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 pleafed 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 Ghoft 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 wildom, and ftrength,and honour,and glory,and bleffing.v. 13. And everycreature which is in hea ven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and fuch as are in the fea,and all that are in them, heard I,faying,Bleffing, and honour, and glory,and power be unto him that litteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.v. 14. And the four beafts 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 thefe three are one. Mat.3.16. And Jefus, when hewas baptized, went up ftraightwayout of the water and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and hefaw thefpirit of God defcending like a dove,and lighting upon him.v.17. And lo,avoicefromheaven,faying, This is my belovedSon,inwhomI 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 Ghoft.2 Cor.13.14. Thegrace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. P Johnr. 14. And the word was made fleth, 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 feen God at any time; the only begotten fon, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath declared him. 4 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 fhall testifyof me. Gal. 4.6. And because ye are fons,God hath fent forth the fpirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, I. a Eph 35 dain whatsoever 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 whatfoever may or can come to pafs upon all fuppofed conditions d: yet hath he not decreed any thing because he forefaw it as was future, or that which would I. a Eph. t. 11. In whom alfo we have obtained aninheritance,being predeftinated according tothe pur poleof him who workethall things after the counfel of his own will. Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the tiches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unfearch able are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Heb. 6. 17. Wherein God willing more abun dantly to fhew unto the heirs of promife the immutability of his counfel, confirmed it by an oath. Rom.9.15.For he faith to Mofes, 1 will have mercy on whom I will havemercy,andI 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 fay when he is tempted, I am tempted ofGod: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 fhaddow of turning, 1Johnr.5.This then isthemeflage which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. .c Acts 2. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and forcknowledge 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; likewife fhall al fo the Son of man suffer of them. Acts 4. 27.For of a truth, against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haftanointed,both Herodand Pontius Pilate,with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together. v. 28.For to do whatfoever thy hand and th ycounfel determined before to be done. John 19.11. Jefus anfwered thou couldft 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 iscaftintothe lap: butthe whole difpofing thereof is of the Lord. II.dActs 15.18.Knownunto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 1 Sam. 23. 11. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul com e 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,theywill deliver theeup. Mat, 121. Wo unto theeChorazin wo unto thee Bethfaida: for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been donein Tyreand Sidon,they wouldhave repentedlong agoin fackclothandafhes.v.23.And thou Capernaum, which art ex. alted unto heaven,fhalt be brought down to hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in So tom, it wouldhave remained until thisday. Ca would come to pafs upon fuch conditions e. III. By the decree of God, for the manifeftation 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 defigned; and their number is fo certain and definite, that it cannot be either increafed or diminished h. V. Thofe 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 counfel and good pleasure of his will, hath chofen, in Chrift, unto everlafting glory i, out of his mere free grace and love, with e Rom. 9. 11. For the children being not yet born,neither having doneany goodorevi!,that the purpole 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. 111.fi Tim, §. 21. I charge thee before Cod and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect angels, that thou obferve thele things without preferring one before another.doing nothing by partiality. Mat.25. 41.Thenthallhe fayalfounto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed,into everlafting fire prepared for the devil and hisangels. g Rom. 9. 22. Whatif. Cod,willing to fhew hiswrath,and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the vellels of wrath fitted to deftruction: 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 Jefus Chrift to himself,according to the good pleafure 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. ÍV.h2Tim. 2,19. Nevertheless, thefoundationofGodftandeth fure, having this seal, Thel ordknoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth thenameofChrist depart from iniquity. John 13. 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,hathlift up his heel against me. V. i Eph. 1. 4. Accordingas 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. 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 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. 8. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he cal led, 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 praise of his glorious grace 1. are 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 Chrift n, effectually called unto faith in Chrift, by his fpirit working in due feafon; are justified, adopted, fan&tified o, and kept by his power through faith unto falvation p. Neither led, them he alfo juftified and whom he justified, them he alfo glorified.2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath faved us,and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but acording to his own purpose and grace, which was gi ven us in Chrift Jefus, before the worldbegan. 1 Theff. 5.9.For God hath not appointed us to wrath; but to obtain falvation by ourLord Jefus Chrift. k. Rom.9.11.13.16 (See lettere immediately forgoing.)Eph..4.0, (Seeletter i immediately forgoing) 1 Eph. 1. 6. To the praile of the glory of his grace, wherein hehath made us accepted in the beloved. v. 12. That we fhould be to the praise of his glory,who first trufted in Chrift. VI. m 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to thefore-knowledgeof God the Father, through fanctification of the fpirit unto obedience, and fprinkling of the blood of Jefus Chrift. Eph.1.4. 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 usunto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift 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 lalvation, thro' fanétifica. 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 fhould live together withhim. Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,and purify unto himtelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works. o Rom. 8. 30. Moreover,whom he did predeftinate, them he allo called: and whom he called, them he alfo juftified: and whom he juftified,then be alfo glorified. Eph. 1.5.Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus 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, bre thren, beloved of the Lord, becauf Godhath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the fpirit, and be lief of the the truth, p 1 Pet.1 5. Who are kept by the power of God thro' faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed 4 are any other récdemed by Chrift, effectually, called, juftified, adopted, fanctified and faved, but the elect only q. VII. The reft of mankind, God was pleafed, according to the unfearchable counfel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his fovereign 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 predeftination 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 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.) John6.64. But there are fome of you that believe not. For Jefus knew from the beginning, who they werethat believed not, and who fhould be tray 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 10. 26. But ye believe not,becaufe ye are not of my fheep, as I faid unto you. John 8. 47. He that is of God, heareth Gods words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 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 manifelt, that they were not all of is Rom.9. 17. For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, Even for this fame purpofe have I raised thee up, that I might fhew my power in thee, and that my name might be decla red 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 lump to make one veffel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? v. 22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffefs of wrath fitted to deftruction? 2Tim.2.19 Nevertheless, thefoundation of God ftandeth fure, ha, ving this feal, 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 houfe, there are not only veffels of gold and offilver,but alfo of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour,andfome 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 lafcivi oufnefs,& denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift 1Pet.2 8. And a stone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to themwhich ftumbleat the word, being difobedient, whereunto allo they were appointed. VIII.fRom, |