Paragraph 20.3
Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace thereof
The Revelation of the Gospel unto Sinners, made in divers Times, and by sundry Parts, with the Addition of Promises, and Precepts, for the Obedience required therein, as to the Nations, and Persons, to whom it is granted, is meerly of the Sovereign Will and good Pleasure of God, not being annexed by vertue of any Promise, to the due Improvement of Men’s natural Abilities, by vertue of common Light received without it; which none ever dida make, or can so do: And therefore in all Ages the Preaching of the Gospel hath been granted unto Persons and Nations, as to the Extent, or Streightning of it, in great Variety, according to the Counsel of the Will of God.b
a. Psalm 147:20; Acts 16:7
Psalm 147:20
147:20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.
147:20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
Acts 16:7
16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
16:7 And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
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b. Romans 1:18–32
Romans 1:18–32
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 1:19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 1:27 Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 1:30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 1:31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 1:32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
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