The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. III. Concerning Gods foreknow∣ledge and Praedestination.

DOCTRINE I. That God foreknew, and foresaw all things from Eternitie.

WE believe that God,* 1.1 from the be∣ginning of the world, yea even from Eternitie according to his infi∣nite wisdome foreknew all things to come, both the good, which he would do; and the evil, which he would permit to be done; so farre forth that nothing did or could lye hid from him: And we doubt not but all things,* 1.2 whatsoever have been, are, shall or may be, although they

never come to passe, are and have been alwayes naked and open in his sight.

DOCT. II. That God in his eternall counsel praede∣termined all things, and praeor∣dained them to the best ends.

NEither do we believe onely, That God foresaw all things, and hath them ever present in his sight; but also, that in his most wise and eter∣nall counsel he hath before determined all things,* 1.3 whatsoever did or do con∣cerne the creation and goverment of the world, as also the gathering to∣gether of his Church out of the sin∣full ofspring of Adam, and likewise their redemption and salvation; and further, that of his infinite goodnes he hath before ordained all the evil, which in his wisdome he purposed to suffer and permit, to the best ends: insomuch that there shall not an hair perish,* 1.4 or fall from our head without the will of our heavenly Father.

DOCT. III. That God hath predestinated some men unto life and others unto death.

WHerefore we make no doubt of this, That God out of men (to speak nothing of the Angells) whom at the creation he made all righte∣ous in Adam, but foresaw that they would all sin likewise in him,* 1.5 hath in Christ chosen some that they should be holy and without blame before him in love, and hath also predestinated them unto eternall life, of his meere grate, and according to the good pleasure of his will:* 1.6 but in his just judgement hath not vouchsafed to give his grace unto others, as being the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction: That in those, his infinite mercie; but in these, his justice might be made known unto the world, to his owne glorie.

DOCT. IV. That the Election of the Saints is of Gods mere Grace.

FOr as our Vocation unto Christ,* 1.7 and our Iustification in Christ is merely of Gods grace and not of our

works: So also we hold that the pre∣destination of the Saints, is merely of grace, because it was made in Christ.

That no flesh should glorie in his pre∣sence;* 1.8 but, that he that gloryeth, should glorie in the Lord.

DOCT. V. That we are predestinated not onely to the end, but also to the meanes.

WHereupon we believe also,* 1.9 that, seeing God in Christ hath chosen us, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: We are pre∣destinated not onely to the end, which is eternall life and glorie; but also to the Meanes tending to that End, and especiall Faith, whereby we are in∣grafted into Christ; and Regenera∣tion also and true Repentance, by which we are made in Christ a new creature,* 1.10 that we may leade a godly life to the glorifying of him, and the edifying of our neighbour.

DOCT. VI. That they are not elected, and so cannot be saved whosoever are ingrafted into Christ by the holy Ghost, and by a true lively Faith.

THerefore those are shamefully mistaken, and deceived to their own destruction, whosoever think that they are elected, and so conse∣quently shall be saved, although they be not ingrafted into Christ by Faith, nor repent them of their sins, nor study to do the will of God, and practise good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.* 1.11 For they disjoyne what God would have conjoyned.

DOCT. VII, That every man ought to believe that he is elected in Christ: And, that we may be certain of it by the sense of our Faith in Christ.

FRom hence it appeareth, That although no man in generall ought to exempt himself out of the number of the elect (seeing that the Scripture it self hath not done it)

but rather be confident, that, in as much as he is called unto Christ, he is also called according to God's eternall purpose and election: Yet, if any man would be certain of his election, he must run to his faith, and the testimonie of his Conscience, and Examine himself whether he be in the faith of Christ,* 1.12 or no; and whether he feeleth within himself the sincere love of God, and his neighbour, or no. But, if he feele it not solidly and effectually, yet let him not despair, but pray unto God to help his unbe∣liefe;* 1.13 and hope that he may yet be made certain of it.

DOCT. VIII. The causes why the Doctrine of Prede∣stination is delivered unto us in the holy Scripture.

FOr the Doctrine of the eternall, free, and immutable predestina∣tion of God is not in holy Scripture delivered unto us, that either we should neglect Christ, or despair of our salvation, or through securitie let the reignes loose unto concupi∣scence, or to conclude, that we should

wax insolent and proud: but con∣trarily for these reasons especially. First, That we may know, There is no salvation in any other;* 1.14 but in Christ: For the foundation of all our salva∣tion was laid and setled in Christ,* 1.15 be∣fore the foundation of the world. Se∣condly, That in time of tentations we, which believe in Christ,* 1.16 may be un¦derpropped, and supported by the certaintie of our salvation, so that we neither despair nor distrust: for as much as it standeth firme and sure in God's eternall decree. Thirdly, That we may from thence be stirred up to the studie of faith in Christ, to sancti∣tie of life, and the practise of good works: for as much as we were e∣lected and chosen of God that we should be faithfull and holy and with∣out blame before him,* 1.17 in love; and walk in good works. Fourthly and Lastly, that we should not wax in∣solent or proud, but He that glorieth should glorie in the Lord:* 1.18 because, if we believe in Christ and live a holy and godly life, we are to attribute it onely unto the mere grace and mercy of God to us in Christ, who from

all eternitie ordained that we should be such; and that of his free grace to us in Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 15.18.
• * 1.2

  Hebr ••.13.
• * 1.3

  Acts 4.28.
• * 1.4

  Luk. 21.18. Matt. 10.30.
• * 1.5

  Ephes. ••.3.4.
• * 1.6

  Rom 9.22.
• * 1.7

  Tit 3.7. Eph. 2.9.
• * 1.8

  Ephes. 1.3. 1 Cor 1.29.31.
• * 1.9

  Eph. 1.3.4.
• * 1.10

  2 Cor. 5.17. Gal. 6.15. Matt. 5.16.
• * 1.11

  Eph. 2.10.
• * 1.12

  2 Cor. xiii.v.
• * 1.13

  Mar. 9.24.
• * 1.14

  Act. 4.4.12.
• * 1.15

  2 Tim 1.11.
• * 1.16

  Rom. 1. through∣out the whole 2 Tim 2.19.
• * 1.17

  Eph. 1.4.2.10.
• * 1.18

  1 Cor. 1.••1.