VERA.. gods L7effáon. prove incur underftandings, that we doe things in particular, ac- cording to generali conceptions within our minde. 7. That which maketh God choofe perlons to life which are not eligible , is not to be admitted : But an abfolute election without any forefight ofFaith doth fo. 8. The Scriptures fay we are predeftinated andelated according to foreknowledge,Fly lufls ofyouth, ¿c. The reafons for the denying part are many : To leave fuch named before, whicharecommon to this queftion alfo. r. This eleftion on faith fore-feene, maketh God goe out ofhim- felfe, looking to this or that inthe creature, upon which his will may be determined to cleft. Now this is againft the all- fufficiency ofGod; for as if he fhould get knowledge from things as we doe, it were an imperfeftion in hisknowledge ; fo in his will, if he muff be beholding to fomething in us, before it can be determined : Befides, it maketh God intrinfecally changed,now infufpenfe touching that whereinafter, on fome fight, hecommeth to be fully determined. I will choofe this man, iffo be he will beleeve; Iwill upon fore-fight ofmy condition abfolutely choofe him. a. That electionofperfons, which hathannexed to it a decree, pre- paringfaith and juftification for the perfons that areelected, that is of men unbeleeving : Thofe whobeing elected are predeftinated to have faithwrought in them;thofeare confidered without faith,as nowthey are elefted,Fem.8.39.Thefefoure and five verfes ofthis Chapter. 3. IfGoddecree to cleft none till hedoth fee them beleevingwith perfeverance, then he doth decree to give faith andperfeverance,before he doth decreeto take, or ordaine to life. But this is abfurd, for God fhoulddecree to that,by which as a meane he commeth to eleék;before he fhould decree to cleft. Let the cifrminians tell us what is Gods end indecreeing to give thisman faith and perfeverance, ifnot that he may choofe him to life. If he have this end in decreeing to give faith, he mutt needes intend theelection ofthisperfon,before he decree to worke in him effeftuallyfaith, with perfeverance : Befide, the Scripturefaith, festal as were ordained to lifebelayed. ç. That which maketh God choofeus, when we have ehofen him, and loveus,when we have loved him firft,is contrary toScripture : But ifGod choofe us, whennow we have held the faith and love ofhim to the laft moment,he doth choofe us afterwe havechofen him. 5. Chrifi faith, we heare orbeleeve, becaufe we are fheepe ; This faith, weare fheepeor cleft, andordained to life becaufewe beleeve. 6. From this verfe : Thatto which any aftion tendeth, as an effeft, that is after the aftion it felfe : But thiseternal' election tendeth to this, that we fhould bepure inlove. '7. That which ftandeth not with the freedome of Gods will, yea, of his meere will within himfelfe, that is not to be indured in election : But acondition qualifying theperfon, maketh Godselection notmcerely fromhis will. F 8, "riad; 49
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