The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

But you think in universalibus Politicis, as in the gathering of an Army, or erecting of a College, the truth you speak of is more apparent, and the resemblance more congruous to the matter in hand. Let us consider them. A certain number of Soldiers for completing of an army I confess is intended first, afterwards a choice of persons: so the maintenance of a certain number of Scholars is intended first, and afterwards they proceed to the election of Scholars. Here is totum per aggregationem, but it is by aggregation of parts in a certain kind, which is of greatest consideration, to wit, of parts succeeding one another, as a river is said to be one by succession of parts which never return. All which parts are impossible to be subject to the consideration of the Founder or General, because the College continueth long after the Founder is dead, and so may the Army also, one General succeeding another by the appointment of the State. A more proper resemblance is found in a man purposing to distribute a sum of money to a certain number of persons: as, put the case, twenty pound to forty persons, as a Gentleman hath dealt with our town. The choice of such persons as are most necessitous he leaveth to some persons of trust. Now, if the Gentleman himself knew of himself every person in the Town, and their necessitous condition; from the first undoubtedly he would appoint, not a certain number indefinitely to receive it, but assign rather such persons particularly on whom it should be bestowed. And in like sort a General were it in his power to levy whom he list, and withal knew for certain every mans sufficiency, he would from the first resolve upon and design, not only such a number, but such particular persons also for that service: And, that in the ordinary course it is otherwise, this proceeds from such an imperfection as is not incident unto God. And last of all, both the General and the Founder have respect to fitness in them whom they choose, which it is not in their ⟨p. 177⟩power to procure. But God hath power to provide himself both of fitness and of persons also to that service whereto he is pleased to design them. Yet Didacus Alvarez seems to acknowledge such an indefinite decree, and he is gravis author I confess: And he plainly professeth, that permissio peccati prop•r quod quis damnatur est effectus reprobationis.

But you think in universalibus Politicis, as in the gathering of an Army, or erecting of a Colledge, the truth you speak of is more apparent, and the resemblance more congruous to the matter in hand. Let us consider them. A certain number of Souldiers for compleating of an army I confesse is intended first, afterwards a choyce of persons: so the maintenance of a certain number of Schollars is intended first, and afterwards they proceed to the election of Schollers. Here is totum per aggregationem, but it is by aggregation of parts in a certain kind, which is of greatest consideration, to wit, of parts succeeding one another, as a river is said to be one by succession of parts which never return. All which parts are impossible to be subject to the consideration of the Founder or Generall, because the Colledge continueth long after the Founder is dead, and so may the Army also, one Generall succeeding another by the appointment of the State. A more proper resemblance is found in a man purposing to distribute a summe of money to a certain numbr of persons: as, put the case, twenty pound to forty persons, as a Gentleman hath dealt with our town. The choyce of such persons as are most necessitous he leaveth to some persons of trust. Now, if the Gentleman himselfe knew of himselfe every person in the Town, and their necessitous condition; from the first undoubtedly he would appoint, not a certain number indefinitely to receive it, but assigne rather such persons particularly on whom it should be bestowed. And in like sort a Generall were it in his power to leavy whom he list, and withall knew for certain every mans sufficiency, he would from the first resolve upon and designe, not onely such a number, but such particular persons also for that service: And, that in the ordinary course it is otherwise, this proceeds from such an imperfection as is not incident unto God. And last of all, both the Generall and the Founder have respect to fitnesse in them whom they choose, which it is not in their