i4 Gods E1edion. VE R.4. R0111.8.29. Expounded. ¡fe 1. thee, andchofen thee.ShouldGod have loved every reafonable creature to life, there had beenelove to all, but elettionofnone; he who taketh all, maketh no choifeofany; therefore God maketh it a different thing; 1 have loved thee, andchofen thee .: Somemake this all one with that fore- knowledge mentioned, Rem. 8.29. and it cannot be denied, but know- ledge is often put for love and approbation, and that Godknoweth his Church and chofen, far otherwife then other things ; even as a man knoweth all hisgoods and fubftance, but his wife and children aftera fpeciáll manner: Nevertheleffe,itmay well note that knowledgewhich is in order to this action of Godschoofing, whether going before it, or comming after it. Ifwee have chofen any to any thing, we know whom we havechofen, and if we are about to choofe any, we know whom we areabout to choofe : So God clothnot onely know whom he hathchofen,which knowledge (toour mannerofconceiving) doth fol- low the act ofhis will,now being putforth,but hedoth knowwhom he is in choofing,or about to choofe,andthis doth goe before toourunder. Handing.Andthis I thinke the meaningof fore-knowledge in thatplace: Suchwhom hedid fore-know tobethe perfonswhom he would choofe, fuch he did predeftinate;and thus that place,r Pet. r.ver. r.maybe more fitly refolved; where he faith, thefaithful' ofthedi.fierfion were chofen,ac- cording tofore-knowledg. NowGod the Father is faid to choofe,aot that theSonne,and Spirit choofe not alto, (for if three of us had but onewill common to us-all, one could not will any thing,which the will ofthe other two Ihouldnot altowill ) becaufethe Sonne fufiaineth the perfon of one elected, the Spiritis thewitneffe,fealing this grace to our hearts : As the father is of- tenalone named in invocation, not that the other perfons are not tobe prayedunto,hut becaufe theSonne is confideredas the mediator,and the Spirit asthe Shoole-mafler,teachingus what to pray as weoughr,there- fore the Father onely isexpreffed. Whereforo this benefit, being matter ofthankefgiving, let us labour to acknowledge the goodnefl-eofGod this way. We will thanke men, even for the good meanings and purpofes we perceive them tohave to- ward us, though theyhave done nothing by us. When David leaped, rejoycing infpirit before the Arke, what was before him [ That God who had chofen him, bath rejected the houfe ofSaul, from ruling over hispeople. How Ihould we rejoyce in fpirit, to thinke that God hath elected us toan eternall kingdome tfrom whichmany,noway ourinfe- riours,are rejeledllfanyThew us common countenance we doe not fo much refpect it ; but if they admit us into fuch peculiar favour as they willnot communicatewithanywho are not their belt beloved, then we doe highly efteeme it :To betaken untotheferiches of grace, this fo re. ftrainedfavour,inwhich the greateft part ofman-kind have no part,how Ihould it affea us e The fecond Dolrine.Whothey are, ofwhomwe may fay,that they are elect; even fuch, whohavetruefaithand holintffe : As we may know Faith, fowe may know Election. Ifwe fee in judgement ofcharity, that any
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