Chap. III moft holy in all his counfels, in all his works, and in all his commands m. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, fervice or obedience he is pleased to require of them n. III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three perfons, of one fubftance, 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 Ghoft eternally proceeding from the Faq. ther and the Son GOD CHA P. III. Of God's Eternal Decree. OD from all eternity did, by the most wife and holy counfel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain what m Pfal. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and juft, and good. n Rev. v. 12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing. v. 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and fuch as are in the fea, and all that are in them, beard I, faying, Bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. v. 14. And the four beasts faid, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. III. John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the word, and the holy Ghoft: and these three are one. Mat. iii. 16. And Jefus, when he was baptized, went up ftraightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit of God foever defcending like a dove, and lighting upon him. v. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghoft. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghoft, be with you all. Amen. P John i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. v. 18. No man hath feen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath declared him.. q John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he fhall teftify of me. iv. 6. And becaufe ye are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father Gal. I. a Ephi foever comes to pafs a: yet fo, 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 fecond caufes taken away, but rather established c. II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pafs upon all fuppofed conditions d; yet hath he not decreed any thing becaufe ix. 15. For he faith to Mofes, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaffion on whom I will have compaffion. v. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardneth. b James i. 13. Let no man fay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. v. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither fhadow of turning. 1 John i. 5. This then is thre meffage which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. c Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain. Mat. xvii. 12. But I fay unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatfoever they lifted: likewife fhall alfo the Son of man fuffer of them. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together, v. 28. For to do whatfoever thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done. John xix. II. Jefus anfwered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater fin. Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is caft into the lap but the whole difpofing thereof is of the Lord. : II. d Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 1 Sam. xxiii. 11. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy fervant hath heard? O Lord God of Ifrael, I befeech thee, tell thy fervant. 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, They will deliver thee up. Mat. xi. 21. Wo unto thee Chorazin, wo unto thee Bethfaida: for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in fackcloth and afhes. v. 23. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, fhalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works which have. been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. because he forefaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon fuch conditions e. III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, fome men and angels fare predeftinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death g. IV. These angels and men, thus predeftinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably defigned; and their numnumber is fo certain and definite, that it cannot be either increafed 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 fecret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chofen, in Chrift, unto everlasting glory i, e Rom. ix. II. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpofe of God according to election might ftand, 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 fheweth mercy. v. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardneth. III. f1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect angels, that thou obferve these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Mat. xxv. 41. Then fhall he fay alfo unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into everlafting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. g Rom. ix. 22. What if God, wiling to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted for destruction: v. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veffels of mercy, which he had aforeprepared unto glory? Eph. i. 5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himself, according to the out good pleafure of his will, v. 6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. IV. b 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. John xiii. 18. I fpeak not of you all; I know whom I have chofen; but that the fcripture might be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me. V. i Eph. i. 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. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleafure, which he hath purpofed in himfelf: v. 11. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpofe of him, who worketh all things after the counfel of his own will. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them he alfo 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, or caufes moving him thereunto k; and all to the praife of his glorious grace 1. VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, fo hath he, by the eternal and moft free purpose of his will, fore-ordained all the means thereunto m. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Chrift n, are effectually called unto faith in Chrift, by his fpirit working in due feafon; are juftified, adopted, fanctified o, and kept by his power through faith unto falvation p. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually alfo juftified: and whom he juftified, them he alfo glorified. 2 Tim. i. 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. Theff. v. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath; but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jefus Christ. k Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16. (See letter e immediately foregoing.) Eph. i. 4.9. (See letter i immediately foregoing.) / Eph. i. 6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 12. That we should be to the praife of his glory, who first trufted in Chrift. V. VI. Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through fanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and fprinkling of the blood of Jefus Chrift. Eph. i. 4. 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: v. 5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himfelf, according to the good pleafure of his will. Eph. ii. 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. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord becaufe God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. n1 Theff. v. 9. For God hath 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 fhould live together with him. Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himfelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himfelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works. o Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them he alfo juftified and whom he juftified, them he alfo glorified. Eph. i. v. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus 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, becaufe God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the fpirit, 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. 9 John Ç 2 Chap. III. effectually called, juftified, adopted, fanctified and faved, but the elect only q. VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unfearchable counfel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleafeth, for the glory of his fovereign. power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to difhonour and wrath for their fin, to the praife of his glorious juftice r. VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predeftination is q 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 purpofe, &c. (to the end of the chapter.) John vi. 64. But there are fome of you. that believe not. For Jefus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who fhould 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 believe not, because ye are not of my fheep, 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. ye VII. r Mat. xi. 25. At that time Jefus anfwered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe 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. ix. 17. For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, Eyen for this fame to purpofe have I raifed thee up, that I might fhew 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 hardneth. V. 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lump to make one veffel unto honour, and another unto difhonour? v. 22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deftruction? 2 Tim. ii, 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth fure, having this feal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity. v. 20. But in a great houfe, there are not only veffels of gold and of filver, but alfo of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour, and fome 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 lafcivioufnefs, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift. 1 Pet. ii. 8. And a ftone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they are appointed. VIII./Rom. |