God Has Not Revealed Christ to all and every man

I wish also that thing were marked—namely that the Catholics are accused by the Pelagians that under the name of predestination they did establish a certain fatal necessity, and that they made a kind of violent preordination, which accusation has also been laid against us.

And the like crime shows the like cause.

Lastly, this platform does passing well agree with that doctrine concerning predestination which is generally maintained in the schools and synagogues of the papists—yea verily, to speak the truth, it seems to be borrowed even from thence. For if we well consider of the matter, what else has Pighius taught? What else has Catharinus maintained? And else at this day do the gross fat monks maintain who impart God's actions in the case of predestination within these pales. First, say they, God foresaw the natures and sins of all men.

Then prepared He Christ the Redeemer. Afterward, He willed for the merit of Christ foreseen to bestow sufficient helps of grace upon all men whereby they might be saved through Christ; and He would it even in this, so much as in Him was, that all men might be saved, His will preceding. Lastly, He did mercifully predestinate those whom He did see would end their lives in God's favor, and He did justly reject othersome either for original or actual sins in which He foresaw they would end their lives.

A COROLLARY, OR ADDITION A most certain theorem or undoubted truth.

God Has Not Revealed Christ to All and Every Man The Proofs This is evident by Scriptures and experience. "That which has not been told them, shall they see, and that which they have not heard, they shall understand" (Isa. 52:14). "Behold Thou shalt call a nation, which Thou hast not known: and nations that knew not Thee shall run to Thee" (55:5). "I have been sought of them, that asked not before, I was found of them, that sought Me not" (65:1). "And in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not My people" (Hos. 1:10). "I will have mercy upon her that was not pitied, and I will say to them which were not My people, thou art My people" (2:23). "God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways" (Acts 14:16).

"And the time of this ignorance God regarded not, but now He admonisheth all men everywhere to repent" (17:30). "To him now that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ, by the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is opened" (Rom.

16:25–26). "Which is the mystery hid since the world began and from all ages, but now is made manifest to His saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of this glorious mystery among the Gentiles" (Col. 1:26–27). "Ye were at that time without Christ, and had no hope, and were atheists or without God in the world"

(Eph. 2:12). "The mystery of Christ in other ages was not opened to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles" (3:5). "He showeth His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel:

He has not dealt so with every nation, neither have they known His judgments" (Ps. 147:19–20).

The most wise philosophers among the Gentiles have indeed smattered many things of God; but in the meantime, what say they of Christ? Why should they be so exceeding silent in this point, if Christ were revealed to all? Socrates, being ready to die, said, "I depart out of this life, and they do live with whom I am thoroughly to plead my cause—whether it be good, the immortal gods do know; and indeed I think no man knows. And we owe," says he, "O Crito a cook to Aesculapius to pay the price of the potion." It is reported that Aristotle, being ready to die, cried out, "O you which are the chiefest thing of all things which are, have mercy upon me."2

The Gentiles knew not God, that great benefactor, and therefore feigned to themselves certain favors, Castor and Pollux, and Hercules, called Alexikakoj, that is, a helper in distress, or repeller of evils, and Aesculapius the physician. Solinus says that there is not as yet any of the Gentiles found who has attained to the height of felicity and may justly be accounted happy. Albinus speaks thus: "When such like questions are propounded why one is judged thus and another after another manner, why this man is blinded, God giving him over, and another enlightened through God's assistance—let not us presume or take upon us to judge of the judgment of so great a judge, but with trembling let us cry out with the apostle, 'O the depth.' "

Consectary 1 The promise concerning the seeds of the woman belongs not to all and to every one. For a promise to whom it is not revealed is not actually a promise.

Consectary 2 However the redemption that is by Christ belongs to all, yet it

belongs not to all and to every one. For a benefit to be perceived or received by a supernatural faith, if it be not revealed, is no benefit.

Consectary 3 Vocation and universal saving grace belongs not to all and every particular person, for God calls us by revealing and offering Christ to us.

Consectary 4 The foreknowledge of faith in Christ, and of privative infidelity is not the square and rule according to which God has ordained and disposed His predestination, because there be very many that never so much as heard of Christ, in whom therefore there is neither faith in Christ nor privative infidelity or contempt of the gospel.

Trini-uni Deo Gloria.

FINIS

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