The first and the fundamental ground of all unto the Elect, hidden in the secret counsel of God is Christ himself, rforeknown or predestinated, and sslain for us in his eternal purpose, before the foundation of the World was laid: and we in like sort elect tin him▪ that is, that being by faith united unto Christ, we might be saved by the merit of his death and sufferings: And again, upredestinate to be the adopted Sons of God, by Jesus Christ. This is that our Saviour saith, Joh. 17. 6. I have manifested my Name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the World: for that by giving, he doth not mean the manifestation of his Election by an effectual Calling through faith in Christ, but the very purpose of God to adopt us in him, appeareth, Joh. 6. 36. All that my Father giveth me, shall come unto me. Where he doth manifestly distinguish between these two, making Gods giving unto Christ the cause why in their time they come unto him: Christ therefore is Mediator, nor any thing that God ⟨p. 301⟩so respects in him, is not the first cause of his Election, but only a subordinate means unto it, unless (which were absurd) a man will say that the disease is not in nature to be thought of, before the remedy; nor the fall, before the means of raising up again: Our Saviour Christ himself for this may be our warrant, John 17. 6. where having said, I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me, out of the World, that they should be adopted in and through me. By and by he riseth up a degree higher, Thine they were in thine everlasting purpose, for causes only known unto thy self, higher and above any consideration or respect of me written unto life: and then (keeping the respect of order and not of time) Thou gavest them unto me. The Apostle likewise to the xEphesians, showing we are elect in Christ, in the very next words doth explain it, to be meant of predestinating to adoption through Christ in himself: that is, only for causes resting in God himself, not in Christ as he is a Mediator.
The first and the fundamentall ground of all vnto the Elect, hidden in the secret counsell of God is Christ himselfe, rforeknowne or predestinated, and sslaine for vs in his eternall purpose, before the foundation of the World was layde: and we in like sort elect tin him▪ that is, that being by faith vnited vnto Christ, we might be saued by the merit of his death and suffrings: And againe, upredestinate to be the adopted Sonnes of God, by Iesus Christ. This is that our Sauiour saith, Ioh. 17. 6. I haue manifested my Name to the men whom thou hast giuen me out of the World: for that by giuing, he doth not meane the manifestation of his Election by an effectual Calling through faith in Christ, but the verie purpose of God to adopt vs in him, appeareth, Ioh. 6. 36. All that my Father giueth me, shall come vnto me. Where he doth manifestly distinguish betweene these two, making Gods giuing vnto Christ the cause why in their time they come vnto him: Christ therefore is Mediator, nor any thing that God ⟨p. 301⟩so respects in him, is not the first cause of his Election, but onely a subordinate meanes vnto it, vnlesse (which were absurd) a man will say that the disease is not in nature to be thought of, before the remedie; nor the fall, before the meanes of raising vp againe: Our Sauiour Christ himselfe for this may be our warrant, Iohn 17. 6. where hauing said, I haue manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast giuen me, out of the World, that they should be adopted in and through me. By and by he riseth vp a degree higher, Thine they were in thine euerlasting purpose, for causes onely knowne vnto thy selfe, higher and aboue any consideration or respect of me written vnto life: and then (keeping the respect of order and not of time) Thou gauest them vnto me. The Apostle likewise to the xEphesians, shewing we are elect in Christ, in the verie next words doth explaine it, to bee meant of predestinating to adoption through Christ in himselfe: that is, onely for causes resting in God himselfe, not in Christ as he is a Mediator.
- r1. Pet. 1. 20.
- sRevel. 13. 6.Reuel. 13. 6.
- tEph. 1. 4.
- uEph. 1. 5.
- xEphes. 1. 4, 5.
