A briefe institution of the common places of sacred divinitie. Wherein, the truth of every place is proved, and the sophismes of Bellarmine are reprooved. Written in Latine, by Lucas Trelcatius, and Englished by Iohn Gawen, minister of Gods word.

The Places of Scripture, which are wont to bee wrested against the truth of this Doctrine of Providence, are for the most part these.

Against the Materiall Cause.

1 Of the Corinth. 9.9. Ans. Providence is eyther generall or speciall: A conclu∣sion from the deniall of the one, vnto the deniall of the other, is of no force.

2 Sam. 1.6. 1. King 21.34 Ans. Pro∣vidence, and chance are not repugnant, the one to the other, if the respect of divers causes bee distinguished.

Esay 31. 1. & Act. 5.38. Ans. according to the divers considerations of the beginninges, wee iudge both of the Causes, whether neerest or re∣mote, and of the qualities of Acti∣ons, whether good or bad: but what∣soever quality is vitious, it is from the particular beginning, and not from that, which is Vniversall or Com∣mon.

Against the Formall Cause.

Ezec. 18.33. Ose 13.9. Answ. a double consideration of the punishmēt of sinne, is wont, and ought to bee di∣stinctly noted: one is of Iustice in God, and hath a respect of morall good: a∣nother, of merite and fault in man, & hath a respect of evill: and in this lat∣ter signification, these places are to bee vnderstood.

Prou. 16.4. Answer. The wor∣king of God, in respect of the wicked, presupposeth three thinges: first, the limitation of sinne; secondly, the withdrawing of Grace; thirdly, the ordayning of punishment.

Ierem. 10.7. Answ. The Prophet speaketh from the feeling of his own in∣firmity, not of an vntruth in doctrine, nor of any wickednesse in life; but of his vocation, vnto which hee was drawne against his will.

Exod. 4.21. Esa. 69.19. Ezek. 14.9.

Rom. 1.28. 2. Thes. 2.11. Answere. A Working is one thing, and a working permission is another thing: That is in good thinges onely; this both in good & evil: for, by permitting, God worketh foure wayes; first, as touching the materiall of sinne: se∣condly, as touching the withholding of grace, which God oweth to no man, because it is grace. Thirdly, as touching the endes, vnto which God disposeth sinnes. Fourthly, as touch∣ing the iust punishment of the sinner; whereof, this is the highest de∣gree, by sinne to punish sinne.