Chap. XVIII. The Eternal purpose explained.

I Shall here further speak concerning those places we have mistaken Saint Paul in. And first of the eternal purpose, fully proving that the Apostle spake only of the eternity that was Page  77to come, Eph. 3.11. According to the eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Here he doth not say that God had from all eternity a purpose in Christ. But the word is only, according to the eternal purpose; as looking forward to the eternity that lies before us. In which, in, and thro' Christ, after the fall of man, there was a purpose in God as to man's Salvation. According to this St. Paul a∣gain saith, Heb. 5.9. Christ is become the Au∣thor of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him. That is, looking forward to the eternal Salvation that lies before us: the which in time Christ became the Author of.