2 9 An Expofition upon Interpre- tation. DLe r.00un XX. Verte 21. Becaufe the creature alfa (hall be delivered from the bondage of corruption , into the glorious liberty of the Sons ofGod. T I MOT H E Ll S. WHat Both this Text contain? S I L. A promife to the crea- ture of deliverance from mifery, under which it lycth by the appointment of God for mans fin. T I M. What if meant by the creature, and what is it to be delivered ? S I L. By creature is meant the whole frame of the world, the in fen fì- ble creature, and whatfoever God made, which is void of reafon or fenfe. And to.be delivered, is to be fet free or at liberty,quit, and exempted. T t M. From what (hall the creature be delivered.? Si. L. From bondage andlcorrupti- on. Thefewords to be bond or fubjeét to corruption,expoundtheword Vani- ty ;and fìgnifieth corruption, or a cor- ruptible eflate, whereunto for mans fin the creature is bound and fubje&. T r M. Wherein Both this corruption of the creature appear ?. S s L. In thefe things: Firft, it 'is wearied with continual labour for our fake. Secondly, many creatures lofe their lives for our ufe, and at our plea - fure. Thirdly, all of them are forced to do fervice unto the devils, which range in the aire, or to the lufls of wicked men. Fourthly, their beauty,force,and glory, is by reafon of mans fin often impaired. Laffly, they are fubjc& to a diffolution in the end, in fuch fort as they be now,they fhall be no longer. T i M. What k meant by the font of God, and what is their liberty ? S I L. By Eons ofGod is meant all the children of God, whether his tons or daughters (by a Synecdoche)as man fignifieth often both man and woman, Ffal.I.a. And by their glorious liberty, is fignified fuch a liberty, as {hall not Chap. S, only free all beleevers from all manner ofevils either of crime or 0pain, but be accompanied with uncomparableglory and honour. T r M. What is Meant by [Iitto ?J S I L. So to be delivered, as to be partakers oftheliberty andglor t of the godly. Chryf.ftcínte reads dia, for the glorious liberty of the Eons ofGod ; as if the end or final}caufe of their delive- rance were pointed at, namely that as God made the world for man, and for man fubdued it to vanity : fo he would deliver and rellore it for men, even to illufirate and enlarge the glory of Gods children. T a M. What is theDoíirine to be learned out of this verje ? S s L. This : the world with the creatures therein, (hall be fet free from their fervile &corruptcondition, even at that day when God (hall perfe&ly glorifie his children in foul and body. T I M. What manner of freedome and deliverance fhall this be ? S i L. Of the manner of deliverance of the creatures there be two opinions. The firft opinion Is, that it (hall be by abolition or annihilation, making the creature ceafeto be at all; which is a kiride of deliverance,becaufe if the crea- ture be not atall, their it can no longer be under vanity,bondage and corrupti- on .The fecond opinion is,that this de- liverance fhall be by a change of quali- ties, the creature being altered into a better effate ; asa man is changed in his regeneration,his fubflance remains the fame,a new quality of holineffe is only brought in : oras gold is altered in a furnace,the droffe being removed,it be- comes more pure : fo the world fhal be but purified and reflored to hisfirft per - fe&ion,but not wafted to nothing.And this lift opinion do I.hold to be the trueft,andthat for thefe reafons follow- ing. The firff is, by the tefiimony of B,afisi. Seri ptnre,teaching that the world flail be but changed and renewed,Ffal. I oa. 26,27.Efa. 66.22.8í 65.17. And in this lafi place as in our Text alto, there is promife made not of annihilation, but ofa reffitution of the world, that it flail Th8.
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