Predestination, Title page – Dedication
A C…N AND …E TREATISE OF THE manner and order of Predestination, and of the largenes of Gods grace.
FIRST WRITTEN IN LATINE by that Reuerend and faithfull seruant of God, Master William Perkins, late Preacher of the Word in Cambridge.
AND CAREFVLLY TRANSLATED into English by FRANCIS CACOT, and THOMAS TVKE.
Romanes 8. vers. 29. 30.
For those which he knew before, he also predestinate to be made like to the image of his Sonne, that he might be …he first borne among many brethren.
Moreouer, whom he predestinate, them also he called, and whom he called, them also he iustified, and whom he iustified, them be also glorified.
AT LONDON Printed for WILLIAM WELEY, and Martin Clarke. 1606.
To the Right VVorshipfull Sir Peter Buck, Knight: And to the vertuous Lady his Wife, Grace and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ.
RIght Worshipfull, amongst the manifold points of Christian Religion, the trueth of the Doctrine cōcerning Predestination is worthy serious and sober study for the sound vnderstanding thereof. For first, it is something difficult & obscure. Secondly, because it is by some eagerly impugned, as a friuolous and forged inuention of mans braine. Thirdly, diuers opinions hauehave passed from diuers mē diuersly about this one point; whereas notwithstanding there is but one truth, and one definite and constant sentence to be found in holy writ concerning it. Fourthly, this one doctrine doth giuegive very good euidence, and an ample demonstration of Gods infinite merciemercy and exact iustice. Fiftly, it affordeth some taste of his profound and impenetrable counsell. Sixtly, it doth notably manifest his admirable wisdome and policie, and the incorruptible purity of his nature, who wisely disposeth all things, and vseth euen euils without iniustice, and the least receipt or infusion of corruption; and all for the manifestation of the glory of his Name, and of the splendour of his renowmed properties. Seuenthly, it confoundeth the common cauill of many desperate and infatuated Atheists, who would make Gods predestination the pillar of their sensuall security, and secure sensualitie. Lastly, it ministreth exceeding comfort vntounto those, who renouncing the kingdome of Sinne, do liue like Saints in the kingdome of Grace. First, because it is not possible for any such to sinne with full consent of heart. Secondly, because no personall merits are required of them. Thirdly, because the Spirit of God abideth in them, who is busy within the hiue of their hearts as a Bee, and worketh them like waxe. Fourthly, because God hath eternally predestinated them to eternall ioyes, and those also incomprehensible and ineffable. Fiftly, because God hath in abundance vouchsafed that to them being but an handfull, which hee hath denyed to whole heapes besides. Sixtly, for that they being elected, can in no wise perish, for the counsell of the Lord shall stand for euer, Psal. 33. 11. And hee loueth them with an euerlasting louelove, Ieremy 3. 4. Though a Mother should forget her Child, yet he will not forget them, for he hath grauen them vponupon the palme of his hand, Isay 49. 15, 16. therefore hee will confirme them vntounto the end, 1. Cor. 1. 8. and by his power keepe them vntounto saluation, 1. Pet. 1. 5. He will louelove them cōstantly, though he visit their transgressions with rods, Psal. 89. 32, 33. He will neuer turne away from them, though he Iere. 32. 40. Ioh. 16. 12.take them by the neck (as Iob speaketh) and beat them, though he cut their reines and breake them, and though he powreth their gall vponupon the ground, and runneth vponupon them like a Gyant. Ioseph did affect his brethren entirely, though hee spake roughly to them. Hee may also sometimes let them fall, as a louing Nurse may her child, but he will lift them vp againe; therefore howsoeuer they may fall, yet they shall not fall away. Indeed Piptein.they may leaue their first louelove, as the EcpipteinChurch of Ephesus did, but they shall neuer leaue to louelove at all, if euer they loued Reu. 2. 4.truly. For (as Paul sayth) LoueLove doth neuer fall away, it may be lessened, but it cannot 1. Cor. 13 8.be lost. In like manner, their faith may be couered, as the Sunne with a duskie cloud in a gloomy day: or as the trees are with snow sometimes in winter; but yet it continueth firmely fixed (though now and then eclipsed) in the sphaere of the heart, and keepeth sap in the roote. For the righteous man is as a tree planted by the riuers of waters, Psal. 1. 3. and is built by that great builder of heauen and earth vponupon a rock, Math. 16. 18. These comforts will this one doctrine affoord, being throughly pondered and vnderstood. And no doubt these and the like considerations mooued that holy and learned man of blessed memory, to publish this present treatise for the benefit of the Church, and the same hauehave also incited vsus to turne it out of the toong wherein he wrote it, into the English, for their profit who are ignorant in the other; and the rather, because it is contriued and penned very plainely, soundly, and succinctly, as the subiect will permit. The which (Right Worshipfull) assuring our selues of your vnfeigned louelove vntounto the truth, we do present and dedicate to you, in token of deserued gratitude for vndeserued kindnesse, not doubting of your courteous and kinde acceptance. And thus we humbly take our leaues, recommending you and all yours to the protection of Iehoua. Rochester, this 19. of February. 1605.
Your Worships in all dutie,
Francis Cacott, and
Thomas Tuke.