Predestination, Treatise · Conclusions
A Corolarie, or addition. A most certaine theoreme or vndoubted truth.
GOD HATH NOT REVEALED Christ vntounto all and eueryevery man.
The Proofes.
This is euident by Scriptures and experience. Isai. 52. 14. That which hath not bin told them, shall they see, and that which they hauehave not heard, they shall vnderstand. Isai 55. 5. Behold thou shalt call a nation, which thou hast not knowne: and nations that knew not thee shall run vntounto thee. Isai 65. 1. I hauehave bin sought of them, that asked not before, I was found of them, that sought me not. Osec 1. 10. And in the place where it was said vntounto them, Ye are not my people. Osec 2. 23. I will hauehave mercy vponupon her that was not pitied, and I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people. Act. 14. 16. God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies. Act. 71. 30. And the time of this ignorāce God regarded not, but now he admonisheth all men euer…e where to repent. Rom. 16. 25. 26. To him now that is of power to establish you according to my Gospell and preaching of Iesus Christ, by the reuelation of the mysterie, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is opened. Colos. 1. 26. 27. Which is the mystery hid since the world began and from all ages, but now is made manifest to his saints, to whom God would make knowne what is the riches of this glorious mysterie among the Gentiles. Eph. 2. 12. Yee were at that time without Christ, and had no hope, and were Atheists or without God in the world. ….Ephes. 3. 5. The mysterie of Christ in other ages was not opened vntounto the sonnes of men, as it is now reuealed vntounto his holy Apostles. Psal. 147. 19. 20. He sheweth his word vntounto Iacob, his statutes and his iudgements vntounto Israel: Hee hath not dealt so with eueryevery nation, neither hauehave they knowne his iudgements.
The most wise Philosophers among the Gentils hauehave indeed smattered many things of God: but in the meane time what say they of Christ? why should they bee so exceeding silent in this point, if Christ were reuealed vntounto all? Socrates being readie to die said, I depart out of this life, and they doe liue with whom I am thoroughly Lact. lib. 7. cap. 2.to pleade my cause: whether it bee good the immortall Gods doe know: and indeed I thinke no man knoweth: And we owe (saith he) O Crito a co…ke to Aesculapius to pay the price of the potion. It is reported that Aristotle being readie to die, cried out, O thou which art the chiefest thing of all things Ens entium miserere mei.which are, hauehave merciemercy vponupon me.
The Gentils knew not God that great benefactour, and therefore fained vntounto themselues certaine sauiours, Castor, and Pollux, and Hercules, called foreign, that is, a helper in distresse, or repeller of euils; and Aesculapius the Physitian. Solinus saith, that there is not as yet any of Collectar. 5. cap. 7.the Gentiles found, who hath attained vntounto the height of felicitie, and may iustly be accounted happy. Albinus speaketh thus: When such like questions are propounded, why one is iudged thus, and another after another manner, why this man is blinded God giuing him ouer, and another enlightned through Gods assistance, let not vsus presume or take vponupon vsus to iudge of the iudgement of so great a Iudge, but with trembling let vsus crie out with the Apostle, O the depth.
Consectarie I.
The promise concerning the seede of the woman belongs not to all and to eueryevery one: For a promise to whom it is not reuealed, is not actually a promise.
Consectarie II.
Howsoeuer the redemption, that is by Christ, belongeth vntounto all, yet it belongs not to all and to euerie one. For a benefit to be perceiued or receiued by a supernaturall faith, if it bee not reuealed, is no benefit.
Consectarie III.
Vocation and vniuersall sauing grace belongs not to all and eueryevery particular person; for God calleth vsus by reuealing and offring Christ to vsus.
Consectarie IIII.
The foreknowledge of faith in Christ, and of *Contempt of the Gospell.priuatiue infidelitie is not the square and rule according to which God hath ordained and disposed his predestination: because there be very manie that neuer so much as heard of Christ; in whom therefore there is neither faith in Christ, nor priuatiue infidelitie, or contempt of the Gospell.
Trini-vni Deo gloria.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Perkins, Predestination (1606)