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

that is, as Faith is first in time, so it was first in God's Decree; and thus it is untrue: for it stands upon this false bottom in general; There is the very same order in God's internal Intention, as there is in the external Production, that which is first in the one is first also in the other. This bottom is such, as neither the harmony between the Decree and the Execution, nor yet the Gospel-way and Method doth require. The harmony between the Decree and the Execution doth not require it; for that only requires that ⟨p. 34⟩that, which is decreed to be and exist first, should accordingly be and exist first; but it requires not that that, which is first in Production, should be first in Intention. In production the Sun was first before the Beams; but was it first also in intention? then God decreed a Sun, and in that instant meant no Beams. In production, the Chaos was first before the complete World, but was it so in intention? then God decreed a Chaos, and in that instant meant not a complete World. Neither can it avail to say, that these instances are in Naturals; for the harmony between the Decree and the Execution is as accurate in Naturals as in Spirituals. Neither doth the Gospel-way or Method require it; for that only requires, that Faith be and exist first, but not that it be first intended or decreed. In order of nature, Faith is first before Adoption; but was it first also in intention? then God decreed Faith to some persons, and in that instant meant not their Adoption, which yet by the Gospel is a necessary resultance from their Faith. In order of existence, Faith is first before Salvation; but was it first also in intention? then God decreed Faith to some persons, and ⟨p. 35⟩in that instant meant not their Salvation, which yet by the Gospel is a necessary consequence of their Faith. And this is the rather to be marked, because the Remonstrants assert, That God first, and antecedently to his Decree of giving Faith, did decree in general to adopt and save all Believers; and if so, then how doth God decree Faith to a person, and not in and by the same Decree, decree Adoption and Salvation to him? These are a Conclusion naturally flowing from Faith, by virtue of the general Decree; and therefore that Decree, which designs Faith to a person, cannot but design these also to him.

that is, as Faith is first in time, so it was first in God's Decree; and thus it is untrue: for it stands upon this false bottom in general; There is the very same order in God's internal Intention, as there is in the external Production, that which is first in the one is first also in the other. This bottom is such, as neither the harmony between the Decree and the Execution, nor yet the Gospel-way and Method doth require. The harmony between the Decree and the Execution doth not require it; for that only requires that