vse namely that it is not now as common bread to feede our bodies onely but it hath a sacramentall and holy vse annexed for the feeding of our soules that is Wee shew the Lordes death herein till hee come The summe then is seeing hee deliuered vnto them onely that he receiued and that in this order and to this vse they must not prophane this holy Sacrament by their disorder or additaments what so euer to doe in any other order or to any other vse more or lesse then it was ordained Whereupon he proceedeth in the rest of the chapter to giue them certain canons or precepts out of the premisses namely how they should reforme themselues and doe it orderly and profitablie The Doctrine of the Catechisme 1. Out of both places These two places open vnto vs the couenant of God touching the saluation of his elect by two things First by doctrine as a writing declaratorie Secondly by Sacraments as seales of that writing confirmatory 2. The doctrine is in the description of the persons couenanting one with another and the couenant it selfe 3. 3 In the first place vers 4.5.6 The first person is he who offereth the couenant namely God who is described by the speciall worke which hee doth in the couenant hee maketh his bountifulnes appeare and is therefore intituled a Sauiour as one that seeketh vs and not we him 4. The second man 4 Vers 3. shutting out pure naturals free will c. who receiueth the couenants who is described voyde of all goodnes in minde will affections works for so * Ezech. 16.4.5.8 God findeth vs in our filthines before the couenant 5. 5 In the second place vers 24.25 The third person is the mediator of the couenant Christ who giueth his body and blood for the confirmation of the couenant 6. 6 This is out of both places The couenant it selfe is first called the new Testament that is * Ierem. 31.31 not of the lawe of workes but of mercie and grace Therefore on the partie that offereth it is thus described First God propoundeth himselfe to bee our God and Sauiour then hee receiueth vs to himselfe by mercie in Christ and not by our workes Thirdly he sheweth the effect of the couenant that wee should bee iustified by his grace and made heyres thorow hope of eternal life On our part the condition is no more but to receiue all this by faith in Christ which is giuen vs in the new birth and therefore * Rom. 8.15 called the spirite of Adoption by which wee call God Father And so the couenant is made on our part as it is * Gal. 3.26 written Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Where you may see that Christ is the mediator * Eph. 2.18 to bring vs to God namely by beleefe in him Which couenant God will haue declared before men by the vse of his seruice as profession Sacraments c. and by obedience vnto euery good worke 7. In beholding which couenant wee may see all merit and reioycing in man vtterly excluded For before the couenant wee are altogether voyde of all goodnes in the couenant wee are receiued and saued by mercie without workes Christ is a mediator to God for vs paying the ransome of our sinnes by him is powred vpon vs the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost by him we are iustified and made heyres of euerlasting life If we haue faith or hope they are all the giftes of God thorow Christ so that wee haue euery way cause of abasing our selues and onely to * 1. Cor. 1.30 reioyce in him Wherefore the Church ascribing nothing to her selfe maketh this ioyfull confession a Esay 61.10 I will greatly reioyce in the Lord and my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for he hath clothed mee with the garments of saluation and couered me with the robe of righteousnes c. Now not minding to shew euery particular poynt which these two places affoord An obseruation to the teacher we will come to the second parte of the Sacraments In handling whereof if any thing bee not in one of these two texts for it were much all to be I will set in the margine some other place as a supplie to their wants and this doctrine is in two things 1. How many Sacraments 2. What they be 8. There are but two Sacraments of the * I say couenāt because the word sacrament is vsed diuersly this shutteth of vnproper vses couenant that is to say Baptisme and the Lords Supper The other poynt What they bee will appeare easie if wee learne how they agree betweene themselues and how they differ both betweene themselues and also from others 9. Two Sacraments agree in foure things These two Sacraments agree in these things 1. In a generall definition A Sacrament is a signe and seale of the couenant of grace First they are signes 1 In a generall definition as water washing in Baptisme bread and wine eating and drinking in the Lords Supper They are both signes of the couenant for Baptisme signifieth Christs bloud in the couenant and so dooth the Lords Supper and they bee both more thē bare signes euen seales of assurance For as the seale is set to a will or deed to confirme the writing so are these two appointed by Christ to assure vs of the thing they signifie Therefore the one is called his body and the other the washing of the new birth not because they bee chaunged in nature but by such a neere speech to assure vs of the thing sealed or signed They both herein assure vs of our iustification and sanctification Secondly 2 They be as badges they bee both outward badges of our profession as by the one we shew the Lords death and by the other that wee are Gods children by a new birth Thirdly 3 Both commanded Mat. 28.18.19 they both haue a commandement from Christ Fourthly 4 Both haue a forme of administration Acts. 2.14.37.38 Mar. 16.15.16 they both haue a prescribed forme of administration in regard of the Minister and people The Minister is appoynted to preach and declare the couenant and to administer the Sacraments the people to heare and to receiue the Sacraments In Baptisme the Minister must wash with water in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost the person to bee admitted into the Church is to submit himselfe to such a washing In the Lords Supper the Minister by thanksgiuing is to set apart to this holy vse the bread wine seuerally to breake the bread and to giue afterwards seuerally first bread and then wine to the people bidding them to eate drinke c. and the people ought to receiue them both seuerally first bread and then wine and to eate the bread and drinke the wine not as common bread and wine but as sanctified to the
two sorts of points What wee are of ourselues What wee are made by Christ The doctrines 1. 1 Otherwise there needed not the promise Eph. 2.1.2 Of ourselues wee are sinners and therefore accursed to damnation by Adams fall 2. 2 This is in a manner the text By Christ wee are made blessed that is heires of eternall life 3. 3 Expoūded Heb. 2.16 Here is taught what Christ is touching his person as in the former Catechisme Christ is God and man of the seede of Abraham 4. 4 These two are gathered out of this text Gal. 3.6.8 Rom. 4.11.12.23.24 There is but one way of saluation which is common to Iew and Gentill 5. 5 These two are gathered out of this text Gal. 3.6.8 Rom. 4.11.12.23.24 Christ is applied vnto vs for iustification by no meanes but faith onely 6. 6 So gathered Gal. 3.17.18 Our saluation commeth not of workes in our doing or will in our choosing but of Gods free promise 7. Vnder this word blessed 7 Gal. 3.29 1. Cor. 1.30 Reuel 20.6 are contained all Gods graces and gifts which thorough Christ hee giueth to his Church and his protection in this life with the resurrection vnto life eternall 8. One part of this blessednes is 8 So applied Luk. 1.73 Act. 3.25.26 that Christ turneth vs from our sinnes and leadeth vs by the promise to walke in godlines and honestie 9. 9 For this promise is exclusiue as Act. 4.12 Gal. 1.8 Ioh. 3.18 There is no other meanes of saluation but Christ and therefore all other professions and religions which teach not the true beleefe in Christ are the synagogues of Satan and seminaries of hell fire 10. 10 Ancienter by 430 yeares then the law of works Gal. 3.17 Tit. 1.1 Heb. 13.8.9 That we are iustified and saued by faith onely is the most ancient doctrine being taught by God vnto Abraham long before euer there was any Church of Rome Here the master of the familie may applie vnto euery particular person how his faith should agree with these points by the example of Iob whose Creede thus followeth Iob. 19.25 I am sure my redeemer liueth c. Where thou maist see his faith in that he saith I am sure his acknowledgement of sins and expectation of Christ in the word Redeemer and in the word liueth hee sheweth that Christ is alway the onely q So expounded Heb. 7.24.25 sufficient fauiour his hope of the resurrection is plaine in the rest and the description of eternall life in this r So defined Psal 16.11 17.15 he shall see God CAP. 5. The third Catechisme for confirmation in knowledge The place of Scripture Esay 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many whose iniquities he shal beare The Interpretation THese words are euidently a prophesie of Christ Iesus wherin the master must teach his familie to cōsider the persons First he that speaketh is God then the persons of whom he speaketh are two 1. Christ whō he calleth his righteous seruant 2. all beleeuers which are many men and women whose sinnes hee beareth The Doctrine 1. 1 In the first person 2. Tim. 1.9 God decreeth the saluation of many by Christ 2. Mans works free-will 2 This followeth of the first merit and satisfaction are excluded by the vndesired and vndeserued good pleasure of GOD in so decreeing 3. In Christ we see two things 3 This appeareth in the two following what hee is in himselfe and what to vs the first we call his person and the second his office adioyned to his person 4. In his person hee is called a seruant 4 In the second person Gods seruant and a iust seruant A seruant because being God he became a man which is called the ſ Philip. 2.6.7 forme of a seruant Gods seruant because hee came to doe t Heb. 10.7 Gods will Just or righteous because it behoued that hee being u 1. Pet. 3.18 iust should die for vs who are vniust so that he being x Heb. 4.14.15 GOD was also man in all thing sauing sinne 5. 5 In that God assigneth and accepteth him to iustifie vs c. 1. Tim. 2.5.6 His office is here generally to be a mediator betweene God and man 6. The parts of his office 6 This is shewed in the two following Psalm 110. are his Kingdome his Priesthood 7. He being King of his Church giueth giftes that is Ministers to teach remission of sinnes and so as the righteous King he iustifieth all beleeuers 7 In these words by his knowledge shal c. Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.8.9.10.11 8. Hee being Priest beareth our sinnes 8 So expounded Heb. 9.11.12 when he made himselfe a liuely sacrifice to his father for vs. 9. 9 This expoundeth the former two in them is contained reade 2. Cor. 5.19.20.21 Rom. 4.25 and cap. 10.4.14 By his Priesthoode he performeth the worke of our righteousnes and by his Kingly office hee applieth it vnto vs. For being Priest he dieth for our sins and riseth to make vs righteous but yet till by hearing this kings Embassadors wee doe beleeue wee are not iustified 10. 10 In the third person Many c. Rom. 3.23.24.25 Wee are of our owne nature sinners and al our iustification and redemption commeth onely by the free will of God thorow beleefe in Iesus Christ 11. 11 Reade Rom. 8.30 Tit. 3.7 Vnder iustification is contained glorification or euerlasting life for these necessarilie follow each other 12. 12 Gal. 1.4 If Christ iustifie vs by bearing our sinnes then wee must knowe that aboue all things we ought to flie sinne Here the Master of the familie may applie to his people in a short summe the substance of this Catechisme by the words of Habbakuck cap. 2. ver 4. The iust shall liue by his faith In regarde of iustification thus y So expounded Rom. 1.17 Galat. 3.11 a good man findeth in himselfe no wisdome righteousnes power will or workes to leane vnto but looketh for his iustification and saluation onely by faith in Christ In regarde of sanctification thus z So opened Heb. 10.38.39 1. Pet. 4.19 Gal. 2.19.20 A good man forsaketh all his owne earthly deuises and all wicked workes in the maintaining of his estate and life beleeuing that his life shall bee maintayned without any euill deuises or shiftes and therefore committeth his soule life and all hee hath into Gods hands in weldooing depending vpon the mercie and promise of God in Christ CAP. 6. The fourth Catechisme for confirmation of knowledge The place of holy Scripture Psalme 130.3 If thou O Lorde streightly markest iniquities O Lorde who shall stand 4. But mercie is with thee that thou maiest be feared The Interpretation THis text is a confession of faith agreeing in substance with the former wherein the faithfull soule applieth the doctrine of iustification vnto a speciall vse in prayer
I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered vnto you that the Lord Iesus the same night hee was betraied tooke bread Vers 24. And when he had giuen thanks he brake it and sayd Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you doe this in remembrance of me 25. After the same manner also hee tooke the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the new Testament in my bloud doe this as oft as you drinke it in remembrance of me 26. For as oft as you eate this bread or drinke this cuppe ye shew the Lords death till he come The Interpretation THese two places haue one end Both texts to one end namely to teach good order and good behauiour amongst Gods people the first touching all dueties and the latter in the seruice of God as namely in the vse of the Sacraments The first is by a comparison of the estate of Christians before their calling The first text with that wherein they are after they be called the a Were in times past vers 3. first estate is verse 3. in these wordes were in time past where he describeth the nature of the vnregenerate in the b Wee our selues person of the Christian in these words we our selues first the corruption of the c Vnwise Disobedient Deceiued minde vnwise in the vnderstanding part disobedient in will and deceiued in iudgement Secondly in the d Seruing the lusts diuers pleasures affections seruing the lusts and pleasures Thirdly in e Liuing in maliciousnes and enuie conuersation liuing in all wickednes to the hurt of others and this is set forth by the f Hatefull and hating vers 4. effect that one hated the other By which hee emptieth man of all righteousnes and strippeth him naked that he may bee seene to be nothing but filthines Then the other estate is shewed in the rest First by the g Bountifulnes and 〈◊〉 of God fundamentall cause the secret bouÌ„tifulnes loue of God And because God is h Our Sâ—â—â—our author of christian happines wholy soly he is intituled Our Sauiour this bountifulnes is set forth by the i When appeared vers 5. time when it was knowne and effectuall when it appeared and this is verse 4. Then verse 5. he sheweth k According to his mercie how it is wrought namely by mercie that is compassion on our infirmities and miseries being such desperate sinners which is opened by his a Not by the works of righteousnes which we had done contrarie that it was not by our workes of righteousnes Then hee sheweth b He saued vs. what God did he saued vs namely from that miserable estate of sinne and this is declared by the instrument which is double one c Washing outward of lesse power which is washing that is Baptisme the other d Holy ghost inward which is effectuall and maketh the washing effectuall this is the holy Spirite and that by two e New birth and renewing effectes the new birth or regeneration vnto faith and renewing of vs in sanctification vnto holynes And verse 6. vers 6 these two effects are set forth by the holy f Iesus Christ conduit or meanes by which they are powred downe vpon vs which is aboundantly by Christ and then verse 7. vers 7 by the g Iustified and made heires c. effects that we should be iustified by his grace that is * Rom. 3.24 freely reconciled vnto God by faith in Christs blood and made heyres of eternall life This latter effect is declared by his h Hope instrument Hope The summe is then that seeing by nature wee are so corrupt in minde in will affections and workes and that God of his bountifulnes without our workes moued onely by his mercie hath begotten vs a new and sanctified vs with his spirit whereof Baptisme is a Sacrament all this by Christ c. We ought to bee subject to principalities and powers obedient and readie to euerie good worke The other place The second text opened is by a rehearsall of the institution of Christ that by it as by a rule or lawe the Corinthian abuses and disorders might be reformed where firs is the i I haue receiued of the Lord c. preface to make it a rule because he deliuerad to them that he receiued from the Lorde insinuating that hee durst not teach them any thing else and therefore they did ill to corrupt that order by their abuses then for the thing it selfe he first simplie and truly sheweth the very storie and after he expoundeth the vse of it In the storie he beginneth with the a The night he was betrayed time that it was ordayned The same night he was betrayed namely the * Colos 2.16.17 Heb. 10.1.2.9 time of the olde testament in the shadowes hauing in him an ende he erecteth ordinances for the new then secondly hee sheweth the b Hee tooke â—read and brake c. vers 24. things First that hee tooke bread then that hee blessed it by * 1. Cor. 10.16 giuing thankes that is hee separated it to some speciall vse to that end followeth the breaking the bread and bidding them to take and eate it then he sheweth the c This is my bodie vse of these ceremonies in these words this is my bodie which is sacramentally spoken as * Exod. 12.11.12 1. Cor. 10.3.4 that of the Passeouer and of Manna and the rocke c. that that breaking of bread was a signe of his bodie to be broken which he expoundeth himselfe in the d This doe ye in remeÌ„brance of me next wordes which are a commandement by vertue whereof the Churche ought to vse this Sacrament namely that the Church should doe as hee did and when they so doe they should doe it in remembrance of him Then verse 25. vers 25 hee sheweth the e After the same manner c. like of the cup where the words of the f This cuppe is the new Testament c. vse are spoken by a borrowed speech the cuppe for the wine in the cup and alluding to the g Exod. 4.8 righte of the sacrifices he calleth it the testament in his blood meaning that it was a sacramentall signe of the couenant of God sealed with his blood which least we should dreame of any Transubstantiation or consubstantiation hee likewise expoundeth himselfe in a h This doe as oft as ye c. commandement to the Church that when they drinke it they should doe as he did in remembrance of him Now the Apostle hauing the same spirit of Christ in that very meaning doth teach vs the i As oft as ye c. vers 26. vse verse 26. calling the creatures in the eating bread and in the drinking wine and that the same bread and wine so separated by thankesgiuing are not changed in their substance but in their
into the image of a corruptible man and of birdes c. Rom. 1.23 Fourthly they c Saturnians who make one God of the Iewes and another of the gentiles and either contrarie to other reade Rom. 3.29 Fiftly a Symonians they who affirme that the diuell hath free power ouer all thinges Iob. 1.8.9 Sixtly some ascribe ouermuch to phificke pollicie strength and witches reade 1. Sam. 2.3.8.9 Psal 36.6 Prou. 21.30.31 Seuenthly b Priscillianists some make starres and planets to gouerne mens actions Hier. 10.1 Eyghtly some ascribe the euent of things to fortune some the being and continuance of thinges to nature reade Esay 45.5 6 7. Rom. 11.36 Reuel 4.11 2.3.4 To these three of the Trinitie are contrarie three heretikes first c Montanists who say there is but one person in the trinity which is called by diuers names of father sonne and holy Ghost Secondly d Aetians who saye the three persons to bee onely three qualities Thirdly e Triformians who affirme the three persons to bee three diuers and separable Gods 1. Corinth 8.4 1. Iohn 5.7 Fiftly against the person of Christ the diuell hath fought by many heretikes Some f Nestorians make one person of his diuinitie and another of his humanitie some g Arrians make Christ to be God not by nature but by grace and to be lesse then his father Some h Bonosians call Christ an adopted sonne some i Marcellians say he was not begotten of the father some k Carpocratians say Christ was conceiued after the manner of other men l Apollinaris Some will haue his bodie to bee heauenly and not of the Virgin Marie m Eunomians Some denie Christ a minde n Eutyches Some auouch the humane nature to bee swallowed vp of the diuine o Timotheans Some confound the two natures of Christ and make him a mixt third thing The doctrine of the office of Christ doth condemne the Symonians Sethians Menander and all that shew any other sauiour or meanes of saluation or additament more then Christ onely and the faith and doctrine of him Such as are the Papists who ioyne mans workes merits satisfactions pardons pilgrimages prayers purgatorie and I cannot tell what trumperie as additaments to Christ Acts 4.11 Iohn 10.1 2 3. and 14.6 Gal. 6.14.15 Reuel 22.18 some a Manichies say the soule onely to be saued and b Paternians some the vpper partes of the bodie Rom. 8.1 Philip. 3.21 6. The doctrine of the estate of man without Christ condemneth them c Pelagians who deny children to be corrupted with originall sinne and that without the grace of God a man may doe all the commandements of God and d Papists they who dreame of certaine pure naturals by which they imagine they can prepare themselues to grace and worke with grace the merit to saluation 2. Cor. 3.5 Philip 2.13 Heb. 12.2 There bee also some among vs who thorow ignorance doe very lightly feele their miserie and how wickedly soeuer they liue they yet fancie to themselues an happie estate they say they will doe well or pray or aske pardon but not feeling the deep wound of sinne they little feare the sore and grieuous punishment which hangeth ouer their heads for neglecting so great saluation by Christ Heb. 2.1.2.3 and 12.25 7. The doctrine of the causes of our saluation first in the good pleasure of Gods will condemneth them e Pelagians who doe vtterly deny predestination to establish free-will And thē f Papists who tye it to workes foreseene Rom. 9.11 Concerning Christ the meanes it condemneth them g Heracleans who put in his roome oyntments and ceremonies And the Papists as before in the 5. Heb. 1.5 The doctrine of faith applying Christ is against the Papists who would ioyne workes Rom. 3.28 8. This ouerthroweth all Atheists Deists Sophisters and ignorant brablers who frame to themselues a God or saluation without faith in Christ 1. Tim. 3.16 Gal. 3.26 9. The doctrine of certaintie confuteth the Papists who would haue men to doubt of their saluation Heb. 10.19.20.21.23 10. Free saluation excludeth merit Tit. 3.4 11. Perfect saluation ouerthroweth the sacrifice of the Masse and much popish trash 2. Pet. 1.3 12. This ouerthroweth Purgatorie which is made a third place contrarie to 1. Iohn 1.7 13. This refelleth them a Cerdonians who deny the resurrection or b Hymineus Philetus say it is past alreadie or c Epicures make their happines in this life 1. Thess 4.14 1. Ioh. 3.1 14. This reprooueth them d Gnostici who make faith a naked knowledge of the Gospel without the fruites of good workes or e Libertines make good workes contrarie to faith or f Antitactae will men to be free from Gods commandements Eph. 4.24 Gal. 5.6 Eph. 2.10 15. Concerning the Sacraments in another place onely here if it can bee taught the difference of the outward signe and the thing signified and that these are not to bee confounded neither that which is proper to the one to bee giuen to the other it shall giue cleere sight against many errors As g 1. Pet. 3.31 Peter speaketh of Baptisme that it saueth vs openeth his meaning saying not the washing away of the filth of the flesh which is the outward signe but the inward working of the spirit which is in the answer to God and by the resurrection of Christ So h 22.19 Christ calling the bread his bodie dooth yet teach vs to follow this rule when he biddeth vs doe all that actiō of receiuing it in remembrance of him So that the outward action is as the signe and seale but the power of working is in the thing signified which is Christ by his spirit applying through faith that heauenly washing and foode vnto our soules CAP. 9. The seuenth Catechisme for establishing of iudgement HEre I will choose two places of holy scripture because mine especiall purpose is to teach the doctrine of the Sacraments and handle them both together and because they are seales of the couenant of grace the couenant also is therewithall to be declared that the one may shewe the vse of the other and each take light strength from other which I can hardly doe out of any one text The first Text. Tit. 3. vers 3. We our selues were in times past vnwise disobedient deceiued seruing the lusts diuers pleasures liuing in maliciousnes and enuie hatefull and hating one another 4. But when the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared 5. Not by the works of righteousnes which wee had done but according to his mercie hee saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost 6. Which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our Lord. 7. That wee being iustified by his grace should bee made heires according to hope of eternall life The second Text. 1. Cor. 11.23
* Gen. 28.12 ladder by which the elect doe walke vp into heauen and in the margin the particular poyntes of doctrine as the goodly * 1. King 10.18 Lions on both side of the steps of Salomons throne which with little marking thou maist perceiue to offer themselues The poynts of doctrine in the meaning of the words The interpretation or ladder Ver. 3. HEre is the top of Salomons throne for hee sheweth in this verse the state of all faithfull Christians in this life after their effectuall calling that they haue as it were liuery and sesin of that heauenly kingdome Where the blessing is that of Abraham Gen. 22. communicated vnto them by the a The trinitie spirite and it is described by the author a The trinitie God the b Christ in his person Gods sonne in office Lord Iesus Christ i annoynted Sauiour king priest and prophet Father of our a The trinitie Lorde Iesus Christ and by the nature of it which is heauenly which may be translated as chap. 2.6 heauenly places because the c The state of beleeuers to bee heires of heauen blessing is to make vs heyres of heauen by hope as is expounded verse 13.14 and Titus 3.7 and it is set forth by the meanes which is a Christ the meanes Christ namely that being in Christ we haue this blessing Gal. 3.14 and it is saide all spirituall blessings because b The Spirit the worker by the spirite all giftes necessarie to eternall life are giuen vs 1. Pet. 1.3 and he teacheth them to prayse c God the author God as the author saying Blessed be God c. Hauing shewed that the faithfull are set by Christ thorow the spirit in the state of saluation as it were translated from death to life now in the rest hee sheweth the proceeding of the causes as the steppes by which GOD bringeth vs vnto this and so in the accomplishment of all the elect vnto the perfection of ioye in the life to come Verse 4. He sheweth the first steppe d The first cause of saluation chosen before the world was God doth chuse them this is declared by the time that is before all time and by the e God in chosing looked not on worke or faith foreseene but on his sonne mouing cause in Christ by the f Godly life an effect not a cause of saluation end that we should be holy c. Verse 5. He sheweth here a second cause or degree which is g The second cause of saluation adoption thorow Christ Adoption that is God would take vs to bee his children which is set forth by the repetition of the first cause h They that are adopted were first predestinated predestination which is generall to election and reprobation namely that out of it came adoption that is God set downe by decree whom he would make his children thorow Christ which is called the sure foundation of God 2. Tim. 2.19 and this illustrated by another i The good pleasure of Gods will the mouing cause of predestination to adoption mouing cause which is the good pleasure of his will Verse 6. The former cause is here amplified by the last k The glory of God the finall cause final the glorie of Gods grace Which l The grace of God a third cause grace is made a third and speciall working cause bringing forth a fourth which is our m Iustification a fourth cause iustification for hee saith that with n If it bee of grace it is not now of works Rom. 11.6 grace he maketh them accepted and to bee accepted is alone with iustified and his grace being the cause thereof sheweth that wee are freely iustified by his grace Rom. 3.24 And lastly that we may know this iustifying to be o We are iustified by grace thorow faith in Christ by faith in Christ he addeth him as the materiall cause in all these causes terming him beloued by excellencie because for his sake God doth these things Verse 7. The a Redemption by Christs bloud a fift cause fift cause of our saluation is redemption by Christs blood this is declared by the b Forgiuenes of sinnes part of redemptiō His bloud sheweth Christ a naturall man effect forgiuenes of sinnes which sheweth how Christ is the meanes of our iustification namely in that hee payed the ransome for our sinnes and so wee being forgiuen are accounted iust for his sake as is opened 2. Cor. 5.17.20.21 which is amplified by repetition of the working cause his grace c Rich is the grace of God in forgiuenes of sinnes which for the exceeding greatnes is called rich Verse 8.9 Here he sheweth a d The preaching of the Gospell a sixt cause sixt cause euen the instrument by which he applieth all these causes vnto vs which is the preaching of the Gospell called here e The Gospell is the opening of the mistery of Gods will in all wisdome and vnderstanding The opening of the mystery of his will So expounded cap. 3.4 5 6. Coloss 1.25.26 Which thing is set forth first by the cause whereby that is his grace secondly by the order of it that it was aboundant in all wisdome and vnderstanding thirdly the f The preaching of the gospell commeth of Gods grace and good pleasure repetition of one mouing cause The good pleasure of his will and lastly by the first cause his g Preaching of the gospell ordained of Gods purpose purpose wherein he regarded nothing but Christ wherefore hee saith in him that is as God purposed in his good pleasure to elect and adopt these happie soules in Christ so did he in that purpose appoynt the meanes which is the preaching of the Gosspell Verse 10. The h Our effectuall calling the seuenth cause last cause which is the effectuall calling named the i All the faithfull gathered into one gathering into one The greeke word signifieth the gathering of dispersed things into one entire or summe namely that where we be in all ages as sheep going astray we are called by the gospell and gathered by fayth vnto Christ our shepheard into one felowship or bodie which then shall be k There is a certaine number of the elect which shall be made full vp in Christ perfected when the whole number of the elect being accomplished we shall all meete with Christ and hee made meruellous in all that beleeue Ephes 4.12 13. which calling is set forth by two argumentes First by the times wherein there is a a The faithfull called in all times ages dispensation of times and a b In the end of time all the elect shall be one with Christ fulnes of times which sheweth that God calleth and gathereth his elect in many times as before the law and vnder the law and in the time of the Gospell wherein the whole world shal be gathered And