8. This subjection, however, will be accomplished in certain ways, and after certain training, and at certain times; for it is not to be imagined that the subjection is to be brought about by the pressure of necessity (lest the whole world should then appear to be subdued to God by force), but by word, reason, and doctrine; by a call to a better course of things, by the best systems of training, by the employment also of suitable and appropriate threatenings, which will justly impend over those who despise any care or attention to their salvation and usefulness. In a word, we men also, in training either our slaves or children, restrain them by threats and fear while they are, by reason of their tender age, incapable of using their reason; but when they have begun to understand what is good, and useful, and honourable, the fear of the lash being over, they acquiesce through the suasion of words and reason in all that is good. But how, consistently with the preservation of freedom of will in all rational creatures, each one ought to be regulated, _i.e._ who they are whom the word of God finds and trains, as if they were already prepared and capable of it; who they are whom it puts off to a later time; who these are from whom it is altogether concealed, and who are so situated as to be far from hearing it; who those, again, are who despise the word of God when made known and preached to them, and who are driven by a kind of correction and chastisement to salvation, and whose conversion is in a certain degree demanded and extorted; who those are to whom certain opportunities of salvation are afforded, so that sometimes, their faith being proved by an answer alone,[742] they have unquestionably obtained salvation;[743]—from what causes or on what occasions these results take place, or what the divine wisdom sees within them, or what movements of their will leads God so to arrange all these things, is known to Him alone, and to His only-begotten Son, through whom all things were created and restored, and to the Holy Spirit, through whom all things are sanctified, who proceedeth from the Father,[744] to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Footnote 720: De ecclesiasticis definitionibus unum. Footnote 721: Consummationem sæculi. Footnote 722: Gen. xlix. 1. The Vulgate has, “In diebus novissimis;” the Septuag. Ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν;” the Masoretic text, בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית. Footnote 723: Ps. cii. 26, 27. Footnote 724: Matt. xix. 4. Footnote 725: Matt. xxiv. 35. Footnote 726: Rom. viii. 20, 21. Footnote 727: 1 Cor. vii. 31. Footnote 728: Auctoritate Scripturæ nostræ, vel fidei. Footnote 729: Regulam pietatis. Footnote 730: Cf. Isa. lxvi. 22. Footnote 731: