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 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; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son1. holy in all his works. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. n Rev. v. 12, 13, 14. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.-And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. III. 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. Matt. iii. 16, 17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:-And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. P John i. 14, 18. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 4 John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, CHAPTER III. Of God's Eternal Decree. GOD from all eternity did by the most wise and which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. I. a Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheri tance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and know- ledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Heb. vi. 17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immu- tability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. Rom. ix. 15, 18. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. b Jam. i. 13, 17. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither © Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions"; yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions. III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are pre shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Acts iv. 27, 28. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. John xix. 11. Jesus answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Acts xxvii. 23, 24. compared with v. 34. II. d Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from. the beginning of the world. 1 Sam. xxiii. 11, 12. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Matt. xi. 21, 23. Wo unto thee, Chorazin! wo unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. e Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16, 18. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;-As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.-Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord destinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished1. 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 Jesus Christ, and the elect angels. Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left-hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Rom. ix. 22, 23. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction :- And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Eph. i. 5, 6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. IV. h 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. John xiii. 18. I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen. V. Eph. i. 4, 9, 11. 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 love;-Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which 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 thereunto". Wherefore they who 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 he hath purposed in himself.-In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh 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, them he also glorified. 2 Tim. 1.9. 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. Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16. See letter e immediately foregoing. Eph. i. 4, 9. See letter 1, &c. 1 Eph. i. 6, 12. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. VI. m 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 love. Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ 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 always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctifi cation of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. n 1 Thess. v. 9, 10. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Tit. ii. 14. Rom. viii. 30.-Them he also called. Eph. i. 5.--Accord |