Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 30
VERSE 30. Moreouer whom hee did predeſtinate, them hee alſo called, and whom he called, them hee alſo iuſtified: and whom he iuſtified, them he alſo glorified.
THe Elect are Predeſtinate to bee conformable to the Image of Chriſt: this Conformity is, when they are called, Iuſtified, and glorified, of which ſpeakes this verſe. And ſo is abſolued the whole order of our ſaluation. God purpoſeth to ſaue ſome of mankind falne. Theſe he fore-knoweth, theſe fore-known he predeſtinateth, theſe he calleth, iuſtifieth and glorifieth.
In the two verſes going next before, Paul carried vsus vp into the third Heauen. Here he bringeth vsus downe againe to the Earth, to behold the patefaction of Predeſtination, by Vocation, Iuſtification, Glorification.
Thoſe whom hee predeſtinateth; that is, to ſaluation from euerlaſting.
He alſo called: In time, and out of their ſinfull eſtate, from the number of the wicked, outwardly by the Law, the Goſpell; which calling, is common to the Elect & Reprobate. Inwardly by the operation of the Spirit in their hearts, whereby they are inabled to fulfill the condition of the Goſpell, which is to beleeue: and this is proper to the children of God.
Them hee alſo Iuſtified: That is, hee accounteth and pronounceth them righteous, by the offred righteouſneſſe of the Goſpell, which in their vocation by Faith they apprehended.
Them he alſo glorified. Not maketh them renowned and famous; but did gloriouſly ſaue. Glorification, is a putting away of baſeneſſe and diſhonour, and a putting on of honour, euen the honour of immortality and ſaluation.
Q. But where is Sanctification?
A. Some ſay, it is included in Vocation, and Iuſtification, but rather in Glorification. Sanctification is Glorification inchoate, and Glorification is Sanctification conſummate.
Theſe are ſo inuiolably connected, that hee who is predeſtinated, is as certaine to be ſaued, as if hee were in heauen already. The way vntounto this Glorification is the Croſſe: therefore we are to be patient in ſufferings.
The fore-acknowledging or louelove of God, is the fountaine of the Predeſtination of Saints, of which louelove wee may ſay, that it is from euerlaſting to euerlaſting; from the Eternitie of Predeſtination, without beginning, to the eternity of glorification without end: the Neceſſary meanes betweene both; Vocation, Iuſtification.
I purpoſe not to common place of the Nature of theſe graces, but onelyonly to ſpeake of their Connexion and Relation, one with and toward another: which are ſo linked together, that they follow and conuert Affirmatiuely, and Negatiuely, from the firſt to the laſt, and from the laſt to the firſt, as in a chaine of diuers linkes, if yee draw any one, the reſt follow.
doctrine The way from Predeſtination to Glorification is by Vocation and Iuſtification, ſo that whoſoeuer is called and iuſtified, was predeſtinated, and ſhall be glorified. This appeares by comparing together theſe places, 1. Cor. 1.9. Rom. 1.7. 1. Pet. 1.9. Iude 1. Act. 13.48.
Vſe 1.Theſe graces proceed not from merit but from Gods foreknowledge and louelove.
Ʋſe 2.The opinion of vniuerſall Election, is here exploded. All are not called; therefore all are not elected. So long as God continues his Goſpell, preſſe to the doore of his Houſe to obtaine this Calling: and in aſmuch as few obtaine it, we ſhould the more labour to be of that number. Honours and Iewels are highly eſteemed, becauſe giuen to a few. The Grace of Saluation, as it is much more precious, ſo ſhould it much the more draw our affections.
Ʋſe 3.The ſottiſh and blaſphemous opinion of many among vsus, is hence reproued: If I be predeſtinated (ſay they) to bee ſaued, then I may liue as I liſt: foreign.for howſoeuer I liue, I muſt be ſaued: If I be predeſtinated to be damned, all my care cannot alter the counſell of God, and therfore the beſt way is to take our pleaſure while we may.
But whence haſt thou this Collection? Not from God and his Word; but from the Diuell, and thine owne Ignorance: For put the caſe, thou wert on the top of an high Tower: God hath predeſtinated, that thou ſhalt come ſafely downe, or breake thy necke in comming downe: Wilt thou now leape downe vponupon this reaſon, neglecting the ordinary way? I trow thou wilt not truſt thy body vponupon theſe termes; then art thou mad ſo to truſt thy ſoule. God hath predeſtinated that thou ſhalt liue to the end of this preſent day, or that thou ſhalt dye before night; Wilt thou vponupon this drinke poyſon, &c. ſaying, Why, If GOD hauehave predeſtinated that I ſhall liue, I ſhall liue though I eate poyſon. If I doe dye; then I ſhall dye though I be neuer ſo carefull. If thou beeſt in thy right minde, thou wilt not doe thus.
Hezekiah had aſſurance of the prolonging of his life for fifteene yeeres, Eſa. 38.5.yet neglected not the meanes of preſeruing his life. So the predeſtination of God ought not to make vsus careleſſe of vſing the meanes of ſaluation.
Origen maketh mention of one who being ſick, and deſiring to ſend to the Phyſicion, was perſwaded by his friend not to ſend; for, ſaith he, if it be appointed you ſhall dye, the Phyſicion cannot helpe you: if to liue, you ſhall not need him. The ſicke man of a ſounder braine then his friend, excellently anſwered: Nay, ſaith hee, if it bee appointed I ſhall liue; I wil ſend for the Phyſicion, that ſuch appointment may take effect.
God hath predeſtinated mee to be ſaued, ſo hath hee predeſtinated mee, to be called and Iuſtified, before I be ſaued. Though Glorification neceſſarily follow Predeſtination, yet not immediately, but here are meanes from one to another, which God hath predeſtinated to be vſed. As thou art predeſtinated to glory, ſo alſo by the ſame Act to holineſſe, without which he hath predeſtinated to ſaue none.
This opinion then is moſt abſurd in reaſon: and alſo moſt blaſphemous; for wicked wretches thinke they hauehave God on the vantage, and that they may be ſaued whether he will or no. I am ſure of this, that whoſoeuer thinketh, reaſoneth, and liueth thus: in that time hee can hauehave no aſſurance that he ſhall bee ſaued: And if hee continue thus to the end, there can bee no greater ſigne of a mans Reprobation, and Damnation.
Ʋſe 4.Vocation and Iuſtification, are antecedents to Glorification, Conſequents to predeſtination. Here is a Chaine of foure linkes: the two extreme, Predeſtination and Glorification, are in the hands of God, the two middle are let downe to vsus, by which we may equally be drawne to both the ends, as a man may by a Riuer either goe downe to the Sea, or vp to the Spring head. Art thou called and Iuſtified? Then thou maiſt be ſure of thy Predeſtination paſt, and Glorification to come.
Examine therefore the Calling, 1. Theſ. 1.4.which of all arguments manifeſts Election. Art thou called? I ſay not outwardly onelyonly, but inwardly? Is thy heart opened? Are thy eares board? When God hath called thee in the preaching of the Word, hath thy heart anſwered, as Samuel: 1. Sam. 3.9.Speake, Lord, for thy ſeruant heareth? When Chriſt asketh thee if thou doeſt beleeue: Doeſt thou ſay with that man, Mar. 9.24.Lord, I beleeue, helpe my vnbeliefe? Doth thy heart as an Eccho anſwere the louing call of God? And doeſt thou liue accordingly? Where is thy louelove of the Word? Thy Obedience? Thy Faith? &c. Alas, alas: The abſence of theſe declare thou art not called. How often hath the Lord called thee from Drunkenneſſe, Swearing, &c? and yet thou drinkeſt, and ſweareſt, &c. Art thou predeſtinated to life? Nay, if thou ſo continueſt, thou art a Reprobate. God hath called vponupon thee to leaue the company of vngodly men, and thou notwithſtanding draweſt with them the yoke of Impietie. How art thou of the number of the Elect, which familiarly conuerſeſt with Reprobates and damned wretches?
Reioyce you, reioyce which feele that your hearts are moued to beleeue and obey the calling of God; you hauehave a moſt ſweet teſtimonie of the louelove of God, and that you ſhal be conformable to Chriſt in glory. Your ſaluation is built vponupon a ſtronger and nobler foundation then the very Heauens; euen vponupon the Counſell of God. But the ſignes are in your ſelues: be carefull to preſerue them cleere, and as you are to be ſeparated from the damnation of wicked men, ſo, ſeparate your ſelues from their conuerſation.