496 An Expo-fition upon Chap.ii unfearchahle are his judbmenu, and his wages pall finding out ? for who bath known the minde of the Lord, or who was bis coutt- f eller, &c TI MOTH Bus. WHat doth this Text contain? S I L. A conclufion of the for- mer argutnent,touching ele &ion and re- probation, but efpecially of the myflery touching the rejeaing and calling of the Jewes: at the confido ration of which things, he as one ftricken with a maze - ment, exclaimeth that they are too high or deep for him, either to underftand or utter, being worthy to be admired and adored, becaufe of the admirable vtifedome and juftice of God in them, and fo {huts up the Chapter with glori- fying God for them. T s sa. What be the parts of this prefent Text ? S o L. Two : firft, an exclamation in three verfes: and fecondly, a petition in the latter end of the 36. verfe. T i M. What is the Jumme and fubffance of this exclamation ? S t L. The Apoftle by his owne ex- ample, teaching all men to wonder at the moft wife counfels of God, in difpo- fing the ends of them; but efpecially touching the finali date of ele& and reprobate men, forbidding either curi- oufly to fearch them , or wickedly to murmure againft them, upon thefe three Reafons.Firfl,forthat they are unfearch- able, ( that is) fuch things as never ought to be fearched after, neither can they be found,ver.33.by way of interro- gation; and in ver. 34. by the teftimony of the Prophet Efay, chap. 4o. ver. 13. Secondly , becaufe they are moft jufl without any wrong done unto the crea- ture, ver. 35.Thirdly, in refpe& of their end, becaufe God who is the beginning of all things, hath decreed and done all things to his owne glory. 0 T i us. What is figni fted Ly [deepne f je ?] Interpret. S s L. The abflra& isput for the con- tra &, deepneffe for deep, as Rom. i i. 6. Ele &ion for Elea, 2 Pet. 3. 13. righte- oufneffe for righteous perlons. And by richcs,is underflood the immenle or un- meafurable abundanceof any thing, as tom. 9. 23. Riches of glory for his moll plentiful) glory, Epbef. a. 7, Riches of his grace, for his moll aboun- dant grace : fee Rom. 24. This phrafe is much like unto that in Col. 2.3. All the treafures, &c. In both places there is a comparifon from earthly riches and treafures, which are fo deep hid in the very bowels of the earth, that they can- not be come at, and digged up : even fuch is the knowledge and wifedome of God, touching the end of man, they be inacceffible, far above and beyond the reach of our capacity. If Paul, fuch a worthy Apoftle perceived it to be fo, how much more ought others to think it fo? T I tvt. What may be meant [ by knowledge andteifedome ?] S n L. TheCe words are fometirnes put paflively for that knowledge wher- by God is known of man, as s Cor. 12. 8. But they are here ufcd a &ively, for that whereby God doth perfeftly be- hold himfelte and all other things to be done,or not to be done, and moft wife- ly dilpofeth of his creatures to molt due ends. So the words be ufed, Color. 2.2. as attributes in God, not as effe&s in us. T i M. What do£irine Have we to learn from hence ? S I L. The wifdome of God in his purpofes towards men, and in the.ad- miniftration or government of men and their finali eflate, cannot throughly and perfe&ly of us be perceived and feen into. As why Godwould ele& this man, and not that man, Peter and not Judas, both being alike corrupt : why for many years he would make the Jewes his people, and not the Gentiles, and then the Gentiles and not the Jewes by courfes, and not both toge- ther, &c. Thefe things were fuch as even Paul himfelfe found too high for him. The Rcafons hereof be firft, be- caufe the knowledge of God is infinite like to the wide and unbounded Ocean, like the treafures which arc many thou- land fadomesfhut up in the earth, and can- Reafotu.
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