Part 99

ings may be considered: (1.) Their original; (2.) The design of their accomplishment.

(1.) Their first spring or original was in the divine will and wisdom alone, without respect to [Auto-modernized] any external moving cause. No reason can be given, no cause be assigned, of these counsels, but the will of God alone. Hence are they called or described, by -- the "good pleasure which he purposed in himself," Ephesians 1:9, "the purpose of him who works [Auto-modernized] all things according to the counsel of his own will:"verse 11. "Who has [Auto-modernized] known the mind of the Lord? Or who has [Auto-modernized] been his counsellor? Or who has [Auto-modernized] first given to [Auto-modernized] him, and it shall be recompensed to [Auto-modernized] him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things:" Romans 11:34-36 The incarnation of Christ, and his mediation upon that [Auto-modernized] , were not the procuring cause of these eternal counsels of God, but the effects of them, as the Scripture constantly declares. But, (2.) The design of their accomplishment was laid in the person of the Son alone. As he was the essential wisdom of God, all things were at first created by him. But upon a prospect of the ruin of all by sin, God would in and by him -- as he was fore-ordained to be incarnate -- restore all things. The whole counsel of God to [Auto-modernized] this end centred in him alone. Hence their foundation is rightly said to be laid in him, and is declared so to be by the apostle: Ephesians 1:4 For the spring of the sanctification and salvation of the church lies in election, the decree of which [Auto-modernized] comprises [Auto-modernized] the counsels of God concerning them. Herein, God from the beginning "chooses [Auto-modernized] us to [Auto-modernized] salvation through sanctification of the