Expos. 1. All things with their causes, effects, circumstances, and manner of being are decreed by God. Act. 2. 23. and 4. 27. 28. Eph. 1. 11. This decree is most wise, Rom. 11. 33. just, Rom. 9. 13. ⟨p. 57⟩14. eternal, Eph. 1. 4. 5. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Act. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 2. 7. necessary, Psal. 33. 11. Pro. 19. 21. unchangeable, Heb. 6. 17. most free, Rom. 9. 18. and cause of all good, Jam. 1. 17. but not of any sin, 1. Jo. 1. 5. The special decree of God concerning Angels and men is called predestination. Rom. 8. 30. of the former little is spoken in holy Scripture, of the latter more is revealed, not unprofitable to be known. It may be defined, the wise, free, just, eternal, and unchangeable sentence or decree of God. Eph. 1. 11. determining with himself, to create and govern man for his special glory, viz. the praise of his glorious mercy, or great justice, Rom. 9. 17. 18. Rom. 11. 36. Of this decree there be two parts: Election and Reprobation. 1. Thes. 5. 9. Jude. 4. v. Election is the decree of God, of his free love, grace, and mercy, choosing some men to faith, holiness, and eternal life, for the praise of his glorious mercy. 1. Thes. 1. 4. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Eph. 1. 4. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 29. 30. The cause which moved the Lord to elect them who are chosen, was none other but his mere good-will and pleasure. Luk. 12. 32. Rom. 11. 5. and ⟨p. 58⟩9. 11. 16. Eph. 1. 5. 2. Tim. 1. 9. The end, is the manifestation of the riches of his grace and mercy, Rom. 9. 23. Eph. 1. 2. The sending of Christ, faith, holiness, and eternal life are the effects of Gods love, by which he manifesteth the infinite riches of his grace. Jo. 3. 16. 1. Jo. 4. 10. Act. 13. 48. Tit. 1. 1. Col. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 23. In the same order, God doth execute this decree in time, he did decree it in his eternal counsel. 1. Thes. 5. 9. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Reprobation is the wise, just, and absolute decree of God, ordaining to leave some men unto themselves, to suffer them to fall, and to inflict upon them eternal punishment, deserved by their sins, for the praise of his unspeakable and great justice. Rom. 9. 11. 13. 22. Jude. 4. v. Jer. 6. 30. The cause of this decree is the absolute will and good pleasure of God. Mat. 11. 26. Rom. 9. 13. mans sin is the cause why God will punish, but no occasion why he did ordain to pass by, or to punish man, Rom. 9. 18. 20.
Expos. 1. All things with their causes, effects, circumstances, and manner of being are decreed by God. Act. 2. 23. and 4. 27. 28. Eph. 1. 11. This decree is most wise, Rom. 11. 33. iust, Rom. 9. 13. ⟨p. 57⟩14. eternall, Eph. 1. 4. 5. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Act. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 2. 7. necessarie, Psal. 33. 11. Pro. 19. 21. vnchangeable, Heb. 6. 17. most free, Rom. 9. 18. and cause of all good, Iam. 1. 17. but not of any sinne, 1. Io. 1. 5. The speciall decree of God concerning Angels and men is called predestination. Rom. 8. 30. of the former little is spoken in holy Scripture, of the latter more is reuealed, not vnprofitable to be knowne. It may be defined, the wise, free, iust, eternall, and vnchangeable sentence or decree of God. Eph. 1. 11. determining with himselfe, to create and gouerne man for his speciall glory, viz. the praise of his glorious mercy, or great iustice, Rom. 9. 17. 18.
