Answ. 1God decrees salvation in a way of working*. Origen in his book against Celsus, observes a subtle Argument of some who disputed about Fate and Destiny. One gave counsel to his sick friend not to send for the Physician, because (saith he) it is appointed by destiny whether thou ⟨p. 47⟩shalt recover or not. If it be thy destiny to recover, then thou needest not the Physician; if it be not thy destiny, then the Physician will do thee no good: The like fallacy doth the Devil use to men; he bids them not work; if God hath decreed they shall be saved, they shall be saved, and there is no need of working; if he hath not decreed their salvation, then their working will do them no good; this is an Argument fetched out of the Devils topics. But we say God decrees the end in the use of means; God did decree that Israel should enter into Canaan, but first they must fight with the sons of Anak. God decreed that Hezekiah should recover out of his sickness, but let him lay a fig to the boil, Isa. 38. 21. We do not argue thus in other things. A man doth not say, if God hath decreed I shall have a crop this year I shall have a crop. What need I plough, or sow, or manure the land? ⟨p. 48⟩No, he will use the means, and expect a Crop. Though the blessing of the Lord makes rich, Prov. 10. 22. Yet it is as true, the diligent hand makes rich, Prov. 10. 4. Gods decreeing is carried on by our working.
Answ. 1God decrees salvation in a way of working*. Origen in his book against Celsus, observes a subtil Argument of some who disputed about Fate and Destiny. One gave counsel to his sick friend not to send for the Physician, because (saith he) it is appointed by destiny whether thou ⟨p. 47⟩shalt recover or not. If it be thy destiny to recover, then thou needest not the Physician; if it be not thy destiny, then the Physician will do thee no good: The like fallacy doth the Devil use to men; he bids them not work; if God hath decreed they shall be saved, they shall be saved, and there is no need of working; if he hath not decreed their salvation, then their working will do them no good; this is an Argument fetched out of the Devils topicks. But we say God decrees the end in the use of meanes; God did decree that Isarel should enter into Canaan, but first they must fight with the sonnes of Anak. God decreed that Hezekiah should recover out of his sicknesse, but let him lay a fig to the boyl, Isa. 38. 21. We do not argue thus in other things. A man doth not say, if God hath decreed I shall have a crop this year I shall have a crop. What need I plough, or sow, or manure the land? ⟨p. 48⟩No, he will use the means, and expect a Crop. Though the blessing of the Lord makes rich, Prov. 10. 22. Yet it is as true, the diligent hand makes rich, Prov. 10. 4. Gods decreeing is carried on by our working.
- 1Answ.
- *2 Thes. 2. 13.
