to dertroy fuch as rebell againft him euery moment. Therefore our dutie isj
to cafl: downe our felues for our finnes in his prefence. This true humiliation
was that which our Sauiour Chrift would hauc brought the younge man in
theGofpellvnto, when lice bade him ^oe fell all that he had and t^iue to the
poore.Therefore whofoeuer thou art,taKeheed thou muft: for if thou runne
on in thy wickednelle, and ftill rebell againft God,it is a thou(and to one at
length he willdeftroy thee.Forheisan almightieGod,andableto doe what-
foeuer hee will : his hand is.mightie, it boots not a man to ftriue with him:for
hee was neuer yet ouermafteredjand for this caule wee mufl needs caft down
1.10.3V our felues vnder his hand.It \sdifearefHllthmg[Ci\ih. the holy GhQ{k)tofallinto
the hands of the Ituing G"»^: therefore if wee would efcape his heauie and terri-»
ble difpleaflire, the belt way for vsis,toaba{e our felues, and be afhamed to
follbwe our finnes. Chrift biddeth vs not to feare him that is able to kill the
body,and can goe no further;^«/ mee muji feare him that u able to caji both bo*-
â– .\oA%. dieandfonle into y?7(f//j?r
per(ecuted by his owne fbnne Abfolon,he fiid vnto the Lord, IfhethiufayJ
haue no delti^httn thee, behold here 1 am , let him doe tome as feemeth good inhii
eies. But fome will fay, I wiirijue a little longer in my finnes,inlying,pridei
Sabbath' brcaking,in fwearing,dicing,gaming,and wantonnefle : for God is
mercifall,andinmyold a^e I will repent. y/«/Well,foothenotthyfclfe:but
marke,vfually when God holds backehis hand for afeafbn,he doth as it were
fetch a more mightie bio we, for the greater confufion of a rebellious finncri
therefore humble,{ubmit, and cinft downe thy (elfe before God,and ^ot not
ftriue a2;ainil him:his hand is mi^htie,and will ouerthrow thee.Though diou
iiadft all learning,wifdome,mightsriches ,«?cc.yet(as Chriit faid to the younge
man) one thing is wantmg , that thou fhouldeft bee humbled *, and
vn till thou bee humbled , nothing is to bee looked for but Gods iudge-
snent for finne,
Secondly feeing God is almightiew^^ inufl tremble and feare at all his iudge-
ments.
of the Creedf, Of Gods omnipotencic- 213
ments^we mufl ftand in awe,quake , and quiuer at them, as the poore childc
doth, when he feeth his father come with the rod. Example of this we hauc of-
ten in Gods word;as when the lonncs of Aaron offered ftraunge fire before
the Lord, he fent fire from heauen,and burned them vp. And though Aaron
was very forry for his fbnnes:yet when Mofes told him , that the Lord would
htglortfedm all that came neere himythen the text £dS.xh,-^aron helde his peace. So ^'vjcj,
alfo we read that the Apoftles reprooued Peter,for preaching vnto the Gen-
tiles:but when Peter had expounded the things in order which he had feene,
then they heU their feacci and glorified God.h.% alfb Dauid {iv^\lheldmy tongue *
O Lord,becaufe than didfl it. Ifaiah (aicth, In hope ^filence is true fortitude. If a ^,^'''-'^-"*'
man be in trouble he muft hope for deliuerance , and be quiet and patient at
Gods iudgements.But the pra£life of the world is flat contrarie. For men are
fb farre from trembluig at them,that they vleto pray to god that plagues,cur-
fes,and vengeance may light vpon them,and vpon their feruants and childre.
Nowe the Lord being a mighty God,often doth anfwerably bring his iudge-
ments vpon them . Againe, many caricd with impatiencie.wiHi themfelues
hanged or drowned: which euils they thinke ihal neuer befall themrvet at the
length God doth in his iuftice bring ilich punifhments vpon them according
as thev wifhed. And (which is more)in all ages there haue bene (bme which
haue (corned and mocked at Gods iudgements.Hcreof we had not far hence
a mofl: fearefull example.Onc beeing with his companion in a houfe drink-
ing on the Lords day , when hewasreadie to depart thence,there was great
lightening and thunder: whereupon his fellow requefled him to fby, but the
jJiAn mocking andiefhng at the thunder and lightning, faid ('asreport was) /r
rpoi nothing but a knaue cooper knocking on his tubhes^ come what wouldc , hee in"c°ni?rTdg
would goeiand fo went on his iourney:but before hee came halfe a mile from ^'"^'
the houfe,the fame hand of the Lord which before he had mocked,in a crack
of thunder ftroke him about the girdleftead,that he fell downe Ihrke deade.
Which example isworthy our remembrance,to put vs in mind of Gods hea-
uy wrathagainll thofe which fcorne his iudgements:for our dutie is to trem-
ble and feare:and it were greatly to be vviOied,that wee coulde with open eye
beholde the terriblenelTe and fearefiilneflc of Gods iudgements:it would
make a man to quake and to leauc off (inne . If a man pafTe bv fbme
high and daungerous place in the night when hee cannot fee , hee is
not aflPraide *, but if yee bring him backe againe in the day , and let him
fee what a fteepe and dangerous way hee came , hee will not be perfwa-
AtA to paffc the f ime way againe for anv thing:fo it is in finnins;: for men li-
ning in ignorance and blindcnelfe , pra«aife any wickedneile , and doe
not care for Gods iudgements : but when God ofliis goodneffe bringeth
them backe, and openeth their eies to fee the downfall to the pit of hell,
and the iudgements of Goddue to their finnes : then (they fay)thev will ne-
uer finne as they haue done,but become new men,and walke in the way to e-
ternall life.
r Thirdly ,we arc taught by the ApofllePaulthatif weebe to doe any dutv
to our brethren, as to releeue them,wcc muft doe it with chearflilne{re:for he
iabourcth to perfwade the Corinthians to cheer efuUliberalitie 5 and the rea-
P 2 fon
214 O^ Oods oranlpotende. ^ft Sxpojttion
{bn of his pcrfwafion is , hecaufe God is able to m^k^ all grace to ahoHnd towardes.
i.Cor. j.7,8. them.VJ\itxc alfo this dutie is taught vs, that feeing God is omnipotent, and
therefore able to make vs abound,therefore wee mull: giue cheereflilly tox>ur
poore brethren which want .
Fourthlv,whereas there are many in euery place, which haueliued longirt:
their finnes,euen from their cradle; fome mvvantonnes, fomc in drunkcnncs,
fome in fA'.earing, fome in idlenefle, and fuch like:out of this place to all (uch
there is a good lefron,namely that euery one of them doe nowe become new
men, and repent of ail their finnes,for all their life paft. For markc what;
Paul faith of the lewes which are cutte oflPfrom Chrift through vnbelecfe,
and haue fo continued in hardnelTe of heart ,and delperat malice againft him,
iuwi.ii*!. almofl: i <5 .hundretlryeares: (/"(faith he) they abide notfitllin vnbeleefe,they may
bee grafted into their oliueagainc : and- his reafon isthis,^^r^«/9 (jodisable to
graft them in againe. Eucnfb though wee haueliued manyyeares in finnc,
(and fureit is adaungerous and rearefull cafe for a man toliuc20.50.or
40. yeares vnder the power of th€ diuell; ) yet wee muft knowc that if wcc
will nowe liue anewe hfe,forfakcall our finnes and turne to God , wcc may-
be receiued to grace,and bemade a branch of the true oliuc , though we hauc
borne the fruits of the wildeoliue all our life long. But fomc will obicft,.
that they haue no hope of Gods fauour, bccaufe they haue beene fb gric-
uous (inners,and continued in them fb lon^.^/'^But.knowe it , whofbeuer
thouartjGodis able to graft thee in ; and if thou repent, he will recciucthec
to his louc and fauour. This muft be obferued of all,but cfpecially of (uch a*t
are olde in y«ares, and yetrcmaine ignorajit without knowledge; they mult
turne to the Lord by rcpentancerotherwife, if they continue (fill profinc and
impenitcntjthey muft knowc this , that their damnation comes poft haft to
roeete thcm,and they to it.
And thus much for the duties.Nowe followc the confolations which Godt
Ghurch reape from this,that God the father is omnipotent. Firft, the wondcr-
fullpowerofGodferuethtoftrengthenvsin praier vnto God; for hec that
will pray truely, muft onely pray for thofc things for which he hath warrant
in Gods word:all our prayers muft bee made in f7iith,and for a man to prait
in faith ,itis hard : therefore a fpeciall meancs toftrengthenvsheiein,is the
mif^htie power of God.This was the ground and ftay of the leper whom our
Mao, Sauiour Chrift clcnfed : Lord (faith he) tfthoft wilt thou canji make me cleane.
And in the Lords praier , when our Sauiour Chrift hath taught vs to make
fixe pctitions;in the end he giueth vs a reafbn,or motiue to indwce vs to ftand
\'pon,and to waite for the benefits before craued,in thefe wordes: Thine is the:
kin^dome, thine is thepovi>er,<^c.
Secondly jhence wee learne this comfort,that all the g;;at8S of hell fhallnc-
uer bee able to preuaile againft theleaft member of Chrift. I doe not fay
they {hall neucr be able to a{Taiik,or tempt them,f jr that may be:but they Ibalj
neuer oucrcome them.Howfwin fomefay)may we be rr-fblued ofthis?/<7««-J
fwer.hv realon of faithcfor ifn Chriftianman cfo bel'^'Jiie th.it God the father^ ,
and in Chrift his father,is almightie,no encmie fhn J cner le able to preuaile»
j.l9li.j.4. a^aiiift him.So S.Iohn rcafoneSh:i////(f cbiJdren,ye are of God, & haw ouerccme^
thffoi
oftije Qreede. Of Gods omnipotencie. i\ 5
them-t tliatis,all falle XtT^i^tx^ybecaufe greater ishe thati6inyou,thit is,Chrift le-
(iis by his holy fpirit,who is Goci,and therefore almightie, the» he that is in the
n>orld, that is, the (pirit of (atan : therefore you neede not to feare. So Dauid
compareth himfelfe to a filly fhecpe,and (aith : Though IJhouldwalke thromh
the valley ofthejhadorv ofdeath,th3.t is,as it were in the mouth of the lyon , yet I P^^-*»*
ivill feare none eiiilhwihy fo?becaufethe Lord iswithhim://^ rodde(Ciith hc)ami
thy flajfe comfort r/ie .
Thus much for thebenefits. Now whereas it is (aid the firfi: perfbn is a Fa»
ther, as alfo Almightie: ioyne thefe two togither,and hence will arife fingular
benefits and inflru^ftions . Firft , whereas we are taught to confefTe, that the
firrt perfon is a Father Almightie, we and euery man mufl: learne to haue ex-
perience in himfelfe, of the mightic power of this almightie father. Why, will
ibme fay , that is nothing , for the deuill and all the damned fbulcsfeele the
power of the Almightie? True indeede they feele the power of God, namely,
as he is an almightie lud^e condemning them; but they feele notthepow^r
of an almightie father : this is the point whereof we mull indcauour to haue
experience in our felues . Paul prayeth that the god of our Lordlefm ChriH
the father of glorie, vpould^iue vnto the Sphefans thefpirtt ofrpifedowe,tofee what Kph.j,jy,
is the exceeding greatnes of his power in them which helceue , according to the wor-
king of his mightie power which he wrought in Chrifl. Which place muft be con-
fidcred : for here the Apoftle would haue vs haue filch a fpeciall manifeftati-
on of Gods power in our (elues , like to that which he did once ihew forth in
Chnft. But how did Chrift (ee and finde the power of God as he was man ?
Anfwer. Diuers waies : I. On the crolTe he died the jfirft death ; which is the
{eparation of bodie and fbule : and he {ufferedthelbrrowesof thcfecond
death. For in his (bule he bare the whole wrath of God , and all the pangs of
hell, and after was buried and laide in the grauc, where death triumphed ouer
him for the (pace of three daies . Novve in this extremitie God did Hicwe his
power , in that he raifed Chrift from death to life . And looke as his power
was manifefted in Chrift the head : (b muft it be manifefted in all his mem-
bers : for euery man hath his graue , which is naturall finne and corruption ,
which we drawe fi'om our firft parents, and looke as a man lies dead in the
graue , and can mooue neither hand nor foote : fo euery man by nature Iveth
dead in finne. Now as God did ftievv his power in raifing Chrift fr©m death :
(o euery one muft labour to haue this knowledge and experience in himfelfe
of the mightie power of God , m raifing him from the graue of finne to new-
nefie of life. For thus Paul makes a fpeaall requeft,that he might kfiow thrift, pf,ii , ,0.
and thevenue of his reCurreElion , that is , that he might feele m himfelfe that
power whereby Chrift was rai(ed from death to life, to raile him alfo fi oiti the
bondage of his finnes to a newe life more and more . Furthermore , when
Chrift was vpon the crofte , and all die gates of hell were open againft him ,
then did he Vanquifh Satan ; he bruifed the fcrpents head , and as Paul fiiith,
he ^oyledprindpahties andpowers, andmade a /hew of them openly , and hath tri'
umphed oMcr theminthe croffe: he ouercame the deuill and all his angels by the
power of his almightie father, and by his owne power as he is God- And euen
fo muft Chriftian men labour to finde the fame power inthemfelues of this
P 3 almigh"
SI 6 Of Gods oinnipotencie. An Sxpojltion
almi|;htie f^athei* by which Chiifl: did triumph ouer $atan:that by itthey «nay
tread'him vnder their feete,which men can neucr doe by an)- power in thenv-
felues. AgaiaejChriftpraieththat that cup might paderfrom himrand yet hce
l»k,sj.4j. faith: Not tny fvilljbut thy wUlhefulfJhd,Vor it was oeceflary tliat Chrilt'lliould
fufifer. And this rcqueft was heard>not becaufe he wasfreed from death , but
becaufe God his father Almightie gaue him power and ftren^th in his man-
hood to beare the brunt of his indignation. Nowe looke astnis power was
cffeifhiail in Chrift leftis the head , to make him able and fufficient to bearc
the pan^s of hell-.fo the fame power of God,is in fome meafure effeftuall in
al the members of Chrift^to make them both patient, & of fufficient ftrength
Colo^wi. jQ ]3g3j.g^^i^yjjg|i^iorj^a5 Saint Paul feitb : heeing fir engthened vptth all might
thronq}} his gloriomforver vnto allfatience and long fuffering -with ioifulnejfe. And
this is a notable point which euery one ought tolearne : that whereas they
confeffc God to be their Ahiiightie father,they fliould herewithall labour to
feele and haue experience in thcmfclues,that hee is almightie in tlie beginning
and continuing of grace vnto them, and in giuing them power and patience
Eph.i.to,si. to fuffei- atBiftions-turther, Chrift Icfus when the worke of our redemption
was accomplillied , was lifted vp into heauen,and fet at the right hand of
" God in heauenly places , farre aboue all principalities and powers , &c. euen
by the power of his father: well,as this power was made manifeft in the head:
fo muftit beeintlie members theieof. Euery. childe of God iliall hereafter
fee and feele in himlelfethe fame power,td tranflate him from this vale ofmrj.
(cry in this life, to the kingdome of heauen. Wherefore to conclude, we hauc
great caufctQ beethankefuUandtopraifeGodforthis priuiled^e, that hee
fheweth his power in his childre in regeneratingthe,in making them die vn-
to fin,andtaftandagainflthegates ofhcl,andto fulfer affli£lions patiently:
as alfo.that he tranflates them from death to life. And euery oneihould iliew
his thankefulneiTe in labouring'to haueexperience of this power in himfdfe,
as Paul exhorteth vsin his Epifcles to the Cbloiliansand Ephefians:yea,reai
all his epiftles,and we Ihal findhementioneth-no point fo often^as this,name-
Iv the mighty power ofGod , manifeftcd firfl: in. Chrift, and fecondly in hit
Phil.j.io. JTiembers : and he ucconnteth all things lojfe that he might knowe Chrtjf, and the
vertue of his refurrcB.im!^\-\\%^6i\-\X. is the rather to be marked,becaufe his po^
wer in the matter of graceis not to be feene with eye; and.fewe there be in re-
rpe£l that haue fek the vertue thereof in themfelues: for the diuell doth migh»
tilylliew.e his contrary pow.er in the greoiefl. part of the world,in carrj'ing
them to finne and wickednefTe.
itoia.8.ig. Sccondlv,hencewe learnc that which Paul teacheth,narae]y to knowe
that all thinges worke togithcr for the bell: vnto them that loucGod. Go«i
is almightie,and therefore ;tble to doe whatfoeucr hewilhhe isnlfo afathei^,
and therefore is willing to doe that which is for oar good.But fome will fay,
wearcflibieft to many cro(res,yeato finne:what?can ourfinnesturne to our
c;ood?»^/IfGod almightie be thy fiuher, he will turne thine afHi(51ioiiSjyea
Ihv finnes which by nature are euil , beyond all expedatation vnto thy falua-
jion. And thus much God will doe to allfuch as be obedient vnto him : yet
2jQmaamiift hereupon prefume.to fmns.
' of the Cre£de. Of the Creation. 217
Tliiri^ly , wlierens we teleeilc tJiat Gocl is a niiglitie father,it ferues to con-
firme gods children in the promises of mercy rcueakd in his word.The chic-
fed wliereof iS;thatifmen will turnefrom.their linncs,and beleeue in Chrift,
dieyll^allnotperiililDUt haue lifecuerlafting.Iknovve fomc men will make
it an eafie thing to beleeue ,efpecially thofe which neuer kncwe what faith
meant.But fuch perfbnsncede no meane» of confirmation of feith : therefore
kt ail thofe whicn haue tabled ot the harclncs of attaining vnto it,learne howc
to eftabliih dieir wauering hearts m the promifes of God,by theconfiderati-
onofriiefetwopoints-.Godisafatherj^nd therefore he is willingrJie is alfb
almightie,and therefore he is able to perfoime his p romifes. H«*that will bee
truely refolued of Gods promifes,mu(l haue boththefc fotied in his heart,and
buildon them as q^ two foundations.
It folio weth,(0-
fitift pcrfon,and of his attributesaiowe we come to (peake ofhis effeO:,namc-
Iv the creationrbut before we come to it, we are to anfwer a eertaine obie^ion
which may be made. At the fiifl: it may feeme ftrange to fome, that the workc
of creation is afcribed to the firft perfon in Trinitie the father: whereas in the
Scripture it is c(Mnmon to them all three equally . And firfl: that the farficr is
Creatour,it was neuer doubted: as for the fecon<;I perfon the Sonnejthat hec
is Creatour,it is euident.'
the fubftantiall wordc of the father , and without it wm mademthing that rpoi
made « And a^aine it is faidc , that Godby hisfmne made the vporide . As for HebAj,
the holy Ghofr, the worke of creation is alfo afcribed vntohim : and there-
fore Mofes faith, The fpirit moouedvpoit thervattrs : and lob (zicxhyHiiQ^^^^
fpirit hath garmPyed the heaue/is. Howc then is this peculiar to the father,
heejng common to all the three perfons in trinitie ? lanjrver^ TI>€ a
God are twofold;either inward, or outvyard.The inwarde a£lions are thofe,
which ope perfori dcrthexercife towards another:as the father doth beget the
lbnne,andthisis an inv/^rd afflion peculiar to the fathcr:and all inward a-
clions are proper to the perfons fiom whomc they are.So the Sonne doth re-
ceiue the Godhead by communication from the Father : and the holy Ghoft
from them both: andthcfc are inward anions peculiar to thefepei'fons. So
likewifejfor the i&ther to fend his fonne , it is an inward ^^ftion proper to the
father and caiyiot be communicated to the holy ghoft:and the fonne to bee
fent by the father oncly is a thing proper to the Sonne , and not common to
the father ,or to the holy Ghoft.Novv outward alliens are the aftions of the
perfons in the Trinitie to the ci catures:as the worke of creation, the worke of
preferuation,and ofredemption.Thefe and all fuch a£lionsare common to al
the three perfons:the father crcateth ,the fonne createth,and the holy Ghofl
crcateth:and fo we may fay of the works of gouernment , and of redempti-
on,and ofall outward actions of the perfons to the creatures.But fome againe
inayfay,howethen can the worke of creation, beeing an outward a£lion of
(^oA to the creamrc, be peculiar to the firfl perfon the father? Innfwere , the
work of creatio is notfo proper to the firft perfon die father, as that it cannot
alfo be comon to the reft:for all the three perfons ioyntly created all things of
nothingionly they are diftinguifocd in the maner pf creating.For the father is
a 1 8 Of Gods coUTjfell. An Ex^ofition
BaCK defpiriuthc caufc thatbcginncth the worke , the fonne putt it in execution , the holy
^''"oSr"^' 0^°^ '^ ^^ finWher of it And againe,the father createlh by the. ^ fonne, & by-
K
holy ghofl: createth not bv the father,nor by the fonne-,but from the father &
the fonne. And this is the reafon wKy the woi:ke of creation is afcribed here
VRto the father,becaufe he alone createth after a peculiar manner, namely by
the fonne,ar(d by the holy Ghoft : but the Sonne and the holy Gholt create-
not by the father but from him.
Thus hauinganfwered the obie£lion,wc(£Gnie to fpeake of the creation it
felfe.In handling whereofjwe mull withall treat of the CdunfellofGody^s bee-
ing the caule therof,and of the Gouernraent of the creatures,as bcin^ a work,
of God whereby he continunes the creation. And the order which Ivvill ob-^
ferue,is firfl: to (peake of the C^unfellaf God,2X\A fecondlv of the excquution^
of his Gounlell, which hath twofpeciall branches, thefirft xh^creation^xht (c-
cond the ^yeferuatien ot goueryiment of things created^ < > t >d : :
The Counfell ofGod^,ishiseternaUandvnchangeabledeGree,whereby
he hath ordained all things either paft,prelent,or to come, for his owne glO"
rie. Firll I call it a decree , bccaufe God hath in it fettedowne with himfelfe
and appointed a J fbueraigine Lord , what fhall be, what fliall not bee. I adde
..c^rther,that all thing^ whatfoeuer come vndfer the compafle of this decree'>i$>.
Paul faith, //«fjj'^^r^f;^ athh'tngf according to the counfell of his mil And our Sa*^
''â– ''â– tiiourChrift faith , that a Iparrowe cannot fall on the ground reithout the hea*
M ai*io ' «^«/I'^^^^'^-yca further,he tels his difeiple^, that the very haires of their header
are nnmbred^ meaning that they arc knowne and fet downe in the counlell of
^*'*^ God. And coniideriog that God is Kin^ of heauen and earth;and that moft
wi{e,yea wifdbme it felfe ; and moft •miG;htie,Yea might and power it felfe : it
mufbheedesbce that he hath determined how all thingsiball cometo palTein.
his kingdome,with all their circuniftarices,time,place,caufe$,5cc.infoch par-
ticular manrier,thatthe very leift thing that liiay bee, is not left vnappointcd
juid vndifpofed.
The counfell of Godiliath tw6 properties, etermtie^ and vnchatmgeablenes.
It is eternall , becaufe it was fet downe by God from euerlafting before al^
times,as Paul faith, God hath chofen the Ephefians Kafaluation before all
rpb 1.4. tvorldii. And he faith of himfelfe, that Hee was called according to the^urpoft:
a.Tim 1.5». gfGod,T»hpc:h vj'as before cillworld.es. Againe, the fame counfell once ^ti dbVvne,
Mai.}.(y. IS vnchangeable.God {3ii\h,f or» Iehouah,and I chatMge mt.fVith God[{zixh. S.
1nmQ^)there is no variablenefe , norpfadorve ofchaunge. Nowe fiich as God is,
filch is his decree or counfell. And becins; vnchansieabl e,his counfels alfb are
vnchaiigeable, - â–
Gods counfell hath twap4t^s;hisforeknoweledge,and his wilor plcaffurcV
His foreknowledge, w'her^by he did forefee all tlfmges which' were to^cbme.
Hiswilljwherebyina generallmanner he wills and ordaineswKatfbeueris^
to cofne to pafTe : and therefore fiich things as God altogither ni11eth,cann6t
t'ogerher.andnotfeuercd . Will without knowlcdgeisimpotcnt,nndfore-
kliowledgev^ithout willisidle. And therefore Tach itS'holde that Gad doetR
Barely.
Iam.i.i7.
oftheCreede, Of Gods Counfcll. 2ip
barely fbrefee fiindne things to come,no manner of way either willing or de-
creeing the iflue and euent of them , doe brin^ in little better then Atheifme.
For ifwe fay that any thing comes to pafTe either againft Gods will,or God
not kn owing ofit,or not regarding it,we {hall make him either impotent or
carelefre,and rafe the very foundation of Gods prouidence.
And this decree of God muft be conceiued of vs as the mofl: generall caiife
of all things fubfirtingrbeing firll in order hauing all other caufes vndcr it,and
mofl: principalljOuerruling all,ouerruled by none.
Thus wee fee what is to be held touching Gods counfelhnowe for the bet-
ter clearing of the tructh,three obiedions offome difficultic are to be anfwe-
red.Firftmayfomemanfay, if God decree andordaine all things whatfoe-
uer jthen he decreeth and ordaineth finne: but God decrees not finne in as
much as it is againfl:his will; and therefore he decrees not all things./^»/. Wee.
vfe not to fay that God doth fimply will or decree finne, but onely in pait,ad^
ding withall thefe caueats: I. That God willeth and decreeth finne,not pro-