The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

To explain this a little better, God, who only is eternal, the Father, Son and holy Spirit, purposing before all times the glorifying of himself, as is most meet, and the declaration of those wonderful things that are in him, which by no other way then this could be made known, appointed first, beside the setting forth of his power, patience, hatred of sin, love of righteousness, and other virtues, to manifest the riches of his Mercy in certain both Angels and men, known unto himself who should be saved; and in like sort, the greatness of his Justice in certain, both Angels and men to be ⟨p. 286⟩condemned: wherein, in looking to nothing else either present or to come, within us or without us, in Heaven or in Earth, but to himself alone, he chose us of his free good-will and pleasure. After which (for men themselves, the All-wise God much more, advise of nothing but they set the end before them, and first the end, then the means concurring to it.) After this therefore, in order of the causes, not in course of time (all his purposes being from eternity, and none before or after other) he purposed to create them both holy and righteous, like unto himself, who having free-will to embrace either good or evil, and a nature subject to temptation, should of their own accord voluntarily fall away, thereby subjecting themselves to his wrath and indignation.

To explaine this a little better, God, who onely is eternall, the Father, Sonne and holy Spirit, purposing before all times the glorifying of himselfe, as is most meet, and the declaration of those wonderfull things that are in him, which by no other way then this could be made knowne, appointed first, beside the setting forth of his power, patience, hatred of sinne, loue of righteousnesse, and other vertues, to manifest the riches of his Mercie in certaine both Angels and men, knowne vnto himselfe who should be saued; and in like sort, the greatnesse of his Iustice in certaine, both Angels and men to bee ⟨p. 286⟩condemned: wherein, in looking to nothing else either present or to come, within vs or without vs, in Heauen or in Earth, but to himselfe alone, hee chose vs of his free good-wil and pleasure. After which (for men themselues, the All-wise God much more, aduise of nothing but they set the end before them, and first the end, then the meanes concurring to it.) After this therefore, in order of the causes, not in course of time (all his purposes being from eternitie, and none before or after other) hee purposed to create them both holy and righteous, like vnto himselfe, who hauing free-will to imbrace either good or euill, and a nature subiect to temptation, should of their owne accord voluntarily fall away, thereby subiecting themselues to his wrath and indignation.