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How this knowledge of the Promises is instructive to us about understanding some Sayings of Scripture.
1. THis will help us to understand that saying, 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, &c. It is evident, That in this and the former Verse,* 1.1 Peter was declaring the Furniture given him by God for his Mini∣stration, as was Paul's course oft, in beginning of his Epi∣stles:
and both his Furniture and Mission for the same end, that Paul had his: and so in the former Verse he tells us, That the divine Power of Christ,* 1.2 and so of God in and through Christ (which was the Holy Ghost inspiring them with the Testimony of Christ) hath given unto them all things (pertaining) unto life and godliness: To life, that is, to forgiveness, quickning and life; and being enlivened, to godliness, to right worshipping of God, and living to him, an=d uniting and conforming to him:* 1.3 and all this, he saith, the divine Power gave them, through the knowledge of him, that is, in the Testimony of the Righteousness of God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ:* 1.4 which the divine Power shined into their hearts in the face of Jesus Christ, who hath (saith he) cal∣led us by glory and vertue, or to glory and vertue: whereby, or by which divine Power and Spirit in the knowledge of Christ, according to the Testimony put in our hearts, are given to us (that is, for Ministration, and to minister with) exceeding great and precious Promises, that by these ministred by us, and heard and believed by you) you might be Partakers of the divine Nature, that you in hearing, might believe; and in believing, being convinced, and brought out of darkness, might receive the light; and so believing in Christ, have Fel∣lowship with, and partake of the divine Nature: and so the Promises here appears to be the same with Gospel-Testi∣mony, and the several Heads or Branches of Promises fore∣mentioned. Consider it well.
1. For fallen Man, the Seed of the first Adam, that are under sin and death, that they may attain to life and godli∣ness, receive forgiveness, and be accepted into favour, and become of the spiritual Seed, &c. Needful it is, That in that Nature of Man, sin be condemned and punished, blood shed, death and curse suffered and overcome in the same Na∣ture, risen, just, ascended, and offered to God a Sacrifice, so as Aronement be made, Redemption obtained, Spirit and E∣ternal Life received in the Man, to send forth, that Men might believe;* 1.5 and that whoever believeth on him, may re∣ceive forgiveness, and life. And such a Saviour God from the beginning promised to Mankinde; and after more expli∣cately to Abraham, and by the Prophets: and Jesus Christ
that died and rose, &c. is this very Promise fulfilled, as God hath now fulfilled this Promise in raising him from the dead,* 1.6 &c. and so set him forth in the Gospel: and this Jesus so set forth, is the Way of approach to God, The Propitiation for sins, The Foundation, The immortal Seed, The Bread of Life, The Elect of God, The First-begotten, and First-born Son of God; that all that believe in him, may through him approach to God, receive forgiveness, be united to, and built on Christ, and so become of the same seed, born of God, a Son of God, by vertue of the Death and Resurrection of, and union with the Son of God. And this fulfilled Pro∣mise,* 1.7 and so the Promises under this first Head or Branch of Promises (of things done) are exceeding great and precious, and to be held forth as the Promises of God fulfilled, that in believing Men might be begotten by, and born of the Word or Promise: so that to conceive or suggest to any, a∣nother Seed, an elect Company for whom this Seed should come and die, is altogether erronious; there is but one bles∣sed Seed in which blessing is, and that is, the Seed of the Woman, of Abraham, in which is blessing.* 1.8 And this Seed was not a People for Christ to die for; but it is Christ dead and risen; and by his communicative vertue, all those that through Grace are brought in to him, and united to him, as such a Seed: to bring Men in therefore to be of this Seed, this Promise fulfilled in him is to be preached.* 1.9
Indeed, to witness this of Christ, that he is dead and risen again, and alive for evermore, that whoever believeth on him, may live; if it were not so indeed, would be a false witness-bearing of God, and so a vain preaching; and so likewise to preach this, as good News, and Gospel, to any, for whom Christ did not indeed die, and rise,* 1.10 and give him∣self a Ransome; so as there is forgiveness and life in him for them, that they might believe, and in believing, re∣ceive the same; were a false witness-bearing of God and Christ, of which the Apostles freed themselves, when they preached this to Jews, to Gentiles, to all Men where-ever they came; affirming the same for Truth: and so this the first Promise, in which the Foundation is held forth, and the immortal Seed effused; and so Peter preached this Promise.
2. That sinners, ignorant, blinde, weak and dead Men, may be enabled to believe; and so come upon this Foun∣dation, and be united to, and quickned and born of this Seed, and so partake of life and godliness; and therein, of the divine Nature; needful it is, That this Foundation be discovered to them, and light shined on them with some spi∣ritual fervour and power, opening their eyes to see, and moving in their hearts, that they might believe; testifying to them, That if they in seeing see, &c. following Grace shall flow into them, enabling them to believe; and that in believing, they shall receive Remission of sins and life, and that this is the very end of God in sending forth the Gospel to them: and all this God hath promised, and is doing, as hath been shewn in the second Head or Branch of Promises: and this Promise,* 1.11 with the Promises contained in it, are given in the Gospel also to be preached; yea, so as in the plain De∣claration of the Gospel,* 1.12 with invitation of Men by it to be re∣conciled to God, God be affirmed to be fulfilling these Pro∣mises also; reaching forth his hand to such a Performance, that Men might indeed,* 1.13 by that he discovereth in his Son, be∣lieve, and so be built on the Foundation, united to, and born of the immortal Seed; and so the Preaching is said to be for this end, to enlighten and save, and the hand of the Lord to be with them, and do this work in this Ministration: and so God is affirmed to beseech in their beseeching by the Go∣spel: yea, in the Ministration of the Gospel of Christ risen from the dead, to be giving Faith to all Men, to be giving the Bread of Life, drawing with the Bonds of Love, and the Cords of a Man; taking the yoke from off the Jaws, and laying Meat before Men, to give Light to them that sit in Darkness: whence Peter, confident of his Master's Truth in his Word, Mat. 28.20. Joh. 15.26, 27. doubted not to affirm, That they preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven; and, That the Holy Ghost did also witness of Christ in their witnessing: and so these Promises were also exceed∣ing great and precious, which they had also to preach: so, as whoever, as Light came discovering Christ, and opening their eyes to see, did but then and so behold him, this Word would work so in them, that they should by him believe on
him, and so be enlivened, and partake of divine Nature; and so through this Promise received, united to the former Pro∣mise fore-fulfilled, and so born of that Promise fulfilled, through this Promise now in performing.
3. That these weak Believers and new-born Babes, may be more and more built on Christ, and grow up in him, and so live through him, and so have life more abundantly, and be and live godly in partaking of the divine Nature, in Interest, in Union, in Fellowship, in Usefulness, in Conformity, and in assured Expectation of a compleat Enjoyment in due season,* 1.14 needful it is, That following Grace be vouchsafed to them, o∣pening to them the Inheritance, and affording them Blessing in divine spiritual Presence, in all their spiritual Frames and Services, in their Temptations and Sufferings, in their A∣biding, and for their Abiding, and assuring them of Help and Preservation to the end, and the Inheritance in its sea∣son; which are all given us in the Gospel, and set forth in the third Head or Branch of Promises: and these Promises also, be exceeding great and precious, and Peter had them also to preach to the same end, and so did, these being the Promises, to the Hope whereof Believers are by the Word begotten and born. And so of the Promises given them.
II. This will also help us to understand Rom. 9.8. The Children of the Promise are counted for the Seed. In that by that said, it's cleer, both who be the Children of Pro∣mise, and in what sense they are said to be born of the Promise, and so of VVater, and of the Spirit; yea, of God, and from above; which onely they are, that being born of the immortal Seed, are reckoned one with it, and so after it; and so counted for, and are the spiritual Seed.
1. They are born of the Promise, that is, of Christ pro∣mised to be the Saviour; which Promise is now fulfilled,* 1.15 and he so held forth therein, as The Propitiation, The Founda∣tion, The immortal Seed, The Word of the Lord; that the Love of God appearing in him, they beholding, are by him begotten, quickned, born; and so are accounted his Gene∣ration. This the Promise of which borne.
2. They are born through the Promise, that is, the Pro∣mises
God hath made of filling Christ with Spirit, (which is done) and sending forth Spirit through him,* 1.16 to open the eyes of the blinde, &c. and so to allure and bring in to him: in performance of which Promise in the heavenly Call, the Word becomes effectual in the heart of those that in hearing hear;* 1.17 and so prevails with them to answer the Call, in be∣lieving that set before them in the first Promise seen ful∣filled, which therein quickens them, and brings them forth to the birth; and so of that Promise through this Promise, they are born.
3.* 1.18 They are in this Birth born Heirs, to the Hope of the Pro∣mise, even the Promises of and pertaining to the Inheritance.
And these Promises coming all from above, being all the Fruits of Free-Grace, The Love of God shining through them all, and the Spirit of God breathing in them all, they that are through the Promise displayed, in displaying, born of the Promise displayed,* 1.19 to the Hope of the Promise confirmed in him displayed, which is Christ the Son of God, and the Fountain of Spirit and Life, they are rightly said to be born from above, of Water and of Spirit, and so of God; and that so born of the Spirit, is spiritual; and they are in every respect of the Promise, truely called, The Children of the Promise, being born of the Promise, through the Promise,* 1.20 to the hope of the Promise; and so both called, and are, The Children of the Promise, of the Free-Woman; and these, all these, and none but these, are the Seed, and counted for the Seed: and so the Apostle Peter avoucheth them also. These were before this, another Seed, even E∣nemies, the Seed of fallen Adam, for whom Christ under∣went the Curse: and he himself is the promised Seed, in which blessing is for others, even as he came of Man, and in Man's Nature died, and rose, offered the Sacrifice, made the Atonement, and is filled with the Spirit of Life, even the spiritual Man, not the first but the second publick Man: so the promised Seed, that in being so made known, sinners may come in to him, and receive pardon and renewing; and upon that account, may in Union with him become of the same Seed. And these so one in and with him by Faith, are The Seed, God's elect Seed: and surely, God hath no
Elect among the Sons of Men, but this Seed; yea, none but these counted for the Seed. Therefore for any Seed or E∣lect to be counted for the Seed, before the consideration; yea, Acceptance and Vertue of the Death and Sactifice of Christ, for him to die and offer Sacrifice for; and then, in due time to call those that were God's Elect Seed before, to be born again, is such a Dream, that it is a marvel any waking Men should be taken with it, and not rather hold fast to the Scripture-Language, That those that are born of the Free-Woman, The Children of the Promise, are the Seed, and counted for the Seed.
III. This will also, with that Discovery of the same in the Purposes, help us to understand those places, Psal. 69.28. Rev. 3.5. & 22.19. about which, so many, through unbe∣lief of the Gospel, puzzle themselves: for The Promises of God, of the first and second Branches, to Mankinde fallen, to sinners; which also opens the Purposes of God as or∣dered in his Counsel for saving sinners, both declared in the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel, according to Purpose, Promise, Testimony of God, holding forth Mercy, Forgive∣ness, and Life to Mankinde, sinners, that they might repent, believe and receive it. In all which it appears, That in the Gospel there is a Book declared, which may be, and truly is called, The Book of the Living, The Book of Life;* 1.21 out of which Men may be blotted; yea, their Name blotted out of it, and their part taken out of it; and so they were once written therein by these Names, Men, sinners, ungodly, un∣just, Enemies, lost Ones, because Christ died for such, and came to save such: and there are Declarations of Mercy, & Promises for such, He gave his Flesh for the Life of the World, & giveth life unto the World, (which yet is nowhere called eternal life, though that they might come to that) and as by his own Righ∣teousness in one Sacrifice-Offering, Life was unto all in him, as in the publick Man: so God hath given them all over into his dispose; so God also useth means toward them to lead them to Repentance that they might be saved. Whence also the Life in Christ is called the Light of Men: and so while he conti∣nueth in means, to strive with them, and they be still joyned to all the living, there is hope; and while they remain thus,
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though no-better, yet if not no worse, they are yet written among the living, and their Names as Men, sinners, lost Ones,* 1.22 are yet in this Book of life, though yet they are not writ∣ten with the Righteous, they are not written in the choice sense, in The Book of Life of the Lamb, not written in Heaven, in the secret and Congregation of the Righteous: for none are so written in this Book, but the Congregation of the first-born, the Believers on Christ, that are born of God, of Water and the Spirit, whose Names are, Faithful in Christ, Lovers of God and Christ, and one another, new Creatures, Saints, Brethren to Christ and one another, Sons of God by Faith, Overcomers of the World, &c. which Names were never yet on these other. And when the Pro∣mises of the first Head are held forth, and the Promises of the second Head in some measure performed to these, and they then persist resisting and opposing till they be reprobated and given up,* 1.23 then begin they to be blotted out of the Book of the Living, or that Book of Life, in which Mankinde as sinners are written; and yet by corrections and renewed strife, there may be a recovery; but if against that also, they still persist in their Rebellion till wholly given up and repro∣bated, then are they wholly blotted out, and shall not be recovered to be written with the Righteous: and the Names upon them then, are, Reprobates, Sons of Perdition, that willingly reward him Evil for Good, and Hatred for Love, The Seed of the Serpent, The Children of the Devil, set with full Purpose to do his Will: which Names, neither are, nor ever were in the Book of Life, in the first or second sense;* 1.24 nay, in the second sense of the Book of Life, Un∣believers, Unrighteous, Adulterers, Fornicators, Wantons, Thieves, Murderers, Lyars, Blasphemers, and Worshippers of the Beast, and such-like; with those Names never were, are, or shall be written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb, among the Righteous; but onely the Names forementioned of new Creatures,* 1.25 &c. and the Promises are to such as over∣come, they shall not be hurt of the second Death, nor their Names blotted out of the Book of Life; and such may rejoyce that their Names are written in Heaven; yea, and discern their Brethrens Names there written also, and rejoyce for the
same, being Heirs together of the Grace of Life; and so of the Promises mentioned in the third Head or Branch of Pro∣mises.
IV. This Consideration of the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde, sinners in the first and second Consideration, and his Purposes alike ordered, and the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel, declaring and witnessing the same, will keep us from wresting, and lead us to a profitable understanding of that in Act. 13.48. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.
This some, to favour some Opinion, wrest to mean, as many as from eternity were in their persons absolutely decreed and elected to eternal life, believed: so leaving all the rest of Mankinde, but that elect number, as from eternity decreed to be damned: a harsh and untrue position, cross to all the plain Declaration of the Gospel, and the Purpose of God in giving and sending his Son, and causing him to be preached, and the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde, sinners in first and second Consideration, and to the Holy Spirit's Discovery of the Elect, and those that are counted or the Seed; and cross to the Text: for if as many as were or∣dained, as they say, from Eternity decreed to eternal life, did then believe, then was there no more to be converted, and that would not have filled the Disciples with joy, nor would the Word of the Lord have been farther published to others still there: it were better to acknowledge such a Sentence deep and difficult, and wait till we be helped so to understand it, as agreeing with the Testimony of Christ, then to fancy a sense quite cross to it all, as this appears to be; nor is there a word here to countenance it: for it is not said, As many as were from Eternity ordained to eternal Life, be∣lieved.
If any say, It must be so taken, because of the contrary saying in Jude 4. Who were ordained of old to this con∣demnation:
I answer, They mistake both places; for the word in Jude 4, is either forewritten, or ordained of old; which is not so far as from eternity; no, not in the works of God. Israel said, The Lord bath appeared to me of old: which could not be from eternity,* 1.26
though far off in many Ages past; and so this fore-writing and Ordainment of old was fore-written by the Prophets. And two things are note-able in Jude 4.
First, Who they were that were thus ordained: and that is,* 1.27 not particular Men, as Adam's Sons fallen considered; but such as to whom Grace hath been extended, and Light o∣pening their eyes to see, and so called to yield to the Teach∣ings of it, and they willingly close their eyes, and pervert the Tenders of Grace, and abuse it, to take Liberty to satisfie the Flesh; and in that sense ungodly: and that such as so considered, are ordained to stumble, is fore∣shewn.
Secondly, note what that is, they are here said to be or∣dained to, and that is, to be the Tryers, Exercisers, and Ad∣versaries of the Saints, in contending against their Faith; and so to this Judgement, Contention or Condemnation, to be also contended against by the Saints;* 1.28 which Ordainment and fore-writing is declared of old, and may be read: and such as persist in the ungodliness are ordain'd to the vengeance of eternal fire, and not else, as that whole Epistle shews. And this Jude 4. speaking of a direct contrary Ordainment to that Act. 13.48. helps to a right understanding thereof, namely, That such as, when means of Grace and the Call of God therein is extended to them, and light so given as they are brought to hear and understand, and they do in hearing hear, and in seeing see, and so receive and like the Reproof and Call; such are ordained to have Christ made to appear more precious to them, and so believe, and in believing to have eternal Life, as hath been shewn both in Purposes and Promises,* 1.29 Part 5. Chap. 1. which helps to understand this: and according to the Testimony of Christ, and the Purposes and Promises set forth in the Gospel, is this to be understood. And for the words in it,
1. Some accounted well skilled in the Greek, say, It's thus to be read:* 1.30 As many as believed were ordained to eternal Life. Which however the saying and sense in it is true, and safe to be received as Truth, (which the foresaid contra∣dicting sense cannot be) for this agreeth with the residue of the Gospel, and the Purposes and Promises of God. But
grant this Saying to be not fit and proper in this place, as o∣ther skilful Grecians say it is not, yet if we look well into the words as used in Scripture-Language,
2. If we should take ordained, as some press for it,* 1.31 to be pre-ordained, or ordained of old, or fore-written; yet the sense is given us in Scripture to be, That God hath ordained, that when he declares his Grace in Christ, and therein opens Mens ears to hear, and their eyes to see, and puts forth his hand in his Call, moving at their hearts, that such as then by the Grace extended, do in hearing hear, and in seeing see, and so receive his Words, more Grace shall flow in to them, so as they shall be∣lieve and have eternal life: and so it stands well here, As many as were ordained to eternal life, (that is, were so pre∣pared by the Grace extended) believed. This shewn in Pur∣poses and Promises.
3. If we take ordained, (as some skilful in the Greek say, The word signifies) for ordered or fitted; and so for an act of the following Grace of God, where his preventing Grace was not rejected, but entertained; and so such as harden not their hearts against preventing Graces, but receive and own it, to them more abundant and following Grace is given, and so they fitted to prize, accept, and receive Christ,* 1.32 in whom eternal Life is, and so to accept and receive it in God's way; and so being ordered, inclined and fitted for eternal Life, they do in that gracious Operation, believe. Just as it is said of Despisers of the Word, and Resisters of preventing Grace, They cannot believe, They put away eternal Life from themselves, as is seen in the Verses before this Text: And so likewise when in this preventing Grace, the Lord Je∣sus was held forth to be a Light to the Gentiles, and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth; which is the same with The Propitiation for the sins of the whole World, The Savi∣our of the World, that died for all, and gave himself a Ran∣som for all; and upon that ground,* 1.33 all the ends of the Earth called to look to him, and be saved: when this was thus held forth, the Jews that had fore-despised this held forth to themselves, did now much more despise and reject it also, when held forth not onely to them, but to the Gentiles also, even all that came to hear. But the Gentiles were glad, and
accepted the Message and Call, and counted it good; and they glorified the Word of the Lord, that is, they prized, it highly, praised it, received it, yielded to and turned; and these so glorifying the Word of the Lord, even that Word which the wrested sense crosseth, were ordained, ordered, and fitted to receive eternal life, and they believed. Whereas the Despisers not so ordered and fitted, believed not. And it is not said, That every particular Jew (though probable the most of them) did reject; nor that every particular Gentile (though many of them) did believe: but as many as did like the Doctrine, were glad of it, and glorified it; so many as were so ordered and fitted (to shew the efficacy of the Word in such ordained Ones) believed. And this sense a∣grees with the Testimony of the Gospel, and the Purposes and Promises therein 〈…〉〈…〉 with the Words and scope of the Text.
4. If we take ordained, 〈…〉〈…〉 ep••red, ordered, and fitted, (as some do) it agrees well with the place and other Scriptures, and all foresaid: this being the most usual and ordinary way of God's proceedings, that according as he gives some e∣vidences of his goodness to all, and calleth all; so they that as his Grace in any measure, openeth their eyes, and giveth them to discern that he is, and that he is gracious; and moveth them so far to believe him gracious, as to seek after the knowledge of him, and life from him; they that then hold the Truth in unrighteousness, and are disobedient, &c. he leaves to farther stumbling,* 1.34 and they are under wrath and great danger of perishing, and so oppose farther light when it comes. But they that when his Grace is so far ex∣tended, do by it abide in it, and are making out in seek∣ing farther to know him, and receive life from him; these shall have more, and are accepted of him, and ordered or fitted to receive readily farther Light when it cometh; and such in all places were first Receivers of the Gospel: so such as received John's Ministration, were prepared, and readily received the Ministration of Christ following: and such as rejected John's Ministration, received not Christ when he came: and among the Gentiles, those that by lesses light and means were yet according to it, fearing God, more
was given to them, and they readily received it. And some such very like were in Macedonia: For, Come over and help us, might be a voice suited not onely to the needs, but to some kinde of desires in the hearts of many: and though by pur∣chase, all are his, yet it's most probable of such prepared ones he speaks, when he told Paul, He had much people in Corinth: and such appears to be here in this place;* 1.35 for it is said, The Gentiles besought, that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath:* 1.36 And then came almost the whole City to∣gether to hear the Word of the Lord: very like that of Cornelius and his Company: and such when they heard, being so graci∣ously prepared, did readily receive and believe. And this a true sense agreeing in one with all the former: so that every way in belief of the Gospel, the sense is cleer, and in eve∣ry acceptation of the Word, meeteth in one true and full sense.
5. Yet if we shall, as some do, take ordained, for election, or im∣plying election, though there be nothing in the Word, or in the text, or in precedent or consequent words to lead us so to do,* 1.37 or justifie us so doing; yet if we so do, and take Election in the sense the Scripture useth it, then Ordaining, as implying Electi∣on,, signifieth something more then meerly elected, even Ordi∣nation, Constitution, Preparation, Furniture, and Consecration of the Elected: and so the word is sometime used concerning Jesus Christ, and all those chosen in and by him to eternal life; and the same thing meant by such ordaining, is also ex∣prest in other terms, as making meet, &c. And surely in some respect, and of some, this sense may be so taken here, as it will well agree with those formerly mentioned, and in∣clude them also: But the Spirit of the wisdom of this world, opposes this sense with Rhetorical flourishes and lashes, cal∣ling it non-sense; saying, It is all one as to say, as many as believed, believed. To which it might be replied, Many of them speak more directly non-sense; when they cannot deny, but it is written, God will have all men to be saved:* 1.38 yet to keep men from believing it, they gloss it thus, All that are saved, are saved by the will of God: and knowing it is written, That Christ enlightneth every man that cometh into the World; * 1.39 yet to invade the belief of it, they gloss it thus, Every one that
is enlightned, is enlightned by him: yet these Sayings of God himself, and so they in both bring one line of Truth to op∣pose another, and yet would not be charged with non-sense. But we in speaking of Men that are imperfect, are charg∣ed with non-sense, for bringing one line of Truth not to oppose, but as it consenteth with another, and o∣peneth and justifieth another, as there is Truth in, and Degrees of believing. I hope none will say, He spake non-sense that said, They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not,* 1.40 neither do they understand. And so may we say, Some believe something of the Truth of the Doctrine and Testimony of Christ, and have so seen and heard, that if they did abide in, and minde that they have seen and believed, they should know the Truth, and be made free by it, and so be ordained and fitted to eter∣nal life,* 1.41 and believe on him, which yet they did not: But these mentioned Act. 13.48. did (which was not or∣dinary with all at other times) at the very first hearing the Gospel given to them, even so to believe on Christ: which appears to be more then ordinary, even a won∣derful and special Grace, affording Instruction and Encou∣ragement to plain Gospel-preaching, when it is most fierce∣ly opposed, as here it was; seeing in such seasons, the Lord does more abundantly pour out of his Spirit in giving Testi∣mony to the word of his Grace. And so taking believing here in this sense, of such a degree of believing, as in which they were chosen, and filled with the joy of the Holy Ghost, it gives us cleerly to understand and minde,
I. The abundance and power of Spirit, that went forth in this Word,* 1.42 when so despised by great Ones, and preached by traduced Ministers, to the hearts of all such as attentively heard it.
II. The unfeignedness and effectualness of the Faith, in the very beginning,* 1.43 and at once wrought in such as received the word, when it was so despised and opposed.
III. The evidencing the effectualness of their Calling and Election in the beginning,* 1.44 and so in this season such abun∣dance of Grace given and received at the first; and not only so, but at the first also so shewing forth it self, as was not at all
times, nor to all usual; now no feigned Believer, now none that believed, and were not yet made upright and free; nay, none here that staggered; but all so believing, as ordinarily others came to by degrees, but such a Blessing as might encourage Ministers of the Gospel to hold forth the Word of Life in all times of opposition.
Now I leave the sense of the place to every one that believeth the Gospel, to understand as he is helped to conceive; knowing that all will meet in one, and preserve from stumbling and wresting, if Gospel-Purposes and Pro∣mises be heeded: yet I shall mention a little farther use of them.
Rom. 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Eph. 1.2, 4, 5, 11. Act. 26.18.
Joh. 15.26, 27. Act. 1.4.5. Luk. 24.4. Joh. 5.25. & 11.25, 26.
2 Pet. 1.1, 2.
2 Cor. 4.6. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21. 2 Thes. 2.14. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19.
Act. 13.31, 32, 33, 38, 39. Joh. 1.45.
Luk. 1.69, 70, Joh. 14.6. Eph. 2.17. Rom. 3.25 1 Cor. 3.11. 1 Pet. 1.21, 25. Joh. 6.48. Isa. 42.1.
Joh. 3.14, 15. Act. 2. & 3.9, 26. & 13.38, 39
Gal. 3.16, 26.
1 Cor. 15.14, 15.
Act. 3.26. & 10.34, 43 & 13.38, 39, 47. 1 Tim. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. 2 Pet. 1.20, 21, 23, 24, 25.
See Part 5. ch. 1.
See Part 4. ch. 4.
Joh. 3.14, 15. Act. 3.26. & 26.18. Act. 11.20, 21. 2 Cor. 3.3. & 5.20. Act. 17.30, 31. Hos. 11.3, 4. Joh. 6.27, 32, 33, 62, 63. Mat. 4.15, 16, 17. 1 Pet. 1.12. Act. 5.22. 1 Rom. 1.16. Thes. 2.12, 13. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21.
See before ch. 2, & 3, & 4, & 5. Eph. 1.18 2 Thes. 2.14. Jam. 1.18. 1 Pet. 1.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 2.3, 4, 5, 9. 2 Pet. 1.1, 2, 5, 11.
Jam. 1.18. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21, 23. Joh. 1.12; Isa. 53.8, 10.
Isa. 42.1, 8. & 55.4, 5.
1 Pet. ••.25. Gal. 4.23.
Gal. 3.16, 26, 29. & 4.23, 18, 31.
Joh. 3.3, 5, 6. Gal. 4.29. Joh. 1.13.
Rom 9 8, 9 Gal. 3.23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31. 1 Pet. 2.5, 9, 10.
Psa. 69 28. Rev. 3.5. & 22.19. Rom. 5.6, 8, 10. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15 1 Tim. 2.6. 1 Tim. 1.15. Joh. 6.51, 33. Rom. 5.18 & 14.9. & 2.4. Ioh. 1.9, 29. & 3.17. & 1.4. Gen. 6.3. Eccles. 9.4.
Psal. 69.28. Rev. 13.8. Ezek. 13.9. Luk. 10.20. Heb. 12.23. Joh. 1.12, 13. & 3.1, 5. Eph. 1.5. Rom. 8.28. 2 Cor. 5.17.
Rom. 11.8, 9, 10, 11, 23. with Psa. 69.22, 27, 28. & 109.1, 5.
1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Eph. 5.1. Gal. 5.1••, 20. Rev. 13.••.
Rev. 2.11. & 3.1. Luk. 10.20. Phil. 4.3. 1 Thes. 1.3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Pet. 3, 7. Psa. 3.29.
Je••. 31.3.
See Part 4. ch. 4.
Gen. 4.15. Prov. 29.27. Psa. 101. & 139.19, 22.
Par. 4. ch. 4.
Act. 13.48.
Prov. 1.23. 1 Pet. 2.3, 4, 7. Joh. 5.25. Mat. 13.12, &c.
Heb. 3.7. Joh. 4.10. & 10.38. Joh. 5.38, 40, 44, & 10.26, 27 & 12.38, 39. Acts 13.39, 40, 41, 47.
Isa. 45.22. Prov. 8.4, 5. Act. 13.44.45.
Rom. 1.18, 19, 21. & 2.4, 6, 11. Mat. 13.12. Luk. 16.10. Joh. 10.41 Luk. 17.29, 30 Act. 10.3, 4, 34. &c. Act. 16.9, 10, 13, 14.
Act. 18.9, 10.
Act. 13.42, 44.
Isa. 42.1. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21. Act. 10.42. Heb. 10.5. Eph. 2.10. Joh. 15.15 Col. 1.12, 13. 1 Cor. 2.9. 1 Ioh. 5.11, 12.
1 Tim. 2.4.
Ioh. 1.9.
Mat. 13.13. Ioh. 8.30, 31, 32, 33, 36.
1 Thes. 1.3, 4, 5. & 2.12, 13. 2 Thes. 2.13, 14. Act. 14.2, 3. & 16.23, 31. 2 Cor. ••.9, 12.
Act. 10.43. & ••••.19, 21.
1 Thes. 1.4, 5, 6. & 2.13, 14.
2 Thes. 2.13, 14.