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Wherefore, by this means the doctrine also of the Pelagians is confuted, as touching predestination to life,¹ by our faith and works, which God foresaw we should do. Whereas on the contrary, therefore God did predestinate us to faith, and good works, because he did choose us to eternal life.² For the Apostle saith not, I obtained mercy, because I was faithful, or because I should be faithful, but that I might be faithful. Neither saith he, that we are elected in Christ,³ because we should be holy and without blame, but that we might be holy and without blame. Neither doth he say, that we were created in Christ, because we did or should do good works, but we were created to good works: which God prepared, that we might walk in them. Lastly,⁴ he saith not, that the grace of christ appeared, because we were to live soberly, justly, and godly, but that it therefore appeared, that we denying all ungodliness, & the lusts of this world, might live soberly, justly, & godly in this present world. We see therefore, that by this doctrine, that wicked opinion is overthrown, which teacheth, that we do prevent the grace of God ⟨p. 73⟩by our merits which God foresaw. And on the contrary, here we see, how foully the belli-gods of this world are deceived, which reason thus: If we be predestinate to eternal life, and our predestination be certain and unchangeable, what need we endeavour our selves, believe, or do good works? for howsoever it fall out, & howsoever the elect do live, undoubtedly they cannot perish, because they are predestinate to eternal life. Alas poor wretches, they see not, that they sever those things that are to be conjoined: namely the end, and the means of the end: and that they break the chain, which in no wise, either can or must be loosed, whilst that they sever their calling and justification, yea, and Faith too, and good works, from predestination and glorification. As though God did glorify them whom he did predestinate, before he called and justified them: yea, and before they can believe, and show their quick and lively faith by works. Contrariwise, let us learn what our duty is. If any be elect to eternal life, they also are predestinate to the means by which they come unto it. And we believe (as we are bound to do) that we are predestinate to eternal life: