A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

The Confutation.

The name of Predestination, by a figure called Synecdoche, the whole for the part, is taken indeed sometimes in the good part, and spoken of the Elect, and faithfull called, as Rom. 8.30. Whome he predestinated, them also he called, and whome he called, them also he iustified, and whome he iustified, them also he glo∣rified. So are the Ephesians saide to be predestinate into the adoption of the sonnes of God. Eph. 1.5. Yet may this word Predestination, neuerthelesse generally be extended vnto the decree of God, whether it be that of predestination to eter∣nall life, or the other vnto eternall death. The reasons: I. Act. 4. 27,28. They gathered themselues together against thine holy sonne Iesus: to doe whatsoeuer thine hand & thy counsel had determined (or foreordained, or predestinated 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) before to be done. II. August. de Bono persev. chap. 17. he calleth Predestina∣tion the disposition of future workes: and in his 15. booke of the Citie of God, chap. 1. he deuideth all mankinde into two cities: whereof one is predestinate to raigne with God eternally, the other predestinate to vndergoe eternall punishment with the deuill. And in his Manuel to Laurentius, chap. 100. he saith, That God hath iustly predestinated wicked men vnto punishment, and mercifully predesti∣nated the good vnto grace. Thomas of Aquine 1. part. quest. 23. artic. 4. It mat∣tereth not in regard of the name of predestination, whether a man be said to be pre∣destinate to life eternall or not.

Furthermore, for a man to say that the Reprobates are foreknowne, & not predestinate, it is very iniurious: because Gods foreknowledge, may in no∣thing which is to be, be seuered from his will and eternall decree. For that, which beeing hereafter to be, is foreknowne of God, that assuredly will come to passe, and shall be, and that either by the will of God, or without his will: if with his will, then no doubt he both decreed & preordained the same: if with∣out or against his will, how is God then said to be omnipotent? And surely e∣uill it selfe, albeit god wil it not in his approouing or allowing will; yet willeth he the free, and willing-permission thereof. August. in his Manuel or Enchiri∣diō to Laurētius, chap. 100. hath an excellēt saying to this purpose. Although (saith he) that those things which are euill in that they are euill cannot be good, yet that there are not onely good, but also euill things, it is very good: to the intent that after a marueilous and vnspeakeable manner, that thing may not be besides, or with∣out

his will, which also is done against his will, because it should not be done, vnlesse he suffered it, neither doth he suffer it, against his will, but willingly.