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all contracted thoughts of this work, he expresseth it in terms comprehending the whole creation as a stupendous fabric, having a permanent subsistence through successive ages; as John also contents not himself by affirming that he made all things, but adds to that assertion, that without him nothing was made that was made, John i, 3. We now proceed as proposed,

$25. (IV.) To make some doctrinal and practical observations on the words:

Obs. 1. The revelation of the will of God, as to all things concerning his worship, our faith and obedience, is peculiarly and eminently from the Father. This is that which the apostle partly asserts, partly takes for granted, as the spring of his future reasoning; and this shall now be a little further illustrated and confirmed. To which end we may particularly remark,

(1.) That the whole mystery of his will, antecedently to the revelation of it, is said to be "hid in God," that is, the Father, Ephes. iii, 9. It lay wrapt up from the eyes of men and angels, in his eternal wisdom and counsel, Col. i, 26, 27. The Son, indeed, who was from eternity in the bosom of the Father, John i, 18, as one brought up with him, his eternal delight and wisdom, Prov. viii, 29, 30, was partaker with him in this counsel, ver. 31, as also his eternal Spirit, who searches and knows all the deep things of God; 1 Cor. ii, 10, 11, but yet the rise and spring of this mystery was in the Father. For the order of acting in the blessed Trinity, follows the order of subsistence. As the Father, therefore, is the fountain of the Trinity, as to subsistence, so also as to operation.

(2.) That the revelation of the mystery of the will of God, so hidden in the counsel of his will from eternity, was always made in pursuit and for the accomplishment of the purpose of the Father; or, that eter

nal purpose is by way of eminency, ascribed to him, Ephes. i, 8, 9, "He hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself." It is the Father of whom he speaks, ver. 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now he abounds to usward by wisdom and prudence, or abundantly manifests his infinite wisdom in his dealings with us, by the revelation of the mystery of his will; and this he doth in pursuit of his good pleasure which he purposed in himself; or that purpose of his will which had its foundation solely in his good pleasure.

(3.) This purpose of God the Father being communicated to the Son, whence resulted the counsel of peace between them both; Zech. vi, 13, and the Son rejoicing to do the work that was incumbent on him for its accomplishment; Prov. viii, 30-32, it became peculiarly the care and work of the Father, to see that the inheritance promised him upon his undertaking, should be given to him. This is done by the revelation of the will of God to men concerning their obedience and salvation whereby they are made the lot, the seed, the portion, and inheritance of Christ: to this end the Father, who said to the Son, "Sit thou on my right hand," Psalm cx, 2; sends the rod of his power out of Sion, ver. 2, to declare his rule even over his enemies, and to make those people given him willing and obedient, ver. 3. But the inheritance thus given by the Father to the Messiah being wholly in the possession of another, it became him to take it out of the usurper's hands, and deliver it up to him whose right it was; and this he doth by the revelation of his mind in the preaching of his word, Col. i, 12, 13. And from these considerations it is that,

(4.) The whole revelation and dispensation of the will of God in and by the word, is, as before observed, eminently appropriated to the Father. Eternal life (the purpose, the counsel, the means, and procurer of it) was with the Father, and was manifested to us by the Word of truth, 1 John i, 1, 2. And it is the Father, that is, his will, mind, grace, love, and purpose, that the Son declares, John i, 18, in which work he speaks nothing but what he heard and learned from the Father, John viii, 28. And thence he says, "The doctrine is not mine," (that is, principally and originally) "but his that sent me," John vii, 16. And the gospel is called the gospel of the glory of the "blessed God," which is a periphrasis of the person of the Father, who is the "Father of glory." And we might also remark that the great work of making this gospel effectual on the minds of men, doth peculiarly belong to the Father, which he accomplisheth by his Spirit, 2 Cor. iii, 18; iv, 6.

$26. And from the appropriating of this work originally and principally to the Father, there are three things that are particularly intimated unto us:

1. The authority that is to be considered in it: the Father is the original of all power and authority; of him the whole family of heaven and earth is named, Eph. iii, 15. He is the Father of the whole family, from whom Christ himself receives all his power and authority as mediator, Matt. xxviii, 18; which, when his work is accomplished, he shall give up again into his hand, 1 Cor. xv, 28. He sent him into the world, set him over his house, gave him command and commission for his work. The very name and title of "Father" carries authority along with it; Mal. i, 6; he hath all power essentially in him over the souls and eternal conditions of them to whom he speaks. And

what holy reverence, humility, and universal subjection of soul to the word doth this require? In this representation,

2. There is also love. In the economy of the blessed Trinity, about the work of our salvation, that which is eminently and in an especial manner ascribed to the Father is love, 1 John iv, 9, 10, 16. "God," that is, the Father, "is love." To be love, full of love, to be the special spring of all fruits of love, is peculiar to him as the Father. It is out of love, infinite love, mercy, and compassion, that God would at all reveal his mind and will to sinners. He might for ever have locked up the treasures of his wisdom and prudence, wherein he abounds towards us in his word, in his own eternal breast. He might have left all the sons of men to that woful darkness, whereunto by sin they had cast themselves, and kept them under the chains and power of it, with the angels that sinned before them, unto the judgment of the great day. But it was from infinite love that he made this condescension to reveal himself and his will unto us. This mixture of authority and love, which is the spring of the revelation of the will of God to us, requires all readiness, willingness, and cheerfulness in our reception of it. Besides these,

3. There is also care peculiarly discoverable in it, The great care of the church is eminently in the Father. He is the husbandman that takes care of the vine and vineyard, John xv, 1, 2. And thence our Savior, who had a delegated care of his people, commends them to the Father, John xvii; as to whom the care of them did principally and originally belong. Care is proper to a father as such, and especially to God as a Father. Care is inseparable from paternal love.

§27. As for the dispensers of the word, let them take heed of pursuing that work negligently, which hath its spring in the authority, love, and care of God, see 1 Tim. iv, 13-16. Let them know to whom to look for support, ability, and encouragement in their work, Ephes. vi, 19, 20. And let them not be discouraged whatever opposition they meet with in the discharge of their duty, considering whose work they have in hand, 2 Cor. iv, 15, 16. Let them learn how they ought to dispense the word so as to answer the spring from whence it comes; namely, with authority, love to, and care for the souls of men. And, let them consider to whom they are to give an account of the work they are called to discharge, and the talents with which they are entrusted, Heb. xiii, 7.

$28. And for them to whom the word is preached, let them consider,

With what reverence and godly fear they ought to attend to the dispensing of it, seeing it is a proper effect and issue of the authority of God, Heb. xii, 25. How they will escape if they neglect so great a salvation declared to them from the love and care of God, Heb. ii, 3. And, with what holiness and spiritual subjection of soul to God they ought to be conversant with all his appointed ordinances of worship, Heb. xii, 28, 29.

$29. Obs. 2. The authority of God speaking by the inspired penmen, is the sole foundation of our assenting to the scriptures, and what they contain, with Divine faith. He once spake in them, he still continues to speak by them, and therefore is their word to be received, 2 Pct. iii, 21, 22.

$30. Obs. 3. "God's gradual revelation of his mind and will to the church, was a fruit of infinite wisdom and care towards his elect." "These are parts of his

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