The following quotations reveal that Goodwin’s understanding of election is much more consciously christological than that of most puritans:

‘There is a great deal of difference between God’s doing a thing in Christ and through Christ… God redeemeth through Christ, justifieth through Christ, and saveth through Christ; but he chooseth in Christ.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

‘What is the cause of all God’s purposes towards us? Himself. There is no other cause.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

‘Yes, both Christ and we too were distinctly and particularly thought of, and so individually elected.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

‘As in the womb, head and members are not conceived apart, but together, as having relation each to other, so were we and Christ, as making up one mystical body unto God, formed together in that eternal womb of election.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

‘Our salvation had a sure foundation given it in election, not only in God’s eternal love and purpose, (the foundation of the Lord remains sure, he knows who are his) but further also, this his first choice of us was a founding us on Christ, and in and together with choosing us, a setting us into him, so as then to be represented by him… Other men, as likewise the angels that fell, were ordained to be in themselves — to stand or fall by themselves — but we were, by a choice act of God’s, culled out of the lump, and chosen in Christ, and not in ourselves apart.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

‘And were you so chosen in Christ, as that God never purposed you a being but as in Christ, and then gave you this subsistence in Christ, never casting a thought upon you out of him; then reckon of no other being but what you have in Christ. Reckon not of what you have in honours, or what you are in greatness or parts, but reckon of what you were in him before this world was, and of all the spiritual blessings wherewith he then blessed you; and likewise of what you are now in him, by an actual union, as then by a virtual and representative one.’ Ephesians – Sermon V

NB: The painting is Rembrandt’s Pilgrims at Emmaus. 1628-29. Oil on panel. Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris, France.