A short treatise: containing all the principal grounds of Christian religion. By way of questions and answers: very profitable for all sorts of men, but especially for householders..A short treatise: containing all the principall grounds of Christian religion. By way of questions and answers: very profitable for all sorts of men, but especially for housholders..
John Ball 1585–1640London: printed for William Welby, 1617
[16], 234+ p. · 48k words · STC 1314.3 · ESTC S124283
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
. of the former little is spoken in holy Scripture, of the latter more is revealed, not unprofitable to be known. It may be defined, the wise, free, just, eternal, and unchangeable sentence or decree of God.
. v. Election is the decree of God, of his free love, grace, and mercy, choosing some men to faith, holiness, and eternal life, for the praise of his glorious mercy.
9. 11. 16. Eph. 1. 5. 2. Tim. 1. 9. The end, is the manifestation of the riches of his grace and mercy, Rom. 9. 23. Eph. 1. 2. The sending of Christ, faith, holiness, and eternal life are the effects of Gods love, by which he manifesteth the infinite riches of his grace. Jo. 3. 16. 1. Jo. 4. 10. Act. 13. 48. Tit. 1. 1. Col. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 23. In the same order, God doth execute this decree in time, he did decree it in his eternal counsel. 1. Thes. 5. 9. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Reprobation is the wise, just, and absolute decree of God, ordaining to leave some men unto themselves, to suffer them to fall, and to inflict upon them eternal punishment, deserved by their sins, for the praise of his unspeakable and great justice. Rom. 9. 11. 13. 22. Jude. 4. v. Jer. 6. 30. The cause of this decree is the absolute will and good pleasure of God. Mat. 11. 26. Rom. 9. 13. mans sin is the cause why God will punish, but no occasion why he did ordain to pass by, or to punish man, Rom. 9. 18. 20.
Expos. 1. All things with their causes, effects, circumstances, and manner of being are decreed by God. Act. 2. 23. and 4. 27. 28. Eph. 1. 11. This decree is most wise, Rom. 11. 33. iust, Rom. 9. 13. ⟨p. 57⟩14. eternall, Eph. 1. 4. 5. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Act. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 2. 7. necessarie, Psal. 33. 11. Pro. 19. 21. vnchangeable, Heb. 6. 17. most free, Rom. 9. 18. and cause of all good, Iam. 1. 17. but not of any sinne, 1. Io. 1. 5. The speciall decree of God concerning Angels and men is called predestination. Rom. 8. 30. of the former little is spoken in holy Scripture, of the latter more is reuealed, not vnprofitable to be knowne. It may be defined, the wise, free, iust, eternall, and vnchangeable sentence or decree of God. Eph. 1. 11. determining with himselfe, to create and gouerne man for his speciall glory, viz. the praise of his glorious mercy, or great iustice, Rom. 9. 17. 18. Rom. 11. 36. Of this decree there be two parts: Election and Reprobation. 1. Thes. 5. 9. Iude. 4. v. Election is the decreee of God, of his free loue, grace, and mercy, chusing some men to faith, holines, and eternall life, for the praise of his glorious mercy. 1. Thes. 1. 4. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Eph. 1. 4. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 29. 30. The cause which mooued the Lord to elect them who are chosen, was none other but his meere good-will and pleasure. Luk. 12. 32. Rom. 11. 5. and ⟨p. 58⟩9. 11. 16. Eph. 1. 5. 2. Tim. 1. 9. The end, is the manifestation of the riches of his grace and mercy, Rom. 9. 23. Eph. 1. 2. The sending of Christ, faith, holines, and eternall life are the effects of Gods loue, by which he manifesteth the infinite riches of his grace. Io. 3. 16. 1. Io. 4. 10. Act. 13. 48. Tit. 1. 1. Col. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 23. In the same order, God doth execute this decree in time, he did decree it in his eternall counsell. 1. Thes. 5. 9. 2. Thes. 2. 13. Reprobation is the wise, iust, and absolute decree of God, ordaining to leaue some men vnto themselues, to suffer them to fall, and to inflict vpon them eternall punishment, deserued by their sins, for the praise of his vnspeakable and great iustice. Rom. 9. 11. 13. 22. Iude. 4. v. Ier. 6. 30. The cause of this decree is the absolute will and good pleasure of God. Mat. 11. 26. Rom. 9. 13. mans sinne is the cause why God will punish, but no occasion why he did ordaine to passe by, or to punish man, Rom. 9. 18. 20.
This decree is just, because God hath power over man, as the potter hath over his clay, to make one vessel to honour, and another unto dishonour. Rom. 9. 21. ⟨p. 59⟩Jer. 18. 6. Matth. 20. 15. The end hereof is not the condemnation of the creature, but the manifestation of Gods justice. Rom. 9. 22. Sin is the effect of mans free will, and condemnation is an effect of justice, inflicted upon man for sin and disobedience. Jo. 3. 18. and 12. 37. 38. 39. 40. 2. Thess. 2. 9. 10 but the decree of God which is good, is the cause of neither. Ps. 5. 4. A man in this life may be assured of this election. 2. Pet. 1. 10. 1. Thes. 1. 4. and eternal happiness. Matth. 24. 24. Jo. 10. 28. 29. Rom. 8. 33. 34. 2. Tim. 2. 19. but not of his reprobation, for he that is now profane, may be called hereafter. Matth. •0. 5. 6.
This decree is iust, because God hath power ouer man, as the potter hath ouer his clay, to make one vessel to honour, and another vnto dishonour. Rom. 9. 21. ⟨p. 59⟩Ier. 18. 6. Matth. 20. 15. The end hereof is not the condemnation of the creature, but the manifestation of Gods iustice. Rom. 9. 22. Sinne is the effect of mans free will, and condemnation is an effect of iustice, inflicted vpon man for sinne and disobedience. Io. 3. 18. and 12. 37. 38. 39. 40. 2. Thess. 2. 9. 10 but the decree of God which is good, is the cause of neither. Ps. 5. 4. A man in this life may be assured of this electiō. 2. Pet. 1. 10. 1. Thes. 1. 4. and eternall happines. Matth. 24. 24. Io. 10. 28. 29. Rom. 8. 33. 34. 2. Tim. 2. 19. but not of his reprobation, for he that is now prophane, may be called hereafter. Matth. •0. 5. 6.
Expos. 2. The first matter whereof all things were made was not eternal. Gen. 1. 1. Pro. 8. 22. 23. for then it could not be subject to alteration, Psal. 102. 26. 27. neither should God be the fountain of all goodness, if any thing had a being and not from him: then the word beginning could not be referred to all things, ⟨p. 60⟩But it was made simply of nothing in time. Heb. 11. 3. and other corporal things were made of it. Gen. 1. 6. &c. by no less power and wisdom then the lump it self. Jer. 10. 12. Reu. 4. 11. Joh. 38. 4. 5. 6. 7. &c.
Expos. 2. The first matter whereof all things were made was not eternal. Gen. 1. 1. Pro. 8. 22. 23. for then it could not be subiect to alteration, Psal. 102. 26. 27. neither should God be the fountaine of all goodnes, if any thing had a being and not from him: then the word beginning could not be referred to all things, ⟨p. 60⟩But it was made simply of nothing in time. Heb. 11. 3. and other corporall things were made of it. Gen. 1. 6. &c. by no lesse power and wisedome then the lumpe it selfe. Ier. 10. 12. Reu. 4. 11. Ioh. 38. 4. 5. 6. 7. &c.
