Pag. ibid. l. 9, 10, &c. He hath chosen us in him before the constitution of the world. Now he speaks of Christ man, to wit, of Christ the head, as Hierome expresseth upon that place, and it appears most plainly by the text. Certainly, either I am deceived, or Saint Paul intends not that only, to wit, that God hath chosen us in Christ, before the true and real constitution of the world, which was made in time now six thousand years ago. For that God had chosen us in Christ before the temporal creation of all things, was no great thing, nor worthy of so great a pen; for so he chose oxen and stones: For he decreed them, and fore-saw them, before the creation of things in time, or before he made any thing in time; now before the constitution of the world, and from everlasting he devised them, and determined to make them. Therefore Paul intends some higher and more divine matter; to wit, that God in his eternity, when he devised with himself the creation of the world, even before that in order of reason he devised with himself concerning the election of his elect; and even then (I say) he had intended and fore-seen Christ, and in him he had chosen the predestinate.—lin. 27, 28, &c. a most efficacious reason; Every one willing things ordinately, first willeth the end; and of means those means which are nearer to the end: But Christ and the predestinate, and therefore all supernaturals are nearer to the end, that is, to the manifestation ⟨image 138⟩of the divine goodness, than all natural things; therefore supernaturals are willed by God before naturals; and the manifestation of the goodness of God before them all; because we consider it as the end of all.—lin. 37. 38. After what order and manner things are determined with God.
Pag. ibid. l. 9, 10, &c. He hath chosen us in him before the constitution of the world. Now hee speaks of Christ man, to wit, of Christ the head, as Hierome expresseth upon that place, and it appeares most plainly by the text. Certainly, either I am deceived, or Saint Paul intends not that onely, to wit, that God hath chosen us in Christ, before the true and reall constitution of the world, which was made in time now six thousand yeares agoe. For that God had chosen us in Christ before the temporall creation of all things, was no great thing, nor worthy of so great a pen; for so he chose oxen and stones: For he decreed them, and fore-saw them, before the creation of things in time, or before he made any thing in time; now before the constitution of the world, and from everlasting he devised them, and determined to make them. Therefore Paul intends some higher and more divine matter; to wit, that God in his eternity, when he devised with himselfe the creation of the world, even before that in order of reason he devised with himselfe concerning the election of his elect; and even then (I say) he had intended and fore-seen Christ, and in him he had chosen the predestinate.—lin. 27, 28, &c. a most efficacious reason; Every one willing things ordinately, first willeth the end; and of means those means which are nearer to the end: But Christ and the predestinate, and therefore all supernaturals are nearer to the end, that is, to the manifestation ⟨image 138⟩of the divine goodnesse, than all naturall things; therefore supernaturals are willed by God before naturals; and the manifestation of the goodnesse of God before them all; because we consider it as the end of all.—lin. 37. 38. After what order and manner things are determined with God.
