[♦] “Doctrine” omitted from original text.
His Divine Power hath given unto us all things, as it is in the text: the like hereunto is that in the first Epistle, chapter 1. verse 5. Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. And Christ tels us, Matthew 19.26. With men this is unpossible, but with God all things are possible: where we are expresly taught, that salvation and spirituall good things are given unto us by the power of God, to whom all things are possible, that is, his omnipotency, Ieremiah 31.35. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the Sunne, &c.
Reason. Because such a power is necessarily required to bring this to passe, by reason of those strong impediments, which withstand and crosse this worke. For so Christ tels us, that the Devill as a strong man holds his palace, till a stronger then he comes upon him and overcomes him, and takes from him all his armour wherein he trusted, Luke 11.21,22. This is also fully explained by the Apostle, Ephesians 4.8. When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Where he shewes that gifts are given unto us by that very power, whereby captivity is led captive. It is expresly said Ephesians 1.19. that it is the exceeding greatnesse of Gods power, which worketh in us by the might of his power, and Verse 20. the same power whereby Christ was raised from the dead.
Vse 1. This may serve to refute the Remonstrants and such like men, that deny faith to be begotten in us, and our conversion to be wrought by Gods almighty power. For they make grace only morally perswading, that may be resisted, impotent, and consequently uneffectuall.
2. To comfort the weake and all the faithfull, in that they have no reason too much to feare the gates of hell, because they have the gates of heaven making with them: although they must wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and the powers of the world, &c. Ephesians 6.12. Yet they have a divine power, farre beyond all those enemies, to uphold them in this wrestling.
3. To exhort us, 1. To behave our selves stoutly, and shew our selves men in the cause of God, answerable to so Divine a Power, as he is ready to afford unto us. 2. To give God thankes, that hath not left us in our owne infirmities to be exposed as a prey unto our enemies, but by his divine power helpes our infirmities.
Doctrine 5. This Divine Power is the power of Christ himselfe.
Vse 1. This may serve to confirme our faith, touching Christs divine nature. For the divine power is not separated from the divine nature.
2. To comfort us, that he who so loved us, that he gave himselfe for us, hath such sufficient strength to perfect our salvation. He useth this argument to comfort his Disciples. Iohn 10.28,29,30.
Doctrine 6. Christ gives us these things by his divine power, when he doth effectually call us, through the knowledge of him that calleth us.