II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions;d yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions, e

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation

likewise 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 to gether, 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 verse 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. Mat. xi. 21, 23. Wo unto thee Chorazin, wo unto the 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 bave 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,

of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.s

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 can not be either increased or diminished.h

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

III. f 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels. Mat. xxv. 4F 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.

g 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 adop tion 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. i 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

any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the Oereature, as conditions, 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 thereunto." Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ," are effectually

good pleasure, which 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. 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 be gan. 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 immediately foregoing. Eph, i. 4, 9. see letter i, &c.

I 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, 5. 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 alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

n 1 Thess. v. 9, 10. For God hath not appointed us to

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.

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.*

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.

o Rom. viii. 30. Them he also called. Eph. i. 5.-According to the good pleasure of his will. 2 Thess. ii. 13.Through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Rom. viii, 30.

p 1 Peter i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

q John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast 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, 65. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.—And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. So John viii. 47. and x. 26.-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 manifest, that they were not all of us.

VII. r Mat. xi. 25. At that time Jesus answered and

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 thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election.t So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reve

said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; v. 26. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Rom, ix. 17, 18, 21, 22. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have 1 raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.-Therefore hath he mercy, &c. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 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; 2 Tim. ii. 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood, and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Jude ver. 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 lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 8.whereunto also they were appointed. -being disobedient;

VIII. s Rom. ix. 20, and xi. 33. Nay but, O man, who art thou, that repliest against God? shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Deut. xxix. 29. The secret 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. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.