Of Eleflion. 333 them of the performance of them, the Apoflle mentions his power, above any "'-JV') other Attnbute; So ligmtymg, that as he had begun wuh Gods being the GodChap.''· ofalJGract, V"f· 10. So in the clofe, that hispowtrbeing by Oraceenga- ~ ged for the performance; all Glory be to God offo infinite a Grace, and Ommpotent a power. He thought meet not to let fo great a matter pafs by un- ~reil'd unto. He flrikes Sail to that; to wbom be Gloryfo,. tver; and 10 do this upon this eminent occafion, is ufual with him in his Epifile; fo great a matter is the carr} ing on his Called Saints cffedually unto Salvation: Thus likewife in Heb. q . 2 r. Maluyott perfect, 6y wo,.king inyou, tbegood pleafit,., of bis wi/J, to whom 6e Glory,&c.So he Crowns it atthe c0nclulion: The like in Rom,t6. 26, Ephef. j. 17. J<lde 24. But that wllich comes fully home to a correfpondence with this my Text, is, his afcribing the like Glory to God, upon the occalion of Gods effectual carrying on his own Salvation : Which he tirfl utters in tbe jut11rt, EThe Lord jh,t/J ] in the fame manner as here, 'lht Lordfbt~IJ deliver mtfrom every evil work, n11d wz/Jpreferve me to bis Hta• vrnly Ki1tgdom, 2 Tim. j . 18. find then fhuts and binds the promife ofit up, with this Doxology, To wbom be Glory,for tver, cmdever; .Amen: ]Q(t as here, the God of Gract, wzlt makeyou perfect, &c. To whom be Glory andpower (for his fo doing) for ever, Lul\ly, this His for tvtr, and tvtr: firetchetl1 it felfbeyond all Times, and Ages: Even to the length ofEternitv; coQfidering that his Grace, and Love, out of which he cloth all thefe, will be continued to his own, during that length off:vtrs : And will be in Heaven for ever acknowledged by the Saints, for his having fo preferved them, and brought them thither, to be Glorified with him, by h1s Eternal Glory: Which he therefore do's mention, as that he had ca/Jedthem tnlo, Bur this fmaHcliffcrence, (ifit fhould prove any,) may be eafily reconciled: For it'it be aprc~er, it rocitely Implies a promrfr; there is never a prayer, but it includes, and fuppofeth a Promif~, as rhe ground, aqd foundation oiit. Ifany Qucre, but how ea A the conflrudion ofthe words, bear both apray– tr and apromije ? I Anfwer ; That if that Reading it in the Indicative fq. tu;e, be received as Genuine; it may well bear tha one, and th'other: Nam ficut Hebr~EJ ft<tflra pro pr~Eceptivzs ufurpcmt; fie(!) interdum pro opt,ztivis: As E[/iltS, upon the words, bath refolved it. Only I mull {\ill adhere to this, that the words fhould rather be intended for o direfl promzje from God, this is more his aim; feeing ~t is to wc:rk confidence in them, and t·o aifure them of the performance : And It ts certam, that adi– •·ect, and pojitive promifr, cloth conduce more to comfort, and ftrengthen, (as Chrift Commanded him,) His Brethren, than aprayer ofthe Apoflles own, a fingle Perfon, though an Apofllc , and never fo Holy a man: And was far more atfuring of·the performance, efpecially when fortified with fuch Super– excelling Elogies,and decipherings of God, Tbt (Jod of.a/JG1'ace,. who hath called tu i11to Etertl!ll Glory, From the fir(\ oflus Calhng Us; Thu fame God will ptrject, &c. on purpofe, I. To confirm us, fo as we fhould no way doubt ofit, The Second QIJefiion, may be aboutthe timtofperfeding, when thefe Pro– mifcs ure intmded to !)c fulfilled: Whether during this Lite only; and fo to carry us through all fufferiogs whatever; or after this life wholly en– ded? Some Interpreters, would have the fulfilling ofthem, to be in Heaven, after a\I the fufferings oftbis life perfectly ended: And the Sy,.iac, firetcheth them in J£tir11um, to Eternity : 01hers are for the performance ofthem during this 1&, with fome lufferings plfl through: I take in All, and do fl.ate, and corn. pound the whole matter thus comprehenr.vely, Firfi, that as for this life, du– ring the term ofit , thefc promifes are begun to .b~ fulfilled in us, upon! and with fufferings flill all along accompanying them: And ordered fo, as fltll af. ter fuffaings running along, God will and doth interpofe flrengthn ings, flablifh– ments, according os our fufferings, aRd needs ar~: ¥er as a fpecial favour o,fteo vouchfafed, after we have peen exer;if~cl with ft.)ff~ri11gs1 iDw~r<;IJ 9r outward, - for
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