The first Chapter. Of Predestination. Vpon the ninth chapter to the Romans, at the latter end of the chapter.
1 LEast in disputing our talke might straie too farre, which might easilie come to passe, in so large a féeld of Gods predestination, the tract wherof is verie intricate, all that we mind to saie, wée will diuide into foure principall points; that is to wit, 2 I will first diligentlie search out the nature and definition thereof. Secondlie, what are the causes of it; for nothing can perfectlie be knowne, which is not knowne by causes. Thirdlie, what are the effects, which predestination bringeth foorth in men; for there are manie things, which by their effects are most plainlie vnderstood and perceiued. Lastlie, whether the power or force thereof be such, that it bringeth vnto men necessitie; and whether it either taketh awaie, or hindereth the libertie of the will of man; and whether it may be altered or changed. These parts being diligentlie discussed, we will then make an end of this discourse. And yet will I not promise of this matter to speake all that were to be spoken; for there are infinite things, which come to their mind that consider of this matter: onelie those things will I touch at this present, which shall séeme most necessarie, and are in greatest controuersie; which being so compacted, it shall not be hard for others, to gather else-where to themselues much more matter. But before we go to the definition of predestination, I am to dispatch two matters. The one is, 3 whether it stand with true christian religion, either to dispute or to preach of predestination; least that if it be not lawfull, we should séeme to doo wickedlie. The other, forasmuch as the Logicians teach, that the question, whether a thing be or no, naturallie goeth before that question, whereby is demanded, what a thing is; that we breake not that order, let vs first consider, whether there be anie predestination or no; to the end we may afterward the more safelie define it.
As touching the former question, this is to be v⟨…⟩rstood; that there are sundrie elections of God. For there are some, 4 which serue for the executing of some certeine office, as to a kingdom, or to an apostleship: and others there are, vnto eternall life. And these elections are sometimes separated asunder; for it happeneth oftentimes that he which is chosen vnto a kingdome, is not straitwaie chosen vnto eternall life: which also happeneth of the apostleship, as in Iudas. Howbeit, 5 sometimes they are ioined togither; so that whereas wée speake of temporall election, wée may also vnderstand that the same is ment of the eternall. And after this sort Paule saith; 6 that he was called to be an apostle, and seuered from his mothers wombe, namelie to the apostleship, and preaching of the gospell: and yet togither therewithall he vnderstandeth, that he was predestinate to eternall saluation. Christ also said, 7 that he had chosen his disciples, to go and to bring foorth fruit, and that their fruit should remaine: and yet togither therewithall, He commandeth them to be of good comfort, 8 for that their names were written in heauen. There is therefore, betwéene these elections a great difference; and there is also betwéene them a great coniunction: so that oftentimes the one is taken for the other. So Paule, by his woonderfull wisedome, transferred vnto spirituall things those temporall things, 9 which séeme to be prophesied of Iacob & Esau in Genesis and Malachie.