Among these Decrees, Those of Predestination deserve to be peculiarly remarked by as; because they contain in them the Idea of that special government by which God leads all reasonable creatures to an everlasting state of happiness or misery▪ And among these, that of Election carries in it matter of si•••lar and eminent comfort to all true believers, who by the knowledge of their Faith, come to be acquainted with their Interest in, and Title to it. In which Decree of Election, there was not only the designation of the end, unto which the Creature was appointed, but also the laying out of the whole way in which they were to be brought unto the Attainment of that end. The end to which men are appointed by Election, is Eternal Life. That which is the end of our Faith, is the Design of Gods Election, and that is our Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.9. Among the means, that which shines forth most illustriously, is mans deliverance from Sin and Wrath by the Obedience of Christ, who is the Eternal Son of God, and in fullness of Time was made man, in o•der to his Redeeming of us. This way of mans Redemption, had a room in Gods Eternal Purpose: Our Election therefore was in him, and that before the Creation Eph. 1.4. Not that ⟨p. 8⟩Christ as Mediator was the Meritorious procuring Cause of our Election; but because in and by him we were to be made partakers of all the benefits which were to be the Fruits of this Electing Love to us. Hence then the Son of God was appointed to do those things for us, which were to procure all these benefits to be bestowe• •n us; and for this reason is he said to be Slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. not that he was actually so, but because of the Designation of it; and so the Apostle expounds it, 1 Pet. 5.20. who was verily Foreordained before the Foundation of the World.
Among these Decrees, Those of Predestination deserve to be peculiarly remarked by as; because they contein in them the Idea of that special government by which God leads all reasonable creatures to an everlasting state of happiness or misery▪ And among these, that of Election carries in it matter of si•••lar and eminent comfort to all true believers, who by the knowledge of their Faith, come to be acquainted with their Interest in, and Title to it. In which Decree of Election, there was not only the designation of the end, unto which the Creature was appointed, but also the laying out of the whole way in which they were to be brought unto the Attainment of that end. The end to which men are appointed by Election, is Eternal Life. That which is the end of our Faith, is the Design of Gods Election, and that is our Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.9. Among the means, that which shines forth most illustriously, is mans deliverance from Sin and Wrath by the Obedience of Christ, who is the Eternal Son of God, and in fulness of Time was made man, in o•der to his Redeeming of us. This way of mans Redemption, had a room in Gods Eternal Purpose: Our Election therefore was in him, and that before the Creation Eph. 1.4. Not that ⟨p. 8⟩Christ as Mediator was the Meritorious procuring Cause of our Election; but because in and by him we were to be made partakers of all the benefits which were to be the Fruits of this Electing Love to us. Hence then the Son of God was appointed to do those things for us, which were to procure all these benefits to be bestowe• •n us; and for this reason is he said to be Slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. not that he was actually so, but because of the Designation of it; and so the Apostle expounds it, 1 Pet. 5.20. who was verily Foreordained before the Foundation of the World.
