The Treasure of Truth Touching Salvation and the Christian Religion, Treatise 1 · Chapter 2
The second Chap.
Of the euerlasting counsayle of God hyd in him selfe, which notwithstanding is in the ende vnderstoode by the effectes.
The. 1. Aphorisme.
…HE waies of (1) almightie God are … vnsearcheable,The counsayle, decree and vvyll of God, the fountaine of all causes. (2) without whose e…nall and vnchāgeable decree, nothing …one any where of any man, neyther …erally nor particularly, no not those …gs are to be excepted, (3) which (albe…t in respect they are decreed of God, …g alwayes good and iust: but in re…t they are done by Sathan and other …l instrumentes) are euyll, and ther… to bee detested and abhorred.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Rom. 11. 33. O the déepe ryches both …e wisdome and knowledge of God? …vnsearcheable are his iudgements, …his wayes paste finding out?
Rom 9. 20. But, O man, who art thou, which pleadest against God?
Iob. 9. 10. 11. 12. Who doeth great thinges and vnsearchable, yea, marueylous thinges without number. Loe, he goeth by mee, and I sée him not: he passeth hye, and I perceyue him not. Doubtlesse he wyll take awaye, who wyll cause him to restore againe? who shall saye vntounto him, what doest thou?
Gen. 27. 20. And Isaac sayde vntounto his sonne, what is this, that thou has… found it so quickly, my sōne? who sayd, because Iehoua thy God, made it to come vntounto my hande?
Ephe. 1. 11. In whome also we are chosen, when we were Predestinate according to his purpose, which bringeth to passe all things after the counsell of his owne wyll.
Exod 21… 13. But he that hath not sayd wayte for him, but God was the cause that he came to his hand, then wyl I appoynt thee a place whyther hée shall flee.
Prou. 16. 33. The lotte is cast into the lappe, and all the iudgement thereof is …rom the Lorde.
…Prouer. 20. 24. The steppes of a man …re ruled by the Lorde: and howe shall a …an vnderstande his owne way?
…Prouer. 21. 1. As the ryuers of waters, … is the Kings heart in the hande of the …orde: he turneth it whether soeuer it …leaseth him.
…Esa. 14. 27. Because the Lord of hoasts …th determined it, & who shall disanull … his hande is stretched out, and who …all turne it away?
…Iere. 10. 23. O Lord I knowe that the …aye of man is not in him selfe, neither …it in man that walketh, to make rea…e his steppes.
…Dan. 4. 32. And all the dwellers of the …th are coumpted as nothing, and he …th according vntounto his wyl in the hoast …heauen, and in the dwellers of the …rth: neyther is there any that can …aye his hande, and saye vntounto him, …hat doest thou?
…Math. 10. 29. Are not two Sparrowes …ld for a farthing, & one of them shal not … on the ground without your Father?
Eph. 2. 1. 2. And you hath he quickened, when you were dead in trespasses and sinnes, wherin in times past ye walked, according to the course of this world, after the Prince which hath rule of the ayre, and of the spirite that nowe worketh in men that are disobedient.
1. Sam. 16. 14. But the spyrite of the Lorde departed from Saul, and an euyll spyrite sent of the Lorde, feared him.
2. Tim. 2. 26. And being escaped out of the snare of the Deuyll, of whome they are taken captiues.
Gen. 45. 8. Nowe therefore you hauehave not sent mée hyther, but God.
Gen. 50. 20. When yée thought euyll against mée, God disposed it vntounto good, that hée might doo according vntounto this daye, and saue much people a lyue.
Exo. 4. 21. And I wyl harden his heart, that he shall not let the people goe.
Exo. 7. 3. But I wyll harden Pharaos heart, and multiply my myracles, and wonders in the lande of Egipt.
Exod 9. 12. And the Lorde hardened the heart of Pharao, neither dyd he obey them, according as the Lord had spoken vntounto Moyses.
Exod. 10. 1. Goe in vntounto Pharao: For I hauehave hardened his heart, and the heart of his seruauntes.
20. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharao.
Exod. 11. 10. But the Lorde hardened Pharaos heart, & he suffred not the children of Israel to depart out of his Land.
Exod. 14. 4. And I wyll harden Pharaos heart, and he shall follow after you, and I wyll be glorified in Pharao.
17. And I, behold I wyll harden the heart of the Egiptians, and they shal goe in after them: and I wyl be glorifyed in Pharao, and in all his hoast, and in his Charets, and in his horsemen.
Deut. 2. 30. But Sihon the Kinge of Hesbon woulde not let vsus passe by him: for the Lord thy God hath hardened his spirite, & made stubborne his heart, that he might delyuer him into thine hand.
Ios. 11. 19. 20. There was not a Citie which made peace with the children of Israel, besydes the Hiuites, the inhabitantes, o… dwellers in Gibeon: all other they … by battell. For it came of the Lorde to harden theyr heartes, to come against Israel in battell.
1. Sam. 2. 25. And they hearde not the voyce of theyr Father, because the Lord was minded to slaye them.
2. Sam. 12. 11. So sayd the Lord, behold I wyll rayse vp euyll against thée, out of thine house, & wil take thy wiues before thine eyes, and geue them to thy neighbour, and he shal lye with thy wyues, in the sight of this sonne.
2. Sam. 24. 1. And the wrath of the Lord was moreouer angry against Israel, and he styrred vp Dauid against them, saying, goe, number Israel and Iuda.
1. King. 12. 15. And the King heard not the people: for the cause was from the Lorde, that he might performe his word which he had spoken by the hand of Ahiiah the Silonite vntounto Ieroboam the sōne of Nebat.
1. King. 22. 23. Nowe therefore behold the Lorde hath put a spirite of lying in the mo…th of all these thy Prophetes.
2. Kin. 18. 25. And now, hauehave I comen vp against this place without the Lord, to destroy it? The Lord sayd vntounto mee, goe vp against this Land and destroy it.
2. Chron. 11. 4. Thus sayd the Lorde, Goe not vp, nor fyght against your brethren: returne eueryevery man vntounto his own house: for this thing is done of mee.
2. Chro. 22. 7. And the*Or destructio… treading down of Ochozias came of God.
2 Chron. 25. 20. And Amazias held not him selfe contented, for it was of God, that hee myght delyuer them into the hande of the enemie.
Nehem 9. 36. 37. Beholde we are seruants this day, & that in the land which thou gauest vntounto our Fathers, &c. And it yéeldeth much fruit vntounto ye Kings which thou hast set ouer vsus for our sinnes.
Iob. 1. 21. The Lorde hath geuen, and the Lorde hath taken away: the name of the Lorde be blessed.
Iob. 34. 30. Because a man that is an hypocrite raigneth, and because of the offence of the people.
Psal. 105. 25. He turned their heart that they should hate his people: and practise disceypt against his seruauntes.
Esa. 10. 15. Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that he weth therewith? or shall the sawe set vp it selfe against him that moueth it? as if the rodde should lift vp it selfe against him that taketh it vp: or as if the staffe should exalt it selfe, as though it were no woodde.
Esa. 54. 16. Beholde, I hauehave created the Smyth, that bloweth the coales in the fyre, and him that bringeth forth an instrument for his worke: I, I saye, hauehave created the destroyer to destroy.
Esa. 63. 17. Lorde why hast thou made vsus to erre frō thy wayes? and made vsus to depart from thy feare?
Iohn. 12. 40. and Esa. 6. 10. He hath blinded theyr eyes, & hardened theyr hearts: least they should see with their eyes, and vnderstand with theyr heart, and should turne, and I should heale them.
Iere. 48. 10. Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lorde negligentlie, and cursed bee hee whiche kéepeth backe his sworde from blood.
Act. 2. 23. Him, I saye, when you had …aken, being delyuered by the determi…ed counsell and prouidence of God, ye hauehave slayne with wycked handes being fastened to the crosse.
Act. 4. 27. 28. For doubtlesse against …hine holy sonne Iesus, whom thou haddest annoynted, both Herode and Pon…tius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the… people of Israel were gathered together, …to doo whatsoeuer thine hand, & thy coū sell had determyned before to be done.
Rom. 9. 18. Therefore he hath mercy on whome he wyll hauehave mercy, and hardeneth whome he wyll harden.
19. Thou wylt saye then vntounto mée, why is ye yet angrie? for who hath resysted his hyll.
Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in disobedience, that he might hauehave mercy on all.
Gal. 3. 22. For the scripture hath shut vp all thinges vnderunder sinne, that the promyse by the fayth of Iesus Christ might be geuen to them that beléeue.
…. Thes. 3. 3. That no man should bée moued in these afflictions… For ye your selues knowe that wee are appoynted there vntounto.
Rom. 8. 29. For whome he knew before, those hee also Predestinated to bee made lyke the image of his sonne.
1. Pet. 3. 17. For it is better, if the wyll of God wyll so hauehave it, that ye suffer for euyll doing.
1. Pet. 4. 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according vntounto the wyll of God, commytte their soules vntounto him in well doing, as vntounto a faithfull creatour.
The seconde Aphorisme.
THe selfe same God1Al things created vntounto God his glorie. from euerlasting hath purposed and decreed in himselfe, to create all things at their seasons to his glorye, but namely men, and that after two sorts altogether diuers the one to the other, to wyt in such maner, 2Men or dained, some merciemercy to saluation, others of iustice to damnation, and that both to God his ….that some whome it pleaseth him according vntounto his secreete wyl, he maketh through mercy partakers of his glorie, whom out of the word of God we do call vesselles of honour, elect or chosen, sōnes of the promise, and Predestinate or foreordained vntounto saluation:3Titles vvhichwhich the scripture g…ueth to the chosen. and in other, whome also it pleaseth him to styrre vp to that ende, he sheweth his wrath and his power, that in them also he might be glorified,Names geuen in the Scripture to the reprobates or cast avvayes. whome lykewise we call vessels of dishonour and wrath… and vnapte to euerie good worke.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Prou. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for his owne sake, yea, euen the wicked for an euyll daye.
Esa. 43. 6. I wyll say vntounto the North, geue: and vntounto ye South, kéepe not back. Bring my sonnes frō farre, & my daughters frō the vttermost part of the earth.
7. All shal be called by my name: and I created them for my glory: I formed them, and also made them.
Eph. 1. 5. 6. Who hath predestinate or foreordayned vsus whome he would adopt or chose into his sonnes through Iesus Christ vntounto him selfe, according to the good pleasure of his wyl, vntounto the praise of his glorious grace, wherwith he hath made vsus to be accepted or to be lyked of in that his beloued.
Rom. 9… 23. And that he might make known the ryches of his glory towards the vesselles of his merciemercy, the which he hath prepared vntounto glory.
Rom. 8. 29. For whome he hath foreknown, those also hath he Predestinate, that they might bée made lyke the Image of his sonne.
Rom. 9. 7. 8. But in Isaac shal thy séede be called, that is, not they which are the children of the fleshe, are the children of God, but they whiche are the sonnes of the promise, are coumpted in the séede.
Ro. 9. 21. Hath not the Potter power ouer the claye, to make out of the same lumpe, one vessel vntounto honour, and another vntounto dishonour?
1. Cor. 2. 7. But we speake the wisdom of God lying in a mistery, that is, euen the hyd wisedome, which God had determyned before the worlde vntounto our glorye.
Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vsus in him before the foūdations of the world were layd, that wee should be holy and without eame before him in louelove.
2. Thes. 2. 13. But we ought to gyue thankes alwayes to God for you brethren beloued of the Lorde, because God hath chosen you from the beginning vntounto saluation through sanctificatiō of the spirite, and faith geuen to the trueth.
1. Pet. 1. 2. Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, vntounto sanctification of the spirite.
Exod 9. 16. And in déede for this cause hauehave I appointed thée, to wytte, to shew thée my power, and that they should declare my name throughout the whole worlde.
Prouerb. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all thinges for his owne sake: yea, euen the wicked for an euyll daye.
Rom. 9. 22. What and if God minding to declare his wrath, and to make his power known, hath suffered with much gentlenesse the vesselles of wrath… couched together to destruction?
The thirde Aphorism….
THis electionElection lying hyd in the purpose of God. and chosing, or Predestination, and forcordaining vntounto saluation being considered in the purpose of God it selfe, that is to saie, the decree it selfe and purpose of electing or chosing, is the first fountaine of the saluation of the Sonnes of God,*God hath not chosen vsus vntounto sal…uation because he did foresee that vve vvould be faithfull and do good vvorkes, but onelyonly because of free merciemercy it so pleased him, and therfore also hau… vve fayt… & do good vvorks because it is God his good pleasure to grannt vsus faith and abilitie, and vvyll to doo good vvorkes. and doeth not spring, as some woulde hauehave it, from the for…knowledge eyther of their faith, or workes, but rather of that onelie which is in the good pleasure of God it selfe, from the which afterwarde doo both election or chosing, and also faith, and all good workes spring.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Deut. 4 37. And because he loued thy Fathers, he chose their seede after them, and hath brought thée out of Egipt before him by his most mightie power.
Deut. 7. 7. 8. God hath not loued you, and chosen you, because you were more in number then al other people, but because the Lorde loued you, &c.
Ios 24. 2. And Iosua sayde to all the people, Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel: your Fathers dwelled beyonde the floodde in olde tyme, as Thare the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor, and serued other Gods, &c.
Psal. 44. 3. For they possessed not the Lande with their owne sworde, neither dyd their owne arme saue them: but thy ryght hande and thy arme, and the light of thy countenannce, because thou …a…o…edst them.
Iohn 15. …6. You hauehave not chosen mée, but I hauehave chosē you, and ordained you, that ye goe and bring forth fruite &c.
Act. 13. 48. And when the Gentyles heard these things, they reioyced, and glorified the worde of the Lord and beleued as manie as were ordeined vntounto euerlasting lyfe.
Act. 22. 14. And he sayd, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest knowe his wyl, and see that iust one & shouldest heare the voice of his mouth.
Rom. 5 6. For Christ when we were yet of no strengthe, at his tyme dyed for the vngodlye.
Ro. 9. 11. 12. For the children being not yet borne, whē as they had done neither good nor euyll (that the purpose of God, which is according vntounto his electiō, that is to say, not of workes, but of him y• calleth) might remaine sure) it was said vntounto her, the elder shal serue the younger.
13. As it is written. I hauehave loued Iacob, and hauehave hated Esau.
14. What shall we say then? Is there any vnrighteousnesse with God? God forbyd.
15. For he sayth vntounto Moyses, I wyll hauehave merciemercy on him, on whome I wyll hauehave mercy, & I wyl hauehave compassion on him, on whome I wyl hauehave compassion.
16. So then Election is not in him that wylleth, neyther in him that runneth, but in god that sheweth merciemercy.
18. Therfore he hath mercy on whome he wyl, and whome he wyl he hardneth.
25. And that he might make knowne the ryches of his glory vponupon the vessels of merciemercy, which hée hath prepared vntounto glorie.
Rom 11. 7. What then? Israell hath not obtained that which he séeketh, but the Elect hauehave obtained it, and the rest hauehave beene hardened.
35. Or who hath geuen vntounto him first and it shall be geuen vntounto him againe.
1 Cor. 4…7. For who separateth thee? and what hast thou, that thou hast not …eceaued? If thou hast receyued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou haddest not receyued it?
Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vsus in him before the foundatiō of the world were laide, that we shoulde be holy and without blame before him in louelove.
5. Who hath Predestinate or foreordained vsus whome hée woulde adopt or chose into sonnes through Iesus Christ vntounto him selfe, according to the good pleasure of his wyll.
11. In whom also we are chosen, when we were Predestinate or foreordayned according to the purpose of him, which worketh al things after the counsell of his owne wyll.
Ephe. 2. 10. For we are his workmanshyp, created in Christ Iesus vntounto good workes, which God hath ordained, that we should walke in them.
Colos. 1. 12. Geuing thankes vntounto the Father, which hath made vsus meete to bée partakers of the inheritaunce of the Saintes in lyght.
2. Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saued vsus, and called vsus with an holy calling: not according vntounto our works, but according vntounto his owne purpose and grace, which was geuen vsus in Christe Iesus before the tymes of the worlde.
The fowrth Aphorism….
THerefore the Scripture as of…en as it vvyll strengthen the sonnes of God vvith assured hope,The scripture vseth to alleadge the eternal purpose of God for conf…rmance of our hope of saluation, and not to stay in second causes a… fa…th or calling, nor in the frutes of these causes, vvhichwhich. … assure vsus that vve hauehave them. stayeth not eyther in the testimonies or vvitnesses of the second cause… that is to saye, in the ftuites of faith, nor yet in the seconde and next causes them selues, to wyt, faith and vocation, or calling, but ascendeth or clymeth vp vntounto Christ him selfe, in whom notwithstanding as in the head we are in very deede, electe and adopted, and afterward goeth vp euen vntounto that euerlasting purpose… vvhichwhich God hath purposed in no other than in him selfe.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Math. 25. 3 Then shal the King say vntounto them which shall be at his right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, possesse the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world were layde.
Iohn. 6. 40. And this is the wyl of him which sent mée, that eueryevery one which s…th the sonne & beleeueth in him, should hauehave euerlasting lyfe: and I wyll rayse him vp at the last daye.
Act. 13. 48. Ioh. 6. 45. It is vvritten in the prophetes, and they shal be al taugh… of God, vvho so euer therefore hath hearde of the father aud hath learned, cometh vntounto me. Psa. 54. 13.And the Gentyles hearing these thinges, reioyced, and glorified the word of the Lord: & beléeued as many as were ordayned vntounto euerlasting lyfe.
Rom. 8. 29. For whome he hath foreknowen, the same also hath he Predestinate or foreordained that they should be lyke the Image of his sonne.
Rom. 9. 8 Not they which are the children of the flesh, are the children of God: but they which are the chyldren of the promise, are coumpted in the seede.
11. For the chyldren not being yet born, when as they had done neyther good nor euyl, that the purpose of God, which is according vntounto his election, that is to 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 vponupon the vessels of merciemercy, which he hath prepared vntounto glorye.
11. What then? that Which Israell séeketh, &c.
Ephes. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vsus in him before the foundacions of the world were layde, &c.
…5. Who hath predestinat or fore ordeined vsus whom he woulde adopte or chose into his sonnes through Iesus Christ vntounto him selfe.
9. The mysterie of his wyll beynge reuealed vntounto vsus, acording vntounto 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 eueryevery 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 vntounto our glorie.
10. But God hath reueled those things vntounto vsus 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,Reprobation or ofcasting lying hyd in the purpose of God. (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 vponupon the vesselle… of merciemercy, and his excellent power and also gentlenesse the better by comparison, lifteth vsus vp euen vntounto that highe misterie, vvhichwhich in order goeth before all the causes of their damnation. Of vvhichwhich secreete, doubtlesse there is no other cause known vntounto 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 hauehave 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 vntounto glory.
Exod. 9. 16. And in déede for this cause I hauehave 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 eueryevery 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 vntounto his electon, that is, not by works, but by him that calleth, might remaine sure, &c.
13. As it is writtē.Mala. 1. … I hauehave loued Iacob, but hated Esau. Where he doth not onlye say, that Esau before he had done any good, was ordeined vntounto …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 vntounto them such like kind of speach, why doth not God beare ye 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 vntounto the hyghest wyll of God, which is the onelyonly rule of iustice.
Esa. 54. 16. Beholde I hauehave made the Smyth that bloweth coales in the fyre, and bryngeth forth an instrument for his worke: I, I saye, hauehave made the destroyer to destroye.
Ioh. 6. 44. No man can come vntounto 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… vntounto 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, vntounto them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, vntounto the which thing they were euen ordained. And in many other places.
Iud. 1. 4. For there hauehave crept in certaine men, being before of olde ordained vntounto this condempnation.
The sixt Aphorisme.
FOr vvee must make a difference betweene the purpose of reprobating or ofcasting,A differnce betvveene the purpose of electing and election and betvveene the purpose of reprobating and reprobation. and betweene reprobation or ofcasting it selfe. For the misterie or secrete of that, God would hauehave to be hyd from vsus: But of this, and of the destruction also that dependeth or hangeth vponupon it, vve hauehave causes expressed in the word of God, to vvyt the corruption, vnbeleefe and sinne (the vvhichwhich are necessary, or must needes bee in respect of the falling out of them) of the vesselles mad… vntounto 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 louelove 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 hauehave not beleeued the trueth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse.
Rom. 11. 20. Well: through vnbeléef… they are broken of, and thou standest by …ayth be not hye minde…, but feare.
2. Cor. 4. 3. But if our gospell be hidden, it is hyoden to them that perishe.
4. In whome the God of this worlde hath blynded their myndes, that is, in the vnfaithfull, least the light of the gospell of the glory of Christ, which is the Image of God, shoulde not shine vntounto them.
Hebr. 12. 16. Let there be no fornicatour, nor prophane, or vncleane person, as Esau, which for one messe of meate, solde his byrth right.
17. For ye knowe howe that afterwarde also when he woulde hauehave obtained the blessing by the ryght of inherytaunce, he was cast of: for he founde no place of repentance, although he sought that blessing with teares.
The seuenth Aphorisme.
SO when as the question of the sorting of the causes of saluatiō into degrees,Gods purpose in him selfe in man his saluatiō, is the highest and chiefest cause, and is to be deuided, & also goeth before our election, vvhichwhich is grounded in Christ, and also before all other inferiour causes that follovv after it. & placing of thē, as it were in a certaine new order, in the saluation of the elect, we do distinguish or make a differēce between the purpose of electing or chosing, the whiche God hath decreed in him selfe, and the election or chosing it selfe, the which is ordained in Christ, so that this purpose of God in the rule and order of causes goeth before this election, and all other thinges which follow after.
Proues out of the word… of God.
Rom. 8. 30. And whome he hath Predestinate or foreordained, those also hath he called, & whome he hath called, those also hath he iustified or made righteous: And whome hée hath iustified or made righteous, those also hath he gloryfied.
Ephe 1. 4. As he chose vsus in him before the foundation of the worlde were layde, &c.
5. Who hath Predestinate or foreordained vsus whome he woulde adopte or …ose for his sonnes through Christ vn… him selfe, according to the good plea…re of his wyll.