A compend of the controversies of religion wherin the trueth is confirmed, and errour convinced, by authoritie of Scripture, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of partie. Most necessary for all, in this backe-slyding age. By W.G. minister of God's word.

That wee were not predestinated vnto lyfe, for our fore-seene good worke••, as the cause; but vnto good workes, as the fruits, and that of meere grace.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

EPhes. 2.8. For by Grace ye are saved through Faith, & that not of your selues, it is the gift of God: Not of vvorks, lest anie man should boast: for vvee are his vvorkmanship, created in Christ Iesus vnto good vvorks, which God hath before ordained, that vvee should vvalke in them.

Note then, That good works (as Ber∣nard sayeth) are the way where-in wee must walke to the kingdome, but not the cause, why either in election, or glo∣rificat••on, it is bestowed vpon vs.

Eph. 1.4. According as hee hath chosen vs in Him, before the foundation of the World, that vvee should bee holie, and vvithout blame, before Him in loue: Having prede∣stinated vs vnto the adoption of chil∣dren, by Iesus Christ, to Himselfe, according to the good pleasure of His Will, To the praise of the glorie of His grace, vvherein Hee hath made vs accepted, in His beloved.

Marke then, That our election is not for our fore-seene holinesse, but that we should bee holie: and the ground there-of is set downe therefore to bee the good pleasure of the Lord's will: and the ende of all is, the praise onelie of the glorie of His owne grace: and so no praise to vs for anie fore-seene merit.

Rom, 9.15. For hee sayeth to Moses, I vvill haue mercie, on whom I vvill haue mercie; and I vvill haue compassion, on vvhom I vvill haue compassion, So then, it is not of him that vvilleth, nor of him that run∣neth, but of God, that showeth mercie.

Note then, That the cause of our ele∣ction is in God himselfe, to wit, free mercie, and not in man, of fore-seene merit.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

AƲgustine thus sayeth to the Pelagian Hereticks, Yee say, that Iacob was lo∣ved (sayth hee) for his future works, which God fore-saw that he was to doe: and so yee contradict the Apostle, who sayth, That it was not of works▪ as if hee might not haue saide, that it was not of his present workes, but of his future works. But hee sayeth simplie, that it was of no works at all, that grace might bee commended. Aug. lib. 2. contra epist. 2. Pelagianor. c. 7. As also, if the cause bee asked (sayeth Fulgentius) of the pre∣destination of the godlie, there is none other, but the onlie free mercie of God to be found. Fulg. lib. 1. ad Monimum, f. 10.

3. Confession of Partie.

ANd that wee are elect not onlie free∣lie, but also without the fore-sight of good workes, the Apostle teacheth, Rom. 9. (sayth Bellarmine, lib. 2. de gra∣tia, & lib. arb. c. 10. §. esse deni{que}.) As also Estius affirmeth, that this opinion anent predestination, to wit, that the same is not of fore-seene fayth and good works, is maintained by most of all their Schoole-men, where-of he rehearseth six∣teene

by name of the most famous. Estius in lib. 1. sent. dist. 41. §. quarto.