10 That which they object, that God should be contrary to him self, if he should universally call all men to him, and receive but a few elect: he answereth, that the promises of salvation are ⟨image 188⟩not without difference appointed to all men,1 but particularly to the elect: neither is this contrary the one to the other, that he calleth all men by outward preaching, but giveth to a few the Spirit of repentance and Faith: and the same being expounded in an other place, that is to say, in the Cap. 17. he proveth by many testimonies as well taken out of the Scripture as out of certain Fathers. Bernard sayeth, friends do severally hear, to whom he also sayeth, fear not them small flock: for to you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven. Who be those? even they whom he hath foreknown, and predestinate to be fashioned like to the image of his Son: a great & secret counsel is made known. The Lord knew who be his: but that which was known to God, is made manifest to men: neither doeth he vouchsafe to make any other partakers of so great a mystery, but the self same men whom he hath foreknown and predestinate to be his. Then he concludeth, The mercy of God is from eternity, ⟨p. 182⟩even to eternity, upon them that fear him: from eternity, by reason of predestination: to eternity, by reason of blessed making; the one without beginning,2 the other without ending.
10 That which they obiect, that God shoulde be contrary to him selfe, if hée should vniuersally call all men to him, and receiue but a few electe: he answereth, that the promises of saluation are ⟨image 188⟩not without difference appointed to all men,1 but particularly to the elect: neither is this contrary the one to the other, that he calleth all mē by outward preaching, but giueth to a few the Spirite of repentance and Fayth: and the same being expoūded in an other place, that is to say, in the Cap. 17. hée proueth by many testimonyes as well taken out of the Scripture as out of certaine Fathers. Bernard sayeth, friends doe seuerally heare, to whome hée also sayeth, feare not them small flock: for to you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the kingdome of heauen. Who bée those? euen they whome he hath foreknowne, and predestinate to be fashioned lyke to the image of his Sonne: a great & secret counsell is made knowne. The Lorde knew who be his: but that which was known to God, is made manifest to men: neyther doeth he vouchsafe to make any other partakers of so great a mysterie, but the self same men whome he hath foreknowne and predestinate to be his. Then hée concludeth, The mercy of God is from eternitie, ⟨p. 182⟩euen to eternitie, vpon them that feare him: from eternitie, by reason of predestination: to eternitie, by reason of blessed making; the one without beginning,2 the other without ending.
- 1Amos. 4.7. Isaiah. 54.1. Job. 1.22.Amos. 4.7. Esai. 54.1. Iob. 1.22.
- 2Rom. 9.13.
