A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 8 Of the knowledge of Gods works, and first of his decree.

And thus have we briefly spoken of the knowledge of God, in respect of his nature and persons: now with like or more brevity, we are to entreat of the knowledge of God, in, and by his works and actions. The which are either internal, as the actions of the divine persons one towards another; or external, which are his operations and works towards the creatures. And these are principally two. First, the decree of God. And secondly, the execution of his decree. The decree of God is an act of the divine will, whereby he hath from all eternity purposed, that all should be done, which is, hath been, or shall be done, ordaining all things to a good end, and the means also, with all circumstances, whereby they attain unto it. And this is either common to all, or special to the reasonable creatures, as Angels and men. Gods decree, which respecteth men and Angels, is called predestination, which is Gods eternal purpose, whereby he hath ordained the reasonable creatures to certain ends, and to the means which conduce unto them. Of which, there are two parts, election, and reprobation. Election is Gods eternal decree, whereby of his free grace, he hath purposed in Christ, to bring some to everlasting life, and to the use of the means, whereby they may attain unto it, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Reprobation is Gods eternal decree, whereby he hath purposed in his election to pass by some men, and to leave them in their sins, that they may justly be condemned, to the praise of the glory of his justice.

And thus haue we briefly spoken of the knowledge of God, in respect of his nature and persons: now with like or more breuity, we are to intreate of the knowledge of God, in, and by his workes and actions. The which are either internall, as the actions of the diuine persons one towards another; or externall, which are his operations and workes towards the creatures. And these are principally two. First, the decree of God. And secondly, the execution of his decree. The decree of God is an act of the diuine will, whereby he hath from all eternity purposed, that all should be done, which is, hath beene, or shall bee done, ordaining all things to a good end, and the meanes also, with all circumstances, whereby they attaine vnto it. And this is either common to all, or speciall to the reasonable creatures, as Angels and men. Gods decree, which respecteth men and Angels, is called predestination, which is Gods eternall purpose, whereby hee hath ordained the reasonable creatures to certaine ends, and to the meanes which conduce vnto them. Of which, there are two parts, election, and reprobation. Election is Gods eternall decree, whereby of his free grace, he hath purposed in Christ, to bring some to euerlasting life, and to the vse of the meanes, whereby they may attaine vnto it, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Reprobation is Gods eternall decree, whereby he hath purposed in his election to passe by some men, and to leaue them in their sinnes, that they may iustly be condemned, to the praise of the glory of his iustice.