And thus having declared the dissenting arguments of it, I come to the comparison, especially such as belong to the equality or inequality of reprobation and election.
Reprobation is equal to election, -
1. in the efficient causes. For God is author of both, Gods good pleasure or freewill is the motive cause of both.
2. In the matter. For both is the decree of God.
3. In the ends: for both are for the glory of God and salvation of the elect.
4. In the common subject, which is mankind, in as much as it was to be corrupted & thrown into eternal death by their own default. As then election is the decree of delivering such as are given to Christ by mercy out of the common destruction: so Reprobation is the decree to leave such as are not given to Christ in that common destruction by justice. Therefore as election found not men worthy but made them so, so reprobation cast none into eternal death, but by just judgement leaves them that are plunged into it by their own sin and fault in it. For as God decreed not to choose any that was just already, but the sinner to be made just by grace, so likewise he did not decree to reprobate the just, but the sinner to be justly condemned for sin.
5. In the adjuncts both were from eternal: both are firm and immutable: both not to be altered, whether you respect Gods counsel, or the persons themselves elected or reprobated. So that neither the counsel of God can possibly be made frustrate, nor the elect become reprobates, nor the reprobates elect.
The inequality or unlikeness of reprobation and election, appears in these.
1. In the form. For as election is a decree of pitying and delivering out of the universal ruin, and taking into salvation: so reprobation is a decree of not pitying but relinquishing in the common mass, and of not vouchsafing of salvation.
2. In the effects. For inward calling, faith, justification, glorification, good works, and eternal salvation, are the effects of election: but debarring from the grace of inward calling and faith, and justification, glorification, good works, and the blessing of salvation, and sins, and the punishments of the same, are not the effects of reprobation.
3. In the proper subjects. For election is of such as shall be saved, reprobation of them that are to be condemned.
4. In the ensuing adjuncts. For though sin bee not the cause of reprobation, yet it is of damnation: for no man is condemned but for sin: but the good works of the godly, as they are not the cause of election so neither of salvation, but only the way that God hath prepared for the godly to walk in. Eph. 2.10. We are his workmanship framed in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them: Now as the way is not the cause of the mark, so are not good works the cause of salvation.
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