the soÌ„nes of god He hath also chosen vs to be the brethren of Christe therby with him coheires of god yea the worlde is oures Chryst with al his gyftes al that is the fathers is the sonnes therfore al is ours y t is gods whose goodes we mai dyspose as children their fathers And bycause we shoulde shame to be the sonnes of God not hauinge the maners graces and vertues conuenient to such a dygnitie therfore not onlye oure heauenlye father hath chosen vs to be his sonnes but hath blessed vs not wyth wordes onlye but wyth effectes not as Isaac blessed Iacob or Esau â–ª but wyth all spirituall blessinge in thinges celestiall And so accordyng to Paule hathe made vs mete to be partakers of y e feloweship of lyght delyuering vs froÌ„ the power of darkenes hath ledde vs into the kingedome of hys beloued sonne God then withoute beginninge did determyne to iustifye glorifye and magnifye those that he hadde elect and euen so he hathe done as Paule wryteth who also exalteth our election for that cause sainge that it was not our good worckes which God forsawe wythout beginning that were the cause of our electioÌ„ but he chose vs by mere mercye accordyng to the decreed purpose of his owne wyll to the laud and glorye of his mercie we were not then chosen bycause we were Holye but because we shoulde be holly bi his election and to shewe in the worldes to come the abundaunte riches of his grace Paule also shewyth the worthines of our electioÌ„ by respecte of the dignitie of the person by whose meanes we are chosen and saithe he hath willed that betwene vs and him there shuld be our mediator nether he wold it to be an angel but Christ the soÌ„ne of God He meaneth not onlie a mediator with wordes but with his owne bloud and death Paule doth exalt our electioÌ„ as concerning y e end For bicause he hathe elected vs for his sonnes to the end we may taste not only in the life to come but also in this present thinges so highe happye rych pure that the eye hathe not sene nor the eare hath not heard nor into the hart of man being carnal hath at anye tyme enterd he hath then elected vs to the ende that regenerate by Christ Iesu we shuld walke to God by good workes y â— we maie be holye and inrepreheÌ„sible before his presence Our election is also excellente by the suerty therof for that the elect are in the handes of God Therefore shal not thei peryshe as Christ saith yea they can not peryshe euen as they can not be pluckte oute of hys handes Therefore oure election is mooste happye so that nothynge oughte so muche to bee reioysed in as to bee the elected and chosen of God Therfore it is read the disciples returning to Christ and reioisinge with greate gladnes that euen the veray deuelles were subiecte to them Chryste amonge the reste of wordes bade them thei shulde not reioyse of the subiection of the deuels but that their names were wrytten in heauen by which wordes he did shew that we ought to make a synguler Ioye of our eleccioÌ„ for that includeth and bringeth with it the sinne of all our wealth since then that our eleccion is so excellent ryche sure and hapy Let vs pray to God to geue vs lighte and grace to perceyue it to the end that tasting in it with the spirit the myghtie goodnes of God we may render him al laud honor and glory by Iesu Christ our lord AmeÌ„ ¶ The .xiiii. Sermon Yf we may knowe in this present lyfe whether we be in the grace of God and one of his electe or not and in what maner IT is not to be douted that God seeth all thinges specially his legittimate childreÌ„ â—ence he him self hath chosen them to that dignitie Christ also knoweth and knew theÌ„ alwayes that whych was very conuenient since hys father had geuen them to him for that he shulde be theyr gouernor shepherd and brother and that he shoulde saue them w t his own death he knew theÌ„ doth know his shepe euen as him selfe sayd yea froÌ„ the beginning he knew who should beleue But it is not now conuenient that we may or â—an deserue distinctlye the elect from the reprobate to the ende we may be more ferâ—ent in exercisinge charite withall men as if they were brethern with vs in Christ the which we would not do towarde the reprobate if we knewe theÌ„ distinctly But in the ende the fares shalbe seperate froÌ„ the good wheat none then beinge in this present lyfe knoweth certâ—nly of his neighbour if he be of the â—lect or not nor also whether he be in the fauour of God we may only haue ther of an obscure confused vncertein and faylyng knowledge by coÌ„iecture of y e outward lyfe and workes of whom Christ speaking sayd Ye shall knowe them by their frutes But for asmuch as we see not the hertes of men which oftentymes although wythin they are vngodly and abhominacion itselfe in the syght of God neuertheles coueringe them with the veyle of hipocrisie maskinge therin they appeare to be sainctes Therfore without speciall oracle we can haue no certeine knowledge therof But I saye y t euery elect whyle he is in this present lyfe beinge come to the yeres of discression maye and ought to know it of him self not by natural lyght by meanes wherof thinges supernatural can not be perceiued as the excellente diuine wyl toward vs but by faithe without other speciall priuilege And this not w t hauing respect to them selues where is nothing sene but worthy damnation neyther with coÌ„sideringe or beholding theÌ„ selues in God without Christ for in y t case he muste shew himself to vs a iust iudgful of wrath then we neither se our selues hys soÌ„nes nor in fauour But with liuely fayth beholding both our selues God in Christ we se our selues to be in the fauour of god his elect sonnes god to be pacified with vs in loue and our only father Such then as liuely beleue y t Christ for theÌ„ hath died vpoÌ„ y e crosse haue the holy gost within them are in the fauour of God bicause that faith doth purifie the herte And further I say that al they which in this present lyfe do beleue liuelye in Christ yea were it for a moment of time shalbe saued They are electe aud sonnes of God and may be sure and certeine of their saluation And y â— this is true the words of sainte Ihon ought to suffise whiche saythe that he is the sonne of God therefore electe and saued who so beleueth Iesu Christe to be the sonne of God And also Christ sayde who so beleueth in me hath lyfe euerlasting neuerthelesse it may clearlye be proued that none beleueth liuelye in Christe but he that beleueth Christ to be wholy his rightwisenes and that
that they knowe them selues to be saued Neyther canne they once thyncke that Christe who hathe all his fathers power and shall be theyr iudge wyll refuse lose or dampne them and geue sentence agaynst hys brethren and members for whom he dyed on the crosse and would dye agayne if it were necessarie They haue in them also the holye ghoste for an earnest of theyr saluation But if God had geuen vs nothyng but our beynge should not we for that onlye benefite feele so muche the greate goodnes of God that we myghte be sure and certayne of our saluacyon And nowe he in euery creature doth sparkle towardes vs loue wyth innumerable benefites yea in Christ vpon the Crosse casteth he the flame of perfecte charitye and shall not we feele so muche the goodnes of God that we should beleue to be hys electe If one onlye shoulde be saued I wolde truste suerly to be he if all the men angels wold tel me that I were dampned I cold not beleue them although they dyd alledge al the reasonnes possible but I wolde euer gyue more truste to Christe alone who vpon the crosse wyth hys bloude and deathe doeth tel me I am saued theÌ„ I wold to al the rest for he alone hath more power in me theÌ„ all the reasons authorities without him Prouided only y t I se him w t liuely faythe dead for my saluacion Yea in that case seing my selfe by Christe to be the sonne of God I wold with Paule excommunicate the very angels as superior to them if they wold sai the contrary or gainesaie the gospel and y â— great loue and benefit which in that case I shuld fele by Christ Paraduenture y u wilte say it semeth me not that I caÌ„ be sure of my saluacion because I am fre to do euell so may I sinne and be damned Our lyfe is in such sort variable y â— to giue a certeyne iudgment we must tarye the end for euerye one wold haue thought that Iudas shuld haue bene saued when he was called of Christ yet it is sene that it is contrary I auswere thou begilest thy selfe in thinking thy saluacion dependeth vpon the lykelyhode of thy worckes Paule affirmeth that God hathe â—ected vs by his mere mercy in Christe not because we wer holy or for that he fore saw oure good workes but because we shoulde be holy and should do good works perseueryng in theÌ„ we should dye in his fauonr and grace Inwardlye dothe God call hys electe geueth them knowledge of hym and doth iustifie glorifie them Therfore doth Paul adde and say if god be with vs who caÌ„ be against vs And he ment if we be once electe we can no more lose our selues meanyng there is nothing that can let the eleccion of God Yea euery thing serueth to saluacion euen sinne Therfore wher thou saieste thou mayst sinne it is true and peraduenture thou shalt syn Neuertheles if thou be the electe thou shalt algates ryse agayne and be saued wherof thou mayst be certein and sure so that once at the least thou haue perceyued thy selfe in Christ and by Christ saued neither thou oughtest so much to dispayre in thy selfe as that thou shuldest not muchemore truste in the goodnes of God knowynge that the Gospel is not the lawe but mercye and knowe thou that when the electe fall in anye synne whyche God doth not permytte but for the benefyte of them and the other electe whilest they are in that erroure they fele in them selues a certeyne hydden vertue whyche wyth holdeth and refrayneth them from doynge worsse it biteth nyppeth and reprehendeth them of the euel fact and doth enduce and spurre them to conuerte There remayneth euer a certeyne hate of synne althoughe they be some time ouercome of frailtye So that they are neuer turne from God with al their power nor run wholy to vyce wyth a lose brydell God hath them euer for hys owne and gouerneth them as hys lawefull Chyldren And speaking ofteÌ„ in their hertes he saith y â— which he said to his Apostles feare not litle flocke for it hathe pleased youre father to giue you his kingdom of his mere goodnes although you be vnworthi And if thou woldest bring in SalomoÌ„ who sayth none knoweth whether he be worthy of hate or loue I answere It is clere chyflie by the words whych folow that he ment that man were he neuer so iust wise was so blinde in this world that he cannot know by the worckes of God y â— is by prosperity or aduersiti whether of him self he be worthy of hate or loue And this is bicause God giueth his gifts so indifferently to the good and euell to theelect and reprobat Thou wilt say yet Paul said mi coÌ„scieÌ„ce doth not reproue me yet am I not therby iustified before God therefore it can not be knowen But I answere that thentent of Paul was to saye that thoughe by grace of the Lorde he had ministred the Gospell in suche sorte that hys conscyence dyd not rebuke hym of any erroure which was imputed vnto hym for a sclaunder of false christians neuertheles he held not him selfe iuste for this neyther was he iuste he iudged him selfe iuste by Christ and not by preaching the Gospel irreprehensibly in the syght of man but yet not in the presence of God for that he hath not preached it w t the whole force of spirit fayth and loue So y â— here Paul did condeÌ„ne the opinioÌ„ of them which iudge theÌ„ selues iuste by theyr owne workes but he doth not reproue the iudgement of those which iudge theÌ„ selues righteous saued by the bountie of God death of his only begotten soÌ„ne but doth approue it Wyth Paule also a greeth Iob when he sayde that although he were iuste he durste not iudge him selfe so that is he durste not holde hym for ryghteous by hys owne proper ryghtuousenes and worckes but by the iustice of Christe Sence then that it maye and oughte to bee knowen of vs that wee are in the fauoure of God and hys electe lette vs force vs continuallye to encrease in more knoweledge of the goodnes of God so that firmelye established in the lyuelye faythe of oure saluacyon we maye as children render him all honoure laude and glorye â—y Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen The .xv. Sermon Whether it be good or euell to beleue that we are elect SOme saye that it is euell to beleue that we are electe bycause that as the beleif to be reprobate bringeth men in dispeyr so y â— belief of eleccioÌ„ is cause of presumpcioÌ„ But the iust the holy flye both y e one the other extremiti They are not exalted in presuÌ„pcion beleuing to be elect nor fallen in y e bottomles pytte of dyspeyre wyth beleif of dampnacion but kepe the meane waye euer standing betwene both And I say that it is true that none ought to dispeyre or 〈◊〉 to
pardoned him in more perfecte maner then he had done before so the electe of theire sinnes take occasion the better to know themselues and the bountie of God and it is no small benefyte of God that he suffer him selfe to be wounded of his children and beare wyth it to the eude that some day opening their eies they maye se their great ingratitude and the excessiue loue that he beareth them God also of these may be afterwarde surelye serued at euerye noble and greate enterpryse as of them that are altogether his not only for y â— he hath created and preseruedtheÌ„ but much more because that by sinne being lost with the bloud of his only begotteÌ„ sonne he hath recouered them And so was Christe serued of Paul of his other mighti chaÌ„pions we muste of force confesse also that God doth well to permitte the synnes of the reprobat to exercise the elect in vertues for the greater tryumphe of Chryste and his glori But it semeth that it shoulde haue bene better y â— after that God had serued his tourne wyth them he shoulde touche theyr hearte and geue them his knowledge and his grace so that they also of theyr synnes shoulde take occasion to reknowledge theyr vyce and the goodues of God so that they might be saued to them ye ought to say senâ—e ye confesse that God hath done well to permitte the synnes of the reprobate ye can not deny but that for theÌ„ thei deserue to be dampned Ye are also forced to sai that god dampneth them iusth fence that thei haue sinned God then doth wel to permitte them to sinne and when they haue sinned he may iustli damn theÌ„ because that voluntarilie thei did sinne and the faâ—te was theires and not Goddes Ye can not then complayne you of God if he dampne you but are constrained to saye he doeth wel And if they saye it is true but yet it shulde seme vs to be better and wyth hâ—s greater glory if after he were ferued of theÌ„ he wold saue them To these I answer fyrst that is beste whiche pleaseth God because it pleaseth him to dampne theÌ„ therfore that is beste Then if God in the end of the life shuld geue light to al. And so at last euery one shuld conuerte they wold do many more enormious sinnes theÌ„ they do For the vngodlye wolde say we may do euerye euell let vs take oure pleasure and lyue frely wythout any feare for euery way in the end we shalbe saued And for that one only sinne is worse theÌ„ al the peines of the dampned therfore it is beste that they be dampned Theire dampnacion serueth also to the electe in as much as that sernauute whiche when he seeth iustice done to his felowe seruaunte that before woulde haue strangled hym knoweth the goodues of hys Lorde and the malignity of the man so the electe by seinge in the damyned the iustyce of god do come to more knowledge of hys mercye and iustice and also of theyr owne miserye God is serued then of the reprobate to illustrate and set forth hys glory and vseth theÌ„ for instrumentes not onlye whyle they are in thys lyfe but in death and in hel His glory also is more dyscouered as Paule wryteth by hauynge in hys great house vessels of golde of syluer of wodde and earthe of mercy of wrath But let vs thanke God that he hathe elected vs and pray hym that he geue vs so muche lyght of his goodnes and so muche feruencye that althoughe he wold neuer be angry wyth vs not only we should be content but that we holde it fora synguler pryueledge that he wyl vouchsafe in such maner to serue him self of vs to the ende that in euery state for euer we maye render him all laude honoure and glorye by Iesu Christe oure Lord. Amen The .xx. Sermon Wherefore God hathe elected vs IT shuld be no lesse then a very folyshnes when one entendynge to speake of couloures shoulde brynge in the opynion of one that is borne blynde and not illumpnate by myracle So is it madnesse in the thynge supernaturall to alledge the iudgement of them that are not inspired but with naturall vnderstandynge And by aduenture haue talked of hygh hydde and deuine secretes euen as it hath semed well in their owne blynde and darcke vnderstandynge hauinge therby their eies euer open to magnifie man Now bicause that of the supernatural matters ther is so much knoweÌ„ as is reueled and opened to vs. Therfore loking in the holy scriptures I find that god hath elected vs by Christe that is that God lokinge in the progeny of Adam saw nothing there that was worthy of oure election but tourninge the regarde to his own goodnes and Christes in whom he was so wel pleased that by him he did electe vs he therfore chose vs not because we were holy but because we shulde be so that the deuine grace founde no saintes but made saintes Therfore did Paule geue thanches to God that had made vs mete to the enherptaunce of sayntes He chose vs then because it pleased him so for he loued vs frelie without seinge in vs anythynge worthy therof He elected vs as writeth Paule after the decreed purpose of his owne will to the laud and glory of hys fre mercye and not for our worckes So that not bicause we were iuste and worthy in hys syght he did elect and cal vs but as Paule saieth bicause he hathe elected therefore he doeth cal iustifye and glorifpe vs. In such sorte â–ª that he willed not the end for the begynnyng sake but the begynnyng for y e end sake He hath saued vs after Paul not by the worckes that we haue done but by his mercy In another place he saieth y â— he hath deliuered and called vs with his holye vocation not after our worckes but accordynge to hys purposed mercie giuen alreadie to vs before the creacioÌ„ of the world so then as of the secretes reueled to the litel ones and hidden from the wise and prudent Christe did giue none other cause but for y â— so it pleased the father so of our electioÌ„ ther may no nother cause be alleged but only because it is the pleasure of God Paule wylleth that the purpose that God hathe made vs maye not depende vpon our workes because it shulde not be firme as it is nor we sure as Christ sayth we are and Paul also If thou woldest sai that Paul to the Rom. spake of the eleccion of Iacob Esau concerning the fyrst byrth not coÌ„cerninge the heauenly inheritauÌ„ce I wold answer that Paule with that trope doth declare the maner of the eternal eleccion to paradise other wyse the eleccioÌ„ of Iacob shuld be in vain in the which is sene touching the things of the present life nothing but calamiti trouble But the principall intent of Paul is to proue that although the carnal Hebrues be not saued
possible might haue ouer man Aud if he procede forth to induce the to despayre by settynge before the thy greate synnes I wyll the to say to hym Go to Christ which as Ihon wryteth is myne attournei and aduocate he can make the an aunswere for me reason there with hym if thou haue any claime or title in me as thou sayest doest thou not know that he hath taken my synnes for hys owne and hathe for them made satisfactyon most plentuously therfore hast thou no ryght in me at al. If he chaunce to say his death is not inough to sane the answere him if Adam by tasting one apple with one only sinne was hable to damne me how is it that so manye holy workes of Christ which tasted for my sake of great loue the most bytter death be not sufficient to saue me If the disobedience of Adam had power to condemn me much more the obedyence of Christe is stronge inough to saue me yea the gift of Christ is aboue and excedeth the synne of Adā Christ hath more auayled and holpen vs then Adam annoied and harmed vs by reason the light of Christ is of more force effect then the darkenes of our fyrst parent the goodnes of Christes surmounteth and passeth y ◠malice of man and his vertue preuaileth aboue oure frailty one teare of Christe hathe bene more pleasaunt to God thē al the sins of the world be displeasaunt Christ hath be able to do more to appeace hym then we to prouoke hym to anger Christes liuing was more formal and ordinary then oures was out of order and frame Christ hath doone more to the honour of God then we haue done to his dishonoure Wherfore I maye wel say Christ that is my wisdom right wisnes holynes and redempcion is sufficient inough to saue me And if haply he shuld say it is not sufficient for thy saluacion to beleue in Christe the be houeth to keepe his commaundementes thou must loue God wythal thy hart thy neyghbour as thy self and desire nor couet any thing worldly which thinges because thou doest not ergo thou art dampned if fayth only wer inough I also and al the deuels shuld be saued because as it is writtē euen the deuels beleue and feare They beleue that God made and created heauē and earth and that Christ came dyed rose ascēded into heauen that he sent the holy ghost and that he shal come to iudge the quicke dead and yet are not we therfore saued and that because we obserue not his deuine preceptes Wherfore thou also art but lost he wyl thus labour to bring the vnder the law to thinke that thou must be iustified not by Christ but by perfourminge and fulfillinge of the lawe to the end y t thou shuld despair But I wyl that thou make answere and say if thou diddest beleue as by gods grace I beleue that is that God for thy wealthe hath created the worlde and semblably preserueth it in such sort that thou couldest fele in the creatures the loue of God and lykewyse wold beleue firmely that Christ came and dyed for thy sinnes for to saue the and for thy sake and profit and in lyke manner of the other articles thou also should be saued and then when thou haddest a liuely feling of the goodnes and loue of God thou woldest loue hym and thy neyghbour likewyse and beynge rauyshed into God wouldest begynne to set litle store by the world as al good Christen men and women do If it fortune that he say he is cursed that kepeth not and obserueth the lawe wherfore thou arte one of myne saye to hym agayne for that cause Christ dyed on the crosse for to delyuer me from all curses and in so much as I am alreadye of Christ I am deade to the lawe Agayne if he replye saying wher be thy workes whereby thou trustest to be saued answer I trust not to be saued bi mi works for they be such that if I shuld haue regard or respect to them I feare me to be damned yea I were surely acertained of my damnacion I hope only to be saued by Christ and hys workes whyche be myne owne and so much rather myne then they I dyd myself as that the spirite of Christe geuen to me is more entyer to me then myne own life or any other thyng Further if he shulde endeuour to proue the to be none of the elect by reason of the innumerable and outragiouse synnes that thou hast committed for prosperites or aduersities thou hast had for the great euylles wherin thou art founde at thy deathe or for the temptacyons thou haste susteyned sayinge that God preserueth his elected from the lyke euyls Make hym answer and say rather dothe God practyse them in diuerse such manners albeit of euerything they be certified to the honoure of God thou shalt moreouer say to hym thus I geue more credite and truste to Christe whiche when he was deade for me on the crosse tould me I was saued then to the that arte alwayes a lyer and father of erroures I wyll thou tel hym how thou geuest more fayth to Christ alone then to al the reasons and authorities of the world thou may by syde thys saye to him the spirit of God beareth witnes to mi spirit that I am the sonne of god and to him muste I rather truste then to the. When he shall saye if thou were the sonne of God he would not leaue the in such punishmentes as thou art in but would geue the sonne release and easement answere hym In case it were as thou sayest Christ shulde not haue bene the sonne of God sithen on the crosse he had no comfort nor sensual tast or feling so that he sayd my God my god why hast thou forsaken me it sufficeth to me that he sheweth me so much fauoure for I am contented with all that pleaseth hym as Christ also was yea in his sufferinge he felt excedingly the infinite loue of the father Beside these if he say thou art the sonne of Adam ergo thou art accursed Answere thou thus I am blessed agayne by brynge borne of God and by meane of that blessed sede Christ as God long agone promised Adam when he sayed In thy sede al nacyons shalbe blessed thou shalt tel hym how thou art despoiled and bereft of the old Adam clothed with Iesu Christ as Paul teacheth and aduertiseth the What time as he shal declare to the that Christ is wroth angry and sharp make him answere how Christ is not such one for he is the health and hope of sinners and whylest we be in this life present he is vttered to vs pitifull sweete and oure Iesus that is our sauiour◠and al be it he seme to speake sharpe and cruel wordes to the woman of Canany yet in heart he gaue her confidēce and boldnes and shewed him self to her ful of swetenes and
to make it cleare they go searchyng wherfore he hath not elected all men and they would fynd a cause where is none If such were godly they shuld quiete and satisfie theÌ„ selues shuld haue their felicitie in the deuine plesure w tout searching to asseÌ„d anyhier It is euyl theÌ„ to seke wherfore god hath elected some other some not if this grow of the suspicion that God may or haue erred The godly knoweth certeinli by faith y t he caÌ„not erre hereupoÌ„ resteth There are some that aske after it of arrogeÌ„cie and presumpcion They woulde be answered that god had elected them for theyr good workes to haue wherein they myght glory of them selues And wheÌ„ they hear sai that God hath elected them by grace it displeaseth them they gainsaâ—e it seming them there resteth nothinge to glory in And they perceyue not that this is the whole glory of the humble and true christiane to be saued by the mere grace of God and Christ crucified and to glorye onlye in God by Christe and in them selues not to see but thynges worthy to be a shamed of to thend y â— to god only be honour and glory It groweth also to many of vnreuerence for if they coulde se howe inaccessible the maiestie of God is howe irreprehensible is hys wyll and how incoÌ„preheÌ„sible is his wisedome they wolde not set them selues to dispute wyth god specially if they knewe howe blynd darke fraÌ„ticke and folishe they be And who art thou sayd Paul that wilt dispute with God answer and contend with God Paul was returned from the thyrd heauen where he had heard secrets so hygh that it was not lawfull to speake to man Neuertheles doynge reuerence to the diuine secret iudgementes he sayd O profouÌ„d riches of the wisdome and science of God how incoÌ„preheÌ„sible are his iudgementes And man blynd folyshe and vngodly is so high minded that he wil do wronge to God condeÌ„pning him and reproue his holy iust irreprehensible iudgementes And how many are thei that seke to knowe speake wryte of it aud he commeÌ„ded therfore And al that they can Imagine by force of their owne wytte and natural knowledge which can not perce so high secretes they put in wryting And they are as arrogant as if they wer in goodnes and sapiâ—nce superior to God to be adored of the worlde they condemne the workes of god Ther are mani which ar not coÌ„teÌ„t to know asmuch as God hath vouchsaued to opeÌ„ to vs but they wold know also a greate deale more But it is not the offyce of a good serâ—aunt to wyl to know al the secretes of his Lorde yea the sonne oughte to content hym with the secretes of his father and to know of it onlye as muche as is reueled to hym to be sure and certeine that he wil not fail to manifest al that shal be expedieÌ„t for him euen so we ought to contente vs to knowe that which God hath and dothe reuele vs knowing that he doth loue vs in suche sorte that we haue not wherein to doubte that he wyll fayle to manifest vnto vs all those secretes the knowledge wherof shalbe profytable and necessari Yea Christ him self said that he had made knowne all that he hadde heard of the father oure office is to seke to taste and fele with the spirite that which he hath opened to vs and we maye also desyre to know all that pleaseth God to reuele vs forthe benefite of oure soule and his glory nowe for that God to beate downe carnall man to the ende that to him be geuen al honoure laude and glorye hath vouche safed to open in the holy scriptures wherefore he hath elected some other some he hathe not Therfore we mai ought to seke to know it that we may so much y e more honour god but we oughte to beleue it to be so as God hath declared to coÌ„tent vs with that way God hath taken in electing reprobating neither to thinke nor suspect that god hathe erred nor ought to despre anye other waye but to be satisfied and pleased with somuch as pleaseth the lord without being curious in wyllyng to know more then that whych pleafeth God to reuele vnto vs al that to the end by Iesus Christ we may render him al honor lande and glory Amen ¶ Th .xviii. Sermon ☞ Of the diuerse effectes that it worketh in maÌ„ to beleue that our eleccion is al in the hands of god and that of him only it depeÌ„deth IT is seene by expeience that of one selfe cause doth grow sometymes contrary effectes And is euydent by the sun whych hardneth myre and melteth waxe and this is by theyr dyuerse disposicions Euen so of the belief that our eleccion is wholye in the handes of God dothe springe in men contrary effectes by theyr contrary disposicyons The vngodlye perceyuyng that in the deuyne mynde is resolued theyr beynge to be saued or dampned they are wroth wyth God they blaspheme hym wyth their heart they call hym parcyall and vniuste they gyue them selues to do euell ynoughe sayinge euerye waye that shall be which God hathe infallyblye foresene and immutably determyned yea their faltes they cast in the face of God thynkynge that he is the cause therof many also despaire of their saluacyon presume more of them selues then they hope in God they beleue that they shuld be saued if theyr saluacion dyd depende vpon them selues and therefore if they could disturbe the deuyne counsayles and make that theyr saluacyon shoulde not be in the handes of God they woulde do it And thys is for that they knowe not theyr owne greate myserye howe blynde infirme frail and vnprofytable they are to God impotent of them selues to goodnes full of all wickednes and that they dyd neuer worke if it were put in y e baleÌ„ce of deuine iustice that merited not to be punished and so lyke wise they fele not y â— great goodnes of God nor the benefits of Christ but thinke him to be Irefull reuengable disdaineful proude parpetual vniust and malignaunt as them selfes are There are some whiche haue not perfecte fayth but they are not so vngodly as the fyrst Now these when they here say or thincke y t their saluacion is all in the handes of God they remayne confused and euell contented And this is also for want for knowledg of the goodnes of god they trust partly in God partly in them selues they loue not God nor trust nor hope perfectlye in him they remain doubtful and know not whether it be best to depend al vpon god or not and it semeth them that it shoulde haue bene beste that in some part it shuld depend vpon them selues and yet they thyncke it wel being al in the hands of God troubled in such sort that they canne not tel which to chuse Therfore they liue in a great perplexiti They consult sometimes w t the holy scripture or w t
it resteth not therfore that Iesus is not the Messias for y t the promises were made to the spiritual Hebrues the which in faith do imitate folow AbrahaÌ„ they ar y â— elect When God also in Mala. sheweth to the Iues that he hath loued theÌ„ because he loued Iacob of whom they descended and hated Esau His reason had bene vnuailable if God dyd loue and chose by workes For the Iewes might haue answered if thou didest loue Iacob and the Hebrues it was because thou dydest forese theyr good works and in lyke case thou woldest haue done to Esau and the Gentils if thou haddest foresene and good workes in them But Paule sheweth that the Messias is come also to y e geÌ„tils because God geueth hys gyfts with out hauinge respect to workes If thou demaund wherfore he hath elected theÌ„ Paul answereth because it is written I wil shew mercye on whom it pleaseth me Therfore Paule doth in ferre and bring in that paradyse is not hys that wil nor that runnethor laboreth by hym selfe to get it but his that God wyl shew mercy vnto He myght also haue answered that althoughe God hated Esau before he was borne before he dyd sinne he is not therefore wicked for he had hym not in hate or he did forese his wickednes But he saith that he doth indurate whoÌ„ he wyl to set forth the brightnes of his glorye And to hys purpose he doth alledge the example of Pharao Now tell me how it is possible that God can forse in vs any good if he determin not to geue it vs. Thou wilt say he saw that some could vse well frewil and some not â–ª therfore he chose the first and refused the seconde they coulde not vse it wel wythout his grace Wherfore then did he determyne to geue y t grace of wel vsyng to the one and not to the other It behoueth to returne to the deuine wyll and say because it pleased hym not for the vsing wel of fre wyl is the effecte and frute and not the cause of election PeradueÌ„ture thou wylte saye he dyd determyne to geue grace to all but he sawe that some wold vse it wel and those he chose and some euel and those he forsoke But tell me the vse of that grace is also the gyft of god wherfore dyd he not determine to geue that grace to all also to vse it Thou muste nedes sayat laste also because it pleased hym not If y u wylte say those that vsed it not well was not because they lacked y â— grace to vse it no more then the other but they dyd not occupyeâ—t when they had it the defalt was theirs and not of God nor of the grace If it were so we shuld haue wherin to glorye in our selues But Paul is in the contrarie willeth that to God ought to be rendred all honour and glorye so as froÌ„ hym commeth al goodnes We might also of our selues seperate vs froÌ„ the reprobate and so our hope shuld not be al wholy in God our saluacioÌ„ could not be certeyn and sure as Christ saide nor the cause of our eleccion so hidde as Paule saieth it is yea fre mercye shuld be no more fre merci if we might be saued by worckes and paradise shuld be a rewarde and not a gyfte cleane agaynst Paule The Hebrues dyd mo worckes theÌ„ the gentils and neuer theles he did chose the gentils and reproued the Iewes that soughte to be iustified by theyr workes God from the beginning for sawe in vs nothing but repugnancy and rebellioÌ„ agaynst his grace being by the sinne of Adam the childrene of ire prone and enclined to all euyl Paul calleth our election the eleccion of fre mercye Dauid sayth he saued me because he loued me and because it pleased him He saueth then his electe because he delyteth in them and dystrybuteth hys mercy after his own wyl TheÌ„ he hath begotten vs voluntarily by mere mercye and not by our workes so that the xii Apostels dyd not chose Christe but he chose theÌ„ to the Apostelship So wee be not they that haue chosen God to saue vs but God is he that hathe chosen vs to saluacion Euen as Paul was called withoute workes by free mercy because it pleased God so he was elected to shewe his mercye and the aboundaunt ryches of his glorie It is humility it selfe to beleue that we are chosen by grace Thys opynion geueth al glory to god and to vs onlye confusion And because we can not erre in glorifying to much the fre mercye and bountye of God and a batinge the pryde of man Therfore it is most sure yea although it stode not wyth the holye scryptures as it doth And the more it displeaseth the carnal man becauseit coÌ„foundeth al his glory so much the more it is pleasing to the spiritual because it magnifieth God Christ his fre mercy the gospel And to say my opinion it pleaseth me best to be all wholy in the hande of God Yea if mine eleccioÌ„ wer in my custody I wold if I myghte render it vnto God in whose hand it must of force be better and more sure Yea woe to vs if in the least point it did depend vpoÌ„ our selues Sethen what becommeth of them that imagine although falsely that it dependith only vpon the goodly workes that they do to make theÌ„ selues elected again wher on y e other partie y u shalt se that those which with lyuely faith beleue to be by the mere mercy of God and by the deathe of Christe in the noumber of the electe and sonnes of God for that they fele in Christe and by Christ the greate charitie of God are by strengthe of the spirite and loue forced to do worckes to bee wondered at not seruile for they see them selues heyres but the workes of a son sincere and pure to the glory of their lyuely father beynge preuented by soue If thou woldest beleue we arâ— not worthy to be so elected by fre mercy I wold answer nether that Christ shuld suffer for vs vpoÌ„ the câ—osse but dyd he not therfore die Christ hath not elected vs because we were worthy therof but for the glory of his goodnes The cause of oure eleccyon is not theu to bee soughte but at the deuyne wyll Of the reprobat I entend not to dyspute wherfore god hath cast them of because it is nether nedeful to vs nor profitable to know It serneth to humble vs and to knowe better y e great goodnes of God that we are elected by his grace and not by our workes The Christiane oughte to beleue to be one of the chosen and it ought to suffise hym to haue Christe for hys booke in the whych he seeth hymselfe electe and to knowe that that apperteyneth to hym And althoughe Paule to the Romanes spake a worde therof it was but