L 2 for-
I
j 5 A The order of the caufes
former,naniely, as the decree is conficiered by itfelfe, he is not predeftinateH,
but too ither with God the Father,a Predeftinator.
A
good^leafure of God,vnrearchable,& adored of the very angels themfelues.
I I.Becaufeitisnotknowne but by that which is after it, namely ,by the cf-
feds thereof
CHAP. S3..
Concerning the execution of the decree
of Reprobation.
^N the executing of this decree,thereis to be confidered , the foundation or
beginning.and the degrees or proceeding thereof
The foundation ofexecuting the decree of Reprobation, isthefallof A-
dam,by which fall he was fubie6> both to finne and damnation. Rom. 1 1 . j 2 ..
Tor God hath fhutte vp allin vnbeleefe,that he might hanemercy on all. i .Pet.2.8.
Here wee muft note , that God hath fo decreed to condemne fome,as that
notwithftanding, all the fault and guilt of condemnation remainethinthc
men onely. - »
Further jwhome God reic£Veth to condemnation,thofe he hateth: this ha-
tred of God is,whereby he detefteth and abhorreth the reprobate when he is
fallen into finne,for the fame finne. And this hatred which God hath to man,
comes by the fall of Adamrand it is neither an antecedent nor a caufe of Gods
decree,but onely a confequent and followeth the decree.
Reprobates are either Infants or men of riper age.
In reprobate infants,the execution of Gods decree is this : afToone as they
areborne,for the guilt of originall and naturall finne,being left in Gods fe-
cret iudgementvnto themfelues , they dying ar^ reicfted of God for euer.
Rom.chap.5 .ver. T A.^ut death raignedfrom Adam to Adofes,e»en ouer them aU
fo that fnnednot after the like manner of the tranfgrefflon ofAdam^ which vcas the
fiffure of him that was to come. Rom.p. 1 T . For ere the children were borne ^and
when they ha^ neither done good nor enill^ that the pnrpofe of God might remaine
aecordinz, to eleElion not by worses, bttt by him that catleth.
Reprobates ofriper age,are of two fortSjthey that are called('namely,by an
vneffe^luall calling)and they that are not called.
In the Reprobates which are called,the execution of the decree of Repro-
bation hath three degrees,to wit,an aclcnowledgement of Gods calling, a fal-
lingaway againe,and condemnation.
The acknowledgement of Gods calling is, whereby the Reprobates for a
time, doe fubieft themfelues to the calling of God , which calling is wrought
by the preaching ofthe worde. Mat. 2 2. i ^.For many are called^ batfewe are
choCen.AnA of this calling^there are fiue other degrees.
The firil is,an enlightning of their mindes,whereby they are indrufted of
the holy Ghoft to the vnderftanding and knovveledge oftHe word.Heb.^^.^.
For it is impoffihle that they which were once lightned,^c.z.Vtt.r.20. For if they ^
after they haue efcaped from the fllthine^e ofthe world ^ through the k^^ow ledge of
the Lord,andofthe Sauiour lefm Chrijl, are yet tangled againe therein , and ouer-"
come^he latter end is vaorfe with them then the beginning.
The.
offahiation and damnation, t^r
The fecondjis a certaine penitencic, whereby the Reprobate , I. doth ac*
knowledge his finne. 1 1. Is pricked with the feeling of Gods wrath for finne.
III. Is grieued for the punifhment of iinnc. IV. Doth confeiTc his finne*
V. Acknowledgeth God to be iufl: in punifhing finne. V I . Defireth to be
faued. VII. Promifeth repentance in his milcrie or affli£^ion,in thefe words,
f voillfimte no nfore. Math. 27.5 .Then when judoi rohtch hetraiedhim,faw that h&
rpas condemned,h€ yepented himfclfe^ and brought againe the thirtie pieces ofjiiueri
to the chiefe Priefis and Elders. Heb. 12.1 J. For yee know how that afterward atfo
Yphen he would haue inhsntedthe blejpftg, he woi reieSled:for he found no place to
repentance , though he fought the bleffmg with teares. 1 .King. 2 1 . 2 7. Now when
^y^ah heard thofe wordcs , he rent his clothes, and put fackc loath vpon htm^andfa-
fied,andlaj/ inJackcloth,andwentfoftly. Numb. 2 3 . 10. Let me die the death of the
righteOHJiOndlet my Iufl ende he like his. Pfal. 78. ^ i.Tor all this, they finned Jlill,
and beleepted not his wondrous workes. ? j . Therefore their daies did he confume in
vanitie, and their year es hafltly. j 4. ^y€nd when he flue them, they fought him, and
they returned , and fought God earely. 5 ^ . They remembredthat God was their
flrenf[th,and the moj} high God their redeemer.
The third degree is,a temporarie faith,whereby the reprobate doth confii-
Cedly beleeuc the promifes of God, made in Chriir, I {ay confufedlyhtC2M(k he
beleeueth that fome lliall be (aued , but he beleeueth not that he himfelfe par-
ticularly iTiall be faued , becaufe he beeing content with a generall faith , doth
neuer applie the promifes of God to himfelf,neither doth ne Co much as con-
ceiue any pun :ofe,defiie,orendeuour to applie the fame,or any wrafthng or
(Iriuingagainftfccuritieorcarelefhesanddiftrufl:. lani. 2. ig.ThoubeleeueH
that there is one Cjod, thou doejl well : the deuils alfo beleeue it, and tremble. A4 ath .
I J . 2 o.And he that receiued feede in the flony ground,is he which heareth the word
md incontinently with ioy r e ceiue th it. 2 1 . Tet hath he no roote in himfelfe, anddu-
reth but afeafon. loh. 7.1^. Now when he was at lerufalem at the Pajfeouer in the
feafl, many beleeuedin his Name when they faw his miracles which he did. 24. ^ut
lefui did not cormrnt htmfelfe vnto them, becaufe he knew them all.
The fourth is , a tailing of heauenly giftsras of Iu(fification,and of San<^-
fication,and of the vertues of the world to come. This tafting is verely a (enfe
in the hearts of the Reprobates , whereby they doe perceiue and Ct^t the ex-
cellencie of Gods benefits,notwithflanding they doe not enioy the fame. For
itisonethingtotaft of dainties at a banquet, and anotherthing to feede and
to be nourimed thereby. Heb.6. 4. Tor tt is impojpble, that they which were once
lightened, andhaue taTledof the he aueniy gifts, and were made partakers of the ho-
iyGhcft.
The fifth degree is, the outward holines of life for a time, vnder which, is
comprehended a zeale in the profeffion of religion , a reuerence and feare to-
wards Gods miniflcrs , and amendment of bfe in many things. Mark. 6. i o.
Tor Herodfeareci lohn,knowina that he was a iuH man,andan holy and reuerenced
him, andwhen he heard htm, he did many things , and heard him gladly. Aft. 1 8. i ■? .
Then Simon him^dfe beleeued alfo , and woi baptised, and continuedwtth Philip,
andwondred when he faw the fignes and great miracles which were done. Hof 6.4.
O Sphraim, what /hall I doe vnto thee ? Judah, howjhalllentreate thee ? for your
L 2 goodnes
1^^ 7%e wdcY •fth^ CitHfes
foodnes is tis a morrmg clottd^nd as the^norning derve it gMth arvay.
The (econd degree ofthe execution of Gods counfclof reprobation ,in roc
of ripe age which are called , is a falhng away againCjwhich for the nioft part
IS cffefted and wrought rftcr this aianner.Firft, the i^probate is decciued by
forae finne.Scconuly,his heart is hardened by the fame fin. Thirdly, his heart
being hardened,it becommcth wicked and perucrfe. Fourthly,then foUow-
eth his incrcdulitie and vnbelcefc, whereby he confenteth not to Gods word,
when he hath heard and known it.Fiftly,an Apoftafie, or falling away from
faith in Chrift,doth immediately follow this vnbeleefe. Hebr. ^ f 2, 1 3 Tid^e
heedybrethrenjeaj} at any time there he in any of you an euill heart yandvr^atthfulU
to depart opuaiefrom the lining God. 1 .Tim. 1 . 1 9.
This Apo{iafie,isfometimesfinncagainft the holy Ghoft. In the finnea-
gainft: the holy Ghoft, we haue haue thefe feuerall points to be confidered:!.
The Name;it is called a finne againft the holy ^hoiT,not becaufcit is done a-
«^ainft the perfbn , or deitie of the holy Gho{t(for in thisrefpe^ he that fin»
nethao-ainfl: the holy Ghofl:,finnethin like fort againft both the father, & the
Sonnc)butit is fo cailed,becaufe itis done contrarie to the immediate a£lion,
namely ,the illumination ofthe holy Ghofl.For albeit this be an aftion com-
mon to the whole Trinitie, yet the Father and the fonne doe effe^ the fam^
by the holv Ghoft.I I.The dflficicnt caufe of if,which is a fet 3c obftinate ma-
lice againft: God,and againft his Chrifl. Therefore when a man doth in the
timcofperfecution,eitnerforfeare, or rafhly denie Chrift,he doth not com-
mit diis finne againft the holy Ghoft, as may appeare by the example of Pe-
ter who denied Chrift.Mat. 2 6.7^74- 7 5 -Neither doth he which perfccuteth
Chrift and his Church vpon i2;norance fall into this finne. Paul perfecuted
the Church.of Chiift,and yet (5od had mercie on him,becaufe he did k 'gno-
rantly. i .Tim. i . i ^ .Many of the lewes crucified our Sauiour Chiif t,who af*
tcrward,becaufe tfiey committed that grieuous f^ft vpon ignorance,repen-
ting at Peters fermon,they did obtaine remiflion of their finnes. A£V.^, 1 7.
3 7.1 1 I.The Obie(f>,namely Godhini{elfe,and theMediatour Chrift lefua
For the malice of this finne is direfted againft the very maicftie of God him-
felfe,and againft Chrift.Hebr.i o. zg.Of how much firer fmiJhmeMtfupfofeyee
Jhallhe ire wort hie, Tvhich treadeth vnder foot e the Sonne of
blood of theTefiament as anvnholy thing , wherervith hewas/anHifedyanddoth
defpCe thefpirtt of grace fYhcxcioYC this finne doth dircftly reipeft the firfi: ta-
ble ofthe morailJaw, and is not fome particular flipping afide from the ob-
feruaUon of thofe commandements which are contained in this firft tabic,
fiich as are fonae doubtings concerning God,or ofthe truth of the fcriptures,
orof Chrift,&c.butitisageneralldefe
totally.I V. The fubieft m which it is.This f5n is found in none at al, but fucK
as haue been enlightened by the holy Ghoft, and haue tafted ofthe good gift
of God-Heb.6. ^ ,6. Neither is itin him a bare cogitation alone , but an exter-
nnlla^ion,or rather fuch a blalphemie againft God asproccedethfroma
ma1itious,and obftinate heart. Matth. 1 2. q i. V. The Eleft cannot commit
this finne; and thci fore they who feele in themfelues a fure tefhmonie of their
cicftion^ncedencuerlodefpaire* nay jthisfinne is not in euery reprobate:
fo?
of fahation attd damnatio», j5~
fof many of tlicm die before they haue this illumination by Gods fpirit . V I.
This (inne cannot be forgiucn not becaufc it is greater then that Chrifts me-
rit can fatisfie tor it, but becaufe after a man hath once committed this finnc,it
is impofTiblefor him to repent. For the gift of repentance proceedeth from
theholvGhoft, and the holy ghofl: rrmaineth in vs through Chrift apprC'
hendecfbyfaithrnow no man doth apprehend Chrifl: , that doth malitiouflic
defpife and contemne him. V 1 Lit is very hard to knowe when a man com -
mitteth this finne , becaufe theroote thereof, namely,{etmalicc,lurkethin'
vvardly m the heart,and is not fo eafily difcerned.
Out of all this which hath bene fpoken,we may thus define this finne.Thc
finne againrt the holy Ghofl: is a voluntarie,and oblfinate denial! of,and bla(^
phemieagainfl: the Sonne of God,or that trueth which was before acknowc-
ledged concerning hnn, & fo confequently an vniuerfall deftcbon from God
and his true church. We haue an example ofthis finne pardy in die diuel,who
albeit he knewc well inoughthat lefuswas that Chrift,yet he ncucr ceafei
both wittingly and willingly with all his power,to oppugne the facred Maic-
ftic of G O Djtogrther with the kingdomc of leliis Chrifl:,and,as farrc forth
as he could; vtterly to fupplant the fame,partly in the Pharifes, Matth. 12.32.
Ioh.7.2.
After Apoftafie followeth pollution , which is the very fiilnefle of all ini*
qui tic, altogether contrarie to (an£Vificanon.Gen. i ^. 1 6. fj^nd in the fourth gc
deration t hey Jhall come hither againe,for the yptckedneffe oftheAtnorites is not jet
fuU.
The third dep-cc is damnation, whereby the Reprobates are deliuered vp
to eternall punimment. The execution of damnation beginneth in death,and
is finiflied in thelaft judgement. Luk. 1 6. ti.Andit rpoifo that the hegger died,
ttndwM earned by the An^elinto Abrahams bofome'ythe rich man alCo diedandrvOi
bnried.i 5 .And being tn hell torments Joe lift vp his eies andfawe Abraham afarre
ejfyand La^jtrfts in his bofome.
The execution of the decree ofrcprobation in Tnfidels,which are not cal-
ledisthis.Firftjthey haue bv nature ignorance and vanitie of rainde. After
thatfolloweth hardncfli of beart, whereby they become voidc of all fbrrowc
for their finnes.Then commeth a reprobate fen(e,which is, when the naturali
light of rca{bn,and of the ludgement of good and euil,is extingui{hed. After-
ward when the heart ceaieth to (brrowe, then arifeth a committing of finnc
with greedinelTe.Then commeth pollution.which is thefulnelTe of finnc La-
ftly,a iuft reward is giuen to all thefc, to wit, feareftiU condemnanon.Eph.4.
18. Hauing their cogitations darkened, and b e em ^ fir angers from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in themjbecanfi of the hardnes of their hearts^ova.
\ .i'^ .For as they regarded not to know (^od.euenfo^oddelmered them vvtoarc"
probate minde,to doe thofe things rrhich are not conuenient.
CHAT>, f4.
Concerning a nevoe deuifed doBrine ofTredeflination,taught by
fame nevp and liSte H^inines.
CErtaine newe Diuines of our age,haue of late ere^ed vp a new doArinc
of Prcdcftination,in which/earing behke , kaft they ILouId make God
L 4 both
1 6 3 The order of the caufes
both vniufbianci vnmercifull , they doc in the diftribution of the caufcs offal-
uation and damnation,tume them vpfide downjas may appcare by their deP
cnption m this table.
But this their doftrine hadi (bmc foule errours and defers , the which I^
accordmgas I Hiaii be able,will briefly touch.
The I.erronr,
There is a certaine vnmer.fall or general! elecl'ton.,vcherby Cjod^vpithoui uny either
re(iraint,or exception ofperfonsjjath decreed to redeeme by Chrtjitandto reconcile
vnto him'elfe all mankind wholly, fallen in ^y^damyea ettery fingnlar f erf on ^asvpell
the %efrohatey4i the £ie8.
The (Confutation.
The very name of Eleftion doth fully confute this: for none can be faid to
be ^leBed^xHo be that God would haue all men elefted m Chrift.For he that
eleftethjOr maketh choice , cannot be faid to take allmeither can hethat ac-
cepteth of all.be (aid to make choice onely of fome.
O^^^.Eleftion is nothing els but dile£lion,or loue:but this we know, that
God loueth all his creaturesjtherefore he ele^leth all his creatures.
AnfwerXl denie that to eleft isto loue,but to ordaine and appoint toloue-
Rom.9.1 7,.\ I.God doth loue all his crcamres , yet not all equally, but cuery
one in their place.
Furthermore, this pofition doth flatly repugne the moil: plainc places of
holy Scripture. Tit. 2.14. IVho gane himfelfefor vs,that he might redeeme vs
from all tmcjuitie, and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto hitnCelfe. loh. » o. I giue
mylifeformyjheepe. Bxception. All men are the Oiecpe of Chrifl. (L^nmer.
lohn 2^^'^
}ovpe them , and they foilowe
me,and I giue vnto them eter nalllife, neither (hall they perifh. Eph. 5.2?. Chrift \%
the head of the Church ^und the fame is the Sauiour of his body, verf 2 5 .{^hri/l
iouedthe Church,and gauehimfelfe for it . Redemption and remidion offins,is
the inheritance of the Saints,and offiich as areraadeheiresofthekingdome
ofChriltCololF.i.i^
Againe,looke for whom Chrift is an Aduocate,and to them onely is he a
Redeemerjfor redemption and interce[lion,which are parts of Chrifts prieft-
hoodjthe one is as generall and large as the other,and are fb furely vnited and
fattened togither,as that one cannot be without the other.But Chrift is only
an Aduocat€ of the faithfull.Ioh.i y.in that his folemnepraier,hefirft praieth
for his own, namely his difciples,elerted not only to the Apoftleftiip but alfo
toeternalIlife:andthenverr2o. he praieth hkcwifcfor them that fhouldbe-
ieeue in him by their worde. Nowe againft thefe, he oppofeth thervorlde^^ot
which he praieth not that it may attaine eternall bfe. And Rom.8. Whojhall
Accufe Gods eleFif Chrift fit let hat the right hand of the fatherland maketh intercef-
Jion for w.Furthermore.the members of Chrifts Church , are called the T^if-
deemedoftheLordyViklme 8 /.Therefore this priuiledge isnotgiuentoall a-
like.
£.v/:f/>fx
himfel''~e,who, both made it for alKandofFcreth it to all. y^/7/lf Chrift became
once before God a reconcdiation £ov all mens finnesj,yea and alfo fatisfiec' for
. tiiem
%M>
tmgs of fame late 1)i«wes in Germams.
Gods ctcrnall dccrce,whereby he decreed
•I» To create mankinde.
«. Togiuea aw to his creature with conditionf
both of life and death.
J . After the giuing of the law to permit the fall
4» To redeenac all mankmdc in Chrift *, lb that
eUS$on is in this plaoc made vntHerJall^
.^ i i
fo To^atibiankind fo redeemed in time: here
is an vmHerfuUvQCAtion,
Prcdcflination orYpecial elc- Incredulitie & coturaacie fore-
ftion, whereby God purpofed known : wherby the reft of AdSs
with himfelfc vpon his raeerc pofteritie, refiifc grace oflfercd in
mcrcie , to beftowc faith vpon theGofpell. |
Ibme certain of Adams poftc- The decree of Reprobation,
ritie called:and in like fort free- wherby God, for their contuma-
ly , not by faith or workcs fore- cic foreknownc , decreed to con-
vene to iu(lifie> and glorie. 4cmne them to dcAru^ion.
The manifcflatiofl of Gods ^toiie*
t^ffalvat'iorntnd damnation, \6c^
them all,it muft needcs fbllowe that before God al thofc finnes imifl: be quite
blotted out of his remeiubrance . For the a^uall blottins; cut of fiiines, doch
iflfeparably depend vpon reconciUation for (innei:and fatisfaftion doth infer
by God,and that neceflanly , the very reall and general! abohlhinent of th«
guilt and puni.hment of finne.
• ObieB.\.Q\\x\^ tooke vpon him mam nature:therefore he redeemed inans
nature generally, zyf^ifwer. I. It followeth not ^ except we would (Iiy that
Chrift redeemed his owne humanitie, which cannot be any waies podible.
I I.Euery woman doth partake the humane nature of euery man, yet is not e-
uery man each womans husband;, but hers alone , with whome by the couer
nam in matrimorie,he is made one flelli.-and in like fort Chnft did by his in*
carnationf /^-z c*yi«p;t»a-«)takealfo vpon him mans nature, and that common
to all Adams progenie,yet ishethe husband of his Church alone, by another
morepecuhar coniunftion,namely,the bond ofihe fpiritand of faith. And by
it the Church is become flefh of his flelli , and bone of his bone. Enh. 5. 20.
And therefore lliee alone may iuftly claime title to the death of Chnll and al
hisments. : - ^ ^
Ohte^s.(m.\ LChrifl:s redemption is as gcnerall,as Adams fall wasrand ther- ^^^ ^^' "" ]
fore it appertaineth to all Adams port entic. Anfwcr. Adam was a fype of i^^ ? '. % "
Chriff , and Chrift a counter-t}'pe correfpondent to Adam. Adam was the r ^^^" -
roote of all bis fuccefTorSjOrall that ihiould come of him/rom the which Hi ft
Adam,was finne and death deriued:a^aine,Chn{l: he is alfo a roote,but of the
cle£l onely,and fuch as beleeue,to whome/rom hiin,proceede righteoufnes,
and life eternall. Hecannot befaid to beetherooteof all,and euery finq;ular
nian,bceaufe that all doe not drinke and receiue this his rightcoufiKlle>and
life^neither aretheyaftually by him madenghteous.Romansi :'. i 7''9' ^^^
ieB.'Wxt benefit of Chrifts death redounded to all. (^AnjvcerM didyto all that
beleeue For as Adam deftroyed all thofe that were borne ofhim:fo Chiift
doth iuftifie and fauc all thofe that are borneanewebvhim,andnone other.
O^^f^.If that Adams finne deftroved all,and Chrifts merit doth not faiie all:
then is Adcims finne more forcible to condemne, then Chrifts rbercie is to
hMt.Anfveer.^Q. muft not efteeme of the mercie o^ Chrift by the number of
men which receiue mercie(for (b indcede I grant, that as Adams fall made all
vniuft,fo the mercie of Chrift and his redemption ftiould a(5fually iuftifie all)
but we muft rather meafure it by the efficacie and dignitie thereof,then by the
number on whom it is beftowed.For it was a more eafie thing to deftroy all
by finne,then by grace to faue but one. Man, being but meere man,could de-
ftrov alhbutto faue cuen one,none could doe it., but iuch anonc as wasboth
God and man.
ObwFt. III. Manv places of Scripture there arevvhich iffirme thJs,that
/die benefit of Chrifts death doth appertaine vnto all Rorr).i i .God hath fhntte
vp all vnder [rni7e,that he might haae mercie vDon alLi, Tim. 2 . 4. Qod would h.i^'f
allmcn tobee fatted* 2.Pet. ■• . 9. Godrc^otddnot haneany to fenjh d'tit allcofne ns
repentance: z^nfTi^er. I. You muft vnderftnnd all that hekcr.e, as it is Math.
1 r.28. All that are v.'Cane andheaute lidenXoh. i .6.vty4llthat bcLecue. Oal.5.2 5:..
ThcSaipttire hath c.oricltided ^Mi/fidcnfif^se , that tJrepromife byxthe faith of /«?-
■ftiis
I JO 7%e orJUr ofthee^Hfes
Jw Chrifl , fhofJd hegtuen to them which beleeue. KOl. f O. 4 } . AH vc^h heUeue.
And furely there is as well a generalitic of them that beleeue, as of the whole
world. 1 1 . We may vnderftand by ^all~\ of all forts fotne,not euery lingulai
perfon of all forts.So,Reuei. 5 .9.Chriil is faid to haue redeemed {om^out ofe^
uery ki^red, and tonme-, and people , and nation. And Gal. j . ? 8 . There is neither
lew nor Grecian , neither bend nor free , there is neither male nor female yfrrye are
aUone in Chrifl lefus. JMatth . 4.Chrift is faid to haue healed euerj di^eafeytha.t is,
euery kind ofdifeafe. And Augulline to this purpofe hath a fit rule. AW is of*
te»v/edfirmmiy , as Rom. 5. •' 8,19. Auguftinem his Manuel to Laur.chap.
10 J. /t is tht
cles amongji them , which woaldoi he faith, haue repented, tfhe had done miracles ^
but that by allnun wefhould vnderfiand all forts of Then , hcwfoetier dtffingmfbed,
whether Kings, priuaie perfons , &c. And in his boolcc de Coi rept. & gratia,
chap. 1 4. h is [aide, he would haue all to be faucd ^fo aj we mi: ft vndcrfiand all
fitch as are predefttnate to be faued,becattfe amongfl them there are al! forts of men»
as hefatd to the PhartfesXoH tythe euery hearb. HI. Thefe two ,to be willing to
faue man , and that he lliould come to the fauing knowledge of the tiuth , arc
ihfeparably vnited together. i.Tim.2.4. But the fecond we fee doth not agree
to all and euery fingular perfon: therefore thefirft cannot.
ObieEi. I V. In many places of Scripture Chnft is faid to redecme the
W0rld,as l .loh. 2. 2 .He is a propitiation for thefinnes of the wholejvorld, Anf.This
word w^rMfignifieth,! the frame of heauen and earth. II. All men both good
and bad together. III. The companie ofvnbeleeuers,and malignant haters of
ChrilV. IV. The congregation of the Eleft , difperfed ouer the face of the
whole earth, and to be gathered out of the fime . In this fourth fignification
we muft vnderfland (uch places as are aboue mentioned. Abraham is called
the heir e of the world, Rom.4.1 5. thatis,ofmany nations. Gen. 1 7.45.
ObieEl. V. ^od will not the death of a fnner, but rather that he repent and Hue t
Ezcch. 1 8.2 ^ . Anfwer. Auguftine in his i .booke to Simplicius, 2. queOr.an-
(wereth this queftion. Toumufi, faith he , difitngutfh betwixt man, as he is borne
7nan^andnMn,as he is ajinner . For ^odis not delighted with the defiruEltoH of man,
06 he is ma,but 04 he is a flnnerineither wil he (Imply the death of any as he is ajinner,
or as it is the ruine and dellruBion of his creature: but in that, by the detejlation and
reuenge offinne with et er nail death, hii glorie is exceedingly aduanced. God there-
fore will the death of a finner , but as itis a punifhment,that is,as it is a meanes
fo declare and fet out his diuine iuftice: and therfore it is an vntruth for a man
to fay that God would haue none condemned . For whereas men are once
condemned,it mull be either with Gods will,or without it : if without it, then
the will of God muft needes fuffer violence , the which to affirme is great im-
pietierif with his will,God mufl needes change hisfcntence beforcfet downc,
but we mud: not prefume to fay fb.
Ohiecl.W. god IS the Father
Gods Church,out ofwhich, all men, flanding in that corrupt eftateby Ada,
are the children of wrath,and ofthedeuiU.Eph. 2.2.Ioh.8.44.