A CONFESSION OF FAITH. 11 



eternal counsel, that one person of the Godhead 

 should be united to one nature, and to one particu 

 lar of Kis creatures : that so, in the person of the 

 Mediator, the true ladder might be fixed, where 

 by God might descend to his creatures, and his 

 creatures might ascend to God : so that God, by the 

 reconcilement of the Mediator, turning his counte 

 nance towards his creatures, though not in equal 

 light and degree, made way unto the dispensation 

 of his most holy and secret will ; whereby some of 

 his creatures might stand, and keep their state, others 

 might possibly fall, and be restored ; and others 

 might fall, and not be restored to their estate, but 

 yet remain in being, though under wrath and cor 

 ruption : all with respect to the Mediator ; which is 

 the great mystery and perfect centre of all God s 

 ways with his creatures, and unto which all his 

 other works and wonders do but serve and refer. 



That he chose, according to his good pleasure, 

 man to be that creature, to whose nature the person 

 of the eternal Son of God should be united ; and 

 amongst the generations of men, elected a small 

 flock, in whom, by the participation of himself, he 

 purposed to express the riches of his glory ; alt the 

 ministration of angels, damnation of devils and 

 reprobates, and universal administration of all crea 

 tures, and dispensation of all times, having no other 

 end, but as the ways and ambages of God, to fee 

 further glorified in his saints,^ who are one with 

 their head the Mediator, who is one with God. 

 &quot; That by the virtue of this his eternal counsel he 



