..------ Vert 1 . fins, it being his moftmerciful! nature (and nothing elfe)which moved him to exempt Come from that common mife- ry, that being freed from fin and death by Chrift they might partake in his heavenly glory, to the glory of his grace. Scope. No reafon why God did this to Pbataeb, then to a- nother King. Chryfoff. P.nt might by an ex- ample of the Jew have con- firmed his pntpofe,but wifely he did it by an Heatbenifh King. the Epiffle DIALOGUE X. Vert 17. For the Scripture faith to Pharaoh, For this purpofe have I flirted thee up, that I might 'ben) my powerinthee, and that my Name might be declared throughout allthe earth. TI MOT HELM, VVHat is the'Apoffles drift in thefe words? S I L. Having cleared God before of injuftice in refpe& of his ele&ing Tome out of loft mankind; becaufe he did it out of the prerogative of his abfolute and moli free mercies, as Paulconfirm- eth by teftimony of Scripture ; fo now he likewife proveth by Scripture, that God is not unjuft in the matter of re- probation out ofExod.9. i 6. T i M. What argument dthPaul take out of this Scripture to prove hit purpofe? S f L. From a particular example of Pharaoh, whom God did not chufe,but reje& very juffly, as appeareth two wayes : Firft, from the quality ofPha- raoh,being a man hardened by lin,noted in thisword [Raifed up.] as Paul ex- pounds it in the next verfe , for Peeing Pharaoh was hardened and became ob- ftinate before he was defiroyed, there- fore God could not be tinjuft inappoin- ting him unto deftru&ion ; for 'inners doe perifh jolly, therefore God is not unjuft,when ho doth appoint them un- to deftruiltion. Secondly, from the end which he propoundeth to himfelfe of his own counfell, namely, the declara- tion of his own power and juftice, to the praife of his name. Now that can - notibe unjuft which is done of God to efo good an end, if withal] it be confi- dered that Gods glory is the chiefeft ta the Romans. good thing, and that he hath an abto- luteright inall his creatures, to dif- pofe of them as he thinks belt for his own glory. T r M. But how fitly drth Paul gather a generall dolirine touchingall reprobates, from this one example? S I L. Very fitly : becaufe the caufe and safe of all reprobates is one and the fame, for none ofthem peril but in re- gard oftheir fore -going fin, and God is glorified in the deftru &ion ofevery one of them : therefore if God dealt: jolly in reprobating Pharaoh upon there grounds,he is al fo ;lift in reprobating and refuting all other appointed to damnation. T i M. What are the parts o f this Text? S I L. Two: Ffi it, a preface: and'e- condly,a teffimony of Scripture. T i Al. What is meant by Pharaoh ? S i L. It was a name common to the Kings of Ægypt, and fignifieth an aven- ger,as afterwards their Kings were cal - led.And the Kings of Gezar, Abimelech; and the Emperors of Rome,C,efàr. T i M. What is meant by [Scripture?] S i L. Generally every thing that is written, but more efpecially the holy writings ofMofes, and yet more parti- cularly the book of Exodus and therein this one fentence. And further, by Scripture we may underftand, God fpeaking in the Scripture, as appeareth by comparing this place with verf. 25. Asalfobyreafon, for the Scripture is the Word of God. T a M. What infirullion Both ari(e from hence ? S I Ls That every claufe and fen - tence of holy Scripture mutt be fpoken of,and heard and ufedwith al religious reverence and firm beleif. The reafon hereof is, becaufe the molt glorious God is the author of it,and hath infpi- redthem,2 Tim.; . i 6. 2 Pet. i . x r. T i M.What ufe is to be made of this poont? S I L. It reprovesfuch as faile in excefle of reverence to the Scriptures, afcribing divine force to-the Letters ande Syllables pronounced:as ifGod had in- doled his vertue in them?., wbich is a meerinchantment and forcery.Second. ly, 349
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