How to make a right use of the doctrine of Predestination. [ 1764]
CArdinal Pool,* 1.1 a good Man, though a Papist, being desired by one to tell him how he might come to understand the former part of S. Paul's Epi∣stles, which are for the most part doctrinal positions, made this answer; By a careful practising of the latter part of the same Epistles, which consist much in Precepts, and directions how to lead a life in all godlinesse and holinesse of conver∣sation: And thus if any Man desire to know the former part of Predestination, whether his name be written in the book of Life, whether he be of the Election of Grace, whether he be predestinated to life eternal, let him but look into the latter part of Predestination, the means as well as the end of Predestination, whether his Conversation be in Heaven, whether his life be suitable to the profession of the Gospel of Christ, and though he meet with many rub•• in the way, and through frailty stumble and fall, yet riseth again and presseth on to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus; Thus if a Man do, he may conclude himself to be within the number of the Elect: and this is the right use that is to be made of the doctrine of Predestination; but it is otherwise with too too many in these all questioning dayes of ours: For whereas S. Paul presents us with a chain let down from Heaven, Rom. 8. Election and Predestination at one end of the chain, and Glorification at the other end thereof; both which ends God keepeth fast in his hand, as for the middle links of the chain, Calling and Iustification, those he leaves for them to lay hold on; but they cannot be quiet, but must be ••ugging and labouring to wrest those parts out of Gods hand, and so misse of the right use and comfort that is to be found in the abstruse, yet sweet doctrine of Predestination.