Verle 30. Dte the Epiftle to the Romans. 309 L O O U E. XXVII. Verf. 30. Whom he hath predeftinate, them kee loath called: whom he bath called, them he bath juftifi -. d : and whom he them he glorifleth. Ti MOTH Eu s. WHat Both this Text contain ? S I L. The feverall a &ions and effe &s whereby God doth witnefhe his eternall love to his ele& ones, & by which (as means) he bringeth them to their purpofed and promifed bleffed- neffe. Here is the golden cháin,where- by men chofen are drawn up, and af- cend to heaven : here be the fleps am; degrees whereby Gods eternall love deicends to his chofen, and whereby they-cfintbe to their decreed felicity, to which .none can come but through thefe means, by which means the ele& are fu re to attain to it ; yea though they be afili&ed here: which caufeth them to bear aflli &ions more patiently and va- liantly,in that they perceive their fal- vation to be of God, by fo many excel- lent works of his grace,fo certainly and undeceiveably procured and eflè&ed. T 1 M. What are the degrees whereby tie elea arife and clitrbe to blefednelfe in heaven ? S 1 L. Four: s. predeftination,a.vo- ca tion, 3. ju ffification, and 4. glorifica- tion : the firft of thefe is done afore all tintes,the three laft of them be perform- ed in time. T t M. What doeyou call predeffination ? S s L. It is an a &ion ofGod, peculi- ar to all the E1e& which are purpofed unto falvation,the refs ofmankinde be- ing paffed by and left to their corrupti- on andjuft perdition. This a &ion of God is not done in time,but from ever - lafting, God fore- ordaining his el'e &, both to the end, which is eternall life, and unto the means leading thither (to wit)vocation,fai th,ju ltification,fan&i- fication,theCrofre, also death, either definate] is taken four times in Scrip- ture in this feife,as Rona.8.29,3o. Ephe. 1. 5..11. But ye the matter and do&sine it felfis handledin very many places, as l em.9.and 1 s. Ephefi.Matth. i r. 25. John 6. and 17.6. Xi. 13.48. 1 Thefi g. Pet.1.2. Jude 4. Reve1.1 y. 8. and elfe- where often. T i M. Some think this del7rine fhould notbe tatight,and therefore rail at the teach- ers o f it, what thinkye doe they well? S 1 L. No verily, for it ought to be taught to Gods people , and Gods Minifters fhould finne if they pafl-ed by it. My reafons for this be thefe Finn, becaufè Chrifiand his Apoftles taught i t,and their example is warrant enough for Gods Minihers. For as the Apoftles were followers ofChrift in do &nine and life, fo ought other Minifters. Se- condly, it is a part of Gods revealed will, and therefore belongs unto us, Deut. 29.29. Thirdly, it is a fpeciall ground-work of comfort and patience under the Croffè,toknow our predefli- nation to be fo unchangeable ftrong, and firm, as our Apoftle Both here ad- vertife us, that afl_fi &ions though many & great cannot hinder, but further our falvation. Fourthly, it is the mother of all goodneffe, to which a man or wo- man doth then (and never before) fèi oufly and chearfully apply themfelves, when they underftand by faith Gods eternall love towards them in their free predeftinating to life, r John4.io. We love him, beraufe he loved us firfi. Laltly, it begetteth trueandjoyfull thankful - nefs,which we wil not offer unto God, except we know that all good conies of his eternall purpofe, without any refile& to our worthineffe. T 1 M. But the conceit of Predefiination, and that the predeffinate perfonr muff be fared, doth take away from men all care of Faith, Miniflery,Prayer,andgood werkes, ufc of Sacraments,&c. S 1 L. This is a very flanderous untruth,becaufe the do &rine of prede ftiriation doth neceffarily put and coni- mend unto us all theft means, fo farre offit is from deftroying them,or extin natural or violent.The very word [Pre- guifhing the care and ufe of them : be- cau fe
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