Ist. That what occurs was foreseen and foreordained. The plan of God embraced and ordered the events here referred to. 2d. That the ground or reason of these occurrences is to be sought in God, in the determination of his will. This however is not a singular case. The bringing certain persons to the enjoyment of the inher- itance purchased by Christ, is not the only thing foreordained by God and brought about by his effi- ciency, and, therefore, the apostle generalizes the truth here expressed, by saying: ‘ We are predestinated ac- cording to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.’ Every thing is comprehended in his purpose, and every thing is or- dered by his efficient control. That control, however, is exercised in accordance with the nature of his crea- tures, so that no violence is done to the constitution which he has given them. He is glorified, and his purposes are accomplished without any injustice or violence.
The counsel of his will, κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ ϑελή- ματος αὐτοῦ, means the counsel which has its origin in his will; neither suggested by others, nor deter- mined by any thing out of himself. It is therefore equivalent to his sovereign will.
V. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, εἰς TO εἶναι ἡμᾶς, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ, that is, that we should be the means of causing his divine majesty or excellence to be praised. Here, as in v. 6, the glory of God is declared to be the design of the plan of redemption and of every thing connected with