The equall vvayes of God tending to the rectifying of the crooked wayes of man. The passages whereof are briefly and clearly drawne from the sacred Scriptures. By T.H.

CHAP. I. In which foure generall positions are set downe, as the ground-worke of all: Conclusions deduced thence.

FOr the opening and clearing of the equall waies of God,* 1.1 obvious to humane search, we must stil keepe in minde these foure Po∣sitions.

1. God from all eternitie de∣creed to doe, what the Scripture tels us, that in time he hath done, or doth doe, or (absolutely saith) he will doe.

2. God (before whom all things are naked,* 1.2 who is the searcher of mans heart, who knowes our thoughts long before) from all eternitie sees, whatsoever in time cometh to passe.

3. The decrees of God for the making of the

world,* 1.3 & for his dealing with the creatures there∣in, are not in time, one former or later then ano∣ther in God: But are all at once simul and semel, from all eternitie decreed by him.

4. All Gods decrees are infinitely wise, holy, just; tending to his glorie: and have no externall cause, but are squared according to the rule of his mercy and justice.

These positions are evident and granted (I sup∣pose) by all sides. Hence these generall inferen∣ces (as also diverse others) may be concluded.

I. That God, who will hereafter glorifie a cer∣taine number of men; and adjudge a certaine num∣ber of men to everlasting torment, both numbers knowne only to himselfe, hath decreed the same from all eternitie, before man had done good or evill.

II. God by his infinite wisedome seeth from eter∣nitie what will be the estate of all men; and what in mercy and justice will be his dealing with them, first and last. So that whatsoever he hath absolute∣ly decreed, and doth foresee, that very thing doth undoubtedly come to passe; most certaine salvation to some, most certaine damnation to others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ezek. 18.29.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 4.13. Ier. 17.10. Psal. 139.2.
• * 1.3

  CHAP. 1.