Page images
PDF
EPUB

XVII. Of Predestination and Election. PREDESTINATION to life is the everlasting

a Before that the Lord God made heaven and earth, he determined to have to himself a certain most beautiful kingdom, and most holy commonweal. This the Apostles that wrote in Greek called 'Exxλnoia, which by interpreting the word may fitly be called a Congregation. Into this as into his own city, God did incorporate an infinite multitude of men, which must all be subject, seviceable, and obedient to Christ their only King, and which have all committed themselves to his protection, and of whom he hath taken upon him to be defender, and doth continually maintain and preserve them. To this commonweal do all they properly belong, as many as truly fear, honour, and call upon God, altogether applying their minds to live holily and godly, and which putting all their trust and hope in God do most assuredly look for (certissime expectant) the blessedness of eternal life. They that be stedfast, stable, and constant in this faith, were chosen and appointed, and (as we term it) predestinated to this so great felicity, before the foundations of the world were laid, whereof they have a witness within them in their souls, the Spirit of Christ the author, and therewith also the most sure pledge of this confidence. By the instinct of

a God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. v. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself.-Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Eph. i. 9, 11. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. viii. 29. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim. i. 9. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph. iii. 11. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said,

and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numb. xxiii. 19. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:-I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it. Isa. xlvi. 10, 11. The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, and who shall disannul it? Isa. xiv. 27. He is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Job xxiii. 13, 14. I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. Eccl. iii. 14. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand, Prov.

b

с

purpose of God, whereby, before the foundations of the world were laid, he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, 'secret to us, to deliver

which divine Spirit, I do also most assuredly persuade myself that I am also, by God's good gift through Christ, freely made one of this blessed city.-M. It is sure a godly and most necessary persuasion. Nowell, p. 63.

Q. Can we not therefore prevent God with any works or deservings, whereby we may first provoke him to love us and be good unto us? A. Surely with none. For God loved us and chose us in Christ, not only when we were his enemies, that is, sinners, but also before the foundations of the world were laid. Nowell, p. 74.

d This communion of saints cannot be perceived by our senses, nor by any natural kind of knowledge, or force of understanding, as other civil communities and fellowships of men may be. The congregation of those whom God by his secret election hath adopted to himself through Christ, can neither be seen with eyes, nor can continually be known by signs. Nowell, p. 67.

xix. 21. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Ps. xxxiii. 11, 12. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James i. 17. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. 2 Tim. ii. 19. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke xii. 32.

b Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world. Acts xv. 18. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predes. tinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,

according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph. i. 3-5. Names written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev. xiii. 8.

• God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. Heb. vi. 17. He giveth not account of any of his matters. Job xxxiii. 13. Who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Jer. xxiii. 18,

d Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Job xi. 7. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts i. 7. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God. Deut. xxix. 29. 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? Rom. xi. 33, 34.

e will ransom them from the

[ocr errors]

from curse and damnation those whom he hath 'chosen in Christ out of mankind, hand to

Q. Give me the definition of the church that thou speakest of. A. I may most briefly and truly say, that the church is the body of Christ. Q. Yea; but I would have it somewhat more plainly and at large. A. The church is the body of the Christian commonweal, that is, the universal number and fellowship of all the faithful, whom God through Christ hath before all beginning of time appointed to everlasting life. Q. Why is this point put into the Creed? A. Because if the Church were not, both Christ had died without cause, and all the things which have been hitherto spoken of should be in vain, and come to nought. Q. How so? A. Because hitherto we have spoken of the causes of salvation, and have considered the foundation thereof, namely, how God by the deserving of Christ loveth us and dearly esteemeth us; how also by the work of the Holy Ghost we receive this grace of God, whereunto we are restored. But of these this is the only effect, that there be a church, that is, a company of the godly, upon whom these benefits of God may be bestowed; that there be a certain city and commonweal, in which we ought to lay up, and as it were to consecrate all we have, and to give ourselves wholly unto it, and for which we ought not to stick to die. Nowell, p. 64. See Article XIX. a. h Beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of thy gracious

[ocr errors]

power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Hos. xiii. 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Gal. iii. 13. Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Col. i. 12.

f Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. 1 Pet. i. 2. We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our Gospel. 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold

not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. Acts xviii. 10. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness: in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. Tit. i. 1, 2. Even so at this pre'sent time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5.

g This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John v. 11, 12. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. Eph. i. 10. Our fel

bring them 'by Christ to everlasting salvation,

goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen..

Burial Service.

1 He shall pronounce the judgment, in whose faith and pro

lowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John i. 3. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 22. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. Heb. iii. 14. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. i. 30. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Rom. viii. 1. Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Cor. xii. 27. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 2 Cor. v. 17.

i As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith. Col. ii. 6, 7. Abide in me and 1 in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. John xv. 4. Abide in him that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John ii. 28. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John xvii. 16. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John xv. 19. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John v. 19, 20.

Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 1_Pet. iii. 18. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. John xiv. 6. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John x. 9. Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. ii. 18. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. v. 2. Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col. iii. 3, 4. As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. John v. 26. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. vii. 25. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 1 Pet. i. 20, 21.

k Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 6. In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Eph. i. 13, 14. Who are kept by

as vessels made to honour. Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, "be called according to God's pur

tection we are, and which hath taken upon him the defence of our cause. Yea, our consciences are cheerfully stayed with a most singular comfort, and, in the midst of the miseries and woes of this life, do leap for joy that Christ shall one day be the Judge of the world; for upon this hope we chiefly rest ourselves, that then at last we shall with unchangeable eternity possess that same kingdom of immortality and everlasting life, in all parts fully and abundantly perfect, which hitherto hath been but begun, and which was ordained and appointed for the children of God before the foundations of the world were laid. Nowell, p. 61. See also Article V. a.

m The Christian faith professeth that a great number and infinite multitude of godly persons, gathered together out of all countries of the world, out of all parts of all nations every where, and all ages of all times, by the strength and power of his holy word and voice, and by the divine motion of his heavenly Spirit,

the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pet. i. 5. Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. Is. xlv. 17. Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. xv. 57, 58.

1 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour? Rom. ix. 21. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us whom he hath called. Rom. ix. 23, 24. In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto

every good work. 2 Tim. ii. 20, 21.

m Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called. Rom. viii. 30. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father. John vii. 45, 65. No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John vi. 44. I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jer. xxxi. 3. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matt. xi. 25, 26. That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.-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. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that

« PreviousContinue »