Chap. XX Chosen from the foundation, and before the founda∣tion, explained.
I Have in the fore-mentioned Book by the word fully proved what is meant by being Chosen from the foundation of the world. And also proved, that in the word there is mention made of three evers, three times, three genera∣tions, three worlds; and that there was none chosen before the foundation of the material Heavens and Earth. That these three worlds spoken of in Scripture, are three worlds of peo∣ple. First, that which sprang from Adam. Se∣condly, that which sprang from the Seed of Noah. And thirdly, That the foundation of the world to come was laid in the seed of Abraham, when God brought them out of Aegypt, and laid them for the foundation of the world to come. For all that comes in Heirs to that world, comes in as the Seed of Abraham, from the foundation of which world, was Christ figuratively slain in the Paschal Lamb. And from that foundation of the world, was the works of those unbeliev∣ing Jews finished; when they thro' their un∣belief, refused to go to fight for the land of Ca∣naan therefore were condemned to die in the wilderness from 20 years old and upward, save Caleb, and Joshua.
And then after this miscarriage, God elected, and secured a remnant in Christ of that foun∣dationPage 81which was then a laying in Israel for the world to come.
But for Israel's miscarriage, God did likewise elect, and make choice of the first Gentile Churches to partake of the Holy Ghost, and God chose them before the body of Israel, which were the foundation of the world to come. And therefore the Apostle Paul saith, They were chosen in Christ before the foun∣dation of the world; That is, before the body of Israel, who were the foundation of the World to come. And this not as to matter of time, but as to matter of choice, and liking in God, rather to appoint and make choice of them that ignorantly offend him, to call them in by a particular calling, and give to them, with the remnant the Holy Ghost, that they thereby might bear their testi∣mony to the world of the truth of the Gospel, rather than those of Israel that did wilfully re∣bel, and would not be a light to the world. All these things are fully, and clearly proved in the other Treatise, with the hardning of Pharaoh's heart. And what it was God hardned him in.
Shewing that it was not in sin and cruelty, but for his sin and cruelty God hardened him in unbelief, so as he should not believe the miracles done by Moses, to come from God And there∣fore he followed them into the Red Sea, where he and his Army were destroyed. And therein also is shewed, what is the meaning of being before of old ordained to this condemnation.
Page 82Now there was none of the Apostles that were Scholars but St. Paul. And to understand some part of his Epistles, has been more difficult, than all the writings of the rest of the Apostles And, according to the saying of St. Peter, many poor Souls have wrested them to their own De∣struction.
