The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

For the scope of the Apostle, in the sequel of this passage, is clearly this, as the particle for in the beginning of vers. 29. plainly showeth, to prove and make good that Assertion of his v. 28. that all things work together for Good, to those that love God: to prove this, he showeth by what Method, and degrees of Dispensations God will bring it so to pass. Whom he fore-knows (saith he) that is, pre-approves, (the word Knowledge frequently in Scripture importing Approbation) as he must needs do those that love him, these he Predestinates to be conformed to the Image of his Son: and therefore as all things, even his deepest sufferings, wrought together for Good unto him; so must they needs do unto those, who are Predestinated, or Preordained by God to a Conformity with him; To give you yet, saith our Apostle, a farther and more particular account, how God in the secret of his Counsels, hath laid things in order to the bringing of them unto an actual conformity with the Image of his Son, to wit, in Glory, whom he Predestinated thereunto, (who are such as love him, and thereupon are approved by him) you are to understand, that whom he hath so Predestinated, he hath also Called, (that is) hath Purposed or Decreed to Call to the knowledge of his Son, or of his Gospel, (that is) to afford a more plain and effectual discovery of him unto them, then unto others, whom he hath not so Predestinated: By the way, this Call doth not necessarily suppose a Saving Answer given unto it by the Called, no whit more, then the Calling mentioned Mat. 20. 16. Mat: 22. 14. It only supposeth a real purpose on Gods part, to make it very sufficient to procure such an Answer to it, from those that are Called: The Apostle advanceth toward his proposed end, and addeth: Those whom he Calls, them he also Justified (that is) according to our last exposition of the word Called, he hath Purposed or Decreed to Justify: to wit, in case the Called obstruct him not in his way, or by their unbelief render not themselves uncapable of Justification: The clause following is likewise to be understood with the like proviso as this; Whom he hath Justified, them he also Glorified, that is, hath Purposed or Decreed to save, in case they retain the Grace of Justification, confirmed upon them to the end.

For the scope of the Apostle, in the sequell of this passage, is clearely this, as the particle for in the beginning of vers. 29. plainly sheweth, to prove and make good that Assertion of his v. 28. that all things work together for Good, to those that love God: to prove this, he sheweth by what Method, and degrees of Dispensations God will bring it so to passe. Whom he fore-knowes (saith he) that is, pre-approves, (the word Knowledge frequently in Scripture importing Approbation) as he must needs doe those that love him, these he Predestinates to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne: and therefore as all things, even his deepest sufferings, wrought together for Good unto him; so must they needs doe unto those, who are Predestinated, or Preordinated by God to a Conformity with him; To give you yet, saith our Apostle, a farther and more particular account, how God in the secret of his Counsells, hath laid things in order to the bringing of them unto an actuall conformity with the Image of his Sonne, to wit, in Glory, whom he Predestinated thereunto, (who are such as love him, and thereupon are approved by him) you are to understand, that whom he hath so Predestinated, he hath also Called, (that is) hath Purposed or Decreed to Call to the knowledge of his Sonne, or of his Gospell, (that is) to afford a more plaine and effectuall discovery of him unto them, then unto others, whom he hath not so Predestinated: By the way, this Call doth not necessarily suppose a Saving Answer given unto it by the Called, no whit more, then the Calling mentioned