tions, or caufes moving him thereunto k; and all to the praise of his glorious gracel. VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so 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 Christ 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 Chrift, effectually called, juftified, adopted, fanctified and faved, but the elect only q. VI. m 1 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 Chriit. 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 Christ 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 should 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 falva VII. The tion, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. "I 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 should live together with him. Tit. ii. 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. • Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alio called: and whom he called, them he alfo juftified: and whom he justified, then he alfo glorified. Eph. i. v. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himfelf, 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. PI Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 9 John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray 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 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 purpose, &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 said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John x. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, 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. VII. Mat. xi. 25. At that time Jefus answered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou haft hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes, v. 26. even fo, Father, for so it seemed good in thy fight. Rom. ix. 17. For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, Even for this fame purpose is have I raised 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 ho-; nour, and another unto difhonour? v. 22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longfuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to deftruction? 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. v. 20. But in a great house, there are not only veffels of gold and of filver, but alfo of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour, and fome to difhonour. 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 ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they are appointed. VIII./Rom. is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be affured of their eternal election t. So fhall this doctrine afford matter of praife, reverence, and admiration of God v; and of humility, diligence, and abundant confolation to all that fincerely obey the Gospel w. CHAP. IV. Of Creation. IT T pleafed God the Father, Son, and holy Ghoft a, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wif * Ba dom, VIII. Rom. ix. 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? fhall the thing formed fay to him that formed it, Why haft thou made me thus?. Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! Deut, xxix. 29. The fecret things belong unto the Lord our God: but thofe things. which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law... 8 } work is no more work. v. 20. Well; I. a Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. John i. 2. The fame was 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. i. 2. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Job xxvi. 13. By his fpirit he hath garnished the heavens: his hand hath formed the crooked ferpent. Job xxxiii. 4. The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Rom. dom, and goodness b, in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the fpace of fix days, and all very good c. II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female d, with reafonable and immortal foulse, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image f, having the law of God written in their heartsg, Rom. i. 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Jer. x. 12. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his difcretion. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Pfal. xxxiii. 5. He loveth righteoufnefs and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. v. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the host of them, by the breath of his mouth. (The whole first chapter of Gen.) Heb. xi. 3. Through faith we 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. i. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Acts xvii. 24. God that ⚫ made the world,and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. II. d Gen. i. 27. So God created and man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them. e Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the duft of the ground, and breathed into his notrils the breath of life; and man became a living foul. With Eccl. xii. 7. Then fhall the duft return to the earth as it was: and the spirit fhall return unto God who gave it. And Luke xxiii. 43. And Jefus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, To day fhalt thou be with me in paradife. And Mat. x. 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 destroy both foul and body in hell. f Gen. i. 26. And God faid, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fifh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Col. iii. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness. g Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contamed in the law, these having not the law, are a law C 4 and power to fulfil it h; and yet under a poffibility of tranfgreffing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was fubject unto change i. Befide this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with Godk, and had dominion over the creatures/. CHAP. V. Of Providence. GOD OD, the great creator of all things, doth upholda, diI rect, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things a law unto themfelves: v. 15. which thew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accufing, or elie excufing one another. b Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions. i Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleafant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; fhe took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Eccl. vii. 29. (See letter b immediately foregoing.) k Gen. ii. 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 thercof, thou fhalt furely die. Gen. iii. 18. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and 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, and faid unto him, Where art thou? v. 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden: and I was afraid, becaufe I was naked: and I hid myfelf. v. 11. And he faid, Who told thee that thou waft naked? Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou fhouldeft not eat? v. 23. Therefore the Lord God fent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence he was taken. 1 Gen. i. 26. And God faid, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fifh of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. v. 28. And God bleffed them, and God faid unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenith the earth, and fubdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. I. a Heb. i. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the exprefs image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our fins, fat down on the |