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…

Again consider. The decrees of predestination and reprobation are secret, neither do they appear of what condition they are, but by the manner of their executions. Now their executions do consist partly in bestowing salvation on some, and inflicting damnation on others; partly in bestowing the grace of faith and repentance on some, and denying it unto others. As touching salvation and damnation we willingly profess, that the salvation of men of ripe years, doth always presuppose Faith and perseverance therein; and the damnation of others doth always presuppose final perseverance in sin unrepented of. But we deny that herehence it followeth, that either faith precedes the decree of salvation, or sin precedes the decree of damnation, or the prescience of either. That faith cannot precede election, nor sin reprobation, is evident; For as much as election and reprobation are eternal, but faith and sin are things temporal: but that with is temporal cannot precede that which is eternal. Neither doth it follow, that because faith precedes salvation, therefore faith precedes the decree of salvation. For it is faith existent in time that precedes salvation; but no Divine will say that faith existent in time, precedes Gods decree of salvation, unless it be some such as maintain with Vorstius, that Gods decrees are not eternal. In like sort, it is sin existent in time, that precedes damnation; but no wise Divine will say, that sin existent in time precedes Gods decree of damnation; the former being a thing temporal but this decree eternal. Lastly, neither will it follow that because faith precedes salvation and sin damnation, therefore the foresight of faith, is antecedanious to the decree of salvation, and the foresight of sin is antecedent to the decree of damnation. For no Enthymeme of this nature is sound, but so far forth as it is reducible into a good Categorical Syllogism, whereof these Enthymemes are uncapable. For Enthymemes reducible unto good Syllogisms must agree, either in their Subjects or in their Predicates, but these do not. Again all the terms in a good Enthymeme must be expressed in that Syllogism whereunto it is reduced▪ But each of these Enthymemes consisteth manifestly of four terms; as in the first, the•e, Faith, and the Foresight of faith, Salvation and the Decree of salvation;

Again consider. The decrees of predestination and reprobation are secret, neither doe they appeare of what condition they are, but by the manner of their executions. Now their executions doe consist partly in bestowing salvation on some, and inflicting damnation on others; partly in bestowing the grace of faith and repentance on some, and denying it unto others. As touching salvation and damnation we willingly professe, that the salvation of men of ripe years, doth alwaies presuppose Faith and perseverance therein; and the damnation of others doth alwaies presuppose finall perseverance in sinne unrepented of. But we deny that herehence it followeth, that either faith precedes the decree of salvation, or sinne precedes the decree of damnation, or the prescience of either. That faith cannot precede election, nor sinne reprobation, is evident; For as much as election and reprobation are eternall, but faith and sinne are things temporall: but that wich is temporall cannot precede that which is eternall. Neither doth it follow, that because faith precedes salvation, therefore faith precedes the decree of salvation. For it is faith existent in time that precedes salvation; but no Divine will say that faith existent in time, precedes Gods decree of salvation, unlesse it be some such as maintaine with Vorstius, that Gods decrees are not eternall. In like sort, it is sinne existent in time, that precedes damnation; but no wise Divine will say, that sinne existent in time precedes Gods decree of damnation; the former being a thing temporall but this decree eternall. Lastly, neither will it follow that because faith precedes salvation and sinne damnation, therefore the foresight of faith, is antecedanious to the decree of salvation, and the foresight of sinne is antecedent to the decree of damnation. For no Enthymeme of this nature is sound, but so farre forth as it is reducible into a good Categorical Syllogisme, whereof these Enthymems are uncapable. For Enthymems reducible unto good Syllogismes must agree, either in their Subjects or in their Predicates, but these doe not. Again all the termes in a good Enthymeme must be expressed in that Syllogisme whereunto it is reduced But each of these Enthymemes consisteth manifestly of four termes; as in the first, thee, Faith, and the Foresight of faith, Salvation and the Decree of salvation;