Cap. 1 prol. IV close: word-tricks on faith; preface ends — theses next
So it is mere word-trickery when they say foresight faith and unbelief are conditions — not only ones that precede predestination and reprobation taken commonly and without distinction, but ones from which the very distinction of elect and reprobate arises — and yet deny those conditions any causality. Every theologian who has ever argued the reason or cause of election assumes this: whatever, when posited and foresight by God, brings election with it, and when denied or not foresight leaves election absent, has the force of a cause. These are the points I thought should stand as a preface. From here our whole coming dispute will be drawn into certain fixed theses.
Latin
Sunt ergo merae verborum praestigiae, cum aiunt praevisam fidem & infidelitatem esse conditiones, non modo quae antecedunt praedestinationem & reprobationem communiter & promiscue consideratam, sed etiam ex quibus oritur ipsa distinctio electorum & reprobatorum, & tamen negant habere aliquam causalitatem. Nam omnes Theologi qui unquam disputarunt de ratione aut causa electionis, praesumunt id vim causae obtinere, qua posita & a Deo praevisa sequitur; qua negata aut non praevisa non sequitur electio. Atque haec ea sunt quae praefationis loco praemittenda putavi. Totam, quae futura est, disputationem nostram deinceps ad certas quasdam theses revocabimus.