Ephefians,Chap. r. VER,b. toothers; Ifhe hardenor fhewmercy,wemuff not reafon againft it. But God hath this power fet downe in the comparifon ofthe Potter: but the comparifon ofaPotter pleadeth a far higher thing in God, then making a decree of Paving fuch as should become fit through ufe of their owneliberty,and condemning fuch, who fhouldmoft justly deferve it. For this legall kindeof induration, as fome ofhis fcholars call it, giveth no occafionofimputing, withPhew ofreafon, any fault to God, feeing Gods decree doth not any thing to me, unleffe further then I make my felfe a veffell ofdishonour. Secondly, thisfenfe hath no affinity with the Potters fad, this decree Both not make definitely any perlons veffels of honour, but fuch of them as should believe r all if they will believe : this Both not make the perlons become veffels ofhonour, but the performance ofthe condition in the decree, this maketh God to frame perlons diverfly qualified, to divers ends; whereas the Potter frameth a maffe all alike todivers purpofes. Thus having repelled this murmuring, he doth make anfwer to the matter of theirobjedtion three waies, whichlikewife may make, to his judge- ment, alimited redditionofthe former comparifon. Thus by the way I have runne over partofthe ninth to the Romans, in which, were not all error a thing connaturall,I fhould marvell howany could ever imagaineithings fo diredlly against the meaning and dif- courfe of it:The plot ofhis eledlion was as ftrong in his braise, as num- bers in theirs who thought they faw them in every thing. Let us ever hold that the choyfe and purpofe ofcalling to the heavenly in heritance, is meerely from his will, becaufe he will, without any re- fpedl to the workes or condition ofhiscreature ; framing mankinde to divers ends, with as much freedome, as the Potter doth his clay, though it feeme to fallen unrighteoufneffe on God, and to excufe the creature, to flesh and blood. It is one thing to doe things with will, another thing todoe them from freepleafureofhiswill, or becaufe we will onely. Againe, the decree is therefore made to depend on God calling, that it may be firme ; but did it depend on perfeverance in faith, left altogether in our liberty, it could not be firme, feeing it dependethon fuch a condition as to thelast breath is uncertaine, byhis owne princi- ples otherwheredelivered. Now followeth theend: For thepratfeoftheglory ofhis Grace.] First, toopen fome words in this verse, that fo we may fee the meaning, and confider of it more fruitfully; it may be askedwhat Praife is : There are words which found this way, the difference whereof I thinke good to unfold. Praife, when it is taken reflrainedly, doth fignifìe the fetting forth by fpeechofthis or that,in any which is praiseworthy : Honour is larger, for it is doneby word, work; gefture, and ferveth to report our reverent refpedl to Gods excellency : Thankfulneffe is a prayfing of God, as having bellowed fome benefits on us: Glory is the account which we have of God, when now he is made knowne to us. Nowhere Praife is put in alarger acception, and may contain
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