Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

IV. These angels and men, thus predeftinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably defigned; and their number is fo certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminifhed".

V. Thofe of mankind that are predeftinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and im mutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleafure of his will, hath chofen in Chrift, unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any forefight of faith or good works, or perfeverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions,.

to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

IV. h 2 Tim. 2. 19. Never theless, the foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. John 13. 18. I fpeak not of you all, I know whom I have chofen.

V. i Eph. 1. 4, 9, 11. According as he hath chofen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy and without blame before him in love;-Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath pur

pofed in himself.-In whom al.
fo we have obtained an inherit
ance, being predeftinated ac-
cording to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after
the counfel of his own will.
Rom. 8. 30. Moreover, whom
he did predeftinate, them
he alfo called; and whom
he called, them he alfo juftified;
and whom he justified, them
he alfo glorified. 2 Tim. 1. 9.
Who hath faved us, and called
us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but
according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given
us in Chrift Jefus before the
world began.
1 Theff. 5. 9.
For God hath not appointed
us to wrath, but to obtain fal-
vation by our Lord Jefus
Chrift.

or caufes moving him thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace'.

VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, fo hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, fore-ordained all the means thereuntoTM. Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ", are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due feason; are justified, adopted, fanctified", and kept by his power through faith unto falvation". other redeemed by Chrift,

k Rom. 9. 11, 13, 16. See letter e immediately foregoing. Eph. 1. 4, 9. fce letter i, &c.

1 Eph. 1. 6, 12. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who firft trufted in Chrift.

VI. m Eph. 1. 4, 5. According as he hath chofen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. 2. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we fhould walk in them. 2 Theff. 2. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord,

Neither are any effectually called,

becaufe God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

n 1 Theff. 5. 9, 10. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jefus Chrift, who died for us, that whether we wake or fleep, we fhould live together with him. Tit. 2. 14.

o Rom. 8. 30.-Them he alfo called. Eph. 1. 5.-According to the good pleasure of his will. 2 'Theff. 2, 13. — Through fanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Rom. 8. 30.

p 1 Peter 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvasion.

juftified, adopted, fanctified, and faved, but the elect only9.

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unfearchable counfel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or with-holdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his fovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dithonor and wrath for their fin, to the praise of his glorious justice".

q John 17. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me; for they are thine. Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpofe, &c. [to the end of the chapter]. John 6. 64, 65. But there are fome of you that believe not. For Jefus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.And he faid, Therefore said I unto you, that no man come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father, So John 8. 47. and 1o. 26. 1 John 2. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifeft, that they were not all of us.

can

Lord of heaven and earth, be cause thou haft hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes; v. 26. Even fo, Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight. Rom. 9. 17, 18, 21, 22. For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, Even for this fame purpofe have I raised thee up that I might fhew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.-Therefore hath he mercy, &c. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lump to make one veffel unto honor, and another unto difhonor? What if God willing to fhew bis wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deftruction; 2 Tim. 2. 20.-But in a great houfe there are not only veffels of gold and filver, but also of wood, and of earth; and fome to honor, and fome to difhonor. Jude 4.

VII. r Mat. II. 25. At For there are certain men that time Jefus anfwered and crept in unawares, who were faid, I thank thee, O Father, before of old ordained to this

VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predeftination is to be handled with special prudence and care', that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be affured of their eternal election'. So fhall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence and admiration of God'; and of humility, diligence and abundant confolation, to all that fincerely obey the gofpel".

condemnation; ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lafcivioufnefs, and deny ing the only Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift. 1 Pet. 8.being disobedient; whereunto alfo they were appointed.

2.

VIII. f Rom. 9. 20. and II, 33. Nay but, O man, who art thou, that replieft against God? fhall the thing formed fay unto him that formed it, Why haft thou made me thus? O the depth of the riches both of the wildom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! Deut. 29. 29. The fecret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

t 2 Pet. I. 10-Give diligence to make your calling and election fure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

v Eph. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, where in he hath made us accepted in the beloved. See Rom. 11. 33. letter f.

w Rom. II. 5, 6, 20. and 8. 33. Even fo then at this prefent time alfo there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwife grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work.-Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou ftandeft by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. -Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth. Luke 10. 20. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not that the fpirits are fubject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

[ocr errors]

IT

CHA P. IV.

Of Creation.

pleafed God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wifdom, and goodness", in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of fix days, and all very good.

I. a Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom alfo he made the worlds. John I. 2, 3. The fame was in the beginning with God.-All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made, that was made. Job 26. 13. and 33. 4. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked ferpent.-The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

b Rom. 1, 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Pfal. 104. 24. O

Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all, the earth is full of thy riches.

c Gen. Ift. chap. throughout. Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him.

II. d Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.

e Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the duft of the ground, and breathed into his noftrils the breath of life; and man became a living foul. Luke 23. 43. See alfo Eccl. 12. 7. Then fall the duft return to the earth as it

« EdellinenJatka »