The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By…

THE Doctrine of Gods eternal Decrees, with their Execution in his works of Providence and Grace, is of great importance in it self, and was ever so esteemed in the Church. It is that Revelation which God has been pleased to make unto us in his Word, of those Counsels of his sovereign will and pleasure, with those actings of infinite ⟨image 4⟩wisdom, power, goodness and grace in the pursuit of them which rise and issue in Eternity. Hereby the whole series of divine Operations is represented unto us, in their beauty & order, wherein God disposes all things in this World, unto the final issue of his eternal glory. An Enquiry therefore into these things is so far from being a needless and curious Speculation, as some fondly imagine, that without some diligence therein, we can never attain that distinct apprehension of divine Excellencies and their effects which is necessary unto the direction of our Faith and Obedience. The nature indeed of the things themselves, which is sublime and mysterious, with that opposition which the pride of corrupted Reason rises up unto, against the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God, ⟨image 4⟩hath exposed the Truth concerning them unto great and fierce Contradiction in all Ages: But as God in the primitive times preserved the knowledge and interest of it in the Church, by the holy and learned endeavours of persons famous on that account in their several Generations, against the subtle assaults of men of corrupt minds; so in these later Ages he has provided for its vindication and defence, by the faithful Labours of many worthy Instruments, against all that opposition which under various pretences and apprehensions hath continually broken forth against it. And it hath so fallen out, that among all those Digladiations which the Church hath been exercised withal about spiritual things, there are none which have been managed with more confidence