AR.11IIN.IANISM. 7 andwho can turn him, and whathis foul dfresh, that he drib, Job. xxiii. 13.The Lord of hefts hathpurpofed, andwho fhall'djaeul it, Ifa. xxvii. rq.. fo that the plops/re of God, and'immu- tability of his counfel, Heb. vi. 16. have their certainty, and firmneli, from eternity : and do not depend on thevariable lubricityof mortal menu, which we mutt needsgrant, :net; we intend to jet up impotency againfi omnipbteñcy, and arm the clay againft the potter. :4.] If God's determination concerningany thing, Mould have a temporal original; it mutt needs be, either becaufe he then perceived famegoodnefs in it, of which before hewas ignorant; or elfe, becaufe Ionic accident didaffix a real goodnefs to fume fiate of things, whichit had not fromhim : neither of which, without abominable hlafpho- my can be aflrined; feeing . he knoweth the endfrom the beginning, all things front everlaffing ; belay always the fame, the fountain of all goodnefs, of which other things do participate; inthat meaiüre which it pleafeth hiiol to communicateit unto them : add to this, the omuipotency of God, there is power and might inhis hand ghat none is able totvidafland him, 2 Chron. ii. 6. which will not permitthat arbiofñi purpofes: be fruftrate. In all our intentions, if the defe& be not intheerrour of our underftandings, which may be ratified by better. information ; whenwe cannot do that whichwe would, we will do that which we can, the alterationof our purpofe, is for want ofpowerto fulfil it which impotency cannotbeafcribed to almightyGod : who is in heaven, and bath done sehafoever he pleafed, Pfal. cxv. 3.. fo that theimmutability of God's nature, his almighty power, the infallibility of his knowledge, his immunity horn error in all hiscounfels; do Phew, that he never faileth, in accomplifhingany thing, that hepropofeth for the manifefation of his glory. To tiefe up this whole difcouríe, whereinl have notdifcovered half thepoyfon contained inthe arminian doitriue concerningGod'sdecreés, I will in brief prefent to your view the oppofition that is in this matter, betwixt the word of God, and the patrons of free-will. He hash cho;en os in himbeforethe founda- tionof the world, Ephef. i. 4. _. He bath called noaccording to His own pur- ple and grace before: the world began, z Known unto God are all his works from the beginningof the world, Aft. xv. ' Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet dose, Paying, My. counfel (hall fend,. and I will do allmypleafure,. Ifa. xlvi. lo. For thechildren being not yet born, neither having-doneeither good or evil, that thepurpofe of G04 according to clellion might flood, as Rom. ix. II. The ofGodfandcthfare, shaving Chie feel; the Lord 7noweth who are his, a Tim. ii. 19. The counfel of the Lord ffandethfor ever, andthe thoughts of his heart to all generations, Pfal. xxxiii.12. My counfel fhall Hand, and I will do all ,my pleafure, Ifa. xlvi. ro. . Iam the Lord, and I change not, Mal. iii. 6. With the Father of lights there is no vari- oblenefs, nor fhadow of turning, James i. 17. fee Exod. iii. 13, 14. Pfal. cii. 27. a Tim. ii. 13. t Sam. xv. a9. la,, xiv. 7. Job tiii. 13. Pfal. cxv. 3. Lib. Arbit. It is falfe, to'1ày thatelefion, is con; firmed from everlafting, Rem. apol. It is certain, that God determineth divers things, which he would not, did notfame aft of will go before,Armin. Some decrees of God precede all. afts of the will of the creature, and feme follow, Cor. Men may make their elefion Void, and fruftrate, Rem. apol. It is no wonder, ifmen, do fometimes of elect, becomereprobate, and of repro- bate, cleft, Welfin. Ele£tion is uncertain, and revocable; and who ever denies it, overthrows the Gofpel, Grevis. Many decrees of God ceafeat a certain time, Epifbojo. God would have all men to be faxed; but compelled with the.fubbórn maliceof fome, he changed, his purpofe, and will have themto perifh, Arm!,,.'' As men may change themfelves from believersto unbelievers, fo God's determi- nation concerning them, chángeth, Rem. All God's decrees are not peremptory, but force conditionate and changeable, Sermonat Oxford. C H A P,
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