Galatians 4:28

Here Paul shewes, that as Sara figured the catholike church: so Isaac was a figure of all true beleeuers the children of God.

Therefore] or thus, And we brethren.

We] not onely the Iewes, but also beleeuing Gentiles.

Promise] the promise made to Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed: or the promise made to the church, that beeing barren shee shall beare many children.

Children of promise] beleeuers are so called: not because they beleeue the promise (though that be a truth) but because they are made children of God, by the vertue of Gods promise. For thus was Isaac the child of promise, in that he was borne to Abraham, not by the strength of nature, but by Gods promise. And Paul opposeth the children of the promise to the children of the flesh, which were borne by naturall strength, Rom. 9. 8.

Hence it followes, that the meere grace of God, is the cause of our election and adoption, and not any thing in vs. For the promise of God makes vs Gods children: and the promise is of the meere grace of God: and therefore we are Gods children by the meere grace of God. For the cause of the cause, is the cause of the thing caused. Therefore Paul saith, that the Ephesians were predestinate to adoption, Eph. 1. 5. And he saith, the 7000, that neuer bowed knee to Baal, were reserued by the election of grace, Rom. 11. 5. And it is a false Position, to teach, that Election and adoption, are according to Gods foreknowledge of our faith and obedience. For thus shall we Elect our selues, and be children not of Gods promise, but of our own freewill and faith. Moreouer God foresees our future faith and obedience, because he first decreed to giue the grace of faith vnto vs: because the foreknowledge of things which are to come to passe, depends vpon a precedent will in God.

Marke further, the children of God are called the children of the promise, and this promise is absolute and effectual. Here a question may be resolued: and that it, whether the child of God in his conuersion haue a libertie and power to resist the inward calling of God? Answ. No. The absolute will of God cannot be resisted: nowe the promise whereby men are made the children of God, is the absolute will of God. Againe, with this promise is ioyned the infinite power of God, which without all resistance brings that to passe which God hath promised. For he makes men to doe that which he commands. Ezec. 36. 26. he giues the will and the deede, Phil. 2. 13. so as men effectually called, cannot but come. Ioh. 6. 45.

It may be saide, that this is to abolish all freedome of will. Ans. It sufficeth to the libertie of the will, that it be free from compulsion: for constraint takes away the libertie of the will, and not necessitie. Secondly, the determination of mans will by the will of God, is the libertie of the will, and not the bondage thereof: for this is perfect libertie, when mans wil is conformable to the will of God.