cause it is by virtue of that union with him, which is made in their effectual calling, that they come to be made partakers of those benefits to which they are chofen. The Lord Jefus Chrift was in God's eternal purpose confider'd as the great Mediator by whom the falvation of his chofen people was to be brot' about; and those ordain'd to falvation were given to Him, that he might rightfully entitle them to that falvation, and fuccefsfully bring them to it. Thus he ftands as the head of the elect, and they are faid to be chofen in him; and he is fpoken of as fet up from everlafting, Pro. 8. 23. and is himself called God's elect, Ifai. 42. 1. being himself chofen to be the mediator and redeemer by the fame decree in which the elect among the children of men were chofen to falvation t. + Doctor Goodwin obferves, from Zanchy, There is a great deal of difference between God's doing a thing in Chrift and through Chriβ, εν Χρισώ and δια τον Χρισόν. When God is faid to do a thing in Chrift, it usually notes out fome one of those immanent a&ts of God towards us, that past between him and Chrift for us, when they were alone, before we exifted, and Chrift was a common perfon representing us all, and God gave all toChrist for Once more, 8thly, The laft and highest end of this is the manifeftation of the divine glory, in the falvation of fome of the fallen human race. The divine glory is the most excellent end that can poffibly be aim'd at, and therefore an infinitely wife God cannot design any thing fhort of it, as the great motive or inducement for him to act; and fo whatever lower ends are defign'd by him, they muft all be refolv'd into this as the principal. For, of bim, and thro' bim, and to him are all things t. The two attributes which God hach a peculiar defign at the display and advancement of, in and by his reasonable for us. So we read of the grace that was given us in Chrift Jefus before the world was. 2 Tim. I. 9. But things that God doth through Chrift, are ufually fome tranfient acts of God towards us, or thofe things which he actually performeth and applieth to us thro' Chrift. So that tho' God redeemeth thro' Chrift, juftifeth thro' Chrift, and faveth thro Chrift, yet he choofeth in Chrift; fo that to chufe in him is not all one with what the apoftle faith, He hath ordained us to obtain Salvation thro' fefus Christ our Lord, I Thef. 5. 9. Goodwins Works, Vol. I. P. 58. Rom. 11. 36. creatures, creatures, are his grace and his juftice; the former in them that are fav'd, and the latter in them that perifh. This is plainly to be gather'd from those words of the apostle, Rom. 9. 22, 23. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deftruction: And that he might make known the riches of bis glory on the vessels of mercy,which he had afore prepared unto glory? The defign then which lay at the bottom of God's decree of election, is the everlasting difplay of his fovereign and glorious grace to the worlds of intellectual creatures which he has made. To this the fcriptures refer it, and in this they ultimately resolve it. Eph. 1. 5, 6, Having predeftinated us to the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift, to himself, according to the good pleasure of hiswill, TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE. And the fame reafon is given over again,in the 2 ch. 7 v. That he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, thro' fefus Chrift. Thus I have, in feveral diftinct propo fitions, explain'd and flated the truth before us. The time will not allow me to enter upon the fecond thing propos'd, the proof of the point, or to fhew that this doctrine, as we have now represented it, is really the doctrine of the gofpel. I fhall therefore therefore conclude the prefent difcourfe by adding a few words that have a tendency to give what has been already faid, an enlivening and quickning efficacy upon our hearts. I. Predeftination unto life is a thing fecret to us. Who the perfons are that are the objects of it, God has not reveal d. This is at prefent lock'd up within the divine breaft. Yet we know, 2. It comprehends a very great & glorious number. Some have thought the elect among mankind, were to make up the number, and supply the room of the fallen angels. But this is an extra-fcriptural con jecture; and for ought we know they may be many more. To be fure they are a number fufficient to give the brightest dif play of the riches of free grace in; and a number worthy of that infinite price, the blood of the fon of God, which was laid down to redeem them. They are faid to be many in our text. Whom he did predeftinate to be conformed to the image of his fon, that be might be the first born among many brethren. And they are faid, in Rev. 7. 9. to be great multitude which no man can number. 3. Some 3. Some of all forts, conditions, and characters, are of this number They are taken out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues; and in the day when they fhall be made up, fhall be feen to come from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the fouth. If not many wife men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are chofen and called, yet some are And, bearken my beloved brethrew, fays the apoftle, Hath not God chofen out of the poor of this world, fome to make them rich in faith, and beins of the kingdom. | Yea, fome who have been the greateft finners, while in their unregenerate ftate, are of this number. The apoftle tells the Corinthians, fome of you were fornicators, idolators, adulterers, abusers of your felves with mankind ; theives, covetous, drunkards, extortioners, &c. but re are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and, by the Spirit of our God. 4. Some of them are bro't forth in every age of the world; that fo Chrift may have a feed to ferve him in every generation to the end of time, and there may be fome to * I Cor. 1. 26. f Rev. 7. 9. Luke 13.29. ballance |