V ER.q,. Predeflinatiom deflination may be defined to be an aíì of counfell , (hewing means e- ffedually bringing aboutfome end : as now it isaccepted ofthe will, it differs therefore from election. Fir(l, EIe&ion is in thewill, this is in the underftanding ;Thole things whiehthycoonfellhookpredeflinated. Se- condly; Election is only of the end, this is ofmeanes a1(ò. Thirdly; that is feated inthe will onely, this primarily in the underftanding, in the will by participation , in fo much as thewill doth accept ; for fhould Gods wifedome 'hew meanes which would effee ually worke any thing; ifhis will fhould not accept ofthem, he couldnot be laid to predeffinate anggthingby them. This predefiTation is two-fold, according tohis ends: The firft is an adofcounfell,fhewing or preparing meanes wherebyhis grace in fome 'hall be glorious;andofthis onely herehe fpeaketh, as is plaine in the Text:He fpeaketh ofit as a benefit inChrifl, as it refpedeth perfons elect,verfi4. as it hath his terminus,adoption. The fecond is, anas of counfell,acceptedof hiswill, whichdoth Phew anddecree the beingof all fuch meanes,by which his juftice fhall infome perfonsbe glorious : Thus Fulgentius dothmake predeftination,not onelyapreparationinhis eternal! difpofitionof things which he did fore -know himfelfeabout to worke, whether in mercyor juflice; and the Scripture doubteth not to fay,that Goddid predeftinateall thofe things done to the perfon ofour Saviour,then which the Sunne never fawviler.The Fathers doe define Gods predeftinationin evill things by fore-knowledge, onely to thew a difference between the workingofhisprovidenceingoodandevill,vi that hedoth not worke thofebyhimfelfe,or by command,or byconcur- ring effectuallyto them,ashe doth to good adions. Nowthat which is fpokenrefpeétively,mufl not beabfolutely taken, neither need men to feare the ufe of fuch phrafe, which Godhimfelfe hathnot declined:' But inough of this for this place. Touching thethird point,Adoption;it noteth thefame matter for fub- ffance, whichwas theendofElection, even glorious life withGod;but it includeth further , a dignitie orfonne-Ihip, which doth intereffeus in fome fort to life ofglory;and looke asthe royalty ofa Lord(hip, maybe diflinguifhed from the Lordfhip it felfe, though they goe together ; fo may this dignityortitleofTonne. (hip from the inheritance it(elfe, which dothgoe with it. By Adoption then, he meanethhere thedignity and gloryof thefonrtes of God; under what main benefit, whether under juflification or glorification,it is to be conceived,I will thew after in un- folding the Doctrines. The fummeofthofe twoverfes,is in larger terme offpeech,as followeth:Bleffedbe God,who hathbleffedusin Chrifl with all 'iritaall bleffing ; as for example: Whohath elected us, and notonely chofenus to the end,hut hath fo ordered all things,by an eternalldifpofi- tion for us,who beleeve,that they (hall bring us to that dignity and full glory ofthe fonnesofGod, which is bothbegun in us here beleeving, and is alto tobe accomplifhed hereafter through Chrift;and this he Both not looking out of himfelfe to anything fore-feene inus, but within hitnfelfe;mymeaning is,outofhis meere gracious pleafure,that thus his glorious A ßs,4,28.
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