The Doctrine of Justification, Treatise · Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI.
WE are next to conſider the ſame ground, in that wherevnto we are ordayned: which is adoption: including in it, our conformitie with Chriſt in righteouſnes, holines, life and glory, &c. of all which benefites, there is not one, which is not the gift of God: and that of meere grace: according to his wil & good pleaſure. For albeit al bleſſings be in Chriſt: yet neither he, nor any of thē in him, are given to vsus, but according to the wil of God. ſo that he is a Saviour & Redeemer of none but of ſuch as pleaſeth God of his good will: ſo that his death & ſatisfaction for ſinne, is not for any, nor imputed as righteouſnes. vntounto any, for any cauſe, either in Chriſt, or Man: but only to ſuch as it is the wil of God to give it. therefore doeth the Apoſtle ſay, Rom. chap. 11. ver. 7. that the Election hath obtayned it. to ſhew vsus that the cauſe of obtayning the promiſe, & all bleſſings therein contayned, dependeth neither vponupon Chriſt as Mediator, nor vponupon Man, but vponupon the Lords free choice: who giveth Chriſt, for whō and to whom he will: and therefore is Chriſt him ſelf called the gift of God, Iohn chap. 4. ver. 10. and Iohn chap. 3. ver. 16. becauſe even he is given vntounto vsus of grace: according as the words of Iohn declare manifeſtly ſaying: God ſo loved the world, that hee gave his onelyonly begotten Sonne. And although all power bee given vntounto Chriſt both in heaven and earth: yet in diſpenſing of life, he is limited by the Fathers will. and therefore ſaith him ſelfe, that al power is given him to this end, that he may give eternal life, not to all, ſimply and indifferently: but to all, that the Father hath given him. Iohn chap. 17. vers 2. And that becauſe ſuch is the Fathers will: as Chriſt him ſelf witneſſeth, Ioh. cha. 6. ver. 39. This is the will of my Father that ſent me, that of all which hee hath given me, I should looſe none. and the reaſon why hee reſtrayneth his diſpenſation of life vntounto the Fathers will, whoſe will and pleaſure is that he ſhould ſave only thoſe whom he had given vntounto him, is declared by Chriſt him ſelf in the verſe immediately preceeding, ſaying: I am come downe from heaven, not that I should doe myne owne will, but the will of him that ſent me. which wordes plainly teach vsus, that the diſpenſation of life, dependeth not vponupon the will of Chriſt as he is Mediator, much leſſe vponupon the will of Man: but only vponupon the good wil & pleaſure of God. And this is cleere in all the bleſſings beſtowed vponupon vsus in Chriſt, & of al the meanes which God grants vsus to bring vsus to the communion of the bleſſings, which all, are ſaid in ſcripture to be according to the will of God: and to be given vsus freely by grace: as namely the revelation of the myſterie of godlines, Eph. chap. 1. ver. 9. & preachers to reveale it. Eph. cha. 3. ver▪ 7. &c. and Gala. chap. 1. ver. 15. 16. alſo the benefit of our calling, 2. to Timot. chap. 1. verſ. 9. alſo our beleeving, and by faith aſſenting to the calling of God, 1. to the Corint. cha. 12. ver. 9. 11. and Ephe. chap. 2. ver. 8. Phil. chap. 7. ver. 29. and 2. chap. ver. 13. Rom. chap. 11. ver. 7. Ioh. chap. 6. ver. 36. 37. and 44. 45. and Math. chap. 11. verſ▪ 25. 26. and Mat. chapt. chap. 13. ver. 11. Alſo the gift of perſeverance, 1. to the Corinthi. chapt. 1. verſ. 8. 9. and Iohn chap. 10. verſes 28. 29. and 1. Epiſt. of Iohn chapter. 2. verſ. 27. and chapter 3. verſ. 9. 1. to the Corinthians chapter 15. verſ. 57. and 58. 1. epiſt. to the Theſſ. chap. 5. ver. 23. 24. and 2. epiſt. to the Theſſal. chapter 16. verſe 17. and I eremy chap. 31. verſ. 32. 33. and chap. 32. ver. 40. & ſo forth of all the remanent benefites of God, and namely of our Iuſtification: for we are iuſtified freely by grace. And therefore even the righteouſnes of Chriſt whereby we are iuſtified, is ſaid to be the gift, of God, & that of free grace, Rom. chap. 5. verſ. 15. 16. 17. For of whatſoever worth, vertue, & value, the ſatisfaction made by Chriſt be of in Gods ſight: far exceeding al vnworthines and weaknes of all mankinde: yet it is no farther extended nor given to any moe, but ſuch as is the good will & pleaſure of God, Neither is it contrarie vntounto this, that all the bleſſings of God are ſaid to be in Chriſt, and we ſaid to be bleſſed with all ſpirituall bleſſings in him. For neither he nor they in him are made ours for any cauſe, either in him, or vsus: but onelyonly by the will & good pleaſure of God, which is manifeſt by the ſaying of the Apoſtle, Ephe. chap. 1. ver. 6. which is, That God by his grace hath freely made vsus acceptable to him ſelfe in his beloved Sonne. Which wordes doe evidently witnes, that although GOD give vsus no bleſſing but in Chriſt, yet the cauſe moving God is only his owne grace and good pleaſure: which excludes all other cauſe whatſoever, either in Chriſt or in vsus. Neither is this to be vnderſtood of the benefites themſelves onelyonly, but alſo of their meaſure: which alſo dependeth wholy vponupon the purpoſe and good pleaſure of Gods will. Which is cleare by the ſpeech of Chriſt, in the 20. chapt. of Math. ver. 23. And Marke, chap. 10. ver. 40. where he ſayeth: To ſit at my right hande and at my left hande, is not myne to give: but to whom it is prepared of my Father.
Moreover, this is not onelyonly to be vnderſtood of the bleſſinges them ſelves, and of their meaſure: but alſo of all the circumſtances concerning their diſpenſation. Which wholy depend vponupon the will of God: who hath aſſigned the ſeaſons, which were ordeyned before: and the bounds of mens habitatiō, Act. chap. 17. verſ. 26. And who hath put the times and ſeaſons in his owne power. Actes chap. 1. verſ. 7. and hath appointed a day of grace to every one that ſhalbe called. Hebr. chap. 3. ver. 13. and 15. and Hebr. chap. 4 verſ. 7. 8. and 9. ſo that the reaſon that one is called from the wombe: another in his mid-age: another in the houre of his death. why the Goſpell is ſalvation, firſt vntounto the Iewes, and next vntounto the Gentiles: why Chriſt did come at ſuch a time: died at ſuch a time: and the Gentiles not called till ſuch a time: is the onlie appointmēt of Gods will, who, as ſaith the Apoſtle, Ephe. chap. 1. verſ. 11. Doth all things according to the counſell of his owne will. Thus it is manifeſt, that not onelyonly the bleſſings in Chriſt, & the meaſure of them: but all circumſtances of theſe bleſſings, either in reſpect of perſons, place, time, or maner, doe depend wholie vponupon the counſell of Gods will.