n a He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them". III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. 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 the Son?. СНАР. ye said, o house of Israel: for I the heavens were opened unto know the things that come into him, and he saw the Spirit of your mind, every one of them. God descending like a dove, and * Psal. cxlv. 17. The Lord is lighting upon him. Ver. 17. And, righteous in all his ways, and holy lo, a voice from heaven, saying, in all his works. Rom. vii, 12. This is my beloved Son, in whom Wherefore the law is holy, and I am well pleased. Mat. xxviii. 19. the commandment holy, and just, Go je therefore and teach all naand good. tions, baptizing them in the name Rev. y. 12. Saying with of the Father, and of the Son, and loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. that was slain to receive power, The grace of the Lord Jesus and riches, and wisdom, and Christ, and the love of God, and strength, and honour, and glory, the communion of the Holy Ghost, and blessing. Ver. 13. And every be with you all. Amen. creature which is in heaven, and p John i. 14. And the Word was on the earth, and under the earth, made flesh, and dwelt anong us, and such as are in the sea, and all (and we beheld his glory, the that are in them, heard I saying, glory as of the only begotten of Blessing, and horour, and glory, the Father,) full of grace and and power, be unto him that sito truth. Ver. 18. No man hath seen teth upon the throne, and unto God at any time; the only begotthe Lamb, for ever and ten Son, which is in the bosom Ver. 14. And the four beasts said, of the Father, he hath declared Anien. And the four and twen. him, ty elders fell down and worship- 4 John xv. 26. But when the ped him that liveth for ever and Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, III. 0 1 John v. 7. For there are even the Spirit of truth, which three chat bear record in heaven, proceedeth from the Father, he the Father, the Word, and the shall testify of me. Gal, iv, 6. And Holy Ghost; and these three are because. ye are sons, God hath one, Mat. iii. 16. And Jesus, when sent forth the Spirit of his Son he was baptized, went up straight- into your hearts, crying, Abba, way out of the water ; and, lo, Father, I. a Eph ever. ever. CHAP. III. Of God's Eternal Decree. counsel of his own vill, freely and unchangeably or- creed I. * Eph. i. 11. In whom also C Acts ii. 23. Him, being deliverwe have obtained an inheritance, ed by the determinate counsel and being predestinated according to the foreknowledge of God, ye have purpose of him who worketh all taken, and by wicked hands have things after the counsel of his own crucified and slain. Mat. xvii. 12. will. Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of But I say unto you, That Elias the riches both of the wisdom . is come already, and they knew and knowledge of God! how un. him not, but have done unto him searchable are his judgments, and his whatsoever they listed : likewise ways past finding out! Heb. vi. 17. shall also the Son of man suffer Wherein God, willing more abun- of them. Acts iv. 27. For of a dantly to shew unto the heirs of pro- truth, against thy holy child Jesus, mise the imnutability of his counsel, whom thou hast anointed, both confirmed it by an oath. Rom. Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the ix. 15. For he saith to Moses, I will Gentiles and the people of Israel, have mercy on whom I will have were gathered together, Ver. 28. mercy, and I will have compassion For to do whatsoever thy hand, on whom I will have compassion. and thy counsel determined before Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy to be done. John xix. 11. Jesus on whom he will have mercy, and answered, Thou couldest have no whom he will he hardeneth. power at all against me, except it b James i. 13. Let no man say were given thee from above: there. when he is tempted, I am tempt- fore he that delivered me unto thee ed of God: for God cannot be tempt- hath the greater sin. Prov. xvi. 33. ed with evil, neither tempteth he The lot is cast into the lap; but, any man. Ver. 17. Every good the whole disposing thereof is of the gift and every perfect gift is from Lord. above, and cometh down from the II. d Acts xv. 18. Known unto Father of lights, with whom is God are all his works from the no variableness, neither shadow of beginning of the world. 1 Sam. turning. John i. 5. This then is xxiii. 11. Will the men of Keilah. the message which we have heard deliver me up, into his hand ? Will of him, and declare unto you, that Saul come down, as thy servant God is light, and in him is no dark- hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, ness at all, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And f creed any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions III. By the decrée of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished V. Those liver thee up. And the Lord said, He will come nothing by partiality. Mat. xxv. 41. down. Ver. 12. Then said David, Then shall he say also unto them on Will the men of Keilah deliver me the left hand, Depart from me, ye and my men into the hand of Saul ? eursed, into everlasting fire, prepared And the Lord said, They will de- for the devil and his angels. Mat. xi. 21. Woe & Rom. ix. 22. What if God, unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto willing to shew his wrath, and to thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty make his power known, endured works which were done in you had with much long-suffering the vesbeen done in Tyre and Sidon, they sels of wrath fitted to destruction : would have repented long ago in Ver. 23. And that he might make sackcloth and ashes. Ver. 23, And known the riches of his glory on thou Capernaum, which art exalted the vessels of mercy, which he unto heaven, shalt be brought down had afore prepared unto glory? to hell : for if the mighty works Eph. i. 5. ' Having predestinated which have been done in thee had us unto the adoption of children been done in Sodom, it would by Jesus Christ to himself, ace haye remained until this day. cording to the good pleasure of e Rom. ix. 11. For the children his will, Ver. 6. To the praise of being not yet born, neither having the glory of his grace, wherein done any good or evil, that the he hath made us accepted in the purpose of God according to elec- Beloved. Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord tion might stand, not of works, hath made all things for himself; but of him that calleth, Ver. 13. yea, even the wicked for the day As it is written, Jacob have I lo- of evil. ved, but Esau have I hated. Ver. 16. IV. h 2 Tim. ii. 19. NevertheSo then, it is not of him that less the foundation of God stand. willeth, nor of him that runneth, eth sure, having this seal, The but of God that sheweth mercy. Lord knoweth them that are his. Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy And, let every one that nameth on whom he will have mercy, and the name of Christ depart from whom he will he hardeneth. iniquity. John xiii. 18. I speak II. f i Tim. v. 21. I charge not of you all; I know whom I thee before God and the Lord Jesus have chosen : but that the scripChrist, and the elect angels, that ture may be fulfilled, He that thou observe these things, without eateth bread with me hath lifted preferring one before another, doing up his heel against me. V. i Eph. V. Those of mankind that are predestinated 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 Christ unto everlasting glory', out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereuntok; and all to the praise of his glorious grace'. VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will , foreordained all the means thereunto in. Wherefore they who m are V. i Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we shaald be holy, and without blame before him in love: Ver. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself: Ver. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who workech all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called ; and whom he called,. them, he also justified; and whom he justified, then he also glorified. 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved 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 Christ Jesus before the world began. 1 Thess. v. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath ; but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. k.Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16. (See letter e iinmediately foregoing.] Eph. i. 4, 9. See letter i immediately foregoing.] 1 Eph. i. fi. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Ver. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. VI. m 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect accord. ing to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in Icve : Ver. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph. ii. 10. For we are. his workmanship, created in Cheist Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway. to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sance tification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, H 3 Thess. are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ"; are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season ; are justified, adopted, sanctified', and kept by his power through faith unto salvation P. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only 9. VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel 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 sin, to the praise of his glorious justice'. VIII. The Di Thess. v. 9. For God hath them which thou hast given me, not appointed us to wrath, but to for they are thine. Rom. viii. 28. obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus And we know that all things work Christ, Ver. 10. Who died for us, together for good to them that love that whether we wake or sleep, we God, to them who are the called should live together with him. Tit. according to his purpose, &c. (to the ü, 14. Who gave himself for us, that end of the Chapter.] John vi. 64. But he might redeem us from all ini- there are some of you that believe quity, and purify unto himself a not. For Jesus knew from the bepeculiar people, zealous of good ginning who they were that belieworks. ved not, and who should betray him. • Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom Ver. 65. And he said, Therefore he did predestinate, them he also call- said I unto you, That no man can ed; and whom he called, them he come unto me except it were given also justified; and whom he justified, unto him of my Father. John x. 26. them he also glorified. Eph. i. 5. But ye believe not, because ye are Having predestinated us unto the not of my sheep, as adoption of children by Jesus Christ John viii. 47. He that is of God, to himself, according to the good heareth God's words : ye therefore pleasure of his will. 2 Thess. ii. 13. hear them not, because ye are not of But we are bound to give thanks al- God. I John ii. 19. They went out way to God for you, brethren, be- from us, but they were not of us: loved of the Lord, because God hath for if they had been of us, they from the beginning chosen you to would no doubt have continued salvation, through sanctification of with us; but they went out, that the Spirit, and belief of the truth. they might be made manifest that P i Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by they were not all of us. the power of God through faith VII. Matth. xi. 25. At that unto salvation, ready to be revealed time Jesus answered and said, I in the last time. thank thee, O Father, Lord of 9 John xvii. 9. I pray for them : heaven and earth, because thou I pray not for the world, but for hast hid these things from the wise said unto you. r |
