1 Verf. 2 9 . the Epfi1e t feth to cal to the likeness or conformi - ty with Chrift his Son.The limitation is,that howfoever Chrift and Chrifti- ans be a like,yet he Hill bath the prehe- minence as the elder brother, or as the firft begotten. T I M. What it meant by thin word knew ,[Whom he foreknew ?] S I L. Fore knowledge of God in Interpre- tation. It is not a prescience of merits and truth, which is ohe caute of election. Dottrine. o the Romans. and have his image imprinted in us. T e tvt. What ufe is to be made of this point? S i L. Firft,that God hath certainly loved us in this it appeareth, that our ele &ion ismoft firme, fò as the chofen mull needs conic to glory ; becaufe Whom God loveth c,nce, he loveth to the end. Secondly, teeing God loved us Scripture bath a double fignification. f in his purpofe when we were finners, Fitt, there is in God a knowledge of we ought therefore to love him againe, prefcicnce, whereby God long before and also one another, even our very knoweth what perlons & things, good enemies.Thirdly,if God loved us even and evil!, (hall be in the world prefent when wewere enemies, bee will now and to come ; this is by Divines,:called much more love and fave us, Peeing we (Gods prefcience)or the knowledge of are reconciled by his Sonne through his prefcience,whereof we read, iAfbis 2. ! faith in.his blond. 23. Secondly, there is a knowledge in T VVhat is the fecond infiruOion ? ' God of favour, whereby he knoweth S I L. That the eternal! good will Deithwe fome before -hand as his owne, with and pleafure of God, is the fpring and : já f whom he was well pleated from ever- fountaine of all fpirituall graces now, nm n4in kiting.. This is by Divines called the and heavenly glory hereafter. The .e..;t. knowledge ofhis love or approbation reafon is, for that the Apoftle letting lom,s,m and it is the fame which the Apoftle downe the caufes of our falvation, Qeßnear called.' his good pleafure, Epheft 6. In i nameth thefore- knowledge of God as W1ft41. this fente the word is used, F-om.I 1.2. as al fo in our Text, whom he foreknew, that is, they whom hee loved and ele&ed from everlafting,out of the loft lump of mankinde. As the love which God exercifith toward the faithful!, is in Scripture called his knowledge,Pfal. I.6.So the decree of his love from ever- termed fore - knowledge.: T What is the infÍruetion that wee gather from hence ? S t L. That God doth not begin then to love his ele& when they be in this world and are regenerated : but he hath loved them in his decree and pur- pofefromeverlafting. For unto God thofe things towards men were long since purpofed and appointed, faith Chryfoftorne. T I M. But if this be true, that we are from everlafiing loved of God,how canwe at any time be enemies to him ? S t L. Though wee bee loved as creatures,and more loved as Gods ele &, yet in refpe& of inherent & remaining corruption, wee are enemies of God, being never a &ually beloved till wee be regenerated by the Spirit of God, 3a7 Vle. the head and chief of the reft , for wee are therefore predeftinated, called, juftified, and fanaified, andglorified, becaufe God knew us for his owne, before the foundation of the world. T t M. VVhat ¡efe is to be made of this point? S I L. It teacheth that faith, love, and good workes, cannot be the caufe of ourele&ion, becaufe Gods fore- knowledge and eltaion is the cause of them. Secondly, it confuteth such as would have our believing and working well,to come in part from our naturali free will ; whereas in truth they are all the flukes and gifts of Gods eternal! ele &ión and love,by which they are gi- ven so us & wrought in us.: insomuch, that wee have neither good counfell, thought,nor good deed,but that which God bath decreed to put inro us from evecla{iing, Ephef.I.4. We are chofen in Chrif,(not becaufe we were) but to be holy. T z M. VVhat ii it to pred fiinate ? S z L. To predeflinate is to decree any thing before hand, and bring it unto a certaine end, through tértain D d 3 and Vfe.
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