A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

Let us always remember that in these things we have to do with him who is greater than we, and who giveth no Account of his matters. What if God will take this way of procedure, and give no reason of it? who are we that we should dispute against God? Wherefore our Apostle having at large discoursed this whole matter, and pleaded the absolute freedom of God to do whatever he pleaseth, winds up the whole in a resignation of all unto his Sovereignty, with a deep Admiration of his unsearchable Wisdom, wherein it is our Duty to acquiesce, Rom. 11. 33, 34, 35. But yet I may add,

Let us always remember that in these things we have to do with him who is greater than we, and who giveth no Account of his matters. What if God will take this way of procedure, and give no reason of it? who are we that we should dispute against God? Wherefore our Apostle having at large discoursed this whole matter, and pleaded the absolute freedom of God to do whatever he pleaseth, winds up the whole in a resignation of all unto his Soveraignty, with a deep Admiration of his unsearchable Wisdom, wherein it is our Duty to acquiesce, Rom. 11. 33, 34, 35. But yet I may add,

That the Nature of the thing it self doth require this Dispensation of the Promise indefinitely to all, though the benefit of it be designed to some only. For the way whereby God will give a participation of the Promise unto the Heirs of it, being by the Administration of his Word, and such means as are meet to work on the minds of men, to persuade and prevail with them unto Faith and Obedience, He would not do it by immediate Revelation or Inspiration, and the like extraordinary Operations of his Spirit alone. but by such ways as are suited to glorify Himself and his Grace in the Rational minds of his Creatures capable thereof. Now this could no way be done, nor can unto this day, but by the Declaration and Preaching of the Promise with Commands, Motives, and Encouragements unto Believing. In this work all those whom He employs are utterly ignorant who they are who are Heirs of the Promise, until they are discovered by their actual Believing: wherefore they have no other work, but in the first place to propose the Promise promiscuously unto all that will attend unto it, leaving the singling out of its proper Heirs unto the Sovereign Grace of God. So the Word is preached unto all Indefinitely, and the Election obtains whilst the rest are hardened.