The second Reason is taken from the Ends that this Preparatory Work serves unto.1 First, To convince of sin: The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe, Gal. 3.22. For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he might have mercy up n ally, Rom. 3.19. Secondly, To justify the Law, i. e. the Curse: The Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, just and good, Rom. 7.12. the Precept holy, the Promise good, the Curse just. Man must acknowledge himself a lawful captive, before God will deliver him: Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered? Isai. 49.24. Before God will justify man according to the Promise, man must justify God, had he proceeded with him according to the Curse: We must condemn our selves, before God will pardon us. Even in this respect God will make his Law honourable. Thirdly, To teach the Soul the nothingness of all it is and hath without Jesus Christ: You see your calling Brethren, &c. 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28, 29. that no flesh should glory in his presence; and that not only after they were called, but also in the manner of their calling. God calleth them that are not, Rom. 4.17. Christ is sent to bind up the broken hearted, Isai. 61.1. His people know him to be the Lord, by the manner of his bringing them out of their graves,2 Ezek. 37.13. As God in the Creation brought the creature by his Fiat [i.e. Let there be] Gen. 1. from its term nothing, unto its being: So in Vocation, by his word Vive, I said unto thee, Live, Ezek. 16.6. He bringeth it from its term of a spiritual nothing, unto its spiritual being: Which in time past were not a people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy, 1 Pet. 2.10. 1 Cor. 13.2. 'Tis one of the Attributes of God, that those that walk in pride he is able to abase, I an. 4.37. Job 40.11, 14. Fourthly, To teach the Soul how to esteem of, and magnify the free mercy of God in Christ, Rom. 11.32. For God lath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy up n all: See Ez k. 16. ult. Isai. 30.18. Here God getteth unto himself a Name, Rom. 4.17. the Quickener of the dead, the Caller of those that are not as if they were; the Justifier of the ungodly. Hence also the people ⟨p. 137⟩of God receive their name; Isai. 62.12.
The second Reason is taken from the Ends that this Preparatory Work serves unto.1 First, To convince of sin: The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve, Gal. 3.22. For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he might have mercy up n ali, Rom. 3.19. Secondly, To justifie the Law, i. e. the Curse: The Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, just and good, Rom. 7.12. the Precept holy, the Promise good, the Curse just. Man must acknowledg himself a lawful captive, before God will deliver him: Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered? Isai. 49.24. Before God will justifie man according to the Promise, man must justifie God, had he proceeded with him according to the Curse: We must condemn our selves, before God will pardon us. Even in this respect God will make his Law honourable. Thirdly, To teach the Soul the nothingness of all it is and hath without Jesus Christ: You see your calling Brethren, &c. 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28, 29. that no flesh should glory in his presence; and that not only after they were called, but also in the manner of their calling. God calleth them that are not, Rom. 4.17. Christ is sent to bind up the broken hearted, Isai. 61.1. His people know him to be the Lord, by the manner of his bringing them out of their graves,2 Ezek. 37.13. As God in the Creation brought the creature by his Fiat [i.e. Let there be] Gen. 1. from its term nothing, unto its being: So in Vocation, by his word Vive, I said unto thee, Live, Ezek. 16.6. He bringeth it from its term of a spiritual nothing, unto its spiritual being: Which in time past were not a people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,
- 1Reason 2.
- 2Ut sentiant suam [Greek or Hebrew]. Call. in Dan. 4.35, 37. Nostrum esse nihil al•ud est quam subsistere in Deo sumus aliqi id in D•o in nobis autē nihil id•m ibid.Ʋt sentiant suam 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Cal. in Dan. 4.35, 37. Nostrum esse nihil al•ud est quam subsistere in Deo sumus aliqi id in D•o in nobis autē nihil id•m ibid.
