in to Chrift; and all these, and thefe only, whom he has chofen to himself, will in due time be effectually called in to Chrift, Acts ii. 47. and xiii. 48.; the called accord ing to his purpose,

XIV. Whatever good accrue to believers by afflictions, they fhould beware of imputing that to any deferving in themfelves, but fhould look higher to another fpring, and fee the rife of it in the free and unchangeable purpofe of God: for he leads them up to this fountain, faying, To them whoare the called according to his purpofe. XV. God may prove himfelf the hearer of prayers, and and may anfwer the grones of his own children, which they fend up in a time of affliction, tho' affliction continue and be not taken off, by beftowing upon them as good, or better, making them phytical and healthful: for this verfe may be looked on (as we fhewed in the explication) as anfwering an objection of this nature, from the last verfe.

ty to Chrift's image in glory, as adopted children of God; and if God fo furely did ordain and elect them to life, as that, in time, he appointed effectually to bring them to falvation, and to the actual poffeffion of glory, by the means appointed, and fo in his decree knit with an indiffolvable tye, life, and all the means leading to life; then fure afflictions cannot wrong fuch, but may rather work for their good; for what can wrong fuch whom God has everlaftingly decreed to bring to life, and effectually to bring about the means whereby they fhall certainly be brought to life: But fo it is, that God hath had thoughtsof good towards fuch, having foreknown them, and predeftinated them to glory, even to be conformed to the image of his Son, verfe 29. and that fo, that alfo he hath firmly decreed to bring about the means leading towards life, as effectual calling, and juftification, and at length glorification, verfe 30. Here then is a golden chain of falvation, wherein the first rise of it, the progrefs, and period of it, are fweetly and excellently linked together, every link whereof is more mafly than another, and

VERSES 29. 30. For whom he did foreknow, he alfo did predeftinate to be conformed to the image of bis Son, that be might be the first-born among many bre-all of them full of confolation; which for

thren.

Moreover, whom he peftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them be alfo juflified: and whom he juftified, them be alfo glorified.

IN

N thefe verfes, the apoftle confirmeth his laft argument, which was this, That all things work together for good to thefe that love God, being called ac cording to the purpofe and decree of God; therefore we fhould be content of afflictions when the Lord is pleafed to carve them out to us. Now that all things work together for good to fuch, he proveth thus; If fuch who are the called according to his purpose have had a room in his efti mation and affection, and out of his mere good-will and pleafure, were predeftinated and elected to eternal life, to conformi

clearness we fhall further explain. And
1. then, he fays, Whom he foreknew; fore-
knowledge may import, God's prefcience,.
or knowledge of things. before they come
to pafs, as Acts ii. 23: but here it is more
comprehenfive,.taking in with it God's fa-
vour and good-will, and fo imports as much
as fore-acknowledged, and is fuch a know--
ledge, by which he fevereth his people
from the reft, and fo includes an act of his
will, as being the fame, upon the matter,
with his decree, Rom. xi. 2 and with the
good pleasure of his will, Eph. i. 5. for
there, as here, predeftination followeth ;
and thus we are faid to be elected according
to the foreknowledge of God, 1 Pet. i. 2. fo
then, this is a foreknowledge of favour
and good will,
and good will, according to which the
Lord is faid to know his own, Pfal. i. 6.
2 Tim. ii. 19. and whom he rejects, he is

An Expofition of the Epistle to the Romans. Chap. VIII. faid not to know, Matth. xXV. 12. 2. He nate, them he also called; having thus fet fays, Whom he foreknew, them he predefti- down the neareft end, (for the remote end nated to be conformed to the image of his of all this work, is God's glory, Eph. i. 6.) Son; the word predeftinated is fometimes he proceeds to fhew the means which God ufed of things, and then, be they good or bath appointed, and which he actually efevil, it fignifieth a certain decree and pur- fectuateth in his due time, whereby this pofe, that fuch and fuch things fhall come end may be attained; and the first is effec to pafs, as 1 Cor. ii. 7. where it is render- tual calling, whereby fuch as he foreknew, ed, ordained; fo Acts iv. 28. where it is are called out of darkness into light, and rendered, ordained before: fometimes of brought to an union with Jefus Christ: men, and then it fignifieth, a pre-ordain- And again, whom he called, them he justi ing them unto a certain end, a purpofing fied; that is, whom he brought in to Chrift, and refolving to bring them to fuch or fuch and united to him by faith, thofe he acceptan end; and fo here, the end is, to be con- ed as righteous, thro' Chrift's righteoulformed to the image of his Son; this we nefs imputed; fo that firft they are united take to be mainl hat which is called, Eph. | to Chrift in their effectual calling, and afi. 5. the adoption children, to which they ter faith are justified and acquited before are faid to be predeftinated, and that is God, from all their guilt; and being thus actual poffeffion of the heavenly inheri- juflified, they are glorified; that is, they tanc; therefore it is faid, to be conformed are fanctified here, and glorified perfectly to the image of his Son, to fhew that this hereafter; fanctification is begun glorificais ainly meant of adoption, that we shall tion, holiness here being glory in the bud; be tous allo and if fons, then heirs, verfe 17. and he fays, glorified, in the præterite and fo in this refpect, we will be changed time, both to fhew, that in a manner it into the fame image, from glory to glory, is begun already, and that it fhall certain2 Cor. iii. 18. and made like him, for wely be perfected. So that it appeareth to Shall fee him as he is, 1 John iii. 2. and when be a moft corrupt glofs, to fay, that the Chrift who is our life, fhall appear, then apostle is only fpeaking of God's appoint Shall we afo appear with him in glory, Col.ing, and calling folks to afflictions, and iii. 4. And thus we take predeftination juftifying them from the false caluns · here as restricted, (tho' we grant it may be and afperfions of the wicked, and thus glo taken, as including both election and repro- rifying them, and all this after the manner bation; and again, if reftricted to election, that Chrift was dealt with. For 1 h as including both the means and the end) apoftle made ufe of fuch a motive before which we are further confirmed to do, verfe 17. as there we fhewed, and we canno by the following words, that he might be think that he would go over it again the first-born among many brethren; fo that 2. The words in the laft verfe will crof the conformity to his image is in this, that this; for there he fays, that fuch as he i they are brethren, and fo it lieth in adop- here fpeaking of, are called according to bi tion; and their being conformed to him in purpose; now we no where read, that an this. makes his glory to appear the more, called, are thus ftiled, the called to cruffes as the first born; we partake of the fame we find fome called faints, Rom. i. 7. 1 Co glory with him, but he has a greater fhare; i. 2. and called to holiness, 1 Thef. iv. who is the head of the church: who is the virtue, 2 Pet. i. 3. and grace, Gal. i. 6. an begining, the firfl-born from the dead; that to glory, Eph. iv. 4. Col. 4. 5. 1 Theff. in all things he might have the pre-eminence, 12. Tim vi. 12. 1 Pet. v. 1o. 2 Pet. i Col. i. 8. 3. The other link of this chain, is, but no where called to afflictions, exce verfe 30. Moreover, whom he did predefti-by the bye, 1 Pet. v. 10.; and far lefs

W

we find, that they are faid to be called according to his purpose, which always is found to be to grace and glory, Eph. i. 11. 2 Tim. i. 9. Rom. ix. 11. 3. Neither will thefe fame verfes fuffer it; For (1.) this foreknowledge is not of croffes, but fuch as hath election following it, Pet. i. 2. (2.) Predestination is always to fomething as our end, and fo not to croffes. (3.) Many meet with afflictions who are never juftified; and justification here, must be taken as it is always taken thro' this epiftle, and it is mentioned as a special link of the chain, and not occafionally named. (4.) Many are afflicted that are never glorified; yea, many may be absolved from the unjust condemnations of men before God, (if we fhould thus grant the word juftified to be fo taken here) who shall never be glorified. 4. The following part of the chapter will also cross this interpretation; for there it is shown, who these are of whom he is fpeaking here, viz. fuch as Chrift died for, and have all things elfe, verfe 32. fuch as have nothing to be laid to their charge, verfe 33. and whom nothing hall feparate from the love of God, verfes 35. 38. and thefe things cannot be meant of fuch as meet with croffes.

From Verse 29. OBSERVE,

a reafon to confirm it, For whom he foreknew, &c.

II. If we once were clear that God from all eternity had thoughts of love towards us, and had purpofed effectually to bring us to the actual poffeffion of glory, we would not be fo afraid of croffes, as we are ordinarily: It is our ignorance as to this which makes croffes fo terrible to us; for this he addeth as a reafon, to confirm, that afflictions work together for the best to them that love God, because he bath foreknown, and predeftinated them, &c.

III. Tho' it be a matter full of difficul-. ty for believers to get affurance and clearnefs as touching their el tion, and a bufinefs requiring all dilace and study, 2 Pet. i. 10.; yet they may win to fo much knowledge hereof, as may yield them matter of joy and rejoicing, Luke x. 20. and comfort them in a time of affliction, 1 Pet. i. 2. and confirm them that all afflictions fhall work together for their good; as here, it is given as a ground to confirm them of the truth of that which he faid, viz. That all things work together for good to the called, because fuch as are effectually called, were comprehended under God's everlafting purpose and decree of election; and fo by the one they may win in to know the other: For whom he foreknew, them he predeftinated.

IV. Albeit the doctrine of predeftination be intricate and full of difficulties; yet may and ought the fervants of God teach the truth thereof, and his children study it, feeing it is most useful to humble people, to ftrengthen our faith and hope, to yield comfort and confolation in times of

I. Tho' it be a truth beyond queftioning, confirmed by the experience of the children of God in all ages, that afflictions of all forts work together for good to them that love God; yet it will be no fmall difficulty to get our hearts brought to a folid belief of the truth of this, in the day when we meet with croffes, fo as to gather comfort and encouragement there-adverfity, and to ftir up to thankfulness from; but whatever it appear to us when we are not put to the trial, yet when we are under the lafh of afflictions, it will then feem fcarcely credible: Therefore, albeit it was an undoubted maxim, yet the apoftle feeth fome neceffity to make it good by strong reason, and therefore addeth this as

and love, providing it be done with due moderation and fpiritual prudence, and according to the grounds laid down in the word of truth, and not according to man's carnal reafon; after the example of the apoftle, who doth clearly hold forth this doctrine here, and feveral times inculcates

Rr

the

the truth of it elsewhere, as Eph. i. 5. | he foreknew, them he predeftinated; as Having predeftinated us unto the adoption meaning fome particular, defigned, and of children by Jefus Chrift to himself, acknown perfons. cording to the good pleasure of his will: and here, whom he foreknew, these be did predeftinate.

V. As all things are naked and bare before the eyes of God, Heb. iv. 13. and by his omnifcience, he did forefee whatever cometh to pass in time; fo in a fpecial manner did he take notice, and approve of fuch as he would bring home to himself, and make partakers of glory, and these he is faid to foreknow: Ihom he foreknew.

VI. Albeit the Lord, being every way free from all imperfection, needeth not confult and advife before-hand what to refolve upon and purpose, as man needeth, who is ignorant of what is beft; yet all his decrees, purposes and refolutions are moft. wife, deliberate and righteous, as most advifedly done, and as it were upon most mature deliberation; his will is always accompanied with firm and fure knowledge, and moft wife counfel: For here it is faid, that whom he foreknew, them he did predeftinate.

VIII. Predestination, or election, is not of all and every man, but only of fome on whom the Lord pitched his love from eternity, and purpofed to bring to life in Chrift; for it is meant of fome individual perfons, excluding others, when he fays, Whom he foreknew, thofe he did predeftinate, &c. and none others.

IX. This decree of predeftination, as it is abfolute and complete, fo is it definite; and the number of fuch who are predeftinated to life is fo certain and definite, that it can neither be increafed nor diminished: For whom he foreknew, thefe, and none but thefe, and all thefe, not a man excepted, he predeftinated. See 2 Tim. ii. 19. John xiii. 18.

X. This love and refpect which God carrieth to his own chofen, is of an old date, it takes not its begining in time, but being an immanent act of God, and fo God himself, who is one moft fimple act; it is eternal, long before ever they had a being, fave in his decree: thus he is faid to love his own with an everlafling love, Jer. xxxi. 3. and this the very purport of the words, foreknown and predeftinated, do thew forth.

VII. Tho' it be true, that God hath decreed that fuch as believe, and perfevere in faith to the end, fhall be faved; yet it cannot be faid, that this is all which is meant by the decree of predeftination, as if God thereby had done no more but appointed fuch an order and law; for if that were all, it might come to pafs, that not withstanding of this act of predeftination, not one man fhould ever have been faved; whereas predeftination is, to conformity to Christ's image, and to the adoption of chil-knew, thofe he predeflinated, &c. dren, Eph. i. 5. and to life, Acts xiij. 48. but predeftination is touching the event and end of particular perfons, particularly, and by name, as it were, condefcended on; fo that fome are hereby particularly defigned, and hence named the elect, Mark xiii. 20. Matth. xx. 16. Rom. xi, 7. and thus the Lord knoweth who are bis, 2 Tim. ii. 19. therefore he fays, Whom

XI. This love, good-will, and good pleafure of God, is the fountain of all good which we partake of here or hereafter; all grace and glory floweth from this fpring and well-head; for this foreknowledge is the fountain of election, vocation, justification, and glorification: whom he fore

XII. The caufe why the Lord did predeftinate fome to life, and others not, is not because he foreknew, that fuch would believe and perfevere in faith to the end, and the reft would not, for then this elec tion fhould be most uncertain, and depend upon man's free will, which is most uncertain; contrary to 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth fure,

XV. Though believers fhall partake of the glory of Chrift, as adopted fons, and in this refpect, have that glory given to From verfe 30th OBSERVE, them which the Father gave to Chrift, ac- 1. As God, according to his own good! cording to John xvii. 22. that is, that they pleasure, and counsel of his own will, hath may be with him, and that they may be-appointed and decreed, that fome fhall cer