According to the eternal purpose
The whole of salvation, in which is displayed the great wisdom of
God, is according to a purpose of his; the scheme of it is fixed
in the council of peace; the thing itself is effected in
pursuance of it; Christ, the Redeemer, was set forth in it; his
incarnation, the time of his coming into the world, his
sufferings and death, with all their circumstances, were decreed
by God; and the persons for whom Christ became incarnate,
suffered, and died, were appointed unto salvation by him; and the
application of it to them is according to his purpose; the time
when, the place where, and the means whereby souls are converted,
are all settled in the decrees of God; the Gospel itself, the
preaching of it by such and such persons, its use to make men see
the mysteries of grace, and the fellowship of them, and to make
known these things to the angels of heaven, are all according to
a divine purpose: and this purpose is eternal, or was in the mind
of God from all eternity; for no new will can arise in him; no
purpose, resolution, or decree can be made by him in time, which
was not in his breast from everlasting; and his purpose
concerning the salvation of men must be eternal, since a council
of peace was held, a covenant of peace was made, a promise of
life was given, persons were fixed upon to be saved, a Saviour
was appointed for them, and grace, and the blessings of it were
put into his hands before the world began.
Which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;
the constitution of it was in him; God was in Christ contriving
the scheme of salvation; eye was upon him, his thoughts centred
in him, in him are all his promises, and blessings of grace
designed and provided for his people; and the execution of this
purpose is by him; though some refer this clause to the church in
( Ephesians 3:10 ) which
he has made in Christ, or by Christ, has built upon him, and
united to him; and others, to the manifold wisdom of God
displayed in Christ, who is the wisdom of God, and in whom all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid.
