Now I will close my Speache. By all meanes lett Christs parte in the Scripture, and the thinges that concernes his kingdome and persone be better studied by us; lett this Covenant, made betwixt God and Christ, and betwixt God and us through Christ, be better studied; for since the whole Byble takes the denomination from this Covenant, it is recommended to us to studie it better, where ye see our Lord hes tane course to make all thinges fast, and hes so wiselie expressed in the Scripture, that no man shall have leave to presume to despair, to be profane or abuse the doctrine of Grace upon any just ground.
Now for the theses. They shall be given in write ryplie at a convenient tyme.
1. There is a Covenant of redemption betwixt God and the Mediatour Christ, preceiding the Covenant of Grace and Salvation made betwixt God and the faithfull Man through Christ, which is the ground of all this treating that God hes with Man in the preaching of the Gospell.
2. In this Covenant of redemption betwixt God and the second persone, designed Mediatour betwixt God and Man, the elect wer designed and condescendit particularlie upon their number and names, with their gifts and graces of grace and glorie to be bestowed upon them, and the tyme and meanes to bestow it, was all condescendit and agried upon.
3. The pryce of the redemption, what and how much should be payit by the Redeemer for the purchase of all these gifts, how lang he should be holden captive of death, &c., all was determined.
4. The Mediatour was made sure of succes before he pat hand to the making of the world; and all the elect were given to him and their salvation put in his hand, with all power in heaven and earth given to him to bring it to passe; and so he is sure to find out the man to pursuade and convert, to lead him through toutches and temptations, through fears and falls, till he bring him to peace; and this refuge of the soule is a sufficient post against all Arminians doubts.
5. He manadges this matter in the dispensation of the Gospell so wiselie, as it gives no man any reasonable ground either to presume of Gods mercie or to despair of Gods grace; he tempers it so that the holiest man shall have no matter of comfort except he walke in the way of holinesse, and the wickedest man shall not be put out of hopes but to be receaved whensoever he will turne in to seeke Grace, and lyfe, and holiness in Jesus.
Then Mr Androw Ramsay was desyred by the Moderatour to speake somewhat of that subject.
Mr Androw said—I have nothing premeditat; but this shortlie, ex tempore. The question betwixt us and the Arminians are thir—1. Whether our salvation runs upon the hingers of our owne will or upon Gods grace? Our salvation is considered in five respects—1. As it is ordained; 2. As it is purchased; 3. As it is offered; 4. As it is applyed; 5. As it is perfyted.
First, as it is ordained, it depends on God, according as he forsaw mans warkes, (as they say,) and swa to depend on mans will. Some, he saw their warkes would be good, and he choosed them; some he saw their warkes to be evill, and he rejected them; and so they make the first originall chartour to depend on mans will, salvation being ordained.