An Expojition of the Epiftle -~-~~- s;;;;;:vlr: Come we now to the Mercies which we have in relation to Chrifi's Merits, ~ couched in thefe three following Verfes: Ver. 7 . Itt whomwe have Redemptioll throt~gh hu blood, the forgivmefs of fou, according to the rJCkes of hts Gracr, 8. Wherein he bath a6otmded toward M i11 a!J Wi(dom mtd Prudmce; . 9· Having made k11ow11 tmto m the myjlery of his Wtll, accordhtg to his good pleafitre, which he hadpurpoftd i11 himfelf. The Apo!tle here changeth the Key of his Language; He bath chofm, he bath blefjed, ht bath accepted: This was his language before ; but here he be– .ginneth to alter it: Here he varies the Tenfe, and fays, In whom we have– Redemptiot~,f!lc. Becaufe he comes now to a new fort of Bleffings, tuerefore he fpeaks in a new key. And fo Interpreters almofi generally obferve. Now for the general Analyfis, both of all thefe words from ver.4. and likewife of thefe Bleffings. There are two forts of Divifions, which thefe words and the former may be call into: The Firfi is a Tricotomy, or dividing of them into three Parts. You know there are 1hree Perfons m the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghofl. And thefe Three Perfons have three feveral Works; . . 1. The Father's work was toChoofe, to Predef/mate, and toAccrpt m lu.s Beloved. His work therefore is in the 4, 5, and 6thVerfes, . 2. The work of the Son is Redemption, &c. In whom we have redemptio11 through his 6/ood, ver. 7.&c. It is not meant of Redemptiots Pa.flive,or which we receive as the fruit of his having redeemed us; but of ,that Redemptiots Afl.i'l!e, which was in him, and wrought by Jumfelf. And therefore 1t is not faid [.by whom,] but [itt whom] wr bt.ve rednnptio11 through, hiJ blood. . 3· And then the Holy Ghofi's work, is the application of all thefe unto us • when the Spirit doth in and by converfionbring home all thefe to our hearts: And this you have in the 8 and 9tbVerfes, Wherem be bath abotmded towards tu its all wijdom mtd prudence: havmg made ktiOWit llflto m t!Ye myjlery of"bi.! W•ll,f!!c. This is on.e Oivtfion whereinto you ma:>;. cafi thefe Verfcs, and the Bleilings mentioned 10 them. . But there is a Second, and that is a 'IJicotomy or Divifipn of- them into two Parts. , There is one fort of Bleflings from the 4tb Vcr[e to the ith, and another fort of Bleffings from the7tb VerJe to the r otb. And fo,as there are Three Perfons and their works defcribed to be Three: fo there are alfo two Tr;pticjties of Bleilings, (as I may fo call them.) The firfi Three are fuch Bleffings unto which God abfolutely chofe us in relation to Cl1rifi's Perfon. And they are, r. PerfefJ floli11ejs, ver+ 2. PerfefJ Glory, or Adoption, ver.5. . .. 3· Acceptatio11 of ottr~Perfons in and upon that our relation to his Beloved, ver.6. ,, " But then Secondly, There are three other Bleffings, founded upon our relation to CIIrifi through his Merits. As, r. Redemptwtq taking it in the largefi fenCe for whatever Redemption may extend to; for redeeming us as well from Mifery as from Sin, and for the pu)'– chafing of all thofe Bleffings which we bad forfeited; [bt whom we bave redemption tbrouf(h bis 6/ood,] ver.7. . 2, Jujltjicati011; which is one fruit of Redemption; [The forgivmefs of fots accordi1rg to tbericbfS of his Grace,] ver,7, 3· Vocation, orCalliugus; which is the work of the Spirit; [wherein be bath a6•tmded towards 11s i11 all wifdom and prr;dmce, havi1;g made k11oW11 to m, &c.] ver.8 and 9· Coiling (you know) is either external or internal. Extema! is the Preaching of the Gofpel; that you IIave in the 9th Verfe, [Having made k11own to us tbe ln):f/ery of bis Will.] I111m1al is the working Faith and Holinefs in us; which is mentioned
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