I. A Briefe Declaration Of
¶A BRIEFE declaration of AUGUSTINE in his book of the profit of Perseverance [De bono perseverantiæ], chapter 14, saith, that they which were against him as adversaries in this question, did allege that this doctrine of Predestination did hinder the preaching of God's word, and caused that it could not profit. As if (saith he) this doctrine had hindered the Apostle Paul to do his duty: who so oftentimes doth commend unto us, and teach Predestination, and yet never ceaseth to preach the word of God. Also saith moreover: As he that hath received the gift, can better exhort and preach: so he that hath received this gift, doth hear the Preacher more obediently, & with greater reverence, &c.
We do therefore exhort and preach, but they only which have ears to hear do hear us quietly, & to their comfort: and in those that have them not, this sentence is fulfilled, that hearing with their ears they do not hear, for they hear with the outward sense, but not with the inward consent. Now why some men have these ears, and others not, it is, because it is given to some to come, and to others not. Who knew God's counsel? must that be denied which is plain and evident, because that cannot be known which is hid and secret?
Again in the 15th chapter, I pray you (saith he) if some under the shadow of predestination give themselves to slothful negligence, and as they are bent to flatter their flesh, so follow their own lusts, must we therefore judge, that this which is written of the foreknowledge of God is false? Now surely this is very handsome, and to the purpose, that we shall not speak that which by the Scripture is lawful to speak. Oh we fear (say you) lest he should be offended, which is not able to understand, and take it. And shall we not fear (say I) lest whiles we hold our tongue, he that is able to take the truth, be taken and snared with falsehood & error? Also in the 20th chapter of the same book he writeth in this sort, If the Apostles, & Doctors of the church which came after them, did the one and the other, both teaching the eternal Election of God purely and truly, and also retaining the faithful in godly life and manners:
What moveth these our adversaries (Seeing they are overcome with the manifest and invincible truth) to think they speak well, saying, although this doctrine of predestination be true, yet it ought not to be preached to the people? Nay, so much the rather it is good to be throughly preached, that he that hath ears to hear, may hear. And who hath them, but he that hath received them of God, who promiseth to give them? And as for him that doth receive
it, let him refuse it if he will: so that he that doth receive it, may take it, drink it, be sufficed, and have life. For as we must preach the fear of God to the end that God may be truly served: so must we preach Predestination that he which hath ears to hear may hear, and rejoice in God, not in himself, for the grace of God towards him.
This is the mind of that excellent Doctor as touching this point, which notwithstanding bindeth us to two conditions: the one is, that we speak no farther herein than God's word doth limit us: the other, that we set forth the same thing which the Scripture teacheth, accordingly, and to edification.
Wherefore we will briefly speak of both these parts: first of the doctrine itself, and next of the use and applying of the same.