, &c., when
the devil could get no other answer, he left him. If Satan summon thee to
answer, send him to Christ: he is thy liberty, thy protector against cruel
death, raging sin, that roaring lion, he is thy righteousness, thy Saviour,
and thy life. Though he say, thou art not of the number of the elect, a
reprobate, forsaken of God, hold thine own still, _hic murus aheneus esto_,
let this be as a bulwark, a brazen wall to defend thee, stay thyself in
that certainty of faith; let that be thy comfort, Christ will protect thee,
vindicate thee, thou art one of his flock, he will triumph over the law,
vanquish death, overcome the devil, and destroy hell. If he say thou art
none of the elect, no believer, reject him, defy him, thou hast thought
otherwise, and mayst so be resolved again; comfort thyself; this persuasion
cannot come from the devil, and much less can it be grounded from thyself?
men are liars, and why shouldst thou distrust? A denying Peter, a
persecuting Paul, an adulterous cruel David, have been received; an
apostate Solomon may be converted; no sin at all but impenitency, can give
testimony of final reprobation. Why shouldst thou then distrust, misdoubt
thyself, upon what ground, what suspicion? This opinion alone of
particularity? Against that, and for the certainty of election and
salvation on the other side, see God's good will toward men, hear how
generally his grace is proposed to him, and him, and them, each man in
particular, and to all. 1 Tim. ii. 4. "God will that all men be saved, and
come to the knowledge of the truth." 'Tis a universal promise, "God sent
not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him the
world might be saved." John iii. 17. "He that acknowledged himself a man in
the world, must likewise acknowledge he is of that number that is to be
saved." Ezek. xxxiii. 11, "I will not the death of a sinner, but that he
repent and live:" But thou art a sinner; therefore he will not thy death.
"This is the will of him that sent me, that every man that believeth in the
Son, should have everlasting life." John vi. 40. "He would have no man
perish, but all come to repentance," 2 Pet. iii. 9. Besides, remission of
sins is to be preached, not to a few, but universally to all men, "Go
therefore and tell all nations, baptising them," &c. Matt. xxviii. 19. "Go
into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," Mark xvi. 15.
Now there cannot be contradictory wills in God, h