish your perfection, xardgnffiv fyfcwr, spoken in relation to their
disunions ; as also other sins which particular members were fallen into, chap, xn.,
as appears by the words following.
VOL. IX. B b
386 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
If the word of my text be thus there applied unto such a state of falling into sin (as it is), in the way of a command from God, given unto men, who have but a little mercy in them, that yet with meekness and tenderness they should restore such an one, then surely the God of all grace, who hath picked and chosen out this same word, and put it into a promise here, against all
temptations of them whom he hath called (as the current of the text runs) ;
surely he himself will perform it, through Jesus Christ their head, to whom
they remain united still, though out of joint, and unto whom God hath
engaged himself to do this, as well as promised it to us ; to whose heart
(name y, Christ) it goes, even the fall of every member of his, more than
their persecutions ; who is sensible to the quick of these infirmities of ours, as well as of other miseries, and pities us under them, as Heb. iv. 15, 16, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. And if to that
purpose the Holy Ghost hath in that place, Gal. vi. 1, made use of this word to signify a restoring one from such gross lapses, when it is spoken by way of exhortation to what men should do one to another, shall we not
take and receive it in the same sense from God, and apply it unto such cases wherein it is spoken of him, by way of promise from himself? Of God, I
say, who hath all grace, and power, and faithfulness within himself, to effect and perform what he promiseth ? Certainly yes. There cannot be a greater case of sinning that befalls a regenerate man than what God himself says he did, de facto, find in nn obstinate sinner
against himself, who yet was his child : Isa. Ivii. 17, For the iniquity of
his covetousness I was wroth. And thereupon, God expressing his dis
pleasure by some eminent correction, and by the context in the verses
immediately afore, it seems (as I have elsewhere opened the words in a
discourse long since printed) it was an impressing his wrath immediately upon his spirit
* I was wroth, and smote him : but he went on (notwith
standing) frowardly in the way of his heart ; that is, he added a perverse
obstinacy after that, and against that severe correction. His first course of
sinning, which occasioned that chastisement, and was committed afore it, the Lord terms an iniquity; that is, a sin of an high kind, in itself alone con
sidered. And further, this his sinning was not a transient act, that passed from him, out of which he presently was recovered, but a way of his heart,
says that text, which notes that it had been continued in, yea, and still con
tinued after that great rebuke, and therefore for some long time ; yet in
this case God doth, upon a most deliberate full notice, view, and cognisance taken thereof, utter himself thus : Isa. Ivii. 18, I have seen his ways, and
will heal him ; I will restore comforts to him. And this God, the God of
all grace, promiseth and peremptorily declares he will do ; he is resolved to
do. I say he peremptorily resolves it, for it is set in opposition against the
obstinacy of this sinner ; as if God had said, I am as resolute in grace and
mercy for him as he is in sinning against me ; and God will overcome when he will be merciful, as well as when he judgeth, Ps. li. And do we
find God thus resolute in the Old Testament ? Certainly he is not become
less gracious in the New, unto those he hath out of grace called, now, when
his Christ, our Saviour Jesus, is come, and God hath called them through him. Therefore, even in such cases (and these are the worst), when through his permission man s wilfulness throws him into such direful miscarriages as these, he proclaims it, I will be merciful unto those I will be merciful
unto; those whom first grace by calling hath took hold of, and maintained a
CHAP. XI L] OF ELECTION. 8f7
principle of life not extinguished, though ready to die. We may warrantably conclude with applying this as a promise here, that God will make perfect, restore (instaumre, as the text) such a soul unto that perfection again as
shall fit him, or make him meet, for the actual possession of his inheritance
in light, into which he had called him.
And the reason which the text gives is powerfully convincing of this. For
having said that his calling us at first was from out of the whole graciousness of God, it was of such who, before calling, were wholly dead in sins and
trespasses: Eph. ii. 1, 5 compared, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ ; (by grace ye are saved. ) And then
that aurog, this same God (which word I put a mighty weight upon, though not taken notice of by our translators, as bringing down the full of that fore
gone description of God, the God of all grace, &c., upon these following words
of promise), this same God will restore and perfect from under these
dangerous falls, that would prove fatal indeed, if grace undertook not this
restauration of them ; and yet they bring not the person into a dead condi
* ready to
tion, utterly dead as before, but as that Eev. iii. 2 represents it,
die, a spirit of some life yet remaining in them (as there). And the force
of the reason lies in these two things
: 1, that he being not fallen into so
desperate a state by sinning as he was in afore calling, the principle of life
yet remains unexcussed by his fall ; 2, and that yet all the grace, out of which God at first called him, is avowedly declared engaged to restore and
perfect him again ; insomuch as if it could be supposed (as our apostle speaks in another case) so that if need were of as much grace to renew him again as he had laid out upon him in calling and converting him at first, God doth
engage himself to spend it upon him again ; yea, further, if all the grace that
is in the heart of God were requisite to be drawn out, he would set the whole
stock thereof upon it to effect no less than the whole work of calling entirely anew, and rear it from the very foundations afresh, rather than fail (as we
say) ; and the whole of that grace which first called us would move him to make perfect again such an one.
And in such cases of foul lapses, God often is wont to make such perfect
again, by a new conversion ; for by that name they are in that case termed, and really are ; as to the substance of the work, they are such, although in
deed they be but the revivals of fresh acts of faith and repentance, such as
at the first. And so in our apostle s case of denying his Master (which I
alone afore have instanced in), his restauration is termed by Christ his con
version, when thou art converted, &c. And that the same things are acted
over again in us that were at first, David s repentance for his so heinous trans
gressions, in Ps. li. shews. And you that know what it is to be converted may trace the prints of a new conversion in all the parts of conversion, to
have been supplicated for by him, to be wrought in him, as humiliation for
sin, ver. 3, 5, 14 ; a seeking out for pardon of sin, and righteousness of
justification, ver. 2, 7, 9, 14 ; and as vehement petitions for holiness and
sanctification to be renewed, and that in the very terms which are used of
its being wrought at first : ver. 10, Create in me a clean heart, God ; and renew a right spirit within me. And he imploreth grace in the same manner and terms also, as any new converts use to seek the favour of God
in, and to express themselves by ; yea, and that therewith God would
restore to him the former joy of his salvation, ver. 12, and stablish him with
his free spirit (which last word stablish is the same with the second word
here in the text, and so translated by the Septuagint, and used by Christ to
our apostle) ; yea, and lastly, if you will admit it, he utters himself in the
388 OF ELECTION. [BOOK IV.
very allusion, which, in the way of metaphor, the first word in my text did
prompt us to, towards the exposition of the word itself, namely, of setting
right a broken or disjointed bone or member; and truly David s language runs thus, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice ; only David, by his broken bones, in that verse, means those dolors (and therefore
opposed to joy in the text) and heart-breakings for sin set upon his con
science, together with impressions of the finger of God, which were to his
soul as affective as the breaking of the bones to the body, and which God himself had done, and brought upon him, which thouhasi broken ; where
as the metaphor in the Galatian text connotates our having broken our own
bones, or put our souls out of joint, by willingly falling into sins, wherein God hath no hand ; and so we bring upon ourselves another manner of
breaking, God s breaking our bones, by way of correction, in taking away our former peace, and following us with the saddest tortures. But this word in my text takes in and comprehends all, and imports a making all whole again ; whether in respect of restoring former peace and joy again, in
stead of pain, or of making all sound again of those bruises, disjunctures, or brokenness of bones, made by sinnings in our souls, unto a new perfec tion of peace and holiness, that is, which is comparatively such. This for the import and application of this word xarar/>, unto God s
restorings after great lapses into sin, which is one of the cases fore-mentioned.