V. After Vvhat Sorte Almightie God Dothe Execute And Effectuallie Declare His Counsell Touching Reprobation
The fifth Chapter.
After vvhat sorte almightie God dothe execute and effectuallie declare his counsell touching Reprobation.
BY these things whereof we have now spoken, it may easily appear how God maketh them to go to their own place: (1) whom he created to that end that he might be glorified in their just condemnation. For as Christ the second heavenly Adam, is the foundation and very substance and effect of the Elect's salvation: so also the first earthly Adam, because he fell, is the first author of the hate, and so consequently of the damnation of the reproved (2). For when
God, moved with those causes which he only knoweth, had determined to create them to this end, to shew forth in them his just wrath and power (3), likewise he did orderly dispose the causes and means, whereby it might come to pass that the whole cause of their damnation might be of themselves, as hath been declared before in the third chapter. When man then was fallen willingly into that miserable estate whereof we have spoken in the chapter before, God who hateth justly the Reprobate, because they are corrupt, in part of them he doth execute his just wrath so soon as they are born (4) and towards the rest that be of age, whom he reserveth to a more sharp judgment, he observeth two ways clean contrary one to the other. For as concerning some, he sheweth them not so much favour, as once to hear of Jesus Christ, in whom only is salvation (5), but suffereth them to walk in their own ways
(6), and run headlong to their perdition. And as for the testimonies that God hath left to them of his divinity (7), serve them to no other use but to make them without all excuse (8), and yet through their own default, seeing their ignorance and lack of capacity, is the just punishment of that corruption wherein they are born. And surely as touching that that they can attain unto in knowing God, by their light, or rather natural darkness (albeit they never failed in the way, but so continued) (9), yet were it not in no wise sufficient for their salvation. For it is necessary for us that shall be saved, that we know
God, not only as God, but as our father in Christ (10) the which mystery flesh and blood doth not reveal (11), but the son himself, to them whom his father hath given him (12). As concerning others, their fall is more terrible (13). For he causeth them to hear by preaching the outward word of the Gospel (14), but because they are not of the number of the Elect, being called, they hear not (15), and forasmuch as they are not able to receive the spirit of truth (16), therefore they cannot believe, because it is not given unto them (17),
wherefore when they are called to the feast, they refuse to come, so that the word of life is folly unto them, and an offence (18), and finally the savour of death to their destruction. (19.) There are yet others, whose hearts God openeth to receive and believe the things that they hear, but this is with that general faith, whereby the Devils believe and tremble (20). To conclude, they which are most miserable of all, those climb a degree higher, that their fall might be more grievous, for they are raised so high by some gift of grace, that they are a little moved with some taste of the heavenly gift (21) so that for the time they seem to have received the seed, and to be planted in the Church of God (22), and also shew the way of salvation to others (23). But this is plain that the spirit of adoption, which we have said to be only proper unto them which are never cast forth (24) but are written in the secret of God's people (25), is never communicate unto them. For if they were of the Elect, they should remain still with the Elect (26). All these therefore
(because of necessity, and yet willingly, as they which are under the slavery of sin (27)), return to their vomit (28) and fall away from faith (29) are plucked up by the roots, to be cast into the fire (30). I mean, they are forsaken of God (31), who according to his will (the which no man can resist (32), and yet for all that because of their corruption and wickedness) (33), hardeneth them (34), maketh their hearts fat, stoppeth their ears, and blindeth them (35): and to bring this to pass, he useth partly their own vile concupiscences, to the which he hath given them up to be ruled and led by (36), and partly the spirit of lies, who keepeth them wrapt in his snares (37), by reason of their corruption, from the which as out of a fountain, issueth a continual flowing river of infidelity, ignorance, & iniquity: whereby it followeth that [they] having as it were made shipwreck of their faith, can by no means escape the day, which is appointed for their destruction, that God may be glorified in their just condemnation (38).
Notes of the fifth chapter.
(1) Acts 1.25; Rom. 9.22; Matt. 25.41. (2) Rom. 5.18; 1 Cor. 15.21, &c. (3) Exod. 9.16; Rom. 9.17, 22. (4) Exod. 20.5; Eph. 2.3; Rom. 5.14. (5) Matt.
1.21; Acts 4.12. (6) Acts 14.16, 17; 17.30; Rom. 1.24; Eph. 2.11. (7) Rom.
1.19, 20; Acts 14.17; 17.27. (8) Rom. 1.20; John 15.22; Rom. 2.12. (9) Rom.
1.21, 22. (10) John 17.3; 3.36. (11) Matt. 11.27; 16.17. John 1.13; 3.5, 6. (12)
Matt. 11.27. (13) Luke 12.47. (14) Matt. 22.14; Luke 13.34; 19.42. (15) Jer.
7.27, 28; Prov. 1.24. (16) John 14.17. (17) John 12.39, 40; 2 Thes. 3.2; Matt.
13.11. (18) 1 Cor. 1.18, 23. (19) 2 Cor. 2.15,16. (20) James 2.19. (21) Heb.
6.4. (22) Acts 8.12; Matt. 13, and in many other places which we have above recited in the 2nd chapter. (23) Acts 1.17. (24) John 6.37. (25) Ezek. 13.9;
Rev. 22.18. (26) 1 John 2.19. (27) John 8.34; Rom. 5.12; 6.19,20; & 7.14; & 8.7. (28) 2 Pet. 2.22. (29) 1 Tim. 4.1. (30) Matt. 15.13; John 15.2. (31) Acts
14.16. (32) Rom. 9.19. (33) Rom. 1.27,28; 2 Thes. 2.911; John 3.19. (34) Isa. 63.17; Exod. 4.21; Deut. 2.30, & in many other places above recited in the 2nd chapter. (35) Isa. 6.10; Rom. 11.32. (36) Exod. 8.32; Psalm 95.8;
Acts 7.42; Rom. 1.26. (37) 2 Kings 22.23; 2 Cor. 4.4; 2 Tim. 2.26; (38) 1 Tim. 1.19; Prov. 16.4; Exod. 9.16; Rom. 9.21, 22, &c.