See this queftion hand- red by Vafqu. Tbo.q.t9. d: 8z. c. 4. ér t. 5. c's 6. that infiantia fecundaso ordinem obiedtorum inter fe a ;panda funs, et, non ex isDai valuntgte: Of Predeilination. 6. And other learned mens Writings I have feen, who come after" him, and Peek to prove that the Decree de fine & mediis are but one, and confequently that there is no fuch order to be feigned among them. 7. Theplain truth is, Gods Will is the beginning and end of all And all the World are the means of accomplifhing and pleating it : And it is always fulfilledand pleafed, though not always by the fame means : And God lovethno Creature finally for it felt, butfor Himfelf, as his Perfection (hineth in it, andas it fulfillethhisWill. And to feign anyother Order of Intentionand Elution de fine t mediis in God, is prefumptuóus ; much more to lay our frames of them, and. tye God hereto, and trouble the Church with contending for fuch Models, But the Order of Execution is intelligible (in ,part) to man : And we are lurethat God eternally intended toexecute his Will in that Order in which in time he doth it. And therefore this is the onlynecefary and the fufrcient method of Gods Decrees, which"man can invefti- gate. 8. We deny therefore that God decreeth or willeth to damn any before he fore-feeth their Sin ; or that hedecreeth to damn any, but as impenitent Sinners; or that the damnationof anyman is his End; or that he decreeth any mans fin ; or that he decreeth not togive them Grace; or that Sin, or not giving Grace, or not believing, &c. need a Decree, beingnothing ; much more that thefe are decreed as means to Gods Glory. But if you fpeak define, a." As that which man is bound to intend, a. Or as a meer effefi 5 fo no doubt all things have their re- lation, ufe, andorder to eachother. Lei. Tmi)l: Vind. Grat: lá r. Dtgref. T. deEleíi. p 151. EtEpefeopii Initit. Tbeol. li,4.Seíí.6.eap.6.pag.4t z, 413. * Inquit Twiffue Viitd. Grat.lia. de elelt.Dig.3. y. 163. Aquinas diferte aferit, Deum velle hoc effe propter boc ; fed nonprop- ter hoe vale bac,p.'.q t9. a. t. c. &adpitman vo- Purtatem Dei rationabilem effe,noa quod aliquid fit Deo cauta volende, fed in quantum nuit nnum effe propter aliad, Et el. a. 5.c. Loden modo pro duximes Ennaventuram, Stetem , Durandam, tonfpirantibas animis eaden per omnia.quod ad hunt epicene attinet pràfstentes. Vide qua ad- eilt ex Pare fio iGid.p464. The fixth Crimination. A. roe deny all conditional Decrees in God, and fo make them all abfolute, and confequently arbitraryj meerly becaufe Godwill do it. B. Do you thinkwe differ in this ? Youdare not profefs your diffent from any of this following explicationof ourfenfe. r. Gods Will is the Caufe and End of the whole Creation: And what ever pleafeth him todo hecloth; whatfoever it pleafeth him(hall come topaf:, it (hallcome topat's 5 and what ever he is pleafed to make our Duty by aLaw, ismade our Duty. All that-God doth andcotn- mandeth is Arbitrary : His Wifdom indeed and his Will concur ; buthis Ends are within himfelf; and his Will is the end ofhis Will, fo far as it may be faid to have an end. Arbitrarinefs and felf willednefs is Gods Perfe&ion , which is mans Sin and Ufurpation. If you . will ftretch to that impropriety, as to fay that He willeth it, becaufe his Vn- derfianding feeth it fittefi to be willed ; and fo makeCaufes and Effells in God ; yet muff you add, that the fitnefs or goodnefs fo underftood, is theAptitudinal congruency tohis Will. 2. Weaffirm that God bath many Decrees which areconditional in refpe& of the thing decreed. * SoDr. Twiffe frequently.tells you, He maketh one thinga means anda condition of the event of another. And we fay thatGod hath conditional Promifes and Threatnings ; [ If thou confefs with thy mouth, andbelieve in thy heart, &c. thouPall befavela. And we believe that Gods Will made there Promífes and Threats, and that they are the true fgesofhis Will : And that he will fulfil theta. And
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