26 v4 Declaration ofthe GloriousMy s T ERY him ina way ofnatural oft, as his did on God in the wayof moral obedi- ence, Gen. i. 26,- -- 28. Pfal. viii. 6, 7, 8. Man, as was faid, is a creature which Godmade, that by himhe might receivethe glory that he aimed at, in and by the whole inanimate creation. This was the end of our nature in its original conftitution. Thereunto are we again reftored in Chrift, Yam, i. 18. But the entrance of fin caft all this order into contemn, and brought the curfe on all things here below. Hereby were they deprived of that eftate wherein they were declared exceeding good, and caft into that of vanity under the burden whereof they groan, and will do fo to the end, Gen. iii. 47, 18. Rom. vüi.2o, 21. And thefe things we Inuit again confider afterwards. 3. Divine wifdom was no way furprized with this difafter. God had from all eternity laid in provifions of counfels for the recovery ofall things into a better and more permanent eftate than what was loft by fin. This is the ivádu rc, thedaa tyndçmms aret V, the revification, the refutation of all things, All iii. 19, 21. The árargmhz(..mç, or thegathering all things in heaven and earth into a new head in Chrift Jefus, Ephef. i. io. For al- -though it may be, there is more of curiofity than of edification, in a fcru- yiulous enquiry into the methodor order of God's eternal decrees or coun- fels, and the difpofal of them into a fubferviency one unto another; yet this is neceffary from the infinite wifdom, prefcience and immutability of God, that he is furprized with nothing, that he is put unto no new coun- fel, by any events in the works of creation. All things were difpofed by him, into thofe ways and methods and that from eternity which conduce unto, and certainly iffue in thatglory which is ultimately intended. For as we are careful to Rate the eternal decrees of God, and the a&ual opera- tions of his providence, fo as that the libertyof the will ofman as the next taufe ofall his moral anions be not infringed thereby; fo ought we to be careful not to afçribe fuch a facrilegious liberty, unto the wills of any creatures, as that God fhould be furprized, impofed on, or changed by any of their aftings whatever. For known unto him are all his works from the foundation ofthe world, and with -him there is neither variable- nefe nor fkkadow of turning. 4. There were therefore eternal eounfels of God, whereby hedifpofed all things into a new order, unto his own glory, in the fan&ification and falvation of the church. And of them two things may be conlidered. (o.) Their original. (2.) The defign of their accomplifhment. (i.) Their firft fpring or originalwas in the divise willandwifdom alone, without refpe& unto any external moving taufe. No reafon can be gi- ven, no caufe be affigned of thefe counfels, but the will of God alone. Hence are theycalled or defcribed by, thegoodpleafure whichhepurpofedin himfelf, Ephef. i. g. The purpofe of him who worketh all things according to the counfel of' his will ; v. i r. Who bath known the mindof the Lord, or who bath been his congener, or who bath given firfl unto him, and it (hallbe recompenced to him again b For ofhim, and through him, and to him are all things, Rom xi. 34, 35, 36. The incarnation of Chrift, and his mediationthereon were notthe procuring caufe of thefe eternal counfels of God ; but the effe&s of them.as the fcripture-conítantly declares. But the defignof their accom lifhment was laid in the perfon of the Son alone. As he was the efiential wifdom of God, all things were at firft created by him. But upon a profpe& of the ruin of all by fin, God would in and by him, as he was fore- ordained to be incarnate, reftore all things. The whole counfel of God unto this end centered in him alone. Hence their foundation is rightly Paid to be laid in him, and is declared fo to be by the
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