most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, and upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. (1) In his sight all things are open and manifest; (2) his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; (3) so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. (4) He is most holy in all his counsels, in his works, and in all his commands. (5) To him is due from angels and men, and every (1) Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created. Ďan. iv. 25, 35. The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.-And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? See 1 Tim. vi. 15 on the figure (4). (2) Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (3) Rom. xi. 33, 34. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Ps. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (4) Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ezek. xi. 5. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak, Thus saith the Lord, Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. (5) Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them. (1) III. In unity of the Godhead there be three persons of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. (2) The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; (3) the (1) Rev. v. 12-14. Saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (2) III. 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. Matt. iii. 16, 17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (3) John i. 14, 18. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.-No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the CHAPTER III OF GOD'S ETERNAL DECREE. to GOD from all eternity did by the most wise (1) John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, cry- (2) I. Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Heb. vi. 17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his coun- sel, confirmed it by an oath. Rom. ix. 15, 18. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (3) Jam. i. 13, 17. Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. (1) II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions; (2) yet hath he not decreed any thing then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Eccl. vii. 29. (1) Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Matt. xvii. 12. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed; likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Acts iv. 27, 28. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. John xix. 11. Jesus answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Acts xxvii. 23, 24, compared with v. 34. Then (2) II. Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 1 Sam. xxiii. 11, 12. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Matt. xi. 21, 23. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And thou, Capernaum, which art ex because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions. (1) III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels (2) are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death. (3) IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is alted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (1) Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16, 18. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;-As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.-So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.-Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (2) III. 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels. Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (3) Rom. ix. 22, 23. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Eph. i. 5, 6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. |