Reason 1. Because all our happinesse comes wholly from God, who is the author and fountaine of all good: now it comes from him not by the way of nature, but of counsell and free election, and so it proceeds from election it selfe.
2. Because all his speciall blessings which belong unto our salvation, depend upon election, Ephesians 1.3,4.
Vse. This may serve to exhort us to use all diligence to make our election certaine and sure. 2 Peter 1.10.
Doctrine 2. There is no other cause or reason to be given of our election unto salvation, but only the good pleasure of God.
This is drawne from those words: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God: for if there were any cause extra Deum, out of God, that could possibly be discerned by the eye or sense of man, it is most likely that the Apostle would have named that, as being more knowne and discernable, and so more properly belonging to that consolation and congratulation which he proposed to himselfe.
Reason 1. Because the counsels and decrees of God do not depend upon those things that are extra Deum, without God, but they depend upon Gods decrees: for the decrees are first, and they last.
2. Because otherwise all the glory of our election and salvation should not wholly be ascribed unto God, and consequently all praise and thanksgiving should not be due unto him alone.
3. Because if our election did depend upon our selves, who are weake and changeable every houre, our election also it selfe would be changeable and uncertaine, and so would afford us no sound consolation.
Use 1. This may serve to refute those, that make Gods election to depend upon our faith and perseverance, as a cause or condition requisite.
2. To exhort us to acknowledge this wonderfull grace of God towards us, and to give him all the praise and glory of it, both in the inward desires of our hearts, and the joyfull profession of our tongues, and our lives answerable thereunto.