First, The Eternity of those Decrees: for as God himself is eternal, so are his deep and unsearchable counsels, all of them written and decreed, or ever the World was. And as fHe is from everlasting, so is his Throne and Kingdom, in the dispensation of his great and glorious purposes, established before any time. In which regard, the Psalmist gsaith of the Land of Canaan, That he founded it for his people the Jews, from everlasting: meaning, in his eternal counsel: and hISAIAH: Since I disposed an ⟨p. 63⟩everlasting people, the Church in the purpose and appointment of God eternally elected. And when the Psalmist icrieth out, The kindnesses of JEHOVAH are from everlasting to everlasting, doth he not evidently point hereat? But more clearly to this purpose, serveth that of Paul, kcommending the excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospel, in the gathering together of the Churches of the Gentiles aswell as Jews, in that it was according to his everlasting purpose. As also lin another place he saith of the Wisdom of God, lying hid in the Mystery of the Gospel, that God had fore-ordained it before the World. And of Christ, Peter msaith, that he was fore-appointed before the foundation of the World was laid. The truth hereof not only shineth forth in these and other great and high points of our Faith, and namely, of Election, and Reprobation (which come hereafter to be considered) but reacheth farther, and hath a place in all. So nDavid speaketh of his conception (an ordinary course of nature) When I was secretly framed, and as it were curiously wrought and woven together, thine eyes did see my very lump, what time they were fashioned▪ yea, even then when none of them was extant: that is, from everlasting. And the saying of James ohath no exception, All the works of God are known to him from Eternity. In this Argument, I find that the Prophet Isaiah (from whom the Apostles, pPeter and Jude, seem qto have taken it) delighteth himself much to set out the Eternity of Gods Decrees by the Phrase of Long rago. In the two and twentieth sChapter, Thou diddest look in that day, (when the enemy did besiege you) to the Armour of the Forrest, House, &c. But ye look ••ot to the Author of it▪ nor had respect to him that framed it long ago. Chap. 25. The tcounsels long ago (eternally decreed, and in their time prophesied, and made known to the Church) are Faith and Truth.
First, The Eternitie of those Decrees: for as God himselfe is eternall, so are his deep and vnsearchable counsels, all of them written and decreed, or euer the World was. And as fHe is from euerlasting, so is his Throne and Kingdome, in the dispensation of his great and glorious purposes, established before any time. In which regard, the Psalmist gsaith of the Land of Canaan, That he founded it for his people the Iewes, from euerlasting: meaning, in his eternall counsell: and hESAY: Since I disposed an ⟨p. 63⟩euerlasting people, the Church in the purpose and appointment of God eternally elected. And when the Psalmist icryeth out, The kindnesses of IEHOVAH are from euerlasting to euerlasting, doth he not euidently point hereat? But more cleerely to this purpose, serueth that of Paul, kcommending the excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospell, in the gathering together of the Churches of the Gentiles aswell as Iewes, in that it was according to his euerlasting purpose. As also lin another place hee saith of the Wisedome of God, lying hid in the Mystery of the Gospell, that God had fore-ordayned it before the World. And of Christ, Peter msaith, that he was fore-appointed before the foundation of the World was layd. The truth hereof not onely shineth forth in these and other great and high points of our Faith, and namely, of Election, and Reprobation (which come hereafter to be considered) but reacheth farther, and hath a place in all. So nDauid speaketh of his conception (an ordinary course of nature) When I was secretly framed, and as it were curiously wrought and wouen together, thine eyes did see my very lumpe, what time they were fashioned▪ yea, euen then when none of them was extant: that is, from euerlasting. And the saying of Iames o
- fPsal. 93. •.
- gPsal. 78. 69.
- hIsaiah 45. 7.Esay 45. 7.
- iPsal. 103. 17.
- kEphes. 3. 11,
- l1. Cor. 2. 7.
- m1. Pet. 1. 20.
- nPsal. 193. 15. 16.
- oActs 15. 18.
- p2. Pet. 2. 3. [Greek or Hebrew].2. Pet. 2. 3. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- qJude verse 4. [Greek or Hebrew].Iude verse 4. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- r[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
