BOOK 2. FROM ETERNITY.
CHAPTER 1.
2.1.8. The Decree.
The Decree.
The decree of God concerning man's salvation before the foundation of the world, appears in these texts, "I will declare the decree," (saith God.) What was that? Why, concerning Christ, and concerning the church, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession," Psalm ii. 7, 8. It was God's decree to give out of Jews and Gentiles a church to Christ; and this decree was made in that day of eternity, when the Son of God was begotten of the Father. This decree in scripture phrase hath several titles,
1. It is the very same with that which we usually call predestination; for what is predestination but a decree of God concerning the different preparation of grace, whereby some are guided infallibly unto salvation? Predestination is a decree both of the means and end; a decree of given grace effectual unto some persons here, and of bringing the same persons unto glory hereafter. This decree, this predestination, this golden chain of the means and end, is set down by the apostle, "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified," Rom. viii. 30. As God hath predestinated some to life and glory, so he hath predestinated them to be called and justified before they be glorified; whomsoever the Lord hath decreed to save, them hath he also decreed to sanctify before they come to enjoy that salvation. God hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be first holy, and then happy, Eph. i. 4. See how these are twisted by the apostle once and again, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," 2 Thess. ii. 13. I have heard of some blasphemous reasonings "If we are predestinate to be saved we may live as we list, for howsoever we live, though never so wickedly, yet we shall be saved." O fearful! O devilish reasoning! surely this comes from the devil, and not from God, or his word: mark here one of Satan's depths: "In outward things he tempts men to distrust God, and to rely altogether on means: but in heavenly things, and matters of salvation he tempts men to lay all on God's decrees, and God's purposes, without any regard had to the means," Gal. iii. 29. Such men might as well say. The Lord hath appointed that we shall live to such a time, and till then we shall not die, and therefore what need we food in health, or physic in sickness? Oh take heed of these reasonings! God's decree doth not remove the use of the means, but establish and confirm them.
2. This decree is the same with that book of life wherein are written the names of the elect; Paul tells us of "some women, with Clement, and other fellow-labourers, whose names aye in the book of life," Phil. iv. 3. And Christ bids his disciples "rejoice, because their names are written in heaven," Luke xii. 20. And John saw in his vision "the dead, small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, Rev. xx. 12. As captains have a book, wherein they write the names of their soldiers, and citizens have a book wherein they record the names of their burgesses: so God hath his decree or book of life, in which he registers all that belong to him. Some other texts speak of a book of life, as "Blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written," said Moses in his zeal for Israel, to whom the Lord answered, "Whosoever sinneth agmst me, him will I blot out of my book," Exod. xxxi. 32, 33. But this was not the book (say some) of God's eternal decree, but the book of his providences, God hath a double book, and both in a figure; hath a book of his resolved decrees, and a book of his acted providences; this latter is but a transcript, or a copy of the former: those huge original volumes of love and blessings which God hath laid up in his heart for his own people from all eternity, is the book I mean: indeed this book is writing out every day, by the hand and pen of providence in the ordering of all those affairs which concern our salvation.
3. This decree is the very same also with God's seal; "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his," 2 Tim. ii. 19. A seal is used in three cases;
(a). To keep things distinct.
(b). To keep things secret.
(c). To keep things safe.
In every one of these respects God's decrees are seals; but especially in the last; those souls that are sealed by God, they are safe in the love and favour of God; as when Job tells us that "God sealeth up the stars," (i.e.) say some, he preserveth the stars in their orbs, in the places where he hath set them they shall never drop out, so God seals up his saints, (i.e.) he secures them of the eternal love of God so that they shall never drop out of his heart. All these titles speak the immutability of God's eternal emanent acts, q.d. I decree, I predestitinate, I look it, seal it, that such and such persons shall be eternally saved; and why all this, but to note the certainty and stability of the thing. Shall great monarchs of the earth do thus? Shall they decree, and book and seal, to show their greatness and wisdom, that they could so resolve, as no person or power whatsoever should be strong enough to cause them to change their resolutions? And shall not I much more r Do not I know, or foresee all that can or will follow? Is there any power, or ever shall be, to take them out of my hands? Or is it possible, that ever I should have a relenting thought at the saving of these souls? Can anything fall out hereafter, to make me more provident, more powerful, more wise, more merciful than now I am? It may be in some things I may will a change, but can I in anything truly change my will?" No, no, "I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed," Mal. iii. 6.