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is to be handled with special prudence and care s, that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their efe fefual vocation, be assured of their eternal election t. So fall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of Godv; and of humility, diligence, and a bundant confolation to all that fincerely obey the gospel w,

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CHAP. IV. Of Creation.

T pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost a, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness b, in the beginning, to create, or make

VIII. Rom. 9. 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that replielt against God? shall the thing formed lay to him that formed it, Why haft thou made me thus? Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wildom & knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judg ments, and his ways palt finding out! Deut. 29. 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. t2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give all 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, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Rom. 11. 33. (See lettet fim mediately foregoing.)

w Rom. 11.5. 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 other wife grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: other wife work is no more work. v. 20. Well; because of un

belief they were broken off, and thou standeft by faith. Be not highminded, but fear. 2 Pet. 1. 10.(See letter t immediately foregoing.) Ro.8.33. Who shall I lay lay any thing tothe charge of God'select?it is God that justifieth. Luke 10. 20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you: but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

I. a Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir ofall things, by whom also he madethe worlds. John.1.2. Thefamewas 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. 1.2.And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: And the fpirit of Godmovedupontheface of the waters. Job 26. 13. By his fpirit he hath garnished the heavens: his hand hath formed thecrooked ferpent. Job 33.4. The spirit of God hath made me. and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

b Rom. 1. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are C4 madę

Chap. 4. 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 ho iness, after his own image f, having the law of God written in their hearts g, and power to fulfill ith; and yet

made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that theyare without excufe. Jer. 10.12. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the worldbyhiswisdom, and hathstretched out the heavens by his difcretion. Pfal. 104. 24. O Lord,howmanifold arethy works! in wifdom haft thoumade themall; the earth is full of thy riches. Pfal. 33. 5. He loveth righteousness & judgment: the earth is full of the goodnels of of the Lord. v. 6. Bythe word of the Lordwere the heavens made: and all the hosts of them, by the breath of his mouth.

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c(ThewholefiritchapterofGen.) Heb.11.3.Throughtaithwe 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.1.16. For by him were all thingscreated that are in heaven, and that are in earth,visible & invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalitiesorpowers: all things were created by him, and for him. Acts 17. 24. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwellethnot in temples made with hands.

II. d Gen. 1. 27 30 God created man.in his ownimage, 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 dust of the ground, and breathed into his noArils the breath of life; and man

under

became a living foul. WithEccl.12. 7. Then shall theduttreturn to the earth as it was: and the spiritshall return unto God who gaveit, And Luke 23.43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I sayunto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradife. AndMat 10.28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul:but rather fear him which is able to deftroy both foul and body in hell.

f Gen. 1. 26. And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them 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 thingthatcreepeth upon the earth. Col.3.10. And haveput on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph.4. 24. And that ye puton the new man, whichafter God is created in righteousness, and true holiness.

g Rom.2.14. For when theGentileswhich have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 2.15.which thew the work of the law written intheirhearts, their confcience alto bearing witness, & their thoughts themean while accufing, or elleexcufing one another.

h Eccl.7.29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions,

under a possibility of tranfgreffing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change i, Befide this law written in their hearts, they received a command, ne to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; thich while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God k, and had dominion over the creatures 1.

CHAP. V. Of Providence.

OD, the great creator of all things, doth upG hold a, direct, difpose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things b, from the greatest even to the leaft

i Gen.3. 6. Andwhen thewoman, fawthat the tree was good forfood, andthat it was pleasanttotheeyes, and a tree to be defired tomakeone wife; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo unto her husband with her, and he did eat, Eccl.7.29 (Seeletter h immediately foregoing.)

k Gen. 2. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shaltsurelydie.Gen.3.18.And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adamand his wife hid themselves from the prefence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. v. 9. And the Lord God called unto Adam, andsaidunto him, where art thou?. 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden: and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.v.II. And he faid, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou shouldeft not eat? 1.23. Therefore the Lord God fent himforthfromthe garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence he was taken.

1 Gen. 1. 26. And God faid, let us make man in our image, after ourlikeness: and let them havedo

minion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth. andoverevery creeping thing that creepethuponthe earth.".28. And God blessed them, and Godfaid unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply andreplenish the earth, and fubdue it: and have dominion over the tith of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

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La Heb. 1. 3. Who being the brightnessof his glory, and the prefsimage of his perion, andupholding all things by the word of his power, when hehad by himself purgedoutour sins, fat down onthe right hand of the majesty on high. b Dan. 4. 34. And at the end of thedays, I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned untome, and I blesled the most high, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlafting dominion, and his kingdom is fromgeneration to genation. v. 35. And all the innabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and hedoth accordingto his will in the army of heaven, and among theinhabitants of the earth:and none can stay his hand, or fay unto him, What doit thou? Pfal, 135.6, Whatsoever the Lord pleated

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least c, by his most wife and holy providence d, according to his infallible foreknowledge e, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will f, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy g.

II. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly h: Yet, by the same providence he ordereth them

pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. Acts17.25. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as tho' he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; v. 26. And hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of theearth and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: v. 28. For in him welive, and move, and have our being: as certain also of your own poets have faid, for we are alfo his off-fpring.Job.38,39,40,41. Chap.

ters.

c Mat, 10.29. Are not two sparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them shallnot fall on the ground without our 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. 15. 3. The eyes of the Lordare in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pfal. 104. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches. Pfal, 145.17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways,and holy in all his works.

e Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the begin ning of the world.Pfal.94 8. Understand, yebruitishamongthe people and ye fools, when will ye be wile? v. 9. He that planteth the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? v. 10. He that chailifeth the heathen,

shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? v.II. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

f Eph.1. 14. In whom alio we have obtainedaninheritance, being predeftinated according tothe purpose of himwho worketh allthings after the counsel of his own will. Plalm 33. 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. v. 11, The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

gIfaiah 63. 14. As a bealt goeth down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: lo didit thou lead thy people, tomake thyself a gloriousname. Eph.3.10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wifdom of God. Rom. 9. 17. For the scripture faith unto Pharaoh, Even for thissamepurpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Gen.45.7. And God fent me before you, to preferve you a posterity in the earth, and to fave your livesby a great, deliverance, Pfalm 45.7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteoufness,

II. h Acts 2. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinatecounfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,

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them to fall out, according to the nature of the second causes either necessarily, freely, or contingently i.

III. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means k, yet is free to work without!, above m, and against them at his

taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain.

i Gen. 8. 22. Whiletheearth remaineth, feed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summerand winter, and day and night, shall not ceale. Jer. 31, 35. Thus faith the Lord, which giveth the fun for a light ght by day, and the ordinances

of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the fea, when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of host's ishis name. Ex. 21.31. And if a man ly not inwait, but God deliver him intohis hand; then I will appoint thee a place whetherheshallflee. With Deut.19 5. As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a ftroke with the ax to cut downthe tree, and the headsflippeth fromthe helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die; heshallflee unto one of those cities, and live. I Kings 22. 28. And Micaiah faid, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he faid, hearken, O people, every one of you. v. 34. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and fmote the king of Ifrael between the joints of the harness: wherefore he faid unto the driver of his chariot, turn thine hand, and carry me out of the holt, for I am wounded. Ifaiah 10.6.1 will send

him

againstanhypocriticalnation; and aganist the people ofmywrath will I give him acharge to takethe Ipoil and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of streets. v. 7. Howbeit, he meaneth not fo, neither dothhis heartthink lo,but it is in his heart todestroy, and cut of nations not a few.

III. k Acts 27.31, Paul said to

the centurion, and to the foldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be faved, v. 44. And the rest, some on boards, and fome on broken peaces of theship: Andso it came to pass that they efcaped all safe to land. Ifaiah 55. 10. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth theearth, and maketh itspring forth andbud, that it may give feed to the fower, and bread to the eater: v. 11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and itshall profperin thething whereto I fent it. Hof. 2. 21. And it shall come to pass in that day, I willhear faith the Lord, I will hear the hea vens, and they shall hear theearth. v. 22. And the earth shall hearthe corn, and the wine, and the oyl, and they shall hear Jezreel.

1 Hof. 1. 7. But I will havemercyuponthe houseof Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God and will not save thembybow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horfes, nor by horsemen. Matth.4.4. But he answered and faid, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but byevery wordthat proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Job 34. 10. Therefore hearken untome, ye men of understanding; far be it from God, thatheshoulddowickedness, and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

m Rom. 4.9. And being not weak in faith, heconfiderednot his own body now dead, when he was about anhundredyearsold, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb, v, 20. He staggered not at thepromile of God through unbelief; but

was

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