Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...

SECT. II. Of our Election in Christ before all Worlds.

NOw let us look on Christ in his Relation to us before all Worlds. God being thus alone himself from everlasting, and besides himself there being nothing at all, the first thing he did (besides what ye have heard) or the first thing he possibly and conceivably could do, it was this; a determination with himself, to manifest his Glo∣ry: Or, a purpose in himself to communicate his glory out of his aloneness everlasting unto somewhat else: I say unto somewhat else, for what is communication but an efflux, an e∣manation, an issuing from, or a motion betwixt two Terms? I have now brought you to the acts, or actions of God in reference to his Creatures; follow me a little, and I shall anon bring you to Christ in relation to your selves.

These acts or actions of God were and are. 1. The Decree. 2. The Execution of the Decree of God. I must open these Terms.

1. The Decree is an action of God, out of the Councel and purpose of his own Will, determining all things, and all the Circumstances, and order of all things from all Eternity in himself certainly, and unchangably, and yet freely, Who worketh all things (saith the Apostle) after the Counsel of his own will;* 1.1 and this work, or action of God is internal, and for ever abiding within his own Essence it self.

2. The execution of the Decree is an act of God, whereby God doth effectually work in time all things as they were fore-known and Decreed. And this action of God is external, and by a temporal act passing from God to the Creatures.

Now for the Decree, that is of diverse kinds: As first, There is a Decree common and general, which looks to all the creatures; and it is either the Decree of creation, or the Decree of Providence and preservation. 2. There is a Decree special, which be∣longs to reasonable creatures, Angels, and Men, it is called the Decree of Predesti∣nation; and it consistss of the Decree of Election and Reprobation. Concerning the common and general Decrees we have but little laid down in Scriptures, and it is little, or nothing at all to our purpose; And concerning the special Decree of Angels, there is not much in Scriptures, and that is as little also to our purpose; we have only to deal with Men, and with Gods Decree in relation to Mans Salvation before all Worlds.

And this we call Predestination, or the Decree of Election; which is either of Christ,

or of the Members of Christ. Christ Himself was first Predestinated: This appears by that Saying of God; Behold My Servant whom I uphold,* 1.2 Mine Elect in whom My Soul de∣lighteth; I have put My Spirit upon him, he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles. These very words the Evangelist interprets of Christ Himself, Matth. 12.18.* 1.3 And Christ being Predestinate, the Members of Christ were Predestinated in Him: So the Apostle; According as He hath chosen us in Him, before the Foundation of the World.* 1.4 We are chosen in Christ as in a common Person; He was the first Person Elected in order, and we in Him. Suppose a New Kingdom to be set up, a New King is chosen, & all his Successors are chosen in him: Why, God hath Erected a Kingdom of Glory, & He hath chosen Jesus Christ for the King of this Kingdom; and in Him He hath chosen us, whom He hath made Kings and Priests unto the most High God. But observe we this of the Apostle; He hath chosen us in Him be∣fore the Foundation of the World. 1. He] hath chosen, (i.e.) God the Father hath chosen; not that the Son and Spirit chose not also; for if Three of us had but one Will common to us all, One could not will any thing, which the Will of the other Two should not also will: But because the Son sustains the Person of one Elected, and the Spirit is the Witness sealing this Grace unto our Hearts; therefore the Father only is expressed; as the Father alone is often named in Prayer, not that the other Persons are not to be prayed un∣to; but because the Son is considered as the Mediatour, and the Spirit as the Instructor, teaching us to Pray as we ought; therefore the Father only is expressed.

2. He hath chosen us in Him:] This Him] denotes Christ God-man; and this in Him] notes the same Christ God-man, as the Head and first Elect, in whom, and after whom, in order of Nature, all His Body are Elected: Mark here the Order, but not the Cause of our Election; Though Christ be the Cause of our Salvation, yet Christ is not the Cause of our Election: It is only the Fore-knowledge of God, and His free Love, that is the Cause thereof.

3. He hath chosen us in Him before the Foundation of the World.] (i.e.) From all Eter∣nity; but because within Eternity God doth fore-see the Things which are done in time; therefore this Phrase (say some) may be extended not only to respect the Actual Crea∣tion, but the Decree it self of the World's Being; q. d. He hath chosen us in order of Nature, before His Decree did lay the Foundation of the World. My meaning is not to enter into Con∣troversies; this all grant, that the antient Love, which the Lord hath born to us in Christ, is not of Yesterday, but before all Worlds. Paul mentions Grace given us before all Worlds.* 1.5 But that which is the most observable in the Text, as to our purpose, is, that we are chosen in Him. We read of Three Phrases in Scripture speaking of Christ: Sometimes we are said to have Blessings in Him, and sometimes for Him, & sometimes through Him. Sometimes in Him, as here, He hath chosen us in Him; sometimes for Him, as elsewhere, To you it is given for Christ His sake; not only to Believe, but to Suffer; sometimes through Him, as in that of Paul; Thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.* 1.6 Now Blessings come through Christ, in respect that Christ is a Mediatour not only of Im∣petration, but Execution; not only obtaining and receiving from Grace all Good for us, but in executing and applying Efficaciously the same unto us: And Blessings come for Christ, in respect that Christ doth by His Obedience obtain every good Thing, which in time is communicated to us: And we have Blessings in Christ, because that in Christ, as a Common Store-house, every thing is first placed, which is to be imparted afterwards to any of us. And thus we are chosen in Christ, as in a common Person. This Grace of Electi∣on began first at Christ our Head▪ and so descends downwards on us His Members. Christ is the First Begotten amongst all His Brethren, having the Preheminence;* 1.7 or Christ was the First-born among many Brethren, the First that opened the Womb. Christ was sealed, and set apart to be the Prince of our Salvation, before (in order of Nature) we were Elected. Concerning this Election, or Predestination of Christ, the Apostle puts all out of question; Who verily was fore-ordained before the Foundations of the World,* 1.8 but was manifest in these last Times for you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ephes. 1.11.
• * 1.2

  Isa. 41.2.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 12.18.
• * 1.4

  Ephes. 1.4.
• * 1.5

  1 Tim. 1.9.
• * 1.6

  Phil. 1.29. 1 Cor. 15.57.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 8.29.
• * 1.8

  1 Pet. 1.20.