Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	action_n	good_a	will_n	1,601	5	6.4879	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10213	The treasure of trueth touching the grounde worke of man his saluation, and chiefest pointes of Christian religion: with a briefe summe of the comfortable doctrine of God his prouidence, comprised in .38. short aphorismes. VVritten in Latin by Theodore Beza, and nevvly turned into English by Iohn Stockvvood. VVhereunto are added, these godly treatises. One of the learned and godlie Father. Maister I. Foxe. In the which the chiefest poyntes of the doctrine of God his election, are so plainely set foorth, as the verie simplest may easily vnderstand it, and reape great profite thereby. The other of Maister Anthonie Gylbie, wherein the doctrine of God his election and reprobation, is both godly and learnedlie handeled. Seene and alovved, according to the order appoynted.; Summa totius Christianismi. English	Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; Stockwood, John, d. 1610.; Foxe, John, 1516-1587.; Gilby, Anthony, ca. 1510-1585. Briefe treatyse of election and reprobacion.	1576 (1576)	STC 2049; ESTC S113223	100,323	280

that some of them ●re whollie euyll and some of them are ●n part good to wyt so farre as the spirit ● God hath sāctified or made them holy ¶ Such thinges a● are of this sort ●hen as in any action they are moued ●y theyr owne inwarde mouing are ●orthelie sayde to worke and therefore ●● this kinde of instruments onely fal●th the difference of well or yll doing ●nd in this respecte they can not pro●erly be called instruments but rather efficient or working causes Now I call that an euyl action whi●● hath not the reuealed or opened wyll 〈◊〉 God for the end and contrariwise I c●● it a good action which hath respect or l●●keth to the wyll of God. ¶ The same albeit they be causes 〈◊〉 farre as they worke by theyr owne proper motion yet in another respect the● are called instruments to wyt as ofte● and so farre forth as they are moued b● another As when the hangman by th● commaundement of the Magistrate kylleth a man or when as by impulsio● or setting on of the Deuyll men hurt● one another or when as the commaundement and in the name of any we do● eyther good or euyll vnto any man. ¶ In this kinde of actions all men s●● that one the same worke is attributed vnto two to wyt vnto the one as to him that moueth and worketh by another as by an instrument and to the other as to him that worketh himselfe● for hee is in such sort an instrument that hee also worketh by his owne inwarde motion and not simplie as the hammer or Are in the hande of the Smith ¶ Yea for this double respecte a double worke séemeth sometime to bée done in so much that the one maye bée laudable or praise worthy and the other wicked 〈◊〉 if the Magistrate delyuer a man that is an offendor vnto the hangman to be executed there is no man but wyll worthely praise this worke but if the hangman being moued with hatred or couetousnesse or any other wicked luste rather than looking vnto the commaundement of the Iudge doo kyll the same offendor certainly before God bé● can not escape the crime of murther ¶ Now let vs apply these things vnto God whose efficacy or strēgth we haue proued before to steppe in in all things ●hat are done without exception and in such sort that by those thinges which he hath created as by instruments he doth execute or performe in his tyme whatsoeuer 〈◊〉 hath decreed from euerlasting ¶ Whatsoeuer God doeth is good séeing from him whiche is the chiefe good no euyl can proc●● But he dot● all thinges All thinges therefore ar● good so farre forth as they are done by god And that difference of good and euyll hath onely place in the instrumentes and in those of whome we haue spoken in the thyrtéenth proposition ¶ For ●hese instrumentes be good and 〈◊〉 ●ooke vnto the opened wyll of God they worke well and God also worketh well by them whereby it commeth to passe that that worke is alwayes good as when good Angels doo that which God commaundeth and holie men followe God calling them ¶ Euyll instrumentes euyll I saye not by creation but by corruption in so farre as they worke they doo alwayes worke euyl and therefore they worthelye incurre or runne into God his anger but so farre forth as God worketh by them they do serue to the g●● work● of God eyther against theyr wylles or else of ignoraunce For God by what instrumentes soeuer he worketh worketh alwayes well ¶ Nowe hée so worketh by those instruments as he doeth not onely suffer them to worke neither onely moderate or rule the euent or thing that falleth out but also hée rayseth them vp styrreth moueth guideth and that which is greatest of all he createth thē to the end that he might worke by them which he hath appointed all which thinges God ●oth rightly and without any iniustice ¶ For as often as one euyll man sinneth either against him selfe or against another wicked person God without any sinne maketh eyther that the euyll man taketh vengeaunce vpon himselfe or that euyll men shall punishe other euyl men with such punishment as they haue deserued both which workes of God are most righteous and by such examples of his iudgementes God lyfteth vp comforteth those that are his ¶ But so often as wicked men do hurt the good the wicked men sinne in the ende suffer such punishmentes as they haue deserued yet neuerthelesse by them y Lord chastneth instru●●eth and strengthneth his owne and 〈◊〉 by the open enemyes of his Church maketh his Church glorious Yet can not these euyl instrumentes be sayde to obey God because all be it God by them bryngeth by● worke to passe yet they so farre as in them is and as concerning their owne counsel and wyll do not the worke of God but their owne worke for the whiche they are iustly punished For all be it what soeuer God worketh by the wicked 〈◊〉 good yet what soeuer the wicked worke is euyll ¶ Neyther is this consequent or reason good God worketh all thynges therefore hee worketh sinne● For the paine of sinne agreeth not but to the vicious and saultie qualytie which is wholy in the working instrument ¶ By reason of this ●●●rupted quality the worke whiche of itselfe is but one is made some maner of 〈◊〉 tw●●old and double insomuch that the one that is the iust worke of God directly fighteth againste the other● 〈◊〉 the ●niust worke of man. ¶ Yet God worketh otherwise by the good instrumentes then by the euyl for besides y hée worketh his worke by the good instruments the good instruments also do worke their owne worke by the same force effiacy which the Lord geueth vnto thē finally the Lord worketh his worke by them and also worketh in them to wyll to performe But by the wicked as by Satā or by men in so far as they are not regenerate or borne anew as often as the Lorde executeth or perfourmeth the iust counselles and decrees of his euerlasting wyll hée in deede sheweth forth his strength and efficacy in his worke by them eyther not knowing o● it or against their wylles and purposes but yet in so farre as they worke their owne worke the Lord worketh not in them but letteth lose the reines vnto Sathan to whome by hys iust iudgement he geueth them ouer being wicked to be moued and stirred forward that they maye be caried away of their owne wyll and his ¶ Therefore we doo not refuse this terme suffering or graunting neyther yet came it in our mindes to says that God so worketh in the euyll as hee doeth in the good But because that Sophisters haue corrupted the difference of wyll and sufferaunce which Augustine no doubt tooke of the Gréekes and they receyued from Augustine therfore doo we s●atly refuse it ¶ For the Sophisters set wyll against permission or sufferaunce wherof doth follow y God sufferth the things

say not by workes but by him that calleth myght remaine sure c. 16. So then the election is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that taketh mercy 23. And that he might make knowne the ryches of his glorie vpon the vessels of mercie which he hath prepared vnto glorye 11. What then that Which Israell séeketh c. Ephes. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vs in him before the foundacions of the world were layde c. ●5 Who hath predestinat or fore ordeined vs whom he woulde adopte or chose into his sonnes through Iesus Christ vnto him selfe 9. The mysterie of his wyll beynge reuealed vnto vs acording vnto his frée good will which he hath purposed in him selfe 11. In whome also wear chosen c. 2. Tim. 2. 19. Yeat the foundacion of God remaineth sure ha●ing this seale the Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christe departe from iniquitie 1. Cor. 2. 7. But we speake the wisdom of God lying hid in a mistery euen that hyd wisdome which God had determined before the world vnto our glorie 10. But God hath reueled those things vnto vs by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all thinges yea the deepe thinges of God. 1. Pet. 1. 19. 20. But being redéemed with his pretious blood as of a Lambe without spotte and vndefiled to wyt Christ which was foreordained before the foūdations of the world were layd but was declared in the last tymes for your sakes The fifth Aphorisme ALso whē there is intreated of the destruction of the reprobats or ofcasts 1 albeit the whole fault remaine within them selues 2 yet sometimes as often as it is so needefull the spirite of God to make known the ryches of his glorie vpon the vesselle● of mercie and his excellent power and also gentlenesse the better by comparison lifteth vs vp euen vnto that highe misterie vvhich in order goeth before all the causes of their damnation Of vvhich secreete doubtlesse there is no other cause known vnto men besides his righteous vvyll the which we ought reuerently to receaue as comming vndoubtedly from him vvh● is naturally iust and can no other vvay be conceyued of men nor of any other Proues out of the worde of God. Hos. 13. 9. Thy iniquity hath destroied thee O Israel but in mee is thy helpe Iohn 3. 19. And this is the condempnation that lyght is come into the worlde but men haue loued rather darkenesse than lyght Rom 9. 23. And that hée might make knowne the ryches of his glory vppon the vessels of mercy the which he hath ordained vnto glory Exod. 9. 16. And in déede for this cause I haue appointed thée euen to shew thee my power and that they should declare my name in the whole earth Psa. 33. 15. Which hath fashioned their heartes euery one considering al theyr workes Prou. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for his owne sake yea euen the wicked man for an euil day Rom 9. 11. For the children not being yeat borne when as they had done neyther good nor euyll that the purpose of God according vnto his electon that is not by works but by him that calleth might remaine sure c. 13. As it is writtē I haue loued Iacob but hated Esau. Where he doth not onlye say that Esau before he had done any good was ordeined vnto ●atred for after this sorte he might seeme to touch none but actual sinnes as they say or vnbelefe but faith plainlie before he was borne By which words he excludeth or sh●tteth out frō the cause of hatred original sinne also whatsoeuer in the person of Esau might be reckoned from his very birth Therfore wheras a litle after he bringeth in the reprobates or ofcastes parting here against he doth not attrybute vnto them such like kind of speach why doth not God beare the same hatred towards others also for asmuch as they are borne in y same corruption that we are I saye there is no such thing read in the word of the Apostle but he setteth this theyr exception against it who shal withstande his wyll For herevppon mannes reason gathereth that they are vnworthely condempned Neyther doth Paul au●swere that God dyd so wyll it because he dyd foresée that they woulde bée corrupted and so that the cause of the decree was grounded vppon theyr wickednesse which defence was plaine and readie if it had béene true but whylste he confesseth that it so pleased God and that it was not in their wyll to chaunge it doubtlesse hée abateth the pryde of mannes wisedome that it maye reuerentlye esteeme of the secréetes of God as is most meete But the electe or chosen he exhorteth to beholde the grace of God the which he setteth foorth with suche comparison So therefore must other testymonies be expounded in the which wee goe vp vnto the hyghest wyll of God which is the onely rule of iustice Esa. 54. 16. Beholde I haue made the Smyth that bloweth coales in the fyre and bryngeth forth an instrument for his worke I I saye haue made the destroyer to destroye Ioh. 6. 44. No man can come vnto mée vnlesse the Father that sent mée drawe him Iohn 10. 26. But you beléeue not for you are not of my shéepe as I sayd● vnto you Ioh. 12. 39. 40. and Esa. 6. 10 Therfore they coulde not beleeue because ●saias hath sayde againe He hath blinded their eyes and hardened theyr hearts least they should sée with their eyes and vnderstande with their hearts and should turne and I should heale them 1. Pet. 7. 8. And a stone to stumble at a rock of offēce vnto them which stumble at the word being disobedient vnto the which thing they were euen ordained And in many other places Iud. 1. 4. For there haue crept in certaine men being before of olde ordained vnto this condempnation The sixt Aphorisme FOr vvee must make a difference betweene the purpose of reprobating or ofcasting and betweene reprobation or ofcasting it selfe For the misterie or secrete of that God would haue to be hyd from vs But of this and of the destruction also that dependeth or hangeth vpon it vve haue causes expressed in the word of God to vvyt the corruption vnbeleefe and sinne the vvhich are necessary or must needes bee in respect of the falling out of them of the vesselles mad● vnto dishonour Proues out of the worde of God. 2. Thes. 2. 9. The cōming of the which wicked man is by the working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying wonders 10. And with all deceyu●ablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perishe for that they receyued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued 11. And therefore God shal send them strong delusion that they should beléeue ●yes 12. That all they might be dampned which haue not beleeued the trueth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 11. 20. Well through vnbeléef● they are broken

whosoeuer wyll bee certayne of his election in God let him fyrste begynne with this fayth in Christ whiche if hee fynde in him to stande fyrme Hée maye bee sure and nothing doubte but that he is one of the number of Gods electe Secondlye the sayde fayth and nothing else is the onely condition and meanes wherevppon Gods mercy election vocation and all Gods promyses to saluation doo stay according to the wordes of S. Paul Si permanseritis in fide c. If ye abide in the fayth Colos 1. Thyrdly this faith also is the immediate and next cause of our iustifycation simply without any other condition annexed For as the mercy of God his grace election vocation and other precedent causes doo saue and iustify vs vppon conditon if wee beleeue in Christe so this fayth in Christ without condition is the ne●t● and immediate cause which by Gods premyse worketh our iustifycation According as it is wrytten Crede in dominum Iesum saluus eris t● do●us●tua Beleeue in the Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued thou and thy whole house Act. 16. And thus much touching the definitiō of election with the causes therof declared which you see now to bee no merytes nor workes of man whether they goe before or come after fayth but only y meere mercy of God through fayth for lyke as all they that bee borne of Adam doo tast of his malediction though they tasted not his Apple So all they that be borne of Christ which is by fayth take parte of the obedience of Christe Although they neuer dyd that obedience themselues which was in him Rom. 5. Nowe to the second consideration Let vs s●e lykewise howe and in what order this election of God procéedeth in chosing and electing them which bee ordayned to saluation which order is this In them that bée chosen to lyfe fyrst Gods m●rcye and frée grace bryngeth forth election Election worketh vocation or Gods holy calling Which vocation through hearing bryngeth knowledge and fayth of christ Fayth through promyse obtayneth iustification Iustification through hope wayteth for glorification Elec●tion is before vocation and ●ayth commeth in time Iustification and glorifycation is without end Election depending vpon Gods frée grace and wyl excludeth all mans wyll blynd fortune chaunce and all peraduentures vocation standing vpon Gods election excludeth all mans wisedome cunning learing intention power and presumption Fayth in Christ proceedyng by the gift of the holy ghost and freely iustifying man by Gods promise excludeth all other merites of men all condition of deseruing all workes of the lawe both Gods lawe and mans lawe with all other outward meanes what soeuer Iustification comming fréely by fayth standeth sure by promise without doub●●feare or wauering in this lyfe Glorifycation perteyning onely to th● lyfe to come by hope is looked for Grace and mercy preuenteth Election ordayneth Uocation prepareth and receaueth the word whereby commeth fayth Fayth iustifieth Iustifycation bryngeth glory Election is the immediate and next cause of vocation vocation which is the workyng of Gods spyrite by the worde is the immediate and next cause of fayth Fayth is the immediate and next cause of iustification and this order and connexion of causes is dylygenly to bee obserued because of the papists whiche haue miserably confounded conuerted this doctrine thus that almighty God so farreforth as hée foreséeth mans merites before to come so doth he dyspence his election Vt Dominus pro cuiusque meritis fore preuidet ita dispensat electionis gratiam And againe Nullis preccedentibus meritis dominum rependere electionis gra●iam futuris tamen concedere That is that the Lord recompēseth the grace of election not to any merites going before But yet graunteth the ●●●n to the merites which folowe after 〈◊〉 though wée had our election by our holynes that followeth after and not rather haue our holynes by Gods election going before But wée following the Scripture ●aye otherwyse that the cause onely of Gods election is his owne mercy and the cause onelye of our iustification is our fayth in Christe and nothing else As for example fyrst concerning election if the question bée asked Why was Abraham chosen and not Nachor Why was Iacob chosen and not Esau Why was Moyses elected and Pharao hardened Why Dauid accepted and Saule refused Why fewe bée chosen and the moste forsaken It cannot bée aunswered other wise but thus because it was so the good wyll of God. In lyke maner touching vocation and also fayth if the que●● be asked Why this vocation gi●● of fayth 〈◊〉 geuen to Cornelius the Gentile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tertullius the Iew● Why 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the babes and litle ones of this wor●● of whom Christ sp●aketh I thanke 〈◊〉 Father which hast ●yd 〈◊〉 from the wise c. Math. 11. Why to the 〈◊〉 the simple abiectes and outcastes in this worlde of whome speaketh Saint Paule 1. Cor. 1. Ye sée your callyng my brethren howe not many of you c. Why to the sinners and not to the iust Why the beggers by the hye wayes were called and the bydden gestes excluded we can goe to no other cause but to Gods purpose and election and sa●e with Christ our Sauiour Quia pater sic complacitum est ante te Yea Father for so it séemed good in thy syght Luke 18. And so for iustification lyke wise if the question bee asked why the Publycan was iustyfied and not the Pharisce Luke 18. Why Marie the synner and not Symon the Léeper Luke 11. Why harlottes and Publicans goe before the Scribes and Pharysées in the kingdome Math. 21. Why the sonne of the frée woman was receyued and the bondwomans sonne being his elder reiected Gen. 21. Why Israel which so long sought for righteousnesse founde it not and the Gentyles which sought not for it founde it Rom. 9. We haue no other cause hereof to render but to staye with Saint Paule because they sought for it by workes of the lawe and not by fayth Which fayth as it commeth not by mannes wyll as the Papistes falsely pretendeth but onely by the election and frée gyft of God so it is onely the immediate cause wherevnto the promise of our saluation is annexed according as we reade And therefore of faith is the inheritaunce geuen As after grace that the promyse might stande sure to euery seede Rom. 4. Item in the same Chapter Fayth beleeuing in him which iustifyeth the wicked is imputed to ryghteousnesse And thus concerning the cause of ou● saluation ye sée howe fayth in Christ onely and immedyatlie without any condition doeth iustify vs being so lynked with Gods mercy ●nd election that whersoeuer election goeth before there fayth in Christ must néedes followe after And againe whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Iesu through the vocation of God hee must needes bee partaker of Gods election Wherevnto resulteth now the third

to beare his Image vpon earth of iustice righteousnesse innocency But because this Image could by no creature perfectlye bée expressed vnlesse the same were fully replenished with the self same Godhead because that all things besidesfoorth had some imperfection bewraying theyr originall the darknesse as Iohn calleth it the Tohu and Bohu as Moyses doeth it name The vaine vanitie and wylde deformitie whence they were by creation altered recouered and brought into lyght and lyfe as appeared in Adam fallyng from trueth to lyes straight at the begynning nowe of necessitie the sonne of God who onely is good of nature becommeth man and taketh this office to beare the Image of God inuisible Colo. 1. And to be the head of that spyrituall perfection which was to be wrought in mankinde by his aforeappointed purpose and becommeth the fyrst begotten of all creatures for by him were all thinges created both in heauen and earth visible and inuisible maiestie Lordshyp rule power by whome and in whome all things are created and hée is before all creatures and in him all thinges haue their beeing And he is the head of the bodie he is the begynning and first begotten of the head that in all things he might haue preheminēce For it pleased the father that in him should dwell al fulnesse and by him to reconcyle all thinges to himselfe And to set at peace by him through the blood of his crosse both things in heauen and things in earth for euen you sayth Paule which in tymes paste were straungers because your minds were set in euyl works hath he now reconcyled in the body of his flesh through death to make you holye and blamelesse and without fault in his sight Seeing then that this cannot be denied to be the course of God his holy working to dryue away this darknesse and to bring man to his lyght to take away sinne to bring man to a lyfe blamelesse the state of innocencie● and his owne likenesse shal it not bee most necessarye to haue Preachers Teachers to tell vs the same and to admonishe vs wherevnto we be called seeing of our selues and our owne reasons no such thing can be perceyued Therefore haue we preachings exhortations as Paule sayth for when the worlde thorowe wisdome knew not God in the wisdome of God it pleased God through the foolyshnesse of Preaching to saue them that beleeued 1. Corin. 1. And as hee also sayth of him selfe in another place Wée doo Preach this ryches in Christ the hope of your glory warning all men and teaching all men in all wisedome to make all men perfyte in Christ Iesu. Thus serueth then exhortations dehortations comminations and publycations of the lawes and wyll of our Lorde God that hee maye bee knowne the Lord and gouernour ouer all the thynges hée hath created and the onely lawe maker amongst his creatures publyshing vnto all that perfecte equitie and iustice which ought in no case to be resysted Whervnto if they can not attayne they must confesse and knowledge their owne infirmity and weakenesse and submyt them selnes vnder the mightie hande of God and so dooing they shall be receyued as chyldren of the most louing and most mercyfull father in suche degrées of perfection as hee hath appoynted to the beautifying of the bodie of his sonne our head So that the Lorde God doeth teache all and lyghten all men that come into the worlde bothe chosen and Reprobate with such a knowledge as doth the good Prince which vnto all his Subiects proclaimeth his statutes and publysheth his lawes but lyke a good and tender father he leadeth his children regenerate and borne a newe neyther of fleshe nor blood nor the wyll of man and guydeth them with his fatherly spyrite in the pathes of the same lawes wryting in theyr hartes what is his good wyll and pleasure In the which course of God his wonderfull worke the wicked hath no cause to complayne for as theyr father whom they doo followe is named the Prince of this world so they haue the world at wyll and are riche roysters and welthy worldlings tramplyng vnder theyr feete poore Abel and the despysed Christians neyther wyl they change their estate with any such no when they are called from darknesse to be partakers of light of life and the heauenly daynties layde vp in poore Christ they despised that estate excusing their purchases theyr marchaundice and their earthly lustes and delyghtes Luke 14. Wherfore in the other worlde they that héere are ●ppressed shall haue comfort and the other forment Such is the order then of God his working that by the contrarietie of the chosen and reprobate of Iacob and Esau of Pharao and Israel and the wisedome of God and the wisedome of the world he wyl set for●h his maiestie his power his diuinity● his Godhead so much as may be knowne vnto man that is to say in his wisdome iustice mercy almightynesse For comparing his wisedome to any other wisedome nowe appeareth the contrarie that it is very foolishnesse euen darknesse compared vnto lyght death vnto lyfe lyes vnto trueth as Paule sayth When they accoumpted themselues wyse they were made very fooles and chaunged the trueth with lyes the glory of the immortal God to mortall corruptyble creatures They following their owne righteousnesse could not come to the ryghteousnesse of God in Iesu Christ. Wherefore of necessitye God dyd shut all vnder synne that his mercie myght flow ouer all And that his mighty power myght appeare hée hath created the heauens and earth wherein we doo see lyght and darknesse death and lyfe shame and glorye weaknesse and strength lyes and trueth ryghteousnesse and vnryghteousnesse to serue to the settying foorth of his glorie that man may bée dryuen to saye with Paule O the depth of the ryches of the wisdome and knowledge of god How incomprehensyble are his wayes Howe vnsearchable are his iudgemēts For who hath knowne the minde of the Lorde Or who hath bene his coūseller Or who hath giuen him ought aforehand that he might bée repayed For by him and through him and in him are all things to him bee prayse for euer Amen And as this holy Apostle Paule doeth submytte him selfe to the great depth of the wysdome of God and his wonderfull Regiment and prouidence and woulde ●eate and dryue downe all fleshe by the consideration of the same So also all our Fathers from the begynning hath layde this the onely foundation of theyr fayth Wherefore Moyses beginneth to stablish the fayth of man at the historie of the creation and so foorth by the order of God his present gouernaunce about the things made and created And Dauid for a confession of his fayth pronounceth of this prouidence Psalm 95. I doo knowe that thou art a great Lord and a Lord aboue all Gods. All thinges whatsoeuer the Lordes pleasure was hée hath made in the Heauens the earth the Seas and the bottomlesse waters Againe by the worde of God

of reprobation or ofcasting in acte or deede * Cap. ● God his iudgemen● vpon lytle children The fyrst declaration of reprobation or ofcasting No vocation or calling vnto the gospell Some of the reprobates or of castes are neuer called vnto the gosell A calling not effectuall Sinne in the reprobates or ofcastes in necessary that is such as cā nor be auoyded but yet they sinne vvyllinglie and vvyttinglie Esai 6. 10. The verie reprobates or ofcastes sometimes doo seeme for a season to bee planted in the Church of God and do reach others the● vvaie to saluation Reade Mar 7. verse 21. 22. 23. The cause vvhy some of the reprobates or ofcastes vvhich seemed for a time to bee of the Church of God are fynallie destroied is their vvylling departure from that state vvhich before they vvere in vnto vvieked●es and sinne The means vvhich God vseth in ●●dening the ofcastes Prou. 26. ●● The full performing of the iudgementes of God. VVho are righteous * Hee ●eaneth Infants vvho although they die before they commit actuall sinne yet are they from their mothers vvom●e defiled vvith origi●al sin vvhich is inough to condempne them In the ch●●sen In th● ofcas●e● The glorie hath of God. M●st exceeding iust ●e●cifull Most ex●eeding iust The cause vvhy this most necessarie and comfortable doctrine of God his election seemeth to many to be so hard and straunge VVee must not feare to vtter God his trueth because ey●her of the number or authoritie of the obstinate and stubborne A choyce in matter and vvordes Curious and vaine questions in this doctrin especiallye to bee auoided Such mane● of speaches as are vnusuall in the scriptures ought as● muchas ma●e bee to be refrained from A choice in ●ersons Hovve vve● must goe forevvard The middle causes are not to bee vvithout great confideration ouerpassed Hovve this doctrine is to bee applyed Hovve the Ministers must deale vvith troubled conscience The doctrine of faith is vnp●ofitable if it be separated from ●lection peace of conscience dependeth vpon predestination ● Cor. 2. 14. Hovv a sure vvitnesse of our election maie bee had By vvhat ●okens true faith maie be knovvne The effectes of the holie ghost in the elect The efficacie or vertue of our calling is vnderstoode by faith and by our calling our predestinatiō or fore-ordaining There is certaine hope in the chosen of continuance and saluation The doctrin of predestination ouer throvveth vaine secu●itie or carelesnesse Onelie election mynistreth sur● comfort The doc●●rine of reprobation or ofcasting is not to be buried Reprobatiō or ofcasting vvarelie to bee considered Reprobatiō or ofcasting neyther can or ought to be particularlie applied not adding any condition A differēce betvveene election and reprobation VVe must labour to vvinne allmen Of the co●●sideration of reprob●tion or ofcasting h●militie is learned It causeth the goodnesse of ●od to bee the better vnderstood● of the chosen● The con●ideration of reprobation or ofcasting engendreth a godly carefulnesse in the chosen It strengthneth them against all offences * Efficacie or strenght Blasphemies that vve are most falsely charged vvithal the vvhiche notvvithstāding cannot any vvay be truly proued to grovve of our doctrine A n●cess●ry note to bee marked Calu. instit lib. 1. Cap. 18. Sec. 3. Difference betvveene predestination and Election Definition of predestination Election defined The partes of defi●●tion examined Mercy and grace Free mercy and grace The free mercy and grace of God in his ovvne vvyll Rom. 9. Ma●h 20 Luke 18 Luke 15 Ioh. 1. ●ods mercy in sau●ng the elect ouer in●ludeth the condicion of faith in ●n Ch●●st The free mercy and grace of God in his ovvne good vvyll through faith in christ his sonne o●r Lord. Faith is the onlie condition vvhereby Gods grace doth saue vs. Act. 16. Fayth only is the immediate cause of our iustifiyng The second consideration Grace Election Vocation Fayth Iustificatiō ●lo●ification Mans fr●● vvyll Blinde fortune Mans vvisedome Mans learnning Mans merites VVorkes of the lavv excluded from the causes of our saluation Papi●ts ●onfound the doctrine of election Election● That vocation he meaneth here vvhich is after purpose Vocation bringeth ●ayth Iustification by faith only The ●apist● falselie pretendeth that Actus credendi is in mannes povver Col. 1. lyn 4. Hovv faith ●nd el●ction are linked together in the act of iustifying The third considera●●n Election knovvn● to ●od ●●mply Election knovven to man by meanes Faith is th● meanes vvhereby vve be certified of our saluation De electione iudicandum est A posteriore● Election first knovvn to God and last opened to man. Euerie man to sta●e him selfe vpon Gods generall promise ●●vvhat faith is●● Diuerse kindes of faith Euery truth hath his faith But euerie truth iustifieth not no more doeth euerie faith● Faith the action ●● vv Christ the● obiect● of faith Faith and Christ are relatiues Christ vvith out faith saueth not Faith vvithout Christ● saueth no● ●●orace Election Vocation Christes death causes externe of our saluation ●aith onelie intern cause of mans saluation Faith is an action in man but not of man. Vertues and vvorkes of charitie though they bee good gifts of God in man yet they serue not to iustification Faith looketh his dignitie of his obiect Looking vp to the brasē Serpent and beleeuing vppon the bodie of Christ compared The errour of the Papistes periecting the minde of Gods Testament hovve and vvherein Imprinted at London for Thomas Woodcocke d●●●ling in Poules Church yarde at the sygne of the blacke Beare