EpifgdeofS. Paulto Tittia. CHAP. 2.14. fee the funne,as we fay,or bebrought out fcarce in extreame necc(litie. 52; Thus although all the earth be the Lords,who being the Godofnature run.;n ñxod. and grace , bath all power and libertie to conferre where he pleafeth 19'5' grace abone nature : yet his good pleafure was to choofe Ifrael,tobehis cheife treafure aboue all people, and an holy nation , that vnto them he might Phewhis wifedome and glorie ; and his loue and mercy vpon De". But that was but a type, the thing it felfe is fpecially apparanc in the Churchofthe new Teflament, euen the true Churchof God in all agesfince:vnto which all thofe titles iuflly belong which Peter giueth to the beleeuingdifperfedl ewes: Aroyallpreiffhood achofen generation 1.4 an holy nettion,and apeculiarpeople. Now the Church may be laid ro be apeculiarpeople , (by the Church the church . vuderflanding the true and efíentiall members of the Church) r. Be-, God. pct dfsr caufe beleeuers are the moil precious ofinen , euen the molt noble per- rundricwsi;:. tons of the t -Arch, defcended of the blood of ChriP, in which regard I theyare the dearefl ofmen and nearer untoGod , becaule more noble then the refl. Thus Salomon defcribeth the Church , as though it were canu6.7. a Rarelycourt where are none but ofthe blood royal', Kings, Qleenes, Lords,and Ladies : and hence are beleeuers called fanner of God, bre- thren of 0r0, and heyres vnto the Browne of heauen. Secondly, In II regard ofGod > they arc a peculiar people, diflinhl from others by his grace ofeleétion , by which they are chofen out of the world , and let highly in his fauour about all others. For they lie before him in the righteoufneffe ofChrift, inwhom the Father is well pleafed ; they are bought from the earth, and Rand before him in the worke of his owne fingers,namely,theirnew birth and fecond creation, in which he allo delighteth to behold. Hence are they called an holy nation thefpaufe of Chriff,thedaughter ofGod, the choifeofGod , and Gods delight. Thirdly, III theyarea peculiar pcople,in regard oftheir whole manner andconditió oflife:whichmade Balaam fay of Ifrael,that it was a people dwelling alone, and numbrednot himfelfe among athernation:, that is, altogether different Numb.s;.4, in lawes, cuRomes :manner , and condition of life. But let vs fee this truth in Tome inflances. a. Their originan are not fo:ne few families,. comming out of Tome corner of the earth; but they fprung of Chrifl, ofwhom all the families in heauen and earth are called. 2. Their coon- 2 trie is no part ofearth,for they are here but orangers and pilgrimes, but Eph.3.15 heauen, towhich they tend,,aud from whence they looke for a Sauiour. 3.Their King is neither borne nor created,but the euerlalling King of 3 glory, who ruleth not Ionic one countrie, but from fea to fea, yea to the worlds end: and not for an age,,but as he is a King for euer,, and his kingdoms ancucrlaflingkingdomelobe ruleth for eues and euer,and of:
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