Page 31 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

sovereign and invariable purpose of God, whereby He did determine within
Himself to create Adam in His own image and likeness, and then to permit his
fall; and to suffer him thereby to plunge himself and his whole
posterity" (inasmuch as they all sinned in him, not only virtually, but also

federally and representatively) "into the dreadful abyss of sin, misery and
death." (3) Consider predestination as relating to the elect only, and it is "that
eternal, unconditional, particular and irreversible act of the Divine will whereby,

in matchless love and adorable sovereignty, God determined with Himself to
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deliver a certain number of Adam's degenerate offspring out of that sinful and
miserable estate into which, by his primitive transgression, they were to fall,"
and in which sad condition they were equally involved, with those who were not
chosen, but, being pitched upon and singled out by God the Father to be vessels

of grace and salvation (not for anything in them that could recommend them to
His favour or entitle them to His notice, but merely because He would show
Himself gracious to them), they were, in time, actually redeemed by Christ, are
effectually called by His Spirit, justified, adopted, sanctified, and preserved safe

to His heavenly kingdom. The supreme end of this decree is the manifestation
of His own infinitely glorious and amiably tremendous perfections; the inferior

or subordinate end is the happiness and salvation of them who are thus freely
elected. (4) Predestination, as it regards the reprobate, is "that eternal, most
holy, sovereign and immutable act of God's will, whereby He hath determined

to leave some men to perish in their sins, and to be justly punished for them."

CHAPTER II.

WHEREIN THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION IS EXPLAINED
AS IT RELATES IN GENERAL TO ALL MEN.

THUS much being premised with relation to the Scripture terms commonly made
use of in this controversy, we shall now proceed to take a nearer view of this

high and mysterious article, and—

I.—We, with the Scriptures, assert that there is a predestination of some
particular persons to life for the praise of the glory of Divine grace, and a
predestination of other particular persons to death, which death of punishment

they shall inevitably undergo, and that just]y, on account of their sins.