it was sure vnto him before the foundation of the worlde but vnto our selues and to our neighbours And this is one of the chiefest vses of good woorkes that by them not as by causes but as by effects of predestination and Faith both we and also our neighbours are certified of our election and of our saluation to Furthermore considering whiles we haue a care to glorifie God to do good works and wee will not bee conformable to the world in the wickednes of it neither submit our selues to our flesh Sathan the flesh the world and Sathan do perpetuallie war against vs therwithal it coÌ„meth to passe they being most valiant enemies that eyther we are ouercome or at the least in fighting are foyled And therfore we are constrained to flie vnto the Lord and to craue his assistance Therefore the eight effect of our predestination is the calling vpon God that in this fight he wold giue vs aide against the Deuil the worlde and the flesh For this is the propertie of the Spirite which the elect haue to stir them vp to prayer for the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs vvith groninges vvhich cannot be vttered that is to say it mooueth vs to make request And because we are sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father And God biddeth vs call vpon him in the day of tribulation promising to heare vs. From these proceedeth the ninth effect of predestination namelie a perpetuall repentance for our daylie slips and a continuall desire to be bettered in godlines So that also for this cause chieflie we hartily desire to be dissolued out of this world and to be with Christ for this end that we might sin no more For this is a thing proper to the elect of God euen now borne anew as we may see in the Apostle who speaketh thus in the name of all the regenerate O miserable man that I am vvho shal deliuer me from the bodie of this death And againe I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. From this ninth effect proceedeth the tenth namelie a desire that Christ may come make an end of all our miseries and sinnes perfectly restore his own kingdome That this is proper to the elect the Apostle sheweth when he saith that they loue the comming of the Lord and Iohn bringeth in the Spouse of Christ crying Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Yea and Christ himselfe hath taught vs to pray Let thy Kingdome come And because that they which pray on this wise are also heard according to Gods promise In the day of tribulation call vppon mee and I vvill heare thee Thence appeareth the eleueth effect of predestination true patience that is not onelie true comfort but also a reioycing in aduersitie as the Apostle describeth it And therefore a certaine taking vp of courage and recouerie of strength against his enemies Whereby it commeth to passe that al things turne to the saluation of the elect For the elect albeit they be often beaten downe in fight yet because Christ speedilie sendeth ayde from heauen vnto them they rise vp couragiously and begin againe the fight against sinne and the Diuel and al other the enemies of Christ and they fight so long til they be made conquerers are assured of the victorie and of the crowne which assurance also is an effect of predestination giuen to all the Electe For what saith the Apostle shall we say to these things If God be on our side who can be against vs Therefore our Lord Iesus techeth that the elecâ—â—annot be seduced and so perish no not by the comming of Antichrist and his miracles And lastly hence appeareth that last effect of predestination vvhich vve can obtaine in this life the gift of perseuerance vnto the end in faith and a true confession of Christ ioyned with a manifest care to liue a godly life a desire to glorifie him For this gift is bestowed vpon all the elect as the Lorde promiseth by Ieremie I will put my feare into their heartes that they may not departe from me And when they shal come to the end of their liues they shall bee receiued into the heauenly glorie vntill such time as their bodies also being raised vp they may take full possession of eternall life Thus we see that it is very certaine that those which are elected to eternall life ar also predestinate to vse those meanes by which as by certaine steppes and stayres they climbe into that heauenly dwelling place And therefore that we were predestinate to these meanes namely Faith Iustification and good workes because wee were elected to eternall life according to the purpose and grace of God Wherefore by this means the doctrine also of the Pelagians is confuted as touching predestination to life by our faith and workes which God foresaw we shuld do Whereas on the contrary therefore God did predestinat vs to faith and good workes because he did choose vs to eternal life For the Apostle saith not I obtained mercie because I was faithfull or because I should be faithfull but that I might be faithfull Neither saith he that we are elected in Christ because we should be holy and without blame but that vvee might be holy and vvithout blame Neither doth he say that we were created in Christ becaus wee did or should do good workes but we were created to good workes vvhich God prepared that vvee might vvalk in them Lastly he saith not that the grace of christ appeared becaus we were to liue soberly iustly and godly but that it therefore appeared that we denying all vngodlines the lusts of this worlde might liue soberly iustly godly in this present vvorld Wee see therfore that by this doctrine that wicked opinion is ouerthrowen which teacheth that we do preuent the grace of God by our merites which God foresaw And on the contrary here wee see how fowlly the belli-gods of this world are deceiued which reason thus If wee be predestinate to eternall life and our predestination be certaine and vnchangeable what neede we endeuour our selues beleeue or doe good workes for howsoeuer it fall out howsoeuer the elect do liue vndoubtedly they cannot perish because they are predestinate to eternall life Alas poore wretches they see not that they seuer those thinges that are to be conioyned namely the end and the meanes of the end and that they breake the cheine which in no wise either can or must be loosed whilst that they seuer their calling and iustification yea and Faith too and good works from predestination and glorification As though God did glorifie them whome he did predestinate before hee called and iustified them yea and before they can beleue and shew their quick and liuely faith by workes Contrariwise let vs learn what our duetie is If any be elect to eternal life they also are predestinate to the meanes
by which they come vnto it And wee beleeue as we are bound to do that we are predestinate to eternal life and therefore wee must also beleeue that we haue bene elected to Faith and good workes that by them as by certaine steppes we might be brought to eternall life And therefore so far must we be from neglecting faith and the meanes of good workes and of a holy life that contrariwise it is rather our dutie to keepe faith in a good conscience to be conuersant in good workes which God hath prepared that we might walke in them And because wee can neither attaine to the ende nor the meanes that bring vs thereunto of our selues Therefore it is our parts to craue them at Gods hands by prayer that hee woulde giue vs Faith and a care to do good workes and encrease them in vs. Nether must we onely ask them but also certainly trust that we shal obtaine them for Christ his cause For if for all them which are predestinated to eternall life God hath prepared faith by which they may beleeue and good workes to walk in therefore if wee beleeue as by Gods commandement wee are bound that wee are in Christ elected to eternall glory we must also be perswaded that before we depart hence hee will giue vs true repeÌ„tance increase true faith inflame vs with loue lastly that he wil minister vnto vs aboundantly all thinges in Christ to obtaine the end Yea this confidence also and prayer it is one effecte of predestination by which wee get the rest Therefore this doctrin we must hold that predestination to eternall life doeth not take away the meanes of obtaining it but rather establish them And therefore both these principles are true namely that the elect to life cannot perish and vnlesse a man beleeue in Christ and perseuer vnto the end in this faith working by loue hee shall perish The reason is because in predestination the meanes and the end of it are so ioyned together that the one cannot be seuered from the other Wherfore whosoeuer holdeth not the meanes vnto the end amongst which faith is one it is manifest that hee was neuer predestinate and therefore muâ—â— needes perish as on the coÌ„trary he which holdeth faith must needes be saued So the truth of these propositions is euident hee which beleeueth in the son hath eternall life contrariwise he which beleeueth not in the Sonne the anger of God remaineth vpon him because as a constant faith is a sign of election so obstinat infidelity is a token of reprobation FINIS Bradfords ansvvere to Careles Careles I Am troubled with feare that my sinnes are not pardoned Brad. They are for God hath giuen thee a penitent and beleeuing hearte that is an heart which desireth to repent and beleeue For such an one is taken of him hee accepting the will for the deed for a penitent and beleeuing heart indeed Trin. vni Deo gloria Profession without practise a note of an hypocrite Sincerity of life and religion a note of communion with God To professe perfect sanctification in this life a note of an hypocrite humble confession of sin to God is a note of remission of sinne An endeuoâ— to keep thâ— commandementes a sign of faith Faith without obedience a note of an Hypocrite profession ioyned with hatred and malice a note of an hypocrite Loue of our brother a signe of regeneration Gods spirite dwelling in the heart a signe of perseuerance papists deny Iesus to bee Christ for though in words they magnifie him yet in their doctrin by necessary consequent they denie him to be a king a priest a prophet perseuerance in the knowledge and obedience of the Gospell a sign of communion with Christ. A desire an indeuour to vse good means to cleanse our selues of our corruptions and priuie sins is a mark of adoption Loosnes of life or the practise of sin a note of the child of the deuill for the present time To loue a christian because he is a christian or godly man is a note of Gods chiid Compassion stirring in the heart a note of loue Workes of mercy signs of loue sincere loue a note of sincere profession Boldnes in praier a signe of a pacified conscience The operation of gods spirit in sanctifying vs a sign of communion with God A sincere confession of the Gospel a note of communion with Christ. To be like God in holines of life a signe of his loue to vs particularlie Our loue of God a signe that he loueth vs particularlie An indeuor to keep the commandements a sign of loue of our brother Proofes invinsible that Iesus of Nazaret the son of Mary was the son of God against the Iewes A signe of our praiers granted vs if God do but heare them Sincerity of life in righteousnes holines a note of Gods child Seuen notes of an vpright man 1. Cor. 2.10 Math. 11.27 1. Cor. 2.16 Rom. 12.34 The elect by the testimonie of the holy Ghost are made sure of their election ch 19.13 1. Cor. 2.10 Ioh. 16.13 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8 9 Vers. 2. The elect out of the word of god their conscience making the assumption at length they may be certainly perswaded of their predestination That wherby a man applies the general promise to himselfe Deut. 27.26 They which do trulie beleeue know that they beleeue 2. Cor. 13.65 Ier. 32.40 Luk. 22.33 Vers. 3. By the effects of predestination a man may gather his predestination Heb. 11.12 The effectes of predestination which are in vs are like seals imprinting the image of Gods electi in vs. Ioh. 10.14 Col. 4.9 1 Ioh 4.10 1. Iohn 4.7 Rom. 5.5 Ephes. 1.4 Rom. 8.30 2. Tim. 2.19 Apoc. 2.3 Ioh. 6.27 2. Cor. 1.21 Eph. 1.13 4.30 The chiefe effects of predestination by which the elect ar discerned from the Reprobate 2. Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.30 The weaknes of our faith as touching our eternal election by what staies it may be held vp How a man may knowe whether the testimonie which is giuen of the Spirit be of of the spirit or not Whereby a man may knowe whether his faith be a true faith or not The ende of our predestination The means to which we are predestinate how manie they bee Eph. 2.20 The first benefit of god predestnating vs is Christ. Eph. 1.4 c. 2. Tim. 1.5 Rom. 8.30 Iohn 8.47 Rom. 1.7 1. Cor. 1.2 Tit. 1.1 Heb. 11.6 1. Cor. 7.25 Rom. 8.30 Eph. 1.4 Eph. 1.4.5 Iohn 3.6 Rom. 8.1 5. Psal. 45 8. psa 119.113 40.9 101.3 26 5. Rom. 7.22 1. Ioh. 3 7. Eph. 2.10 Eph. 1.4 1 Tim. 1.19 Tit 1.15 2. Pet. 1.10 Rom. 8.29 Gal. 4.6 Psal. 50.15 Rom. 7.27 phil 1.23 2. Tim. 4. 8 Apoc. 22.17.20 Mat. 6.10 Psal. 50.15 Rom. 5.3 8.28 Rom. 8.31 Mat. 24.24 Ier. 32 4â— The vse of this doctrin 1. Cor. 7.25 Eph. 1.4.2 Tit 2.11 Ioh. 3.3
Christ in all his graces For predestination as Augustine witnesseth is a preparation to the blessings of God by which most certainly they are made free whosoeuer are made free therefore whosoeuer feeleth himselfe freed through these graces of God may be assured and certified of his predestination The other reason is that these effects are not onely the effects simplie of predestination but also such effectes they are that they may also may be seals of it namlie in printing in vs a liuely form and image of God foreknowing vs louing vs electing vs. And therefore albeit wee cannot see the purpose the foreknowledg the election and predestination of God as concerning our selues in God himselfe foreknowing willing and electing vs yet wee may beholde in our selues som sure representations of al these imprinted and euen stamped in vs by the word and so by the beholding of these formes and impressions in our selues wee shall easily be brought to the knowledge of those patterns as it were which are in the Lord himselfe The matter by reason it is very good and comfortable may be declared by a similitude God is like vnto the Sunne in regard of vs the sunne when it shineth vpon vs and after a sort looketh vs in the face it doth after such a sort imprinte an image of his light in our eies that wee also in like manner beeing made partakers of his light may looke againe vpon the sunne it selfe and vpon his light for the light of the Sunne and his beams being sent down vpon vs are beaten back and reflected againe towardes the sunne So in like maner the forknowledg of god by which he hath and would acknowledg vs for his from all eternitie it alwaies resteth in God and cannot of it selfe bee perceaued of vs. But yet whilst God doth acknowledg vs for his hee doth portrait in vs his elect a certaine forme and image of his foreknowledge by which hee maketh vs renouncing all other gods to acknowledge him for our onely true God Thus it commeth to passe that through this true knowledge of God which hee vouchsafeth vs and by which wee doe acknowledg God for our God and Father we may after a sort beholde in God himselfe his foreknowledg by which he hath foreknowen vs for his sonnes For first of all God doth acknowledg vs for his and then the electe being made partakers of this his light and knowledg hee causeth vs in like maner to acknowledg him To this purpose serueth that which our Sauiour Christ saith first saith he I knowe my sheep after he addeth and again I am knowen of mine As though he should say whiles I acknowledg them for my sheep I make them by meanes of this my light knowledg that they also can acknowledg me for their pastor So the Apostle saith to the Galathians When yee shall knowe God or rather are known of him he teacheth therefore that God knewe the Galathians because he had first acknowledged them for his in his eternall Predestination And by giuing vnto them this his wisdome he made them acknowledge the true God for their God The same may be said of the loue of God by which hee loued vs in Christ to euerlasting life before the foundation of the world God by louing vs doth print in our heartes the Image of his loue by which wee may loue him again from our hearts and as it wer by the reflection of the sun-beames sent downe into our heartes wee may be prouoked to loue againe For the loue of god to vs being eternall and causing eternall life begetteth in the time appointed a certaine loue in vs seruing for his eternal glory And to this purpose is that of saint Iohn not that vvee first loued God but becaus he first loued vs. As though hee had saide therefore wee loue God because hee first that is before the foundatiō of the world louing vs in Christ by the ingrauing of his loue in our hearts causeth vs to loue him againe as a Father So loue is saide to wit that loue by which we loue God to be of God that is to proceede of the loue of God towardes vs. And Paul writeth that the loue of God namely that loue by which hee loued vs to be shed in our heartes by the holy Ghost which is giuē vs And by this shedding of the loue of God in our harts it commeth to passe that loue is also wrought in our heartes towardes God And therefore by that sound loue by which wee feele our selues to loue God we are made to knowe how great that loue of God is by which he loued vs from all aeternitie in Christ. And what is that loue els but predestination In like manner election by which hee singled vs from the rest of the worlde in Christ that we might be holy before him begets in vs a certain image euen of God himself that is another electiō by which wee renouncing all other gods which are worshipped in the world make our choise of this our true God Iehouah to bee our God that hee may be alwaies before our eies hee which sanctifieth vs and the Authour of our whole saluation Wherfore through this cōstant election which is in vs we perceiue that that election which is in God as concerning vs is firm and sure not onely as wee gather the cause by the effect but also as wee gather the pattern by the picture like as by the similitude of the forme of a seale fashioned in wax we doe easilie vnderstande what is the very forme and fashion of the seale Therefore it is manifest that it is the maner of God by the effectes of his election and predestination imprinted in vs to reueale to euerie one of vs his own election and predestination And that two waies both because there are certaine effectes of predestination and by the effects the causes are knowen and also because there are certaine liuely types of Gods fore-knowledg and election by which we are sealed vppe vnto God Now by the imprinting of these forms and types in vs as the seale is in wax the verie first patterns themselues are known what they are Furthermore that there is no man elected to eternal life which shall not be sealed vp in the time appointed with these marks of Gods election It is manifest out of these places of Scripture which treat of election and predestination The Apostle teacheth that vvee vvere elected that vvee might be holie and vvithout blame Also hee teacheth that all they whome God hath predestinated are likewise called and justified and by consequent indued with faith and knowledge of God by which they take him for their Father with loue also wherewith they loue him as a Father also with a good will constant purpose by which they desire constantlie his glorie Againe he saith in another place The foundation standeth sure hauing this seale in respect of God the Lord knovveth vvho are his Now
in respect of vs he putteth down another seale saying Let him depart from iniquitie vvhich calleth vpon the name of the Lord For with this marke all the elect are branded They call vpon the name of the Lord and depart from iniquitie seeking after holinesse a good conscience And this is that sealing which is so often mentioned in the Scriptures As when in the Apocalypse it is said that an innumerable multitude was sealed to the Lord. For like as the Father sealed Iesus Christ as he was man and Mediatour so also the rest of his children he hath sealed and doth daylie seale with sure notes and seales to distinguish them from other men and the children of this age For God is said to haue annointed vs and sealed vs and giuen vs the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts And againe to haue sealed vs with the holie Spirit of promise and that to the day of redēption As it is easie to discerne a right seale from a counterfeit so the true soules of God by the sealing of the Spirit are distinguished from Hypocrits and lawfull children from bastards It remaineth that wee shoulde declare some effects of predestination by which as by marks and seales the elect may bee discerned from Reprobats The first effect of predestination is Christ himselfe as he is a Mediatour and a Sauiour dwelling in our hearts by his holie Spirite For as we are elected in him and by him redeemed so by the sprinkling of his blood wee are cleansed and sealed and by his dwelling in vs quickned for he is our life and that eternall and therfore we are seuered frō Reprobates which alwaies remaine in death as in the holie Scriptures we are taught We say that this is the first effect of Predestination because we can enjoy none of the gifts of God either of election vocation or justification except in Christ and by Christ For he hath powred out all the effectes of Predestination into vs. In that therefore euery elect faithfull man feeleth Christ to dwell in him and to quicken him he hath a seale in himselfe by which he may knowe that he was elected to euerlasting life in the same Christ A part and beginning of which life is this spirituall life by which wee now liue to God And as euerie man knoweth himself to be the sonne of God in Christ because he calleth vpon God from his heart as a Father So he may conclude that he is predestinated to be the sonne of God for Christs cause And that by this first note the faithfull may know that they are elect to eternall life the Apostle sheweth knovv ye not saith he your selues that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And no doubt a type of this kinde of sealing was that sealng whiche was done in Aegypt by the blood of the Lambe namely when the houses of the Israelites were sprinkled with this blood that they might be discerned from the houses of the Aegyptians and so bee passed ouer vntouched of the Angell And by Christe as by the chiefe effect yea and the cause to of all the effectes which followe all other effects of predestination are put into vs and we are sealed with them The Apostle nameth three principals our calling to wit effectuall our justification and glorification This third effect we shall obtaine in the life to come the two first in this life And to these two may very well be referred all other which we receiue in this life by Christ with the effectuall calling wee joyn a sound hearing of the word of God and the vnderstanding of it accompanied with great and constant delight and joy faith also and a true knowledge of the Deitie humanitie and office of Christ. Vnto iustification wee refer a perswasion of the remission of our sins by Christ for by this we are iustified and regeneration too or sanctification and renouation of life a good conscience loue not faigned a pure hart and cleane patience in aduersitie and boasting in tribulation all good workes and fruits of the spirit ad hereunto the crosse it selfe which wee beare for the trueth of the Gospel wherefore whosoeuer feeleth that he is effectually called that hee doth willingly heare the worde that he doth beleeue the Gospell that he is sure of the remission of his sinnes that hee burneth with true loue to his neighbour that he is bent to euerie good work he cannot but must needes be perswaded of his election for God onely doth communicate these vnto the Elect. Therefore it is plaine that the elect are confirmed in the assurance of their election by the effectes of predestination and that there is a threefold way by which God reuealeth to euery man his predestination But if any shal take an occasion the rather of doubting of his election then of confirming himselfe in it of that which hath bin spoken as concerning the fruits of the Spirit and the effects of predestination and that peraduenture because hee can feele in himselfe few and verie weake fruites of regeneration and election yet let him not bee discouraged neither let him doubt of his election but let him vnderset himselfe with these props First of all if euer he truelie felt in himselfe that testimonie of the Spirite which before I mentioned namelie that he is the sonn of God let him know vndoubtedlie that he is such a one and therfore elected to eternall life For the holie Ghost neuer beareth record or perswadeth a man of that which is false for he is the spirite of truth And they are not the sonnes of God except they haue bene predestinate as the Apostle saith to adoption by Christ And none that is the sonne of God and a man elected can be made a reprobate and the childe of the Deuill Therefore albeit he feele in himselfe both fewe and feeble effects of regeneratiō yet let him not doubt of his election otherwise he shall disgrace the testimonie which he hath receiued of the holie Ghost yea and that to which as yet he enjoyeth although peraduenture by reason that his mind is troubled by euill affections that testimonie of the holie Spirite can scarse be heard in him For the true testimonie of our adoption by the holy Ghost being once giuen vnto our spirit lasteth for euer although it is other whiles heard more plainlie and at other times is more slenderly and scarce perceiued But how say you may I know whether that testimonie doth proceed frō the holie Ghost and therfore whether it be a true and certain testimonie I answer first by the perswasion secondly by the maner of the perswasion lastlie by the effects of this testimonie and perswasion For the first the holy Ghost doeth not simplie say it but doth perswade with vs that we are the sonnes of God and no flesh can doe this Againe he perswades vs by reasons drawne not from our works or from anie worthines in vs but
The other concerneth God himselfe which chuseth namly the glory of God that is that the glory of his grace may be known and eternally made manifest of which is mention made Ephes. 1. Both of them are so coupled together that whosoeuer are praeelected to the first are also predestinat to the latter and the latter followeth of the former For the more wee shall be made partakers of the grace of God the heauenly glory so much also more and more shall the glory of God be made manifest in vs. But because the end which concerneth God is almost all one in the reprobatiō of the wicked and in the predestination of the Saints namely that as by the saluation of these which procedeth of his meere goodnes the glory of his grace is made manifest so also by the iust damnation of the other the glory of his diuine iustice may be made knowen to al Neuerthelesse considering that the end to which the elect shall attaine is farre diuers from that for it is eternall life vnto which the reprobates are appointed for that is eternall death therefore the end of which we treate in this assertion is our eternall glorification and euerlasting life in Heauen Let vs nowe see in the second place what are those meanes by which the elect are brought vnto this end and therefore to which meanes we hold that al are predestinate whosoeuer are predestinate to the end And they are of two sortes some of them are soe necessarie vnto all that without them no man simplie can attaine vnto eternall life and glorie and they are Christs as he is mediator and high Priest and his obediēce and iustice for without Christ no man can be saued also our effectual calling to Christ by the holy ghost and that which followeth this is our iustification yea and our regeneration to For these foure predestination vocation iustification and glorification are so linked together that it is not possible to seuer the one from the other And therfore no man can be glorified which is not iustified and no man can be iustified which is not effectually called as also no man can be effectually called which is not predestinate therfore without these not so much as children and infants can bee brought to this end of eternal glorie And therfore euen al the elect infants are inwardly in a certain peculier maner by the holy ghost called and iustified and glorified Nowe there are some certaine meanes annexed vnto these albeit they haue no place in infants by reason of their age yet they belong to all other elect howsoeuer they are found in som more plenteous and liuely and in other some more slēder and weak As namely a liuely faith the hearing of the word a detestation of sinne the loue of righteousnes patience in aduersitie a care to do good workes and such like all which the Apostle comprehendeth vnder the name of good workes when he saith that vve are created that is borne a new in Christ vnto good vvorks vvhich God hath prepared that vve might vvalk in them that is that we might lead our liues in them and so walking at length might come to eternall life for without thē we cannot come to eternall glory but by them God traileth vs thyther Therefore we say that all which are elect to that end are also predestinate to the same meanes For predestination is not onely of the end but also of the means which concern the end and all as well the end as the meanes are the effectes of predestination And therefore it is very true which Augustine saith Predestination saith he is a preparation to the graces of God by which they indeed ar freed whosoeuer ar freed Therefore the first gift of God that we may briefly consider the effectes of predestination prepared for all the elect without which they can in no wise come to the end and therefore the first effect of predestination is our Lord Iesus vvith his obedience merites death resurrection glorie namely in that respect he is made Mediator betweene God the father and vs and the head of al the elect And therfore in as much as he is such a one he is also the cause of all other graces and benefits which come vnto vs by the free predestination of God For the effectes of predestination are so ordered among themselues that the first which go before are the causes efficient or if wee will so speake the materiall causes of the latter and those that follow Therefore seeing Christ is the first effect of predestination he is also the cause of all other effectes by whome wee are made partakers of them The Apostle therfore doth very well to the Ephesians In the first place saith he We are elected in Christ namely as in the head to be his members Secondly he writeth that we ar predestinat to adoption by Christ namely to obtaine it for wee are adopted into the sonnes of God in Christ the first begotten sonne of God and by making vs partakers of his Sonneship we are really made the sonnes of God yea and we are also indewed with his spirit too that wee might be borne anew Thirdly he saith wee are made acceptable and beloued vnto the Father his beloued sonne namly Christ. Fourrhly that wee haue our redemption in the same Christ by his bloud and haue obtained remission of sinnes and all wisdome and vnderstanding Fiftly that in the same Christ all thinges are reconciled as wel in Heauen as in earth In a worde the Apostle sheweth there as also else were that whatsoeuer benefites we do or shall hereafter obtaine counting from our eternall election euen vnto our glorification all those we nowe do and shall obtaine hereafter in Christ and by Christ. Therefore whosoeuer are elected to eternall life besides this that they are elected in Christ they are also predestinate to Christ that is to haue fellowship with him that they may by him enioy all other benefites The second benefit of God and effect of our predestination is our effectual calling to Christ and to his Gospell in which the elect are onelie called Because it is by the purpose and grace of God which is giuen vs in Christ And an effectuall calling is knowen by the effects two of which proceede directly from it a harty kinde of hearing the word and the conceauing of it with a very greate constant and continuall delight and a true and sure beliefe of the worde of the Gospell Thence it is that Christ saith who is of God saith he namely by election and effectuall calling heareth the word of God very willingly and from his heart and that cōtinually but ye heare not because yee are not of God And this calling is wrought not onely by the preaching of the word as it is in al that be of yeeres but also and that chieflie with the inwarde inspiration of the holy Ghost whiles that the Father draweth them by his spirit