Verb: i s. the Epifile to the Romans. 341 Bollrine. Reafons. S 1 L. It affords la dire&ion Unto Miniflers,how to proceed in teaching the Gofpell by familiar examples ad- ded to generali precepts. Secondly, an admonition unto hearers, to have rea- dy at hand fuch examples,bywhich the Do&rine of the Gofpel is made plain and familiar. T i m. What further inftruliion dothefe wordsminifter unto us ? S s L. That not only our heavenly and everlafting condition, but evert our worldly elate here is governed by the decree of God; fo as if fonte be Kings,Pri n ces, Magi ftrates, &c. If others be in infamy, poverty, &c. It is becaufe God would fo have it; for it is writ- ten -God doth wharf ever he will. P fal.1 15.2. And alfo if the fall of a Sparrow, and the hair of our head, be ordered by the providence of God, much more greatermatters. And !ally, it is wiit- ten, That God lift eth up one, and putteth down anther./ Sam.28.Dan. 3. T i m. Veto what rife fhould this know- ledge ferve us ? Vies. S 1 L. To teach humility and thank - fulneffe to fuch as are in good cafe, be- caufe they have nothing but what they have received, and they do receive, be- caufe God was purpofed to give it them.Secondly,itwarneth Inch as ferve others, or be in any mean condition,to be content with their elate, feting it was Gods appointment, in whofe will all creatures mutt rely without murmu- ring and rellance. T i ta.Ir there any more inftruliotts from this firff Oracle ? S t L. Yea, here is a pregnant plain place, again/ the error of free -will, becaufe there was no power in 7acob to move himfelf to accept grace offered,or in Efau to refufeit, for as much as be- fore their birth,grace was purpofed to the one,and not to the other. T 1 Na. What is the laft in/trulion from hence ? S 1 L. That exceeding great is the efficacy of the ele&ion of God.For that nul be very effe &ual & mighty which altereth both the corruption of na- ture,and the law of nature. Fiat, it al- Will to good is not of nature, iris Gods gift. P. Mar- tyr. tereth the corruption of nature, be caufe jacob by nature was as finful as E f.ru,yet the ele &ion of grate called and reformed hitu,whiieE;au 1h11 did flickp in his natural uncleanneffe.Secondly,it', croffeth the law of nature, for by na-j tures law,the younger ítould,have fer.' ved the elder : but by ele &ion, God, purpofing it fo, the elder is made Cub.; je& to the younger. T 1 m. Nov come to the fecond Oracle, and tell us fromwhence the words le taken ? S t L. Out of the Prophet Malachy, Chap.!. verf. 2, 3. T 1 M. But Malachy fpeaketh oft.m- porall benefits, as the land or Canaan given to the Ifi'aelitrs, end of earthly aflilions, as the Mount Seir being barren, to be given the Edomites, what is this touching t leliion unto eternal/ life ? $ t L. It is true, he doth fo : but not Solution. only of fuch. The drift of the Prophet How this is to reprove the unthankfulneffe of the fit ate pnr_ 'ewes towards God, whom they mi.- vote of ther feared nor honoured,yet he loved T4 "1. them. Again, God preferred Jacob be- fore his brother Efau,for he gave to the poflerity of Jacob a good land, and be- ing for their fins driven out, he promi- feth to bring them back; but the barren and wale country ofthe Edomites he would defiroy, fo as no man fhould build and relore it. Thefe be earthly things,bywhich no man can know love or hatred. Suppofe the Prophet fpoke but of earthly things, as a fruitful and barren land,yet theft falling to the po- lerityofJacoband Efau, not by their merits,but according to Gods will,it is fuf'ncient for his fcope. For the general drift of the Apolle, is to fbew, that whereas Jacob was preferred unto Efau, were it but in earthly things, the caufe hereof, was not in their works, but in Gods goodneffe and pur- pole. T 1 mt. But bow may it be proved that in this tektnony the Prophet comprohendeth things belonging to falvation ? S t L. Ftrl, becaufe all Gods blef- fings had their foundation in Chrift, and in the covenant of grace through him. For if God gave the Ifraelites Ca- G g a Haan, 2. Oracle A doubt. A doubt. Sulu n:
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