A Golden Chain, Chapter 15
CHAP. 15. Of Election, and of Iesus Christ the foundation thereof.
PRedestination hath two parts: Election, and Reprobation. 1. Thess. 5.9. God hath not appointed vsus to wrath, but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Election, is Gods decree, whereby on his owne free will, he hath ordained certaine men to saluation, to the praise of the glorie of his grace. Eph. 1.4, 5, 6. He hath chosen vsus in him, before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glorie of his grace.
This decree, is that booke of life, wherein are written the names of the Elect. Revel. 20.12. Another booke was opened, which is the booke of life, and the dead were iudged of those things, that were written in the bookes, according to their workes. 2. Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seale, The Lord knoweth who are his.
The execution of this decree, is an action, by which God, euē as he purposed with himselfe, worketh all those things, which he decreed for the saluation of the Elect. For they whome God elected to this ende, that they should inherite eternall life, were also elected to those subordinate meanes, whereby, as by steppes, they might attaine this end, and without which, it were impossible to obtaine it. Rom. 8. 29, 30. Those which he knew before, he also predestinate to be made like to the image of his Sonne, that he might be the first borne amongst many brethren: Moreouer, whome he predestinate, them he called, whome he called, them …ee iustified, and whome hee iustified, them also he glorified.
There appertaine three things to the execution of this decree. First, the foundation. Secondly, the meanes. Thirdly, the degrees.
The foundation is Christ Iesus, called of his father from all eternitie, to performe the office of the Mediator, that in him, all those which should be saued, might be chosen. Heb. 5.5. Christ tooke not to himselfe this honour, to bee made the high Priest, but he that said vntounto him, Thou art my Sonne, this day begate I thee, gaue it him &c. Esa. 42.1. Behold my seruant: I will stay vponupon him, mine elect, in whome my soule delighteth: I hauehave put my spirit vponupon him, he shall bring foorth iudgement to the Gentiles. Eph. 1.4. Hee hath chosen vsus in him, meaning Christ.
Question. Howe can Christ be subordinate vntounto Gods election, seeing he together with the Father decreed all things? Answ. Christ as he is Mediator, is not subordinate to the very decree it selfe of election, but to the execution thereof onelyonly. 1. Pet. 1.20. Christ was ordained before the foundation of the world. Augustine in his booke of the Predestinaiion of the Saints, chap. 5. Christ was Predestinate that he might be our head.
In Christ we must especially obserue two things, his incarnatiō, & his Office.
To the working of his Incarnation, concurre: First, both his Natures. Secondly, their Vnion. Thirdly, their distinction.
Christs first Nature, is the Godhead, in as much as it belongeth to the Son, whereby he is God. Phil. 2.6. Who beeing in the forme of God, thought it no robberie to be equall with God. Ioh. 1.1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and that Word was God.
It was requisite for the Mediatour to be God; 1. That he might the better sustaine that great miserie, wherewith mankind was ouerwhelmed; the greatnesse whereof, these foure things declare: I. The grieuousnesse of sinne, wherwith Gods maiestie was infinitely offended. II. Gods infinite anger against this sinne. III. The fearefull power of death. IV. The diuels tyrannie who is prince of this world. 2. That he might make his humaine nature both of plē tifull merite, and also of sufficient efficacie, for the work of mans redemption. 3. That he might instill into all the elect eternall life, and holinesse. Esa. 43.12. I am the Lord, & there is none besides me a Sauiour, I hauehave declared, and I hauehave saued, and I hauehave shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
I say, the Godhead, in as much as it is the Godhead of the Sonne, is Christs diuine Nature: not as it is the Godhead of the Father, or the holy Ghost, for it is the office of the Sonne, to hauehave the administration of eueryevery outward action of the Trinitie, from the Father to the holy Ghost. 1. Cor. 6.8. And he being by nature the Sonne of the father, bestowet… this priuiledge on those that beleeue, that they are the Sonnes of God by adoption. Ioh. 1.12. As many as receiued him, to them he gaue to be the sonnes of God.
If either the Father or the holy Ghost, should hauehave beene incarnate, the title of Sonne should hauehave beene giuen to one of them, who was not the Sonne by eternall generation; and so there should be moe sonnes then one.
Christs other nature, is his humanity, wherby he, the Mediator, is very mā … 1. Tim. 2.5. One God, & one Mediator betwene God & man, the man Christ Ie…s.
It was necessarie that Christ should be man. First, that God might be pacified in that nature, wherein he was offended. Secondly, that he might vndergo punishment due to sinne, the which the Godhead could not, being void and free from all passion.
Furthermore, Christ, as he is man, is like vntounto vsus in all things, sinne onelyonly excepted. Heb. 2.17. In all things it became him to be made like vntounto his brethren. 1. Cor. 13.4.
Christ therefore is a perfect man, consisting of an essentiall and true soule & bodie, whereunto are ioyned such faculties and properties, as are essentiall vntounto both. In his soule, is vnderstanding, memorie, will, and such like: in his bodie, length, breadth, and thicknesse: yea, it is comprehended in one onelyonly place, visible, subiect to feeling, neither is there any thing wanting in him, which may either adorne or make for the beeing of mans nature.
Againe, Christ in his humanitie, was subiect to the infirmities of mans nature, which are these: I. to be tempted. Matth. 4.1. Iesus was carried by the spirit into the desart, to be tempted of the Diuell. II. To feare. Heb. 5.7. Who in the daies of his flesh did offer vp praiers and supplications with strong crying and teares, vntounto him that was able to saue him from death, and was also heard in that which he feared. III. To be angrie. Mark. 3.5. Then he looked round about on them angerly, mourning also for the hardnesse of their hearts, and said vntounto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. IV. Forgetfulnesse of his office imposed vponupon him, by reason of the agonie astonishing his senses. Matth. 26.39. He went a little further, and fell on his face, and praied, saying, O Father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me: neuertheles, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
VVe must hold these things concerning Christs infinitenes; I. They were such qualities, as did onelyonly affect his humane nature, and not at all constitute the same: and therefore might be left of Christ. II. They were such as were common to all men; as to thirst, to be wearie, and to die: and not personall, as are agues, consumptions, the leprosie, blindnes, &c. III. He was subiect to these infirmities, not by necessitie of his humaine nature, but by his freewill & pleasure, pitying mankind: therefore in him, such infirmities were not the punishment of his owne sinne, as they are in vsus, but rather part of that his humiliation which he did willingly vndergoe for our sakes.