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A05995
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A commentarie vpon the first chapter of the epistle of Saint Paul, written to the Ephesians Wherein, besides the text fruitfully explained: some principall controuersies about predestination are handled, and diuers arguments of Arminius are examined. By Mr. Paul Bayne, sometimes preacher of Gods word at Saint Andrevves in Cambridge.
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Baynes, Paul, d. 1617.
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1618
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STC 1635; ESTC S113832
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242,987
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more humble and mercifull as Pauls persecuting more diligent in well doing when we were in the flesh Rom. 6. Euen as the art of the Apothecarie maketh Vipers into Treacles so doth our God Now when God hath visited vs we proue then by experience that our good which he giueth vs in our selues and others whether it be spirituall or temporall yea the euill we suffer whether of sinne or of punishment whether the punishment come immediately from God or mediately from the hands of men that all I say are ordained to carry vs home to the end vnto which he hath chosen vs. In the good things we finde to helpe vs it is more apparant then that we neede to speake of it in good gifts which wicked men haue they are often predestinated for our good Euen as Carriers haue money often not for themselues but for those to whom they are sent So men vnsanctified haue golden gifts sometime for the sake of others to whom they are sent Our sinnes and euils wee sustaine God doth euen vse them as Physicke to our soules and he prepareth wicked men often to doe that by his children which those of the skullerie doe by a vessell when it is foule euen to scoure them from their rust Euen as he predestinated his Sonnes sufferings so ours also whom he hath predestinate that we should be like to his Sonne as well in sufferings as in glory Saint Paul proueth that to the called according to Gods purpose of life all things did worke together vnto good and hee proueth it hence because God had predestinated them Now if Gods predestination did not contriue euery thing befalleth vs to this end his proofe were vnsufficient Vse 1 The Vse of this is Hath God ordained meanes by which his shall come vnto the end to which they are chosen then how doe they reason who will say If they be predestinate then though they liue neuer so they shall be saued God had giuen Paul the life of all in the ship Acts 27.31 yet when the ship-men would haue left them Paul telleth them If these men hide not in the ship ye cannot be saued Gods decree doth stablish meanes not remoue them Thus we might refuse meate in health medicine in sicknesse and say so long as God hath appointed vs to liue we shall liue The diuell teacheth men in outward things wholly to distrust God and relye altogether on meanes in these spirituall things he maketh them lay all on Gods mercy and purpose neuer taking heede to meanes Vse 2 We see it is hopefull where God giueth meanes which bring to life where he manifesteth that wisdome of the Gospell which is a meane predestinated to our glory that God hath there a gracious worke toward some While a man doth carry Reapers further into his field it is a signe hee hath some Corne to be inned So is it with God Vse 3 Let vs labour to acknowledge God and his most wise order in all things which haue befallen vs. If we finde that our courses before our conuersions the things befallen vs since haue brought vs neerer God then it is a seale to vs that we are the predestinated of the Lord those whom he doth bring nearer him by meanes in time those he did predestinate to draw to himselfe in such order from all eternity We will say in choller when things come crosse vpon vs Now I was ordained to it I thinke it was my destinie But happy is he who can by euent learne to see how God hath destinated before-hand euery thing for his good Doct. 1 Obserue of whom we may say this that they are predestinated euen of such as haue beleeued and are sanctified the persons which are ordained to life and predestinated they are called that is brought to haue a true faith and iustified and they shall be glorified This chaine of foure linkes is such two wherof are kept with God in heauen two are let downe into earth as it were This chaine is so coupled that whosoeuer are within these midlinkes are within the two vtmost also While a man carrieth a frame or plot of this or that in his minde we cannot say what is his meaning but when hee now doth execute it then we know what he had predestinated and afore-hand designed within himselfe When God doth lay the foundation of faith and holinesse such as shall neuer be subuerted then we may know that he did predestinate in his time to worke a glorious worke in such a person How precious then is this faith which purifieth the heart which doth let vs be able euen to reade our names written in this predestination of God as a booke or register of life which maketh vs discerne our selues in that state that all things shall worke for our good euery winde euen the crossest shall helpe vs to the hauen of true happinesse I know faithfull soules cannot alwaies finde this comfort because they finde themselues worse rather then better for many things which betide them but we must not be dismaied things worke together when thou seest the last with the first then thou shalt see that harmony which is in all for thy best good A Physitian doth with one thing or two make that man more sicke then euer whom yet at length he most comfortably healeth Vse But what I speake of this circumstance in the former Verse may hither also be reduced Onely let vs endeauour to know our selues predestinated by him for this is our strength which cannot be shaken when we know that God hath determined and contriued such meanes as shall infallibly bring vs to glory this knowne we may say If God be with vs who shall be against vs That we should be adopted through Christ Doct. Obserue what God hath determined to bring vs vnto before all worlds euen to this that we should be his children those whom he predestinateth hee doth ordaine they shall be like his Sonne Rom 8. like euen in glory as well as suffering like in being Sonnes as he iâ— a Sonne like in hauing a state of glory fitting them as he hath glory such as is fit for him the Head or first-borne of vs. For this cause Heb. 12. ver 21. the predestinate are called the Church of the first begotten who are written in heauen because all Gods chosen are by this predestination appointed to this that they shall be Sons of God Euen as great men appoint with themselues some that thinke nothing of it that they shall be their heyres and doe adopt them by this meanes children to them So God did within himselfe ordaine of vs that wee should be brought to this estate of being his adopted children For our better vnderstanding this matter three things shall be opened 1. What this Adoption containeth in it 2. Through whom wee come to be adopted 3. In what order we doe receiue in time this so great benefit or to what benefit this is to be reduced whether to Calling
iustification or glorification For the first it conteineth the dignity of being the sonnes of God 2. The inheritance of light or the diuine nature begun here to be perfected hereafter for the first see Iohn 1.22 1 Iohn 3.1 Hee giueth vs this dignity sheweth vs this loue that we should be called his children not that we are children as Adam was who because hee was produced in the similitude of God might be called a Sonne of God but sonnes through a mysticall coniunction with Iesus Christ that naturall Sonne of God Secondly we haue the inheritance of light or a diuine nature which standeth not in such a life of God as Adam had which was a knowledge of God onely as a Creator of all things and a righteousnesse and holinesse which were in order to God knowne onely as a creator not such a life as may fall away but a life which standeth in knowing as an Author in Christ of supernaturall grace such righteousnesse and holines as are in order to God as now made manifest in Christ Iesus such a life as shall neuer haue end according to that those who are borne of God cannot sinne for the seede of God abideth in them Thirdly all that glory wee looke for in Heauen is comprehended in this adoption Rom. 8. Wee expect our adoption euen the redemption of our bodies Now wee come to haue this executed on vs by faith on Christ for so many as beleeued to them it is giuen to be his children sonnes and daughters vpon our mariage with the naturall Sonne wee come in the place of sonnes and daughters also But for the order in which we receiue this dignity it is somewhat doubtfull whether when we are iustified or when we are glorified To which I answer briefly that it belongeth to our glorification and is to be recalled vnto that head for Redemption which is put for Forgiuenesse of sinne and iustification when it doth not note out our finall deliuerance this redemption is made to goe before it Gal. 4.5 That he might redeeme vs who were vnder the Law and that we might receiue Adoption Beside iustification doth nothing but sentence this of me that I am iust before God so as to receiue life from his grace Now to be iust is one thing to be reckoned a son another Againe this adoption is called by the name of a dignity or eminency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea glory it selfe is called by the name of Adoption Rom. 8. Wayting for our adoption euen the redemption of our bodies To omit that Rom. 9.4 those two words Adoption Glory may be put for one thing viz. Glorious adoption For the Arke is well comprehended in that head of seruice as a principall type belonging to the Law ceremoniall and looke as not onely actually to possesse the kingdome but to be heyre apparant of it is a great point of gâ—ory so the dignity of adoption adopting vs as sonnes and heyres apparant of the kingdome of heauen is a great part of glory as well as the inheritance it selfe There are but two things of moment which I know to be obiected Obiect 1 That which we haue immediately on belieuing that belongeth to our iustification but belieuing wee haue this priuiledge nothing comming betweene Iohn 1.12 Resp The second part of this reason is not true and the proofe is vnsufficient for though we be adopted beleeuing on Christ which the testimony voydeth yet it followeth not that we are immediately adopted nothing comming betweene our faith and adoption Wee are said to be saued by faith to haue eternall life belieuing yet betweene faith and life iustification must be conceiued so heere also Obiect 2 The second reason is that which giueth vs a title to life that must be a branch of our iustification to life But our adoption giueth vs title to life To the first part I answere with limitation thus That which giueth vs title to life Resp being it selfe no circumstance nor part of life now executed in vs But so adoption doth not which is the giuing of life in regard it maketh life now ours as an Orphans lands are his ours as who haue the right to it but are not yet actually possessed in it Should not the proposition be limited as I haue said it would proue that the giuing of the spirit belongeth to iustification for that doth giue me right to life as an earnest penny or part of paiment doth giue a man right to challenge the whole summe This benefit then is fitly couched vnder that last of our glorification Rom. 8. Whom he predestinated he called whom he called he iustified whom he iustified he glorified in this manner executing their glory First he giueth them of grace the dignity of sonne-ship and so a right to glory and after hee doth actually possesse them of it thus glorifying those whom out of grace he had iustified to the receiuing of life from him as a gift of his meere grace Vse 1 This then being that God did before all worlds dispose the meanes whereby we that are his should be brought to adoption how should wee admire this so great grace which we found in his eyes from all eternity Thou beleeuing soule who by faith art married to Christ Iesus thou who hast receiued the spirit which maketh thee call Abba Father the spirit of this Adoption what is this now wrought in time but that which God did preordaine before all time euen thy Adoption through Christ See then what loue the Father did beare thee that thou shouldest be made a Sonne admire it When Dauid was told of matching with Sauls daughter what said he seemeth it a small thing to be sonne in Law to a King And shall it seeme a small matter to vs that wee are now according as we were predestinated that we are sonnes in Law adopted heyres ioynt-heyres with Christ of the kingdome of glory Vse 2 We may see hence what duty wee owe to God we I say whom he hath now adopted for his children euen as of grace he did predestinate If I be a Lord where is my feare if a Father where is my honour Earthly Parents the greater things they meane to leaue their children the more they expect all obsequious and dutifull behauiour from them so doth God from vs the greater and more excellent condition he hath appointed vs vnto the more he doth challenge from vs all such care and duety as may declare vs not vnworthy so great fauour Doct. Secondly that we are predestinate to adoption Obserue that the life which God hath ordained by meanes prepared to bring vs is a life comming immediately from his grace that life which is a consequent of Adoption yea called adoption it selfe that which accompanieth sonneship is an inheritance that life cannot but come from the free grace of God our Father Adoption and sonnelike inheritance are not things purchased by contract of Iustice but are freely vouchsafed Behold what loue the Father hath