Rep. Ohefianr,Chap.>t. V E R. 4. clemencie and bountywere in fuch a fad !Such is thisdealing ofGod to- wards us. Who bath predeflisated. ] In defcribing which, thofe things are tobe obferved as they lie in the Text. a. Thebenefit it felfe,Whobathpredeflinated. z. The perfons who are predeftinated. 3. Thething towhich hee hath predeftinatedus, to adoption, am- plified from the caufeof it,through Chrift. q. Themanner which is propounded in this word, within himfelfe, expounded, i.e. according tothegoodpleafure ofbis wig. 5. The end, tothe praife of bis glorious grace, which grace is de- fcribed from theeffedl of it in us, which is amplified from the mannerofworking, q.d. out ofwhich his grace, heehath made usaccepted,or doneus favour,in and through his beloved. Three things for better underftanding are tobeinfifted on, becaufe they arenot offovulgar explication. a. Withwhat this word is tobecontinued. s. What it is to predeftinate. 3. What ismeant by Adoption. Tothe firft, fome referre it to (in Love.) inthe fourth verfe, inthis manner, whobath predeflinatedas in loge; but that he fhouldabfurdlyre- peate the caufe of predeftination , which bee exprefi'eth after to have beene his gracious pleafure;it is fitlier fet as inequall pareill,to thatin the third verfe,whobathbidedus whohashpredeflinatedfa, ó dirmiocs lataeems. Some imagineit joyned within, after this manner, who bath chofin sa to adoption ,havingpredeflinated us in himbeforeworlds,that wefhosildbe ho- lie before bim.But I have !hewedabove,that (inhim) muff needs be refer- red tothe benefitofeledlion, or the Apoftle fhould not conclude per- tinently, that God in Chrift bath bleffed uswith every blefling: Befide that,this fenfeconfoundeth the fentence,todeclinethe force oftheargu- ment above mentioned. To the fecondI anfwer,thatGod dothcondefcend fo farre toour ca- pacitie,as to teach ushis one onely aEtion,by whichheloveth us effedlu- ally to life,by two,which in usare diverfebecaufe one infinite adlionof God dotheminentlynote that thofetwo are in us, though they aredi -. ftindt and diverfe;as the firft ad ofeledlion laid down Gods choofingus, or loving ustoan end;fo this dothfignifie the ordainingof us to the fame end,by fucha courfeof meanesas fhall effectually work thereunto:Thus it is with us,when wewil doe any thing,wedoe appoint by whatmeanes wewill doe that weare agreedon. When one is agreed to bring up his Sonne at aTrade,thenafterward bee determineth to choofe fomeTrade forth,to feek him a Mafter,to binde him Aprentife,and let him ferve his time,and get his Freedome in it: Thus when God bath fet hislove upon us,to bring us to life,hedothnext determine,by fuch. anorderofmeanes as counfell fuggefteth or prefenteth within him, to.bringus to this end, which is to predeflinate; for topredeftinate is todecree theattaining of fome end,by fuch like meanes as counfell !hall prompe us with.Prede - ftination
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