A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

The determinate counsel of God doth not take away second means, but disposeth those passages into order. These two, Election and Vocation, are like Jacobs Ladder, whereupon the Saints ascend like Angels to God: Election is the top, Vocation the foot. Jacob wrestled with the Angel at the foot of the Ladder, we must not be so proud as to wrestle with him at the top. To the height of Election there is no climbing, unless we begin at Calling, which is the lowest round. To say, If I be saved, I am saved; without further care, is the Devils divinity. There is no certainty in that: look to thy Calling, thus it is made sure. Otherwise to presume, is to pull down the Ladder, and think to jump into heaven: never had man yet such luck. Frustra creditur, quod nunquam conceditur; If Magus offer to fly up to heaven, there is a Spirit to cast him down head-long. When our Saviour was on the pinnacle, Satan thought with a Scriptum est, to break his neck, Matth. 4.6. It is written, He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee, &c. But he left out a material point; In omnibus viis tuis; In all thy ways. That the people might know him to be the Messiah, he persuades him to show them an unwarrantable miracle, to cast himself down in a bravery: but that was none of his ways: he might descend by the stairs without such a precipice. This cunning he still practiseth on his members: he sets them upon the high pinnacle of Predestination, and persuades them there to a desperate precipitation; with If I am elected, I am elected, &c. But this is none of GODS ways, or prescribed means, whereby we may be acquainted with our own election. Hosea 2.21. I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the corn, wine, and oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. There is a course and order for fruitfulness. So Election in heaven calls to Vocation on earth; Vocation calls for corn, wine, oil; that is, the fruits of a good life; and these ⟨p. 210⟩tell our hearts with comfort, that we are elected. God works by Christ, Christ by his word, his Word by his Spirit, the Spirit certifieth our hearts, our hearts stand fast by faith, faith lays hold upon Christ, and now back again, Christ presents us to God.

The determinate counsell of God doth not take away second meanes, but disposeth those passages into order. These two, Election and Vocation, are like Iacobs Ladder, whereupon the Saints ascend like Angels to God: Election is the top, Vocation the foot. Iacob wrastled with the Angell at the foot of the Ladder, wee must not be so proud as to wrastle with him at the top. To the height of Election there is no climbing, unlesse we begin at Calling, which is the lowest round. To say, If I be saved, I am saved; without further care, is the Devils divinitie. There is no certaintie in that: looke to thy Calling, thus it is made sure. Otherwise to presume, is to pull downe the Ladder, and thinke to jumpe into heaven: never had man yet such lucke. Frustra creditur, quod nunquam conceditur; If Magus offer to flie up to heaven, there is a Spirit to cast him downe head-long. When our Saviour was on the pinacle, Satan thought with a Scriptum est, to breake his necke,