A09339:1165
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. VIII. If God decreed to reject certain men, then did he hate his creature. Answ. God decreed to reject his creature and workmanship, not because he hated it, but because he appointed it to hatred. And it is one thing to hate, and another to appoint to hatred. And indeed God doth not actually hate any thing, but for sin. That saying of Augustine to Simplicius is fit for this purpose. When God maketh the wicked, whom he doth not justify, vessels of wrath, he doth it not to hate that which he made: for in that he made them vessels, they have their use, namely, that by their pains to which they were ordained, the vessels of honour might reap profit. God therefore doth not hate them, in that they are men, or vessels, neither any thing that he made in them by creation, or ordination. For God hateth nothing which he hath made. But in as much as he made them vessels of destruction, he did it to instruct others. As for their impiety, which he never made, that he hateth utterly. As therefore a judge hateth theft in a man, but he doth not hate his punishment that he is sent to work in the mines. For the thief doth the first, the judge the latter: so God, whereas of the company of them which perish, he maketh vessels of perdition, he doth not therefore hate that which he doth, that is, the condemnation of those which perish in their due punishment for sin.
Obiect. VIII. If God decreed to reiect certaine men, then did he hate his creature. Answ. God decreed to reiect his creature and workmanship, not because he hated it, but because he appointed it to hatred. And it is one thing to hate, and another to appoint to hatred. And indeede God doth not actually hate any thing, but for sinne. That saying of Augustine to Simplicius is fitte for this purpose. When God maketh the wicked, whome he doth not iustifie, vessells of wrath, he doth it not to hate that which he made: for in that he made them vessels, they haue their vse, namely, that by their paines to which they were ordained, the vessels of honour might reape profit. God therefore doth not hate them, in that they are men, or vessels, neither any thing that he made in them by creation, or ordination. For God hateth nothing which he hath made. But in as much as he made them vessels of destruction, he did it to instruct others. As for their impietie, which he neuer made, that he hateth vtterly. As therfore a iudge hateth theft in a mā, but he doth not hate his punishment that he is sent to worke in the mines. For the theefe doth the first, the iudge the latter: so God, whereas of the companie of them which perish, he maketh vessels of perdition, he doth not therefore hate that which he doth, that is, the cōdemnation of those which perish in their due punishment for sinne.