Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

God Predestinateth to the means as well as to the end. [ 1844]

THere is mention made of one Ludovicus,* 1.1 who was a learned Man of Italy, yet wanting the guidance of Gods spirit, and so never considering advi∣sedly of the means of his salvation, grew at last to this resolution, Sisalvabon, sal∣vabor, It's no matter what I do, or how I live, For if I be saved I am saved, If I be predestinated to life I am sure of Salvation, if otherwise I cannot help it; Thus∣bewit. ched with this desperate opinion, he continued a long time, till at length he grew very dangerously sick, whereupon he sent for a Skillfull Physitian, and ear∣nestly requested his help;* 1.2 The Physitian aforehand, made acquainted with his former leud assertion, how he would usually say; If I am saved I am saved, directed his speech to the same purpose, and said; Surely it will be altogether needless to use any means for your recovery, neither do I purpose to administer any thing unto you; For if the time of your death be now come, it is impossible to avoid it.

Ludovicus musing in his bed of the matter, and taking the Physitians speech into serious consideration, mak•• out this conclusion to himself. That if means were to be used for the health of the body, then much more had God also or∣deined means for the Salvation of Mens Souls. And so upon further conference (with shame and grief) he recanted his former opinion, took Physick, and was happily cured both of Soul and body together: Thus it is that the determinate Counsell of God in the matter of Predestination doth not take away the Nature and property of secondary causes, nor exclude the means of Salvation, but rather sets them in order, and disposes of them to their proper end; And common sense and Reason teach,* 1.3 that in every action the end and the means of the end must go together; Now the end which every one of us doth aim at, is,* 1.4 Eternall life, we must be sure then to lay hold upon Calling and Iustification as the means ordai∣ned to come to this end, For God hath chosen us from everlasting, there is Pre∣destination, yet there he doth not leave us, but then he doth teach us by his word, there is Calling; This Word (through his Spirit) ingendreth Faith, there is Iustification, And Faith lifts up unto God, there's the Ultimate of all, Glori∣fication.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. Maxey Serm. on Rom. 8. 30.
• * 1.2

  Laur. Beyer∣linck in theatro magno Con∣cionat.
• * 1.3

  Aristor. Rhet. lib. 7.
• * 1.4

  Hac itur ad astra.