Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

5. THE Decree of Election prepared, if I may so say, the Mass of the New Creation. In the old Creation, God first prepared and created the Mass or Matter of the whole, which afterwards by the Power of the holy Spirit, was formed into all the distinct Beings whereof the whole Creation was to consist; and animated according to their distinct Kinds.

AND in order unto the Production and Perfecting of the Work of the new Creation, God did from Eternity in the holy purpose of his Will prepare, and in design set apart unto himself, that Portion of Mankind whereof it was to consist. Hereby they were only the peculiar Matter that was to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost, and ⟨p. 121⟩the glorious Fabric of the Church erected out of it. What was said, it may be, of the Natural Body, by the Psalmist, is true of the Mystical Body of Christ, which is principally intended, Psal. 139. 15, 16. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth: Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect, and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. The substance of the Church whereof it was to be formed, was under the Eye of God, as proposed in the Decree of Election; yet was it as such imperfect. It was not formed or shaped into Members of the Mystical Body. But they were all written in the Book of Life. And in pursuance of the Purpose of God, there they are by the holy Spirit in the whole course and continuance of time in their several Generations fashioned into the Shape designed for them.

AND in order unto the Production and Perfecting of the Work of the new Creation, God did from Eternity in the holy purpose of his Will prepare, and in design set apart unto himself, that Portion of Mankind whereof it was to consist. Hereby they were only the peculiar Matter that was to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost, and ⟨p. 121⟩