The collegiat suffrage of the divines of Great Britaine, concerning the five articles controverted in the Low Countries VVhich suffrage was by them delivered in the synod of Dort, March 6. anno 1619. Being their vote or voice foregoing the joint and publique judgment of that Synod.

THE FIFT ERRONEOVS OPINION.

THat the object of peremptory and complete Election is man considered no otherwise than in the end of his life.

1 IN the end of this life a beleever is consi∣dered not as to bee elected, but to bee brought into the kingdome prepared for him before the foundation of the world. 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought a good fight. I have fi∣nished my course: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day. The A∣postle did not say, henceforth now God shall elect me to the Crowne of righteousnesse, but shall give it.

2 Furtherfmore, if election should beginne at the end onely of this life, the reason or ar∣gument drawne from predestination or elec∣tion could conferre nothing at all to the faith∣full, for finishing their course in faith and

godlinesse. But predestination extends it selfe as well to the meanes in the way, as to the end in the conclusion of our life, and as it were ca∣rieth the Elect by infallible meanes to the ap∣pointed marke or goale. Rom. 8.30. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom hee called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them hee also glorified. But if man considered onely as in the last moment of this life, were the object of complete election, all those things should bee inverted thus, Whom hee called, those he will justifie, and whom hee justifies, those hee will hereafter prede∣stinate.

3 Moreover, 2 Tim. 1.9. We are called with a holy calling, according to his owne purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Iesus before the world beganne. This purpose of God since it goes before this holy calling, and forelayeth the foundation to it, considers man as the sub∣ject of a sure election, according to this pur∣pose, not as he standeth in the end of this life, but as he was before the beginning of this life, yea before the world beganne, appointed by Gods purpose to a most complete Election.

Neither truly can there be settled any definite election, to eternall grace, to faith, to adopti∣on, (Eph. 1.5.8.) if these things be considered as hanging in uncertainty; neither shall the future perseverance of the Elect be fore-ordai∣ned by God, but onely foreseene in the man to be elected, and so this act of God shall bee only an approbation following, (such as may be performed by man, that knowes not what is to come hereafter) not a foregoing and ope∣rative Election: such as all elections, in rea∣son, and by force of the name of Election, must needs be.

4 Last of all. Iohn 10.16. The Gentiles not yet called, much lesse settled in finall perseve∣rance, are by our Saviour stiled his sheepe, be∣ing indeed then separated by the foregoing mark of entire and complete election.

He that makes men sheepe,* 1.1 doth make free mens wils unto obedience▪ but why doth hee (with whom there is no acception of persons) make those men sheepe, and makes not others? O man who art thou that replyest against God?

Yee say that Iacob was elected for his future workes,* 1.2 which God knew he would doe, and so you

contradict the Apostle, saying: Not of workes: as if he could not have said, Not of present workes, but or workes of come.

* 1.3They are elected before the foundation of the world, by that predestination, in which God fore∣knew what he would doe; they are elected out of the world by that calling, by which he fulfilled that which he did predestinate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug cont. Ep. Pelag. l. 4. c. 6.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 2. cap. 6.
• * 1.3

  Aug. de praedest. Sanct. cap. 17.