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Chap. III. 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 Spirit working in due feafon; are justified, 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.

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleafed, according to the unfearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his fovereign power over his creatures, to pafs by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their fin, to the praise of his glorious juftice r. VIII. The

the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

n 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 alfo called and whom he called, them he alfo juftified: and whom he juftified, them he alfo glorified. Eph. i. 5.Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himself, according to the good pleafure of his will. 2 Theff..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 Spirit, and belief of the truth.

p. 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 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, whơ 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 ye believe not, becaufe 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. r Mat. xi. 25. At that time Jefus anfwered 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 fo it feemed good in thy fight. Rom. ix. 17. For the fcripture faith unto Phas

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VIII. The doctrine of this high myftery of predeftination 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 ; and of humility, diligence, and abundant confolation to all that fincerely obey the gospel w.

raoh, Even for this fame purpose have I raised thee up, that I might thew 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 hardeneth. v. 21, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame Jump 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 long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted for deftru&tion? 2 Tim. ii. 19. Neverthe: lefs, 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 also 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 condeinnation, 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 stone of ftumbling, and arock of offence, even to them which tumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they are appointed.

CHAP.

VIII. f 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.

the depth of the riches both of the wifdom 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 those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

#2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give all diligence tô make your calling and election fure: for if ye do thefe things, ye shall never fall.

Eph. i. 6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Rom. xi. 33. (See letter inmediately foregoing.)

w Rom, xi. 5. Even fo then at this prefent time alfo there is a remnant according to the election of grace. v. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwife grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwife work is no more work. v. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standeit by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. 2 Pet, is ro..(See letter z im.C 3 nredi

CHAP. IV. Of Creation.

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pleafed God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft a, for the manifeftation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodnefs b, in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invifible, 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 reasonable and immortal fouls e, endu

mediately foregoing.) Rom. viii. 33. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that juftifeth. Luke x. 20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the fpirits are fubject unto you: but rather rejoice because your names are writ. ten in heaven.

1. a Heb. i. 2. Hath in thefe laft days, fpoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom alfo 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 Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Job xxxiii. 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

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; To that they are without excufe, Jer. x, 13. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath eftablished

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the world by his wisdom, and hath ftretched out the heavens by his difcretion. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Pfal. xxxiii. 5. He loveth righteousness and judg ment: the earth is full of the goodnefs of the Lord. v. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the hoft of them, by the breath of his mouth.

c 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 feen, 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, visible 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 man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male aud female created he them.

e Gen i 7. And the Lord God forined man of the duft of the

ground

ed with knowledge, righteoufnefs, and true holinefs, after his own image f, having the law of God, written in their hearts g, and power to fulfil it h; and yet under a poffibility of tranfgref fing, being left to the liberty of their ownwill, which was fubject unto change i. Befide this law written intheir 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 comAnunion with God k, and had dominion over the creatures

ground, and breathed into his no. trils the breath of life; and man became a living foul. With Ecck xii. 7. Then shall the duft return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. And Luke xxiii. 43. And Jefus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, today thou shalt 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 deftroy 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 him have dominion over the fish 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. 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 righteousnefs and true holiness.

g Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves, ver. 15. Which fhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witnefs, and their thoughts the mean while accufing, or elfe excufing one another.

CHAP.

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 saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; fhe took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat Eccl. vii. 29. (See letter h immediately foregoing.)

k Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge ofgoodandevil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eateft thereof, thou shalt furely die. Gen ii. 18. And they heardthe 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 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, because I was naked: and I hidmyself. v. 11. And he faid, Who toldtheethatthou waft naked? Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof Icommanded thee, that thou should it 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.

/ Gen, i. 26. And God faid, let us make man in our image, after our C4

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CHAP. V. Of Providence.

OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold a, direct, difpofe, and govern all creatures, actions, and things b, from the greatest even to the least c, by his most wife and holy providence d, according to his infallible foreknowledge e,

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likeness and let them have dominion over the fish 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. v. 28. And God bleffed them, and God faid unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and fubdue it: and have dominion over the fifh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

1. 4 Heb. i. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and exprefs image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himfelt purged our fins, fat down on the right hand of the Majefty on high.

b Dan, iv. 34. And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I bleffed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liv. eth for ever, whole dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can flay his hand, or fay unto him, What doft thou? Pfal. cxxxv. 6. Whatfoever the Lord pleafed, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the fas, and all deep places. Ats xvii..

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25. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. v. 26. Ard hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: v. 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain alfo of your own poets have faid, For we are alfo his off-fpring. Job xxxviii, xxxix, xl, xli, chapters.

c Mat. x. 29. Are not two sparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them fhall not fall to the ground without your Father. v. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred. v. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many fparrows.

d Prov. xv. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches, Pfal. cxlv. 17, The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

c Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Pfal. xciv. 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools when will ye be wife? v. 9: He that planted the ear, fhall he not hear? he that formed the eye, fhall be not fee? v. 10. He that chaftifeth the heathen, fhall not he

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