oppugneth not Gods Mercie. more mercifullunto the very devils then unto men. They are equall onely in this one th ng, UTRISQ.E D ESP ERATA SALUS but i, three things men are in worfe condition then the devils. The decree ofNon- eleáion or abfolute negative Reprobation truly underftood is a deniall of fpeciall merde which by Gods power and free-will might have been pre- pared both for menand devils, and might have beenbellowed upon them as well as it was for and upon the eleá. The with- holding of this mercie is no unmerciful' cruel decree, no vindicative or punitive a: and therefore it is a bad confequence to fay, God was left mercifull to men then to the devils; Therefore cruell or unjuf to either. Moreor Idle mercie is a confeßfon of mer- cie unto both : and therefore from leffe rnercie to one then to the other to conclude crueltie or injuftice towards either, is to in- ferre a conclufion contradilory to the pre- rnifes. Whereas he further faith that the decree of Non- eledion or abfolute Reprobation is equall to men and devils in this, quèdreâ- dit Plutem utrifque deferatam, he is quite befides the matter. For the decree of di- ftinguifhing angels into Elect and Non. elet was eítablifhed in voluntate Divina before the creationxof either, and at the inllant of their 343
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