Annotation LII

”Yea, Father, for so it was pleasing before thee.” — Matthew 11:26

Whether reprobation is from God's pure good pleasure.

The commentary of Thomas Cajetan runs thus: “By these words he renders the reason — first [in intention] and last in resolution — of the hiding [of these things] from the prudent and their revelation to the little ones: [namely] the divine will. Do not, therefore, dispute about the cause of election and reprobation — why, that is, God chose those and not these; for here you have the first, supreme, and last cause: ‘Because so it was pleasing to God.’” Ambrose [Catharinus], bishop of Compsa, appended to this passage such a censure: “What he here says, in respect of reprobation, is false and impious; because God reprobates no one from [his] pure good pleasure, but from [de]merits. For reprobation and rejection presuppose the fault of the one reprobated and rejected. For God wills all men to be saved, and drives no one to sin.” Read below, Annotation 248.