. of all the Counfels ofGod. 45 the Principles oftheir Nature, but infuch acrings of that Wif– domwhich, they have, and fuch as it is; towards the proper endsoftheir Beingand Duty. How much more cloth God delight himfelf i~ the Infinite Perfection ?fhis ~ownWifdom, ~ and its eternal acrmg for the Reprefentatwn _ot all the other Glorious excellencies of his Nature. Such are his Counfels concerning the falvation of the Church by Jefus Chrifl:, and becaufe theywerealllaid in him and with him, therefore is he faid to be his delights continual{y before the PVorld was. This is that which is propofedas the Objeer of our Admira– tion, Rom. I I. 33, 34, 35', )6r 2. They are AB:s of Infinite GoodJtefs, whereon the Di– vine Nature cannot but b~ infinitely delighted in them. As PPifdom is the Dirdliveprinczpleof all Divine operations, fo Goodnefs is the Communicative ·rrinciple that is effectual in them. Pie is Goocl and he cloth Good; yea he·doth Good be-– caufe he is Good, and for no other Reafon; not by the ne– cefiity of nature, but by the Intervention ofa tree Act of his 'Vill. His Goodnefs is abfolutely infinite, eifentially perfect in it felf; ~hich it cannot be ifit ~elon~ed unto· it . natur~llj and neceifanly to aCt and commumcate 1t felf unto any tlung without God himfel£ The Divine Nature is eternally fati1: fyed in and with its own Goodnefs; But it is that Principle which is the immediate fountain of all the Communications of Good unto others, by afree A[/ ofthe Wt ll of God. So when Mofts defired to fee his Glory, he tells him, that he wilt _caufe all his Goodnefs to pafs before him, and would be gracious unto whom he w_ould_be gracious, Exod. B· I 9· All Divine Operations in the gracious Commnnication ofGod himfel£ are from his G~odnefs, by the intervention of a free Act bf his Will. And the greatefi Exercife and Emanation of Di– vine Goodnefs, was in thefe holy Counfels of God for the Salvation o{ the Church by Jefus Chrifl:. For whereas in a:ll other
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=