Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT768 .O9 1654

Proratescertainely Accomplifh't not alwaes evidently C A P. V. 4. ya promifed Believing, on no Condition (on our parts) at all , becaufe to fin- I r 7 nets. This in generali being givenin, concerning the natureof the Promifes, I ß. 9. (hall proceed tofome fuch Contiderations,as are ofparticularufefulneffe unto that improvement, which (theLord aflifling) I intend tomake ofthem , for theconfirmationofthe Truth under debate. And they are thefe, I. All the Promifes ofGod are true and faithfull, andfhall moft cer- tainely, all ofthem be accomplifhed. His nature, his veracity, his Unchan- geableneffe, hisOmnifcience, and Omnipotency, do all contribute ftrength to this affertion. Neither can thefe Properties poffibly continue intire, and the honour ofthembe preferved unto the Lord, ifthe the leaf failing in theAccomplifhment ofhis Promifes be afcribed unto him. Every fuch fai- lingmuff of neceffity relateto fome fuch Principle, as Rands in dire&Oppo- fition toone or more ofthe perfe&ions before mentioned. It muff be a fai- ling in Truth; Unchangeableneffe, Prefcience, or Power, that muff fruftrate the Promifeofany one. We indeed often alter our Refolutions, and the Promife that is gon out of our mouthes , and that (perhaps) righteoufly, upon tome fuchchangeofthings, as we could not forefee, nor ought tohave fuppofed, when weentred into our engagements. No fuch thing can beaf- cribedunto him,who knowes all things, with their Circumftánces, that can poffibly come topafíe, andbathdetermined, what (hall fodo, and therefore will not engage in any Promife that heknowes, fomething, which he fore- fawwould follow after, would caufehim to alter. Itwere a ludicrous thing in any fonne ofman, to makea folemne Promife of any thing to another, if he particularly knew,that in an bower fome fuch thing would happen,as Ibould enforce him tochange, and alter that promife, which he had fo fo- lemnely entred into. And(hall we afcribefuch an a&ion to him,before whom all things are open, and naked ? Shall he be thought folemnely to engage himfelfeto do, or accomplifh any thing, which yet not only he will not do, but alto at that inftant bath thofe things in his eye, and under his, Confide- ration, for which he will not fo do,as he Promifeth, and determined before that hewould not fodo. Ifthis be not unworthy the infinite Goodneffe,Wif- dome, and FaithfullneffeofGods I know not what can,or may be afcribed unto him,that is. Yea theTruth, and veracity ofGod in his Promifes cannot be denyedhim, without denying himhis Deity, or afferted, without the cer- taine Accomplifhmentofwhat hehathProt-nit-ed. 2. Thereare fundry things relating to the Accomplifhment of Promifes, as toTimer, Seafonr, Perfons, Wayes, 6c. whereinwe have beene in the darke, and yet the Promifes concerning them be fully accomplifhed. The reje&ion ofthe7ewesfupplyesus with an inftance pregnant with this obje&ion; The Apoftle tells us, that with many this Obje&ion did arife on that Account: ofthe leaves be reje&ed,then the Promifes ofGod to them do faile. Bo/n.6.9. He layes downe,and anfwers this Obje&ion, difcovering that fallacy there- inby afdiftin&ion. Theyare not (faith he) afl Ifraelthat are ofIfrael. v.7,8. As ifhe had faid, there is a twofold Ifrael, an Ifrael after the flefh onely, and an Ifraelafter theflefh andSpirit alto. Unto thefe latter were thePromifes made; and therefore they who looke on the former only,thinke it faileth, whereas indeed it holdeth its full accomplifhment. So he difputes againe cap. t 5.7. I fay then we maybe in the dare, as to many Circumflances ofthe ful- fillingofPromifes , whenyet they have received a molt exa& accomplifh- ment. 3: All theConditional! Promifes ofGod areexactly true,and (hall be molt faithfully made good by accomplifhment,as to that .wherein their being as Q 3 Promifes

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