III. point. The prophecy, or prediction of this affliction; is in these words: Which will come on all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Here Christ foretelleth a thing which was to come, simply by himself, and from himself; not by the help of any cause, or any man or angel. And hereby he proves himself to be true God; for it is a property and privilege of the true God, of himself and by himself, to foretell a thing to come, before it can be seen either in it self, or in the causes thereof: no man, nor angel can so absolutely foretell that which is to come; but in their predictions they first see the things present in their causes, unless they be revealed unto them from God. But some may here demand, whether Christs foreknowledge and prediction, were the cause of this grievous persecution. Answ. Not so, for things come not to pass because of Gods foreknowledge thereof; but because they would come to pass, therefore God foreseeth, & foretelleth them: there is a higher cause of all things, then prescience and prediction; to wit, the good will and pleasure, and decree of God. So Christ is said ito be delivered to be crucified, by the determinate will and counsel of God: and from the same eternal counsel did this persecution under Trajan originally proceed: for the first cause of the event of every thing is Gods decree, either ordaining, or disposing the same. It will be said, if this be so, then is God the author of sin. Answ. God forbid: For the manner of Gods will and decree is divers; some things he decreeth to cause and effect of himself, and by himself, as all good things: some other things God decreeth to be effected by others, as sin. And so evil things though they be not ⟨p. 192⟩according to his revealed will, yet they come in some sort from his will & decree: for if he simply nilled them, they could never be. Beside, in Gods decree are set down, not only the things to be done, but also the means and circumstances thereof; as we may see in this persecution, the place and end are plainly noted. This we must remember, & on the contrary take heed of the opinion of some Protestants, which hold and teach that sundry things come to pass, God only foreseeing them, and no way decreeing or willing them: as namely sin.
III. point. The prophecie, or prediction of this affliction; is in these wordes: Which will come on all the world, to try them that dwell vpon the earth. Heere Christ foretelleth a thing which was to come, simply by himselfe, and from himselfe; not by the helpe of any cause, or any man or angell. And hereby hee prooues himselfe to be true God; for it is a propertie and priuiledge of the true God, of himselfe and by himselfe, to foretell a thing to come, before it can bee seene either in it selfe, or in the causes thereof: no man, nor angell can so absolutely foretell that which is to come; but in their predictions they first see the things present in their causes, vnlesse they bee reuealed vnto them from God. But some may here demand, whether Christs foreknowledge and prediction, were the cause of this grieuous persecution. Answ. Not so, for things come not to passe because of Gods foreknowledge thereof; but because they would come to passe, therefore God foreseeth, & foretelleth them: there is a higher cause of all things, then prescience and prediction; to wit, the good will and pleasure, and decree of God. So Christ is said ito be deliuered to bee crucified, by the determinate will and counsell of God: and from the same eternall counsell did this persecution vnder Traian originally proceed: for the first cause of the euent of euery thing is Gods decree, either ordaying, or disposing the same. It will be sayd, if this be so, then is God the author of sinne. Answ. God forbid: For the maner of Gods will and decree is diuers; some things hee decreeth to cause and effect of himselfe, and by himselfe, as all good things: some other things God decreeth to be effected by others, as sinne. And so euill things though they bee not ⟨p. 192⟩according to his reuealed will, yet they come in some sort from his wil & decree: for if he simply nilled thē, they could neuer be. Beside, in Gods decree are set down, not only the things to be done, but also the means and circumstances therof; as we may see in this persecutiō, the place and end are plainly noted. This we must remember, & on the contrary take heed of the opiniō of some Protestants, which hold and teach that sundry things come to passe, God onely foreseeing them, and no way decreeing or willing them: as namely sinne.
- iAct. 2.23.
