20 vl Declarationof the Glorious MYSTERY 2. This relief is propofed in the gofpel. And it is the death and medi- ation ofChrist alone. By them peace with God inuft be obtained, or it will ceafe for ever. But, 3. When any perfon comes pratlically to know how great a thing it is for anapoffate fanner, to obtain the remifiion of fins, and an inheri- tance among them that are fandified, endlefs objeekions through thepower of unbelief will arife unto his difquietment. Wherefore, q. Thatwhich is principallyfuited to give him reit, peace and fatisfaftion, and without which nothing elfecan fo do, is the due confideration of; and the ailing of faith upon this infinite effeu of divine wifdom and goodnefs in theconftitution of the perfonof Christ. This at first view will red..ce the mind unto that conclufion, If thou canll believe, all things arepoiAie. For what end cannot be effefled hereby? What end cannot be accomplished that was defigned in it? Is any thing too hard for God? Did God ever do any thinglike this, or make ufe of any fuch meansfor any otherend what- ever? Againft this no objeftion can arife. Qn this confiderationof him, faith apprehends Christ to be as he is indeed, the power of God, and the wifdom of God unto the falvation of them that do believe, and therein doth it find rest with peace. a9"tì ,¿i4)'.Lc' .4 `tARNA4K1i`aifyRcA S dlr, '' elC% W;V JG e eVL+ei e3L:3ir cg:7C+S6NE CHAP. IV. The PERSON of C FR I S T the Foundation of all the Counfels of God. Fcondly, The perfon ofIirift is the foundationof all the coun- fels of God, as unto his own eternal glory in the vocation, fanftiâcation, and falvation of the church. That which I in- tend is what the apoftle expreffeth, Ephef. i. 9, so. Having made known the myflery of his avid, according to bis good plea- furewhich be purpofed in himfelf, that in the difpenfation of thefulnefs of time be might gather together in one all things inChe j, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth, even in hive. The myfteries of the will of God, according to his good pleafure, which he purpofed in himfelf, are his counfels concerning his own eternal glory in the fanftification and falvation of the church here below, to be united untothat above. The abfolute ori- ginal hereof was in his own good pleafure, or the foveraign ailing of his wifdom and will. But it was all to be effefted in Christ, which the apoftle twice repeats he would gather all things into an head in Chr, even in him ; that is, in him alone. Thus it is faid of himwith refpeft unto his future incarnation and work of mediation, that the Lordpoffefféd bim in the beginning of his ways, be- fore his works ofold, that he was fet up from everlafling, from the begin- ning or ever the earth was, Prov. viii. 22, 23. The eternal perfonal exiflence of the Son of God is fuppofed in thefe expreffions, as I have elfewhere proved. Without it none of thefe things could be affirmed of him. But there
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