About his next book Behmen thus writes: 'Upon the desire of some high
persons with whom I did converse in the Christmas holidays, I have
written a pretty large treatise upon Election, in which I have done my
best to determine that subject upon the deepest grounds. And I hope that
the same may put an end to many contentions and controversies, especially
of some points betwixt the Lutherans and Calvinists, for I have taken the
texts of Holy Scripture which speak of GOD'S will to harden sinners, and
then, again, of His unwillingness to harden, and have so tuned and
harmonised them that the right understanding and meaning of the same may
be seen.' 'This author,' says John Sparrow, 'disputes not at all. He
desires only to confer and offer his understanding of the Scriptures on
both sides, answering reason's objections, and manifesting the truth for
the conjoining, uniting, and reconciling of all parties in love.' And
that he has not been wholly unsuccessful we may believe when we hear one
of Behmen's ablest commentators writing of his _Election_ as 'a
superlatively helpful book,' and again, as a 'profoundly instructive
treatise.' The workman-like way in which Behmen sets about his treatment
of the _Election of Grace, commonly called Predestination_, will be seen
from the titles of some of his chapters. Chap. i. What the One Only GOD
is. Chap. ii. Concerning GOD'S Eternal Speaking Word. Chap. v. Of the
Origin of Man; Chap. vi. Of the Fall of Man. Chap. viii. Of the
sayings of Scripture, and how they oppose one another. Chap. ix.
Clearing the Right Understanding of such Scriptures. Chap. xiii. A
Conclusion upon all those Questions. And then, true to his constant
manner, as if wholly dissatisfied with the result of all his labour in
things and in places too deep both for writer and reader, he gave all the
next day after he had finished his _Election_ to an _Appendix on
Repentance_, in order to making his own and his reader's calling and
election sure. And it may safely be said that, than that day's work,