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 IV. errour.

Predestination in regard of the last effects thereof, hath this cause in man, that is, in mans free-will, and workes: for they whome God had foreseene, that they would receiue grace offered in Christ, and lead their life according to the lawe, thē he pre∣destinated, not of works, but of his mercie; yet so, as that he had respect vnto works, or to deale with them according to their workes: or (as others say) to ordaine them by their works foreseene: As for example: God did from all eternitie foresee and fore∣know, that Peter should be saued, and Iudas condemned, because he from the same e∣ternitie did both foresee & foreknow, that Peter would accept of the grace offered vnto him, and after vse the same aright: and he did also foresee that Iudas should re∣ceiue the grace offered, yet notwithstāding by reason of his peruerse will, vse the same peruersly.

The Confutation.

This their forged deuise of foreseene workes, I. Paul doth shewe to bee plainely counterfeit, when as he saith, that the Ephesians were elected in Christ before the foundations of the world were laide: and that not because he did fore∣see that they would be holy, but that they might be holy and vnblameable before God with loue. And 2. v. 10. he saith, they were created to good workes in Christ, that they might walke therein. In which places, good workes they are made effectes of predestination; but the effect foreseene cannot bee the cause of his cause: for that euery cause, in the order both of nature and

knowledge, doth goe before his effect. II. Tit. 3.5. Not of workes which we haue done, but according to his mercie did God elect and saue vs. III. God in ele∣cting vs, did not regard any thing out of himselfe, but in himselfe did he elect vs. Eph. 1.4. and 9. Therefore did he not regard future workes. IV. Some of the popish schoolemen confesse, that Predestination doth put nothing in the partie predestinated, in respect of him, for which God did predestinate him. Thom. 1. primae. quest. 23. art. 2. V. Election is onely on Gods mercie. Rom. 9.16. VI. God saw no grace in man, but that which he himselfe must bestow vpon him: whence it is apparant, that in election the beginning thereof pro∣ceedeth from grace. VII. Seeing there is nothing either aboue God, or grea∣ter then God, it must needes be impious to assigne any cause of his will, either out of, or aboue his maiestie: and therefore that his foreknowledge of faith & workes should bee accounted the impulsiue cause of his decree, concerning mans saluation, we doe rightly denie.