IV. These angels and men, thus predeftinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably defigned; and their number is fo certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminifhed".

V. Thofe of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpofe, and the secret counsel and good pleafure of his will, hath chofen 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,

to the praise of the glory of posed in himself.-lo whom al. his grace, wherein he hath To we have obtained an inherit. made us accepted in the be. ance, being predestinated acloved. Prov. 16. 4. The Lord cording to the purpose of him hath made all things for him. who worketh all things after felf; yea, even the wicked for the counsel of his own will. the day of evil,

Rom. 8. 30. Moreover, whom IV. 'h 2 Tim. 2. 19. Never. he did predestinace, them theless, the foundation of God he also called; and whom ftandeth sure, having this seal, he called, them he also justified; The Lord knoweth them that and whom he judified, them are his. John 13. 18. I speak he also glorified. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Bot of you all, I know whom I Who hath saved us, and called have chosen.

205 with an holy calling, not V. i Eph, 1, 4, 9, 11. Ac- according to our works, but cording as he hath chosen us in according to his own purpose him before the foundation of and grace, which was given the world, that we should be us in Christ Jesus Before the holy and without blame before world began.

i Theff. 5. 9. him in love; -Having made For God hath not appointed known unto us the mystery of us to wrath, but to obtain fal. his will, according to his good vation by our Lord Jesus pleasure, which he hath pur. Chrift.

or causes moving him thereunto"; 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, fore-ordained all the means thereuntom Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Chrift", are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due feason; are justified, as dopted, sanctified', and kept by his power through faith unto salvation?.

Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called,

k Rom. 9. II, 13, 16. See because God hath from the beletter e immediately foregoing. ginning chosen you to salvaEph. 1. 4, 9. fee letter i, &c. tion, through fan&tification of

| Eph. 1. 6, 12. To the the Spirit, and belief of the praise of the glory of his truth. grace, wherein he hath made n i Theff. s. 9, 10. For God us accepted in the beloved : hath not appointed us to wrath, That we should be to the but to obtain salvation by our praise of his glory, who first Lord Jesus Christ, who died trusted in Christ.

for us, that whether we wake VI. m Eph. 1. 4. 5.

AC- or seep, we should live tocording as he hath chosen us gether with him. Tit. 2. 14. in him before the foundation o Rom. 8. 30.-Them he of the world, that we hould also called. Eph. 1. 5.-ACbe holy and without blanie be- cording to the good pleasure fore him in love. Eph. 2. 10, of his will.

2 Thess, 2, 13. For we are his workmanship, Through sanctification of the created in Christ Jesus unto Spirit and belief of the truth. good works, which God hath Rom. 8. 30. before ordained that we should p i Peter 1. 5. Who are walk in them. 2 Theff. 2. 13. kept by the power of God But we are bound to give through faith unto salvasion. thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord,

juftified, adopted, fanctified, and saved, but the elect only!

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased; according to the unfearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or with-holdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dithonor and wrath for their fin, to the praise of his glorious justice'.

9 John 17. 9. I pray for Lord of heaven and earth, be. them : I pray not for the cause thou hast hid these world, but for them which things from the wife and pruthou hast given me; for they dent, and hast revealed them are thine. Rom. 8. 28. And unto babes; v. 26. Even so, we know that all things work Father, for fo it feemed good together for good to them that in thy fight. Rom. 9. 17, 18, love God, to them who are 21, 22. For the scripture faith the called according to

his unto Pharaoh, Even for this purpose, &c. (to the end of fame purpose have I raised thee the chapter]. John 6. 64, 65. up that I might shew my power But there are some of you that in thee, and that my name beiieve not. For Jefus knew might be declared throughout from the beginning who they all the earth. Therefore hath were that believed not, and he mercy, &c. Hath not the who should betray him. And potter power over the clay, of he said, Therefore said I un- the same lump to make one you, that no

veffel unto honor, and anocome unto me, except it were ther unto dishonor? What if given unto him of my Father, God willing to thew bis wrath, Šo John 8. 47. and io. 26.- and to make his power known, 1 John 2. 19. They went out endured with much long-suffrom us, but they were not offering the vessels of wrath fitus; for if they had been of us, ted to destruction ; 2 Tim. 2. they would no doubt have 20.But in a great house there continued with us; but they are not only vessels of gold and went out, that they might be filver, but also of wood, and made manifeft, that they were of earth; and some to honor, not all of us.

and fome to dishonor. Jude 4. VII. r Mat. II. 25. At For there are certain that time Jefus answered and crept in unawares, who were faid, I thank thee, O Father, before of old ordained to this

to

man

can

men

VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care', that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereúnto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be aflured of their eternal election'. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence and admiration of God'; and of humility, diligence and abundant confolation, to all that sincerely obey the gospel".

more

condemnation ; ungodly men, v Eph. 1. 6. To the praise turning the grace of our God of the glory of his grace, where, into lasciviousness, and deny, in he hath made us accepted in ing the only Lord God, and the beloved. See Rom. II. our Lord Jesus Christ. i Pet. 33. letter f. 2. 8.being disobedient; w Rom. ir. 5, 6, 20. and whereunto also they were ap- 8. 33. Eveu fo then at this pointed.

present time also there is a VIII. (Rom. 9. 20. and 11, reninant according to the elec33. Nay but, o man, who tion of grace.-And if by art thou, that repliest against grace, then is it no more of God? shall the thing formed works; otherwise grace is no fay unto him that formed it, more grace. But if it be of Why hast thou made me thus ? works, then it is no O the depth of the riches both grace; otherwise work is no of the wisdom and knowledge more work.-Well; because of God! how unsearchable are of unbelief they were broken his judgments, and his ways off, and thou standest by faith. past finding out! Deut. 29. Be not high-minded, but fear. 29. The secret things belong un. - Who shall lay any thing to to the Lord our God; but the charge of God's elect? It is those things which are revealed God that justifieth. Luke 10. belong unto us and to our chil- 20. Notwithstanding, in this dren for ever, that we may do rejoice not that the spirits are all the words of this law. subject unto you; but rather

t 2 Pet. 1. 10–Give dili- rejoice because your names are gence to make your calling written in heaven. and election sure ; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall,

CH A P. IV.

Of Creation.

I

T pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy '

Ghost", for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness', in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of fix days, and all very good.

I. a Heb. 1. 2. Hath in Lord, how manifold are thy these last days spoken unto us works! in wisdom halt thou by bis Son, whom he hath ap- made them all, the earth is pointed heir of all things, by full of thy riches. whom also he made the c Gen. ist. chap. throughworlds. John 1. 2. 3. The out. Col. 1. 16. For by him same was in the beginning were all things created that with God.-All things were are in heaven, and that are in made by him; and without earth, visible and invisible, him was not any thing made, whether they be thrones, or that was made. Job 26. 13. dominions, or principalities, and 33. 4. By his Spirit he or powers : all things were hath garnished the heavens ; created by him and for him. his hand hath formed the II. d Gen. 1. 27. So God crooked ferpent.-The Spirit created man in his own image, of God kath made me, and in the image of God created the breath of the Almighty he him, male and female hach given me life.

created he them. b Rom. 1, 20. For the in- e Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord visible things of him from the God formed man of the dust of creation of the world are clear- the ground, and breathed inly seen, being understood by to his nostrils the breath of the things that are made, even life; and man became a living his eternal power and God- soul. Luke 23. 43. See also head; so that they are with. Eccl. 12. 7. Then skall the out excuse. Pfal. 104. 24. O duit return to the earth as it