But this similitude doth not hold in all things. For first, the proper end of Christ our Saviour was to save man, not to destroy him. Secondly, Christ is the cause of faith in the beleevers, but he is not the cause of unbeliefe in the unbeleevers, though something of Christ may be the occasion of their unbeliefe; like as his humiliation was both unto the Iewes and many of the Gentiles. Thirdly, Christ merited salvation for the believers, and not they themselves; but the unbelievers merit their owne perdition, and not Christ: but yet Christ is truly said to be confusion and perdition to the unbelievers, 1. As they take offence at him, and so runne headlong into their owne destruction. 2. As he doth justly punish their infidelity and impiety, as he is the just Iudge of all the world. _Reason_ 1. Because those unbelievers to whom Christ is offered, in contemning his goodnesse, doe directly as it were provoke him to use the greatest severity upon them. 2. Because by this meanes alone is the glory of God and of Christ preserved, when his enemies are put under his feet. _Vse_ 1. This may serve to admonish us to beware of all infidelity. 2. To exhort us, when we compare our beliefe with the misery of unbelievers, to learne to be thankfull unto God and to give him the glory of it in Iesus Christ: for these ends is this amplification made in the text. Doctrine 25. _Men come unto this confusion and perdition by stumbling at the Doctrine of the Gospell._ This is gathered from the 8 Verse. Now men stumble at the word of the Gospell, when they apprehend the Gospell to be such, that they owe no assent and ♦subjection thereunto: so the Iewes were offended at the infirmity of Christ crucified, _1 Corinthians 1.23._ and the Greekes at the foolishnesse of that word which bringeth salvation, _Ibid._ For the Iewes, like as the Papists, with many others, are offended, for that the Gospell requires them to deny their owne righteousnesse and workes, and to seeke to be justified by Christ, _Romans 9.32._ ♦ “subjecton” replaced with “subjection” _Reason_ 1. Because this offence is the cause of their infidelity. 2. Because it doth not produce a bare unbeliefe only, but unbeliefe with contempt, so that they doe infinitely wrong Christ. _Vse._ This may serve to admonish us, to beware that we doe not in any thing stumble at the word of God, or conceive any thing in our mindes, whereby we may be in the least respect alienated from it. Doctrine 26. _The infidelity and confusion of the wicked doth not fall out by chance, but according as God had most certainly fore-ordained it._ This is gathered from these words: _whereunto also they are appointed_. _Reason_ 1. Because God is both the King and Lord of all living creatures, so that nothing can happen unto them contrary to his will. 2. Because there can be no cause of their infidelity imagined, which God did not foresee, or which he could not have hindred.