b 1.1What is the efficient cause of Reprobation
God, who as he hath elected vs according to the good pleasure of his will; so hath hee reiected the reprobate, according to his iust will or purpose, which in order goeth before all: for as hee taketh mercie on vvhom he vvill, so vvhom hee vvill hee hardeneth. For the same verbe (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) is not otherwise to bee expounded, either in the former or latter part of the sentence; but because contraries are the consequents of contraries, if it bee godly and truely spoken of God, (which no man denieth) he hath mercie on vvhom hee vvill haue mercie, Exod. 33.19. without doubt Paul spake truely and godly; but vvhom he vvill he hardeneth. And Ephes. 1.11. God doth all things after the purpose of his will. The word of Election doth approue the very same thing. For, in whose power it is to elect some, in his power also it is not to e∣lect others, but to passe by them, or to reiect them: for neyther can the Election of some be granted without a reiection or neg∣lecting: nor a reiection or neglecting without the election of o∣thers. And whereas it is said, Ezech. 18.23. I will not the death of a sinner, but that he returne from his waies and liue. It appeareth to be an indefinite Proposition, which differeth very much from an vniuersall, and is to be restrained to them, to whom is giuen the grace of repentance. Which also Christ saith, Matth. 23.37. Hovv often vvould I haue gathered thy sonnes, and thou vvouldest not, hee speaketh of the outward ministerie, and as farre as he himselfe was generally promised for the saluation of this nation, and as he was also carefull of it in speciall.