and ofthe [reede. ·. Predeftiriation. the propenie of the reafonable creatures to conctiue one tbing after another, whereas God conceiues all things atonce with one att ofvnderllaoding,and all things both pall and ro come are prefcntwith him ;~and therefore in his eternall counfell hee decrees not one thing after another,but allthings atonce. Ne– uerrhelesforour vndcrflandingfake, we may aillihguifh the counfell of God concerning mauintotwoattsor degrees: rhe lirlf, istbe pHrpoftofGed himfilfe, in which hee deter– mines what he will doe,and rhe end of all his doings:and that isto create all things,fpecially man for his owne glory; partly bylhewing on fome men his mercy , aud vpon others his iuflice. The fecond,is,anotherpurpofe,wher– by he decrees rhe e.wcutionofthtformer, & laies down mcancs of accomplilhing theend ther– ot:Thcfe two atls of the coun(cll ofGod,are not tobe feuered in any wife,norconfonnded, but dillinttly conlidered with fome diffe– rence.for in the firIt, Goddecrees fame men to honour, byfhewing his mercie and lone on them, and fomc againeto difhonout,by lhew– ing his iuftice on them; and this man more then that,vpon his will and pleafure;and there A exccmiotrthcreof:Ill.!hckno.wledge ofparticular Ele&ion. For the fir!\; .Godse/eE/ion u q .decree, in whichttccord;ng to the goodpleafore of hiswill, hebathcert~tin~!J chofonfoN;e men to life eternal/ in Chrij/ forrhe praijio(thegkirie ofMs grttce. This is the fame which Pa1dfi1ith to the Ephefians,Godbathchifin 'VI inChrij/bifore the j Epb,t•4; {ellndntiof1ofthe world, th'f l>t Jhould beholy arid ·;• ·without blamebefore hi-m in /oue: who hathprede– j/inatevs to' be·adoptidthmtghlifm Chriflv~to himjilfe,<iccmb1rg to thegoodpleafi<re ofhu lVIII. Now that wee tnay rho better conceilie this doC!:rine,let vs come ro :rconliderationofrhe fc:ucrall pointsthereof. Firft ofall I fay,Eiettion h Gods decree. For there JS nothmgJn tlie world that comes to pllfe eirher vniuerB .£tll)l or parriculatly without the ercroall aod vnchangeable dccreeef God. And therefore whereas men nre oC!:uallychofen,and br<Jught to life euerlalli•g, it is becaufe God did pure pofc:with himfelte and decree thefame befvre all worlds. Now touching the decree it fc lfe, fixe things are to be obferned. The firfl,whi!t \Vas the motiue or impulfiue caufe that moo M ued God t<>decroe rhe faluation'of any man. A?f[w. Tfregoodpleafureof God. For Paid faith, Hee wi/Jhaue mercie onwhcmhetrill hauc Rom, 9 • mcrcie: and,Hehathpredeflinatevs according ttJ ~.a. thegMd pleiifimofGod. As for. the opinion of Eph.•·S• thorn 1hat fay, that fordccne faith and J;ood workes are the CAufe tha; mooued God t;> choofc meoto faluation, it is friuofous. Fo1 I is noothercaufe hcreofknowne to vs. In the fc:cond, knowne and manifd~ caufe·s are fet downc ofthe execution ofthe former degree. For noman is atlually condemded ; yea God decreesto condemneno man but for hisfins : and no man is attually fau<d but for the me– rit of Chrifl. Furthermore, this latter atl of c the counfell ofGod, mull bee conceiued ofvs in the fecond place and not in the llrll. For cuermcre the lirll thing to be intended is the' enditfelfe, & then afterwardthe fubordinate mcanesand caufes,whereby the end is accQm· plifhed.Againe,the fecond atl ofGods coun– fell contaiocs two other; one which fetteth downethe prepalation ofthe meanes wheiefaith and goodworkes are the fruits & cfhtls ofGods election. PaHl(aith,he hathchoftnvs, not becaufe he did forefee that we would be– come holy, but thattvemightbe holy. And, he hathpreckjlinate vs toadoption. Which isall one as ifhe had faid,he hath predeflinatevs to bc– leeuc, becaufo adoptioncomesby beleeuing. Now if men are dotted that t!'ey mig~t beEpq.r, 4 .1 Io~ I,Jl, , by Gods pmi.j/ination beginnes to come in execution; and they arerwo, the creation Of man righteousafter the image ofGod,the vo– luntary fall af AdAm, and withall the fhutting vp ofall men vnderdamnation: the other ap– points the applying ofthe feuerall mcanes to rhe perfons ofmen; that Gods decree, which wasfetdownbefore all times, may in time be 0 fully accomplilhed;aslhall afterward in parti– cular appeare. 'Predejlin4tionhath two parts, the Decr.eeof Eleflion,rheDecree ofReprobatign,orNoc/c[/i. on. This diuilion is plainc by that which hltli bin faidout ofthe 9· chapter to the Romane•, and 1t may bee furrl><?r confirmed by oth<r tc– llirnonies. Offame it is fa id, that tlic Lord :. Ti'1l•:t• k!foweswhoare his: and offome others, Chrifr 9· !hall fay in the day ofiudgemcnt,I neuer ey<1ve M3t·7·1.~ you. In the Acts it is faici, thatas many ofthe A:• 1 :l• \Gentiles aswere ordainedro life CJtcrlafling, be– iud.4. leeued. And/~tdefaithoffalfe prophets, that they wereordainedto conde1f1nottion. In handli~:gofthe decree ofeletlion.I will cOfiderthree th~~gs:I.what election is, 1I.thc le-cue, then arethey nordetted bec.ufe thty would beleeue.For it cannot be that one thing lhould be both the caufe and the dt<tt ofanother. The fecondpoint, is that Gods election is vnchangeable: foas they which arc indccdo chofen to falulti0t1 cannot petiOJ , but lh•ll without faile attaine to lifeeuerblling. P.ml takes it for aconcluliorr,that theporpif.ofGod according to ele£1Wn mHjl remainr firm.ea'Y!d.fore ; ,, i Rom•9• 1 11. &.11.19· :Sam.IS >9. and agamc: , that thegiftsandcalling of Gcd~re withoHt re.penttfnce. And S;;mHel faith, The f/rmgth oflfraeJ will not lie orrepent:For he is11ot a man that hcej1Jould repent. Such a'S Gods na. ture is, fuchis his will and -counfel!:bur his na. rureisvnchangeablc,lam Jehoua.l,,fa-ithhe,and 1'.1:!!. 3 • 6 • 1change not:therefore hi':i will likewifeand his counfels bee vnchangeable. And thorctore whcnfoeuer tht fpiritof God fhall tdlitievntoonr fpirit rhu we are iuftified in Chril[, an:i chofen to faiuation ; it mui-bee ameanes to comfort vs, and to cfl:ablilli our hearts in the loueofGod. i\sfm· tht:opinionofthcm that lay, the dccbmy fall from gr.ce a~ld be dam. ned,it isfullofhc!lilh d&omfort,& no doubt trorn
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