Chapter 21 [IX.]—Instances of the Unsearchable Judgments of God.

Therefore, of two infants, equally bound by original sin, why the one is taken and the other left; and of two wicked men of already mature years, why this one should be so called as to follow Him that calleth, while that one is either not called at all, or is not called in such a manner,—the judgments of God are unsearchable. But of two pious men, why to the one should be given perseverance unto the end, and to the other it should not be given, God’s judgments are even more unsearchable. Yet to believers it ought to be a most certain fact that the former is of the predestinated, the latter is not. “For if they had been of us,” says one of the predestinated, who had drunk this secret from the breast of the Lord, “certainly they would have continued with us.”45    1 John ii. 19. What, I ask, is the meaning of, “They were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would certainly have continued with us”? Were not both created by God—both born of Adam—both made from the earth, and given from Him who said, “I have created all breath,”46    Isa. lvii. 16 [see LXX.] souls of one and the same nature? Lastly, had not both been called, and followed Him that called them? and had not both become, from wicked men, justified men, and both been renewed by the laver of regeneration? But if he were to hear this who beyond all doubt knew what he was saying, he might answer and say: These things are true. In respect of all these things, they were of us. Nevertheless, in respect of a certain other distinction, they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they certainly would have continued with us. What then is this distinction? God’s books lie open, let us not turn away our view; the divine Scripture cries aloud, let us give it a hearing. They were not of them, because they had not been “called according to the purpose;” they had not been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world; they had not gained a lot in Him; they had not been predestinated according to His purpose who worketh all things. For if they had been this, they would have been of them, and without doubt they would have continued with them.

CAPUT IX.

21. Ex duobus itaque parvulis originali peccato pariter obstrictis, cur iste assumatur, ille relinquatur; et ex duobus aetate jam grandibus impiis, cur iste ita vocetur, ut vocantem sequatur, ille autem aut non vocetur, aut non ita vocetur; inscrutabilia sunt judicia Dei. Ex duobus autem piis, cur huic donetur perseverantia usque in finem, illi non donetur; inscrutabiliora sunt judicia Dei. Illud tamen fidelibus debet esse certissimum, hunc esse ex praedestinatis, illum non esse. Nam si fuissent ex nobis, ait unus praedestinatorum, qui de pectore Domini biberat hoc secretum, mansissent utique nobiscum. Quid est, quaeso, Non erant ex nobis; nam si fuissent, mansissent utique nobiscum? Nonne utrique a Deo creati, utrique ex Adam nati, utrique de terra facti erant, et ab eo qui dixit, Omnem flatum ego feci (Isai. LVII, 16), unius ejusdemque naturae animas acceperant? Nonne postremo utrique vocati fuerant, et vocantem secuti, utrique ex impiis justificati, et per lavacrum regenerationis utrique renovati? Sed si haec audiret ille, qui sciebat procul dubio quod dicebat, respondere posset et dicere: Vera sunt haec, secundum haec omnia ex nobis erant; verumtamen secundum aliam quamdam discretionem non erant ex nobis; nam si fuissent ex nobis, mansissent utique nobiscum. Quae est tandem ista discretio? Patent Libri Dei; non avertamus aspectum: clamat Scriptura divina, 1005 adhibeamus auditum. Non erant ex eis, quia non erant secundum propositum vocati: non erant in Christo electi ante constitutionem mundi, non erant in eo sortem consecuti, non erant praedestinati secundum propositum ejus, qui universa operatur. Nam si hoc essent, ex illis essent, et cum illis sine dubitatione mansissent.