In the allegation of Saint Pauls text, I find something left out that pertains to the completing of the sentence: for the sentence 1is this, Who hath chosen us in Christ, that we should be holy: Here the latter part of one entire sentence is quite left out. And by your dismembering it, the sentence is made causelessly obscure, and so the fitter to serve for advantages. This is Arminius course, Exam. Pag. 31. Apostolus ait, nos in Christo electos esse; The Apostle saith, we are elected in Christ. And as something in the text is left out: so something besides the text is put in, God chose us before the world in Christ our head. This likewise Arminius insists on, Exam. Pag. 158. And mark I pray you how he works upon each; To be elect in Christ, is with him, to be elect being in Christ: for, nos in Christo, with him is, nos existentes in Christo. And seeing we are not in Christ but by faith, hereupon he makes the object of election to be fideles, the faithful; or in Christum credentes, such as believe in Christ. We answer: first, We may take as great liberty to interpret it, for explication sake, by supplying a participle of the future tense, thus, elegit nos futuros in Christo, he chose us hereafter to be in Christ: (like as it follows, who hath predestinated us to be adopted. Now we are adopted by faith, Gal. 3. 26.) as he takes liberty to supply a participle of the present tense, especially, considering that when we were elect, to wit, before the foundation of the world, we were not at all, and consequently were not fideles, believers. Secondly we answer, that the complete sentence, considered at full, doth manifest in what sense this phrase [in Christ] is taken. He chose us in Christ, that we should be holy: This shows to what we were chosen, to wit, to obtain holiness, and how; to wit, in Christ, that is, for Christs sake; Like as v. 3. 'tis said, God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly things in Christ Jesus: that is, for Christ his sake. And like as 1. Thes. 5. 9. 'tis said, God hath ordained us to obtain salvation thorough Jesus Christ: So here in a conformable exposition, when it is said, God hath chosen us in Christ, that we should be holy; a fair meaning may be this, God hath ordained us to obtain holiness through Jesus Christ; especially considering that ⟨p. 10⟩grace is called salvation 2. Tim. 1. 9. as well as glory;
In the allegation of Saint Pauls text, I find something left out that pertaines to the compleating of the sentence: for the sentence 1is this, Who hath chosen us in Christ, that we should be holy: Here the latter part of one entire sentence is quite left out. And by your dismembring it, the sentence is made causelesly obscure, and so the fitter to serve for advantages. This is Arminius course, Exam. Pag. 31. Apostolus ait, nos in Christo electos esse; The Apostle saith, we are elected in Christ. And as something in the text is left out: so something besides the text is put in, God chose us before the world in Christ our head. This likewise Arminius insists on, Exam. Pag. 158. And marke I pray you how he works upon each; To be elect in Christ, is with him, to be elect being in Christ: for, nos in Christo, with him is, nos existentes in Christo. And seeing we are not in Christ but by faith, hereupon he makes the object of election to be fideles, the faithfull; or in Christum credentes, such as believe in Christ. We answer: first, We may take as great libertie to interpret it, for explication sake, by supplying a participle of the future tense, thus, elegit nos futuros in Christo, he chose us hereafter to be in Christ: (like as it followes, who hath predestinated us to be adopted. Now we are adopted by faith, Gal. 3. 26.) as he takes liberty to supply a participle of the present tense, esspecially, considering that when we were elect, to wit, before the foundation of the world, we were not at all, and consequently were not fideles, believers. Secondly wee answer, that the compleat sentence, considered at full, doth manifest in what sense this phrase [in Christ] is taken. He chose us in Christ, that we should be holy: This shewes to what wee were chosen, to wit, to obtaine holinesse, and how; to wit, in Christ, that is, for Christs sake; Like as v. 3. 'tis said, God hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in Heavenly things in Christ Jesus: that is, for Christ his sake. And like as 1. Thes. 5. 9. 'tis said, God hath ordained us to obtaine salvation thorough Jesus Christ: So here in a conformable exposition, when it is said, God hath chosen us in Christ, that wee should bee holy; a faire meaning may be this, God hath ordained us to obtaine holinesse through Jesus Christ; especially considering that ⟨p. 10⟩grace is called salvation 2. Tim. 1. 9. as well as glory;
- 1Exam.
