A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…

That which is first in the intention of every agent, is last in execution. Now the glory of Christ is last in execution (save only the ¹glory of the Father;) And therefore surely it was Gods first and chiefest intendment, after the glorifying of himself, to glorify Christ, before the consideration of glorifying us, either in the first or second Adam, Psal. 2. 9, 10, 11. It is true, in fullness of time Christ was first humbled, that he might be glorified; but yet in Gods counsel (wherein the end in order is first purpo ed, before the means leading to that end) the glorious advancement of Christ was first purposed, before the presupposall of his humiliation, which made way for it. The Apostle describing the subordination of things one to another, in the order wherein God hath set them; the world to be for the Church, and the Church for Christ, and Christ for God; he thereby gives us to understand, God first intended his glory, for which are all things, and then Christs, for whom the Church is, and then the Church, for which the world is, and then the world last of all.

That which is first in the intention of every agent, is last in execution. Now the glory of Christ is last in execution (save onely the ¹glory of the Father;) And therefore surely it was Gods first and chiefest intendment, after the glorifying of himselfe, to glorifie Christ, before the consideration of glorifying us, either in the first or second Adam, Psal. 2. 9, 10, 11. It is true, in fulnes of time Christ was first humbled, that he might be glorified; but yet in Gods counsell (wherein the end in order is first purpo ed, before the meanes leading to that end) the glorious advancement of Christ was first purposed, before the presupposall of his humiliation, which made way for it. The Apostle describing the subordination of things one to another, in the order wherein God hath set them; the world to be for the Church, and the Church for Christ, and Christ for God; he thereby gives us to understand, God first intended his glory, for which are all things, and then Christs, for whom the Church is, and then the Church, for which the world is, and then the world last of all.