in all his works, and in all his commands m. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service or obedience he is pleased to require of them n. III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three perfons, of one substance, power and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Ghost o. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father p, the holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and Son q. G CHAP. III. Of God's eternal decree. OD from all eternity did, by the most wife and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain mPfal.145.17.The Lordis righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rom. 7. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and juft, & good. n Rev. 5. 12.Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb thatwas flain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing.v.13. 13. Andeverycreaturewhich is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that itteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.v.14. And the four beasts faid, Amen. And the four and twentyeldersfell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. III.01 John 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the word, and the holy Ghoft: and these three are one. Mat.3.16. And Jesus, when hewas baptized, went up straightwayout of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and hesaw thespirit of God defcending like a dove, and lighting upon him.2.17. And lo, avoicefromheaven, saying, This is my belovedSon, inwhom am well pleased. Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach allnations. baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.2 Cor.13.14.Thegrace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. p Johnı. 14. And the wordwas made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld hisglory, theglory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. v. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten fon, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath declared him. q John15.26.But whentheComforter is come, whom I will fend untoyou from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testifyof me. Gal. 4.6. And because ye are fons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, I. a Ephe dain whatsoever comes to pass a; Yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of fin b, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established c. II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions d: yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as was future, or that which would I. a Eph. 1. 11. In whom also we have obtained aninheritance, being predestinated according tothe purpofeof him who workethall things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearch able are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Heb. 6. 17. Wherein God willing more abundantly to thew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counfel, confirmed it by an oath. Rom. 9. 15. For he faith to Mofes, I will have mercy on whom I will havemercy, and I willhave compaffion on whom I will have compalfion,.18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardneth. b James 1. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neithertempteth he any man. v. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whomis no variablenefs, neither shaddow of turning. 1 John 1.5. This then isthemeslage which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in him is no darknessat all. c Acts 2. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain. Mat. 17. 12. But I lay unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him what foeverthey lifted; likewise shall al so the Son of man suffer of them. Acts 4. 27. For of a truth, againft thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hastanointed, both Herodand Pontius Pilate, withthe Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together. v. 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thycounfel de termined before to be done. John 19.11. Jesus answered, thou couldst have no power at all against me, except itwere given thee from a bove: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater fin. Prov. 16.33.The lot iscastintothe lap: butthe whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. II. dActs 15.18.Knownunto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. I Sam. 23. II. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul com e down, as thy fervant hath heard? Lord God of Ifrael, I befeech thee, tell thyservant, And the Lord faid, He will come down. v. 12. Then faid David, will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord faid, theywill deliver theeup. Mat, 11.21. Wo unto theeChorazin wo unto thee Bethfaidas for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been doneinTyteand Sidon, they wouldhave repentedlong agoin fack clothandafhes.v.23. And thou Capernaum, which art ex. alted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Soom, it wouldhave remained until thisday. Ca • Rom 1 would come to pafs upon fuch conditions e. III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, fome men and angels f are predeftinated unto everlafting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death g. IV. These angels and men, thus predeftinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished h. V. Those of mankind that are predeftinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen, in Chrift, unto everlasting glory i, out of his mere free grace and love, with e Rom. 9.11. For the children being not yet born, neitherhaving doneany goodorevil, that the purpofe of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. v. 13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Efau have I hated. v. 16. So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. v. 18 There-' fore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardneth. 111. f Tim, 5. 21. I charge thee before Cod and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another.doing nothing by partiality. Mat.25. 41. Thenthallhe fayalfounto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlastingfire prepared for the devil and hisangels. g Rom. 9. 22. Whatif.God, willing to shew hiswrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veflels of wrath fitted to destruction: v.23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veffels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Eph. 1.5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoptionofChildrenby Jesus Chrift to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, v.6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath madeus accepted in the beloved. Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all thingsforhimfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. IV.h2Tim. 2,19. Nevertheless, thefoundationofGodstandeth fure, having this feal, Thelordknoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth thenameofChrift depart from iniquity. John 13. 18. I fpeak not of you all; I know whom I have chofen; but that the scripture might be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me,hathlift up his heel againít me. V. i Eph. 1. 4. Accordingas he hath chosen us in him. before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.v. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself: v. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. 8. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, without any forefight of faith, or good works, or perfeverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto k; and all to the praise of his glorious grace 1. 1 VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, fo hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained 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 season; are justified, adopted, sanctified o, and kept by his power through faith unto falvation p. Neither led, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath faved us, and called us with anhoJy calling, not according to our works, but acording to his own purpose and grace, which was gi ven us in Chrift Jesus, before the worldbegan. I Theff. 5.9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath; but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jefus Chrift. k. Rom.9.11.13.16 (Seelettere immediately forgoing.) Eph.1.4.0, (Seeletter i immediately forgoing) 1 Eph. 1. 6. To the praite of the glory of his grace, wherein hehath made us accepted in the beloved. v. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trufted in Chrift. VI. mr Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to thefore-knowledgeof God the Father, through fanctification of the spirit unto obedience, and Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Chrift. Eph.1.4. 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: v. s. Having predestinated usunto the adoption of children by JesusChrift to himfelf, according to the good pleafure of his will. Eph.2.10. For we are his workmanship, created in Chrift Jefusuntogoodworks, which God hath before ordained that we are should walkin them. 2Theff.2.13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, thro' fanétitica. tion of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. ni Theff. 5.9. For Godhath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or fleep, we should live together withhim. Tit, 2. 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. 8. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them be alfo glorified. Eph. 1.5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Chrift to himfelf, according to the good pleasure of his will. 2 Theff, 2. 13. But we are bound to give thanks to God alwayfor you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because Godhath from the beginning chosen you to falvation, through fanctification of the fpirit, and belief of the the truth, pI Pet.1 5. Who are kept by the power of God thro' faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed A are any other réedemed by Christ, effectually, called, justified, adopted, sanctified and faved, but the elect only q. VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable couniel 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 doctrine of this high mystery of predestination in the last time, q John 17.9. I pray for them: I praynotfor the world, but for them which thou haft given me, for they are thine, Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work toge ther for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose, &c. (to the end of the chapter.) John6.64. But there are fome of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they werethat believed not, and who should be tray him.2.65.And he said, Therefore faid I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father, John 10. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. John 8.47. He that is of God, heareth Gods words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. I 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. VH. r Mat. 11. 25. At that time Jesus answered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou haft hid these thi things from the wife and prudent, and ha haft revealed them unto babes. v. 26. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy fight, is Rom 9. 17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this fame purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.v.18. Therefore hath he mercy onwhom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardneth. v.21.Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lumpto make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? v. 22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the veffess of wrath fitted to deftruction ? 2Tim.2.19 Nevertheless, thefoundation of God standeth sure, ha ving this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that name the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. v. 20.But in a great house, there are not only velfels of goldand ofsilver, but alfo of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour, andsome to dishonour. Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning, the grace of our God into lafciviousness, & denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Chrift Pet.2 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to themwhich stumbleat the word, being disobedient, whereunto alfo they were appointed. VIII.from. |