all the means thereunto m. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ n, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due feafon; are justified, adopted, fanctified o, and kept by his power through faith unto falvation p. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only q. VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their fin, to the praise of his glorious justice r. VIII. The the Spirit, and belief of the truth. n 1 Theff. v. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, v. 10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or fleep, we should live together with him. Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. o Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Eph. i. 5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Chrift to himself, according to the good pleafure of his will. 2 Theff. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. p.1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed in the laft time. 4 John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me, for they are thine. Rom, viii. 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 purpose, &c. (to the end of the chapter.) John vi. 64. But there are fome of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. v. 65. And he faid, Therefore faid I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John x. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I faid unto you. John viii. 47. He that is of God, heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 John ii. 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. VII. r Mat. xi. 25. At that time Jefus anfwered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes, v. 26. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy fight. Rom. ix. 17. For the scripture faith unto Pha raoh, VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination 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 assured of their eternal election t. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God v; and of humility, diligence, and abundant confolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel w. eth. raoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might thew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. v. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardenv.. 21, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? v. 22. What if God, willing to thew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for deftruction? 2 Tim. ii. 19. Neverthe. less, the foundation of God standeth fure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. 20. But in a great house, there are not only veffels of gold and of filver, but alfo of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour, and some to lishonour. Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condeinnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Chrift. I Pet. ii. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and arock of offence, even to thein which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they are appointed. v. CHAP. VIII. Rom. ix. 20. Nay but, Oman, who art thou that repliest against God? shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why haft thou made me thus? Rom. xi. 33. the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Deut. xxix. 29. The secret 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. 12 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give all diligence to make your calling and election fure : for if ye do these things, ye shali never fall. Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Rom. xi. 33. (See letter / immedi ately foregoing.) w Rom, xi. 5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. v. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more graces otherwise work is no more work. v. 20. Well; because of unbelief tliey were broken off, and thou standeit by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear, 2 Pet, is ro.. (See letter 1 im. C3 redi I CHAP. IV. Of Creation. T pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft a, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness b, 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 c. II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female d, with reasonable and immortal fouls e, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image f, having the law of God, written in their hearts g, and power to fulfil it b; and yet under a possibility of tranfgreffing, being left to the liberty of their ownwill, which was subject unto change i. Beside this law written intheir hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good andevil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God k, and had dominion over the creatures 1. mediately foregoing.) Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifleth. Luke x. 20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you: but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. 1. a Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days, spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. John i. 2. The fame was in the beginning with God. v. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made, that was made. Gen. i. 2. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Job xxvi. 13. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked ferpent. Job xxxiii. 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. b Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excuse, Jer. x, 12. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established ed the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his difcretion. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches. Pfal. xxxi. 5. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. v. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the host of them, by the breath of his mouth. c The whole first chapter of Gen.) Heb. xi. 3. Through faith we understand, that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen, were not made of things which do appear. Col. i. 16 For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him. Acts xvii. 24. God that made the world, and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. II. d Gen. i. 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. in 7. And the Lord God forined man of the duft of the ground ground, and breathed into his no. strils the breath of life; and man became a living foul. With Ecck xii. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. And Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. And Mat. x. 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul : but rather fear him which is able to destroy both foul and body in hell. f Gen. i. 26. And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; aud let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Col, iii. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. g Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves, ver. 15. Which Thew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or elfe exculing one another. CHAP. h Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions. i Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eate Eccl. vii. 29. (See letter b immediately foregoing.) k Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge ofgoodandevil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Gen iii. 18. And they hear dthe voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. v. 9. And the Lord called unto Adam, and faid unto him, Where art thou ? v. 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden; and I was afraid, because I was naked: and I hidmyself. v. II. And he faid, Who toldtheethatthou wast naked? Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof Icommanded thee, that thou shouldit not eat? v. 23. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence he was taken. / Gen. i. 26. And God said, let us make man in our image, after our C 4 like * CHAP. V. Of Providence. OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold a, direct, G difpofe, and govern all creatures, indige from the greatest even to the least 1, by his most wife and holy providence d, according to his infallible foreknowledge e, and likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. v. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. I. a Heb. i. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and express image of his perfon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himselt purged our fins, fat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. b Dan. iv. 34. And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liv. eth for ever, whose dominion is an everlafting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What dost thou? Pfal. cxxxv. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the feas, and all deep places. Acts xvii.. 25. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. v. 26. Ard hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: v. 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have faid, For we are also his off-spring. Job xxxviii, xxxix, xl, xli, chapters. c Mat. x. 29. Are not two sparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father, v. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred. v. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. d Prov. xv. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches, Pfal. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. : c Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Pfal. xciv. 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools when will ye be wife? v. 9: He that planted the ear, fhall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not fee? v. 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he cor 4 |