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
whom he will haue to come to Christ Which also was said to be done in infants For this calling is the beginning of saluation euen in this life and therfore it is the Apostles manner in the beginning of his Epistles to make mention of this calling naming all the faithful The Saintes called Therfore it must needes be that all they which are elected in Christ must also at length be effectually called and drawen to Christ. After an effectuall calling followeth Faith the third effect of predestination vvhich is saide to be peculiar vnto the elect And without which as the Apostle saith it is not possible to please God For by it wee are engrafted into Christ and are made the members of Christ without faith no man can be saued And that this is an effect of predestination the Apostle plainly sheweth when he saith that he had obtained mercie namely in Gods eternal predestination that he might beleeue Wherefore whosoeuer ar predestinate to obtaine eternall life in Christ and by Christ they are also elect to haue the very gift of Faith Therefore it must needes be that at length they shall beleeue in Christ. The fourth benefite is iustification that is a free pardonning of our sinnes and the imputation of the righteousnes of Christ for it followeth Faith because vvhosoeuer ar indued vvith true faith in Christ are also iustified And that justification is an effect of predestination The Apostle sheweth when he putteth it after calling before which he setteth predestination And when hee saith that we are elect in Christ that wee might be holie without spot or blame in the presence of God and that this is not done while wee are in this world but by the pardoning of all our faults and by the imputation of his perfect obedience Wherefore it must needs be that al the elect shal be justified and be taken for most pure without blame in Gods presence With iustification is ioyned regeneration and sanctification by the holy Ghost namelie whiles vve are made new creatures by him the sons of God to not onelie by adoption but also by regeneration For when Christ justifieth vs hee doth not only forgiue vs our vnrighteousnes and impute his righteousnesse to vs but also he taketh from vs our stonie hart and giueth vs a fleshie heart of his owne and he strips vs of our olde man and puts on his newe man Lastly he taketh away the corruption of our nature and makes vs partakers of his diuine nature and so indeed of the sonnes of men he makes vs the sonnes of God and his brethren to Therefore it is said that we are predestinated to adoption by Iesus Chrst and elect that we may be holie without blame and that which is borne of the spirite is called spirite Therefore the elected to eternall life must needes bee begotten anew to be the sonnes of God and bee made partakers of the diuine nature and be a newe creature in Christ Hence issueth the sixt effect of predestination which is heedfullie to be regarded the loue of righteousnesse the detestation of sinne For in regeneration the affections are principallie chāged Namelie the affections of the corrupt nature and flesh into the affections of the diuine nature spirite Hence it is that the Apostle saith that they which are borne anew do walke according to the spirite and not after the flesh and not to sauour the thinges of the flesh but the things of the spirite And the chiefe affections of the flesh are the loue of sinne that is the concupiscence of the flesh and contrariwise the hatred of righteousnes and the lawe of God which are not of the Father but of the world Therfore the chiefe affections of regeneration and the spirit are the loue of righteousnes and of the lawe of God the hatred of sin For that which is spoken chiefly of Christ Thou hast loued righteousnes and hated iniquitie is to bee vnderstood of all the members of Christ endued with his spirite because it is trulie accomplished in them Hence it is that Dauid who in himself did represent the disposition of all the regenerate said of himselfe I haue loued thy law thy law is in the midle of my hart I haue hated all the works of iniquitie I will not sit with the wicked Also Paule I am delighted saith hee in the Lawe of God according to the inner man That is in as much as I am borne anewe And no mā doubteth but that both these affections are the effects of predestination except he be ignorant that all these are the gifts of God which as in time he bestoweth on his so also he hath decreed to bestow them on them before the foundation of the world And from these two affections being the first fruits of regeneration ariseth a care endeuour to doe good vvorks that is to flie sin to fulfil the Lawe of God vvhich is the seuenth effect of predestination For hee which hateth any thing from his heart he taketh heed of it as much as he can and he flieth from it and escheweth it and on the contrarie he which loueth any thing from his heart that also hee seeketh after and endeuoureth himselfe to the compassing of it Therfore the Apostle Iohn maketh this a chiefe difference betweene the sonns of God and the children of the deuill that is between them that are borne anew and them that are not borne anew that the children of God both loue and doe righteousnesse and the children of the deuill loue sinn and doe it as also the deuil sinned from the beginning Christ came to dissolue the workes of the Deuill namelie in his elect for in the reprobate he leaueth them vntouched because they are not giuen him of the father to be purged borne anew and saued Therefore seeing Christ was before ordayned and predestinate to the doing of all these workes and that there is no good wrought in vs which was not prouided for vs in Christ from al eternitie it is a cleare case that the care also of doing good workes is an effect of predestination And the Apostle plainlie teacheth it when he saith that we were created in Christ to good works which God hath prepared that we might walk in them To this purpose serueth that which the Apostle deliuereth of loue not vnfaigned to which he sheweth that wee were elect and of a good conscience which he makes the inseperable companion of the faith of the elect Lastlie of a pure heart which he ascribeth to the elect considering the vnfaithfull haue nothing cleane in them and that their mind and conscience is defiled Now that this care to doe good works is necessarie in all the elect Peter sheweth it when he bids vs endeuor to make our election and calling sure by good workes as some copies haue it But to whom shall we make it sure not vnto God for
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