VII. The Reft of Mankind God was pleafed, according to the unfearchable Counsel of his own Will, whereby he extendeth, or withholdeth Mercy, as he pleafeth, for the Glory of his Sovereign Power over his Creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to Difhonour and Wrath for their Sin, to the Praife of his glorious Juftice. VIII. The Doctrine of this high Mystery of Predeftination is to be handled with fpecial Prudence and Care, that Men attending the Will of God 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. reveal dation of God ftandeth 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. Bur in a great houfe, there are not only VII. Matth. 11. 25. At that time veffels of gold and of filver, but Jefus anfwered and faid, I thank alfo of wood, and of earth; and thee, O Father, Lord of heaven fome to honour, and fome to dishoand earth, because thou haft hid nour. Jude 4. For there are certain thefe things from the wife and pru- men crept in unawares, who were dent, and haft revealed them unto before of old ordained to this.conbabes, v. 26. Even fo Father, for fo demnation, ungodly men, turning it feemed good in thy fight. Rom. the grace of our God into lafci9.17. For the fcripture faith unto vioufness, and denying the only Pharaoh, Even for this fame pur- Lord God, and our Lord Jefus pofe have I raised thee up, that I Chrift. i Pet. 2. 8. And a stone might fhew my power in thee, and of ftumbling, and a rock of of that my name might be declared fence, even to them which ftumble throughout all the earth. v. 18. at the word, being disobedient, Therefore hath he mercy on whom whereunto alfo they were appoin he will have mercy, and whom he ted. will he hardneth. v. 21. Hath not VIII. Rom.9.20.Nay but, Oman, the potter power over the clay, of who art thou that repliest against the fame lump to make one veffel God? fhall the thing formed fay into honour, and another unto to him that formed it, why haft difhonour v. 22. What if God, thou made me thus Rom. 11.33. willing to fhew his wrath, and to O the depth of the riches both of make his power known, endured the wisdom and knowledge ofGod! with much long-fuffering; the vef- how unfearchable are his judgfels of wrath fitted to deftruction? ments, and his ways paft finding 2 Tim.2.19. Nevertheless, the foun- out! Dent, 29.29.. The fecret things C 2 belong revealed in his Word, and yielding Obedience thereunto, may, from the Certainty of their effe Яual Vocation,be affured of their eternal Election So fhall this Doctrine afford Matter of Praise, Reverence, and Admiration of God, and of Humility, Diligence, and abundant Confolation to all that fincerely obey the Gospel W CHAP. IV. Of Creation. T pleased God, the Father, Son, and Holy IT belong unto the Lord our God: but thofe things which are revealed be long unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. his Letter immediately foregoing.] Rom. 8.33. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that juftifieth. Luke 10. 20. Not withstanding in this rejoice not, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the ra- that the fpirits are fubject unto you: ther, brethren, give all diligence but rather rejoice because your to make your calling and election names are written in heaven. fure: for if ye do these things, ye fhall never fall. t Eph. 1.6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: Rom. 11. 33. [ See Letter immediate ly foregoing.] w Rom. 11. 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 is it no more grace: otherwife work is no more work. v. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou ftandeft by faith. Be not highminded, but fear. 2 Pet. 1. 10. [See I, a Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these laft days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom alfo he made the worlds. John 1. 2. The fame was in the beginning with God. v.3. All out him was not any thing made, things were made by him; and with that was made. Gen. 1.2. 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 26. 13. nifhed the heavens: his hand hath By his fpirit he hath gar formed the crooked ferpent. Job 33 4. The fpirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. his eternal Power, Wifdom, and Goodness, in the Beginning, to create, or make of Nothing, the World, and all Things therein, whether visible or invifible, in the space of fix Days, and all very good, II. After God had made all other Creatures, he created Man, Male and Female 4, with reasonable and immortal Souls, endued with Knowledge, Righteoufnefs, and true Holinefs, after his own Image, having the Law of God written in their Hearts Rem. 1. 20. For the invifible were created by him, and for him. things of him from the creation of Acts 17. 24. God that made the the world are clearly feen, being world, and all things therein, seeing understood by the things that are that he is Lord of heaven and earth, made, even his eternal power and dwelleth not in temples made with Godhead; fo that they are without hands. excufe, Jer. 10. 12, He hath made II. d Gen. 1, 27. So God created the earth by his power, he hath man in his own image, in the image eftablished the world by his wifdom, of God created he him: male and and hath ftretched out the heavens female created he them. by his difcretion. Pfalm 104. 24. e Gen. 2.7. And the Lord God O Lord, how manifold are thy formed man of the duft of the works! in wifdom haft thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches, Pfalm 33. 5. He loveth righcoufnefs and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the hoft of them, by the breath of his mouth. ground, and breathed into his noftrils the breath of life; and man became a living foul. With Eccl. 12. 7. Then fhall the duft return to the, earth as it was: and the spirit fhall return unto God who gave it. And Luke 23. 43. And Jefus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, To day fhalt thou be with me in paradife. [The whole firft Chapter of Gen.] And Matth. 10. 28. And fear not Heb.11.3. Through faith we under them which kill the body, but are ftand, that the worlds were framed not able to kill the foul: but rather by the word of God, fo that things fear him which is able to deftroy which are feen, were not made of both foul and body in hell. things which do appear. Col. 1. 16. f Gen. 1: 26. And God faid, Lef For by him were all things created us make man in our image, after that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or Principalities, or powers; all things our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the C 3 earth, Hearts, and Power to fulfil it; and yet, under a Poffibility of tranfgreffing, being left to the Liber ty of their own Will, which was fubject unto Change Befide this Law written in their 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 Communion with God, and had Dominion over the Creatures'. earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Col. 3. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness. 8 Rom. 2. 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: 7.15..Which flew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accufing, or elfe excufing one another. Eccl. 7.29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions. i Gen. 3. 6. And when the woman faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleafant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Eccl. 7. 29. [ See letter h immediately foregoing.] k. Gen. 2. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou cateft thereof, thou CHAP. fhalt furely die. Gen. 3. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. v. 9. And the Lord God called untoAdam,and said unto him, Where art thou? v. 1o. And he faid, I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid my felf. v. II. And he faid, Who told thee that thou waft naked? Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou fhouldft 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. 1. 26. And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our 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 filh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. G OD, the great Creator of all Things, doth uphold, direct, difpofe, and govern all Creatures, Actions, and Things', from the greatest even to the least, by his most wife and holy Providence ; according to his infallible Fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable Counsel of his 2 1. * Heb, 1. 3. Who being the brightnefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his perfon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himfelf purged our fins, fat down on the right hand of the majesty on high, b Dan. 4. 34. And at the end of the days, INebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and Ibleffed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlafting 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 stay his hand, or fay unto him, What doft thou? Pfalm 135. 6. What foever the Lord pleafed, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the feas, and all deep places. Acts 17. 25. Neither is wor hipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; v. 26. And hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, : own 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 38, 39, 40, 41. Chapters. Mat. 10. 29. Are not two fparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them fhall not fall on 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 sparrows. d Prov. 15. 3. The eyes of the ord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pfal. 104, 24OLord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches, Pfal. 145. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. e Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the begin ning of the world. Pfal. 94. 8. Underftand, 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 he not fee? v. 1o. He that |