that I may speake more rightly thou rather be retained conserued by him These things Brentius Who may not here perceiue the scope of Brentiuâ— to haue been That whosoeuer doth perceiue himselfe to bee endued with true faith in Christ hee should not further make doubt of his eternall saluation And that hee may attaine vnto this hee remoueth a double feare which do weaken this certaintie The first feare is lest the Lord cast vs off for that our faith is faint and infirme This he taketh away by the promise in Esâ—i That the Lord will not quench smoking Falxe The other feare lest our faith at last should faile that wee should not perseuere in faith This feare he expelleth by many arguments First for that God is faithfull who will not suffer vs to bee tempted aboue our strength 1. Cor. 10. Secondly that Christ will not permit any of his sheepe to bee taken out of his hands Ioh. 10. Thirdly that the prayer of Christ is effectuall wherein he maketh request for all that shal beleeue in him and therefore euen hath obtained to them all That as Hee and the Father are alwaies one so they should abide one in Christ Iesu for euer And this is perseuerance Fourthly hee confirmeth vs in this certaintie of perseuerance in the faith first by the example of the Apostle Rom. 8. That nothing can separate the Elect from Christ againe by the promise in Esai cap. 54. That Gods mercie shall neuer depart from the Elect. Finally hee concludeth That we ought to bee most certain of our perseuerance for that God the Father who gaue vs his Sonne and did effect that wee by faith should receiue him will euen altogether take care that wee may perpetually retaine him or rather that we may be retained of him to wit in faith and in himselfe and be also conserued Wherefore if no doubt is to bee made of the beleeuers and Saints according to the determination of D. Brentius touching their perseuerance in Christ and in faith and therefore of their eternall saluation and that for the promises of God which hee related concerning this point and for the prayer of Christ which hee saith was effectuall it is manifest that such as are truely Saints and true beleeuers will perseuere in faith and in Christ and therefore cannot vtterly fall away from faith and from Christ and that for the promise of God and the prayer of Christ as my Position voucheth There bee in a manner infinite testimonies in the writings of this learned man for the perseuerance of Saints and certaintie of saluation I will only adde herevnto one more Vpon Iob. 10. homil 81. vpon those words No man shall take them out of my hand What saith hee should I speake of Death Is this of such power that it can take from Christ his sheepe But as Death could not detaine Christ in his power so neither can it withhold such as beleeue in Christ I will speake that which is more No sinne is so great that it can separate a sheepe of Christ from his shepheard For this Shepheard hath ransomed all sinnes and the grace of God which Christ hath purchased is greater then the sinne which made alienation betweene God and man For where sinne saith St. Paul did abound there did grace more abound that as sinne reigned in death so also grace might reâ—gne by righteousnes to life eternall by Iesus Christ What then Shall we sinne because sinne cannot take away Christ from the sheepe of Christ surely nothing lesse to be done then to sinne For such as are truely the sheepe of Christ they are so much more watchfull from committing sinne the more fully they acknowledge sinne to bee done away by Christ for they doe reioyce by all manner of meanes to testifie their gratitude of minde to Christ-wards and to conserue his louing kindnes Therefore Gratitude is declared to Christ-wards by obedience of righteousnes towards Christ These things Brentius I haue named only the principall Doctors of Germanie for I suppose their testimonie to bee more then sufficient to ratifie my sentence touching the perseuerance of the Saints in faith but if yee require more testimonies I will produce them most willingly for I haue many of them in a readines Concerning forraine testimonies I spare to speake at this present for that in a case so certaine and perspicuous I haue no need of their suffrages with vs Germains Lately also in that most famous Vniuersitie of Marpurge besides other positions this also was discussed defended and confirmed and in testimony of the approbation thereof was with other thinges committed to the Presse and diuulged which is set downe Numb 14. and is thus put downe verbatim Into whom scilicet Christ if any be once truly ingraffed he for that neither the spouse doth cast him out neither can any take him out of the shepheards hand of necessity he must be both certaine of his saluation neither at any time can he vtterly be pluckt away either from this coniunction with the Spouse or can totally fall away from his Shepheard Ioh. 6. 10. Now paetermitting the testimonies of many others I wil only anexe touching this matter the iudgement of D. Heshâ—sius himselfe and that I doe for iust causes whereof the least is not this That yee may vnderstand that I was most wrongfully accused both by word and writing of my Colleagues both with you and all the Cittizens of a greeuous offence committed against the Augustane Confession Because I taught That the Elect being once indued with a true faith in Christ can neuer againe vtterly fall away from faith and from Christ Surely D. Heshusius doth not giue place to D. M. in the defence of the Augustane Confession And whereas Heshusius hath taught written and published the selfe same things of the persâ—uerance of the Saints which I also taught in your School it followeth that either Heshusius himselfe also did write against the Augustane Confession or that D. M. did not vnderstand it and therfore in his ignorance did both condemne me vniustly as also disturbe the whole citty Heshusius his wordes De sâ—ruo arbitrio published An. 1562. are these Quartus gradus c. The fourth degree of the operation of the Spirit is the perfection of saluation or the gift of perseuerance whereby wee persist constantly in the faith that certaine saluation may be attained for not all who are illuminated by the word and haue tasted the first fruits of faith do retaine this saluation giuen them but many again do cast off faith shake off the holy Spirit and fall from grace as Christ saith Their latter end is worse then their beginning Luo. 11. This is therfore a peculiar benefit of the holy Spirit which be falleth the Elect alone That they are so established in faith as that they cannot fall away from it And in this operation of the holy Spirit as there is no merit of ours so is there no cooperation For
Elect as Reprobate 〈◊〉 none is ignorant what is pronounced from God by the Prophet 〈◊〉 of the sonnes of God Psal 88. 〈◊〉 if my children for sake my lâ—â— I 〈◊〉 zit their iniquities with the râ—d Liâ—â—wise those most greeuous 〈…〉 wherewith wee doe read in 〈◊〉 Scriptures that the Godly haue 〈◊〉 punisht for their sinnes and we euery day doe see them punished 〈◊〉 make proofe that God is offeâ—ded with all and the sinnes of all 〈…〉 the Scriptures speake prouoked to 〈◊〉 And from hence also it is mâ—â—ifest that it is without controuersâ—â—â— whether the Saints by those 〈◊〉 in some sort are become the eâ—â—mies of God and fallen from thâ—â— grace of God that is in that 〈◊〉 as sonnes are said to be 〈◊〉 from the faâ—â—ur of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 children when they displeâ—se their 〈◊〉 â—nd doe now in cense them 〈◊〉 are said after a manner to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 in this respect that is â—â— say That although they haue 〈◊〉 cast ofâ— their fatherly affection 〈◊〉 and their children neither yet 〈◊〉 thâ—iâ— râ—solution of oâ—â—â—ining â—â—d declaring them to be the heires 〈◊〉 their goodâ— yet taking offence â—â— the sinneâ— of their children they 〈◊〉 turne their fatheâ—ly cockerings in 〈◊〉 inâ—◠〈◊〉 seuerity and 〈◊〉 effect of loue into such 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 vtterly haâ—â—â—ull for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitterly â—â—full and be â—old 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 and as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they doe most 〈◊〉 â—ear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely excepted that they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 in very deed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and quite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 â—aâ—d to be made by their sinnes 〈…〉 of God and to be 〈…〉 from the grace of God â—â—◠〈◊〉 God though â—â—â— doe neuâ—◠〈◊〉 his fatherlike â—ffection 〈…〉 them oâ— change his purpose of 〈◊〉 â—nto theâ— by Christ 〈◊〉 life yet being displâ—â—sâ—d with 〈◊〉 sinnâ—â— the effects of his loâ—◠〈…〉 change into the effects of a 〈…〉 hatâ—â—d hatâ—ed I say 〈◊〉 agaiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 children bâ—t hi◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both internally in 〈…〉 〈◊〉 externally of such is do 〈◊〉 â—â—wardly while he doâ—â— bring â—o 〈◊〉 that they feele a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them God to be â—ngry 〈◊〉 them and themselues made 〈◊〉 of death outwardly againe 〈◊〉 he worketh so that they haue â—â—â—â—rience of God◠〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 pody and thinge◠〈◊〉 Tâ—â—â—â—fore heereof there i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that both I â—y sâ—lâ—◠〈…〉 both know and 〈◊〉 â— that 〈◊〉 when his Saints do sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 angry with their sinnes and doth hate sinne in them and punish them most extreamely and yet not â—s enemy to the Saints For hee alwaies doth correct them as a father but as an enemie of wickednes and vice euen in his children and therefore in a sort as before I haue explaned it may be said that the children are fallen from their fathers fauour although he yet neither ceaseth to be a father vnto them neither do they cease to be his children and therefore neuer vtteâ—ly can it bee truely said that they are fallen from their fathers grace which might very truely be said if either hee should cease to be a father vnto them and â—ast off hiâ— fatherly affection towards thâ—m 〈◊〉 alter his decree of making them heires of life eternall and that they should cease to be his children and loose all title to eternall life which without blasphemy cannot be spoken Neither yet is the doubt whether the Saints by those their sinnes as much as in them lieth â—â—◠〈◊〉 the sentence of God touching euerlasting death and whetheâ— they 〈◊〉 made guiltie of death aeternall 〈◊〉 there is none but knoweth the sâ—â—tence of the iust Iudge Cursed â—â—â—uery one that doth not continue i◠〈◊〉 things that are written â—â— this 〈…〉 doe them therefore all whosoeuâ—â— they be who doe violate the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in their owne 〈◊〉 and as much as lieth in them 〈◊〉 accursed and liable to death 〈◊〉 But the case is altered whethâ—â— these sinnes are imputed by God vnto the Saints vnto condemnd 〈◊〉 on Paul Rom. 8. doth giue his vâ—â—dict in this manner There is â—â—â—â—â—demnation to them which â—â—â— is Christ Iesus which wâ—lks not â—fter th◠〈◊〉 but aftâ—r the Spirit for such â—â—â— the Saints whereof I speake in this Question Wherefore it also is not in Question whether the Saints by thesâ— their sinnes doe so displease God their father and so prouokè his 〈◊〉 ger against them and so incurre the sentence of eternall death as that they haue need of repentance and a new act of faith for their reconciliation to God and for a new pardon of sinne to be obtained and thereupon euen a new remission to be obtained of the punishment due to sinne For it is by all men yeelded vnto who are truely godly truely learned that the Saints haue neede of a new Act of faith and repentance to attaine new forgiuenes of a new sinne according to that saying most vulgar in Scripture Men are iustified by faith and sinnes remitted which speeches when we make mention of men of yeares are alwaies vnderstood of actuall faith that is of the Act of faith whereby we doe not onely in mind conceiue that by Christ our sinnes are remitted but also we apprehend and rereceiue in will this forgiuenes to be signified and offered in the Gospell For this is most infallible and most true that God doth neuer to the Elect impute their sinnes to aeternall damnation and that forâ— three causes The first is hâ—â— eternall and immutable loue wherewith from aeternitie hee hath embraced his Elect in Christ and doth continenâ—ly prosequte without intermissioâ—â— for there is not loue when sinneâ— are imputed vnto condemnation The next is the perpetual merit of Christ whereby all the debts of the Elect are plenarily paid and the hand-writing of the debts cancelled insomuch that they cannot againe by imputed vnto condemnation to the Elect. The third is the perpetuall â—â— siâ—nce of the Holy Spirit in the hâ—â—ts of the Elect and conseruation of â—â—â— seed of faith and regeneration For although that this be most certaine that God doth neuer impute their sinneâ— to the Elect both in regard of his euerlasting loue towards theâ— and for the perpetual merit of Christ imparted vnto them and for the continuall inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in their hearts yet this withall is most true and certaine That the Saints being fallen though but by infirmitie into any sinne the new remission of that new sinne without a new Act of faith and true repentance that is without a new knowledge apprehension of faith cannot againe vnderstand and perceiue that new sinne to be remitted vnto them the Father to be reconciled vnto them and the punishment due to sinne to bee remitted For this is an Aâ—iome most infallible in Christian Religion New sin to stand in neede of new remission and new remission to bee
whosoeuer hee bee as blessed Iohn saith in this regard that hee is borne of God that is according to the state of the inward man so farre forth he doth not sinne in that hee rather abhorreth Sinne which worketh outwardly the body of death hee rather hateth then approoueth it the seede of the spirituall birth whereby he is born of God inwardly preseruing him Which although in the meane while by the incursion of Sinne hee is sometime hurt and battered yet he doth not perish for that the root of Charity is deeply fastened nay rather more plentifully and effectually hee doth gather strength and reuiue into hope of good fruit For saith Saint Iohn for all that is borne of God sinneth not because the seede abideth in him neither can he sinne who is borne of God The force of the words is to bee noted He saith not that he doth commit sinne for hee rather suffereth then doth sinne that is borne of God and he cannot sinne scilieet by perseuering in sinne whilest that he maketh hast to subdue the flesh to the Law of God whereinto in mind hee obeyeth which seemed to bee seruant to the Law of Sinne whilest temptation and Sinne inuaded him Pâ—ter when hee sinned lost not Dâ—fecit fideâ— consessio in ore sed non dâ—fecit fides in corde Zanch. 〈◊〉 Charitie sor that hee rather sinned against Veritie then Charitie when hee lied with his mouth That hee knew him not whose he was totally in his heart insomuch as that the Veritie of Loue did incontinently wash away the deniall of falshood So also Dauid when he sinned lost not Charitie but in a sort Charitie was benummed in him by the violent blow of Temptation neither was Loue at all abolished in him but as it were in a slumber which presently after it awaked at the voice of the Prophet reprouing incontinently brake forth into that most feruent confession of Loue I haue sinneâ— against the â—ord wherevpon he worthily heard Thoushalt not die Out of Luther and other Diuines LVTHER in Postilis True faith perpetuall and immoueable Maior in Euang. Natiuit Doâ—ini Describing in the shepheards themselues the qualitie of both to wit of true and not true of Diuine as he speaketh and of humane faith hee teacheth the nature of true faith to bee constant perpetuall and immoueable but of Faith not true that in fine it vtterly faileth These are his words And from hence take out the difference of faith both diuine and humane Humane faith doth adhaere to the mans person giue credence beleeue his word and honour him for the speakers sake But Diuine faith contrariwise doth cleane fast to the Word which is God himselfe and doth beleeue put affiance and reuerence it not for the speakers sake but doth perceiue the word so certainely that no man can remooue him from it Such were these Samaritans of whom we read Ioh. 4. That at the first indeed they were by the voice of a Damsell excited to heare Christ but after the hearing of him they said to the woman We doe not now beleeue for thy word sake but for that we haue knowne him to bee that Sauiour of the World On the contrarie side so many as gaue faith to Christ moued with his person and miracles all of them againe fell away when Christ was crucified So alwaies it hath been and so it must bee at this day vnlesse the Word of it selfe doe clearely manifest it selfe to the heart and as it were captiuate the same in such sort as that they perceiue the certaintie thereof to be such as by no meanes they can thence be drawne yea if the whole World all the Angels all the Powers of Hell doe say to the contrarie nay if God himselfe should say otherwise as oftentimes hee is wont to tempt his Elect as seeming to appeare vnto them as if he intended to vtter things contrarie to his former promises Which fell out with Abraham when he was commanded to offer his sonne Isaac as also to Iacob in his conflict with the Angell and with Dauid when he was pursued by Absalom Such faith doth persist immoueable both in life and in death as well in Hell as Heauen neither can it by any thing be deiected for that it is founded vpon the sole and bare word of God without all respect of persons With such Faith these shepheards were replenished These things Luther Let likewise his whole Homily be read in 14. Ioh. being the Gospel for the Feast of Pentecost which is of the Holy Ghost Also in festo Sanctae Catharina expounding the Gospell of the ten Virgins who had taken their Lamps he saith The wise Virgins are true Christians endued with true faith such haue oile alwaies in their lampes But the vnwise to be hypocrites who haue a counterfet faith and haue no oyle in their Lampes Therfore of true beleeuers he saith Furthermore such as are rightly seasoned with the doctrine of the Gospell do lightly regard these stormes and tempests but persist immoueable and perseâ—â—â—e vnto the end and therefore are truely blessed as saith Christ Hee hat continueth to the end shall be saued Likewise in the same place the other Virgins had not onely their Lampes in their hands but had also with their Lampes oyle in a readinesse that is true faith which God hath laid vp in their harts they are furnished how to defend themselues if any harme befall them For they haue the worke of God for afsistance not any fained opinion which cannot beate off the assaults of death such did continue in the hope of the diuine promises These things Luthâ—r Therefore the true beleeuers continue in hope Also in the other page Hence is it saith he that our Lampes shall neuer be extinguished Thus much he Therfore the Lampe of true faith is neuer put out in the Saints The same Luther To. 5. in 1. Pet. 1. vpon these words Wee are borne againe not of corruptible but incorruptible seed The word is foorthwith preached and heard but when it taketh possession of the heart it cannot after die or bee abolished Neither will it indeed suffer thee to die but will conserue thee as long as thou doest adhere vnto it For example When I doe he are that Iesus Christ suffered death and hath done away my sinnes and deserued heauen for mee and withall hath giuen mee all that he hath now I do heare the Gospell when this is published in words presently it passeth away but if it be receiued in the heart and thou doest embrace him by faith now can he not any more fall away this truth can no creature demolish the depth of Hell cannot at all expâ—gne it An Argument out of Luther WHAT SO EVER things Christ entreated for his Elect those also hee obtained for Christ was heard with effect Luther in Ioh. 17. vpon these words I pray for them I pray not for the world I doubt not saith he but this prayer was heard Now Christ in
saluation of the Reprobate to whom they are giuen yet for that they tend to effect the saluation of the Elect and restauration of the Saints therefore are they taken to be effects of the first grace in this respect that they doe come from the aeternal free loue of God not indeed toward the Reprobate but towards the Elect for whose saluation they are communicated 13 Grace in the first and proper acception that is the aeternall and free loue and fauour of God is the beginning consummation and end of our saluation from whence haue and doe proceed our whole saluation and whatsoeuer make for our saluation 14 That from whence God as I may say was moued to elect and praedestinate vs vnto life aeternall was his Grace onely or his good will towards vs and good pleasure and loue As for the last and principall end it was his Glorie to wit That his Goodnes Mercie and dustice might bee manifested and so glorified The Apostle doth deliuer both of them Ephe. 1. He hath chosen vs in Christ in himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will this is the first to the praise of the glorie of his grace This is the second 15 Our saluation is totally of Grace And because of grace therefore it is certaine and because certaine therefore ought we beeing freed from all feare and doubtfulnes or trembling with a cheerefull heart and ioyfull conscience continually giue thankes to such an Heauenly Father in Christ beleeue in him hope in him call vpon him loue him conforme our selues to his will studie to accomplish his commandements and to prepare our mindes to endure al torments for his Names sake and to say with Dauid What shall I render to the Lord for the bâ—nefits he haâ—h done vnto me I wil receiue the cup of saluation and call vpon the Name of the Lord. The Treatise of the Praedestination of the Saints is seuered into these speciall heads THE loue whereby GOD loueth all things euen the wicked is different from that whereby he hath so loued some from all aeternitie as that also hee hath praedestinated them to life aeternall 2 Of all men which euer were are or shall be fallen into the pit of sinne some God hath taken vp some left therein and therefore did decree to deliuer some and other to relinquish there And this is Election and Reprobation 3 The Praescience of God is taken sometime for that knowledge wherby God from euerlasting in generall did know as well such things as some admitted that is sinne as also what himselfe would doe whether in the Elect or in the Reprobate or in other creatures Thus both in Fathers and Schoolemen somtime for that knowledge wherby specially some that is the Elect hee did with affection of loue foreknow as his that loued them from aeternitie as Rom. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11. God hath not reiected his people quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which hee foreknow or it is taken for Praedestination it selfe 4 Praedestination is a part of his Prouidence and both according to the Schoolemen is onely of such things which God himselfe doth and will doe But Prouidence is extended to all things and Praedestination restrained to creatures endued with reason although sometime in the Fathers Praedestination is taken for Prouidence and so it is extended abusiuely to al things 5 To Praedestinate in the Latine tong is in the beginning to deliberate before-hand determine resolue with thy selfe to doe a thing before thou doest it againe to purpose before and to appoint and direct before-hand of some thing to a certaine end Also amongst the Graecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth to define before thou doest any thing what thou wilt doe then to determine euery thing before it bee done to the certaine end and vse thereof And Moses the Hebrue in the Holy Bookes that which the Septuagint doe translate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee hath Habhdeâ— which signifieth to separate to a certaine vse one thing from all other things As when the Lord from the corrupt Masse of all other people did select separate and diuide his owne people Israel to the true worship and true Religion 6 This name of Praedestination may if wee respect the signification thereof generally bee extended to all creatures euen vnreasonable nay also without life But in the Fathers it is onely of Men and Angels both of euill and good but in the Scriptures this name is onely vsed touching the Elect Therefore they onely are said properly to bee praedestinate 7 Therefore the definition of Praedestination is Triple one most generall comprising all creatures another generall extending it selfe to all men the last speciall pertaining onely to the Elect. 8 The first Praedestination is that aeternall and immutable Decree of God whereby hee hath deputed and ordained euery thing before it was created to his certaine both vse and end 9 The next Praedestination is that aeternall and immutable decree of God whereby hee hath from all aeternitie determined with himselfe first both to create all men then to permit them to fall into sinne and runne headlong into death then some of them to vouchsafe in Christ freely both of his grace and of life aeternalll but others not to dignifie with this grace but with â—â— tanas both to smite with blindnes and to indurate at also to destroy aeternally and that for this end That both in theone sort his diuine goodnesse and mercie and in the other his diuine power and iustice may be declared and so God in all may be glorified 10 The third that is the Praedestination of the Saints is that aeternall and immutable Decree of God whereby without any merits of men hee hath with himselfe determined some certaine men beeing brought in due time into this life sallen together with others by the worke of the Diuell into sinne and No free iustification by Christ vnlesse wee defend free praedestination in Christ Zanchius death to ingraft into CHRIST and by faith to iustifie and beeing ingrafted into Christ to regenerate and to sanctifie vnto his hests beeing sanctified by a continuall forgiuenesse of dayly sinnes to attend vpon and by the perpetuall grace of the holy Spirit finally as the Sonnes of God and co-heires with Christ of the celestiall Kingdome to endue them with a blessed and aeternall life and all this That in them the mercie and goodnesse of God may perpetually bee magnified and God himselfe for euer glorified 11 God knoweth nothing or willeth now which he hath not also knowne from aeternitie and likewise willed Therefore Praedestination is aeternall 12 The aeternall and simple will of God is immutable Herevpon that Rom. 11. The gifts and calling of God is without Repentance Therefore Praedestination is vnchangeable 13 No man is the efficient cause of his owne Praedestination but Permittere â—ccata nòn â—st concedeâ—â— sed non â—elle impâ—â—iri cum o◠〈◊〉 Zancl the sole simple and aeternall will of
God 14 Sinne in respect of God doth not fall out by change but by the diuine counsell because by the diuine and that voluntarie permission neither yet is Sinne the effect of diuine Praedestination or of God because the malice of Sinne or of the sinner is not of God Therefore none can be said to haue been Praedestinate of God to Sinne as it is Sinne. 15 Permission and that voluntarie whereby God permitteth sinne is a worke of God and therefore good but sinne permitted as it is sinne is not a worke of God but partly of Satan partly of Man Roge quis audial dâ—minum dâ—centem Non vos me elegistis sâ—d ego vos audeat dicere credere bomines vt â—ligantur cum potius eligantur vs câ—â—dant Aug de praed Sanctorum â— 17. 16 All men are Praedestinate some to life some to death aeternall 17 Without Christ none can either bee praedestinate to life aeternall or effectually called or truely iustified or eternally glorified 18 Whosoeuer are praedestinate to life euerlasting as to the end are also Praedestinate to the due meanes by which it is receiued Faith therfore the workes of faith and perseuerance in faith or the beginning progresse and consummation of Saluation all are effects of Praedestination 19 God whereas hee could yet would hee not vouchsafe all men confusedly the grace of Praedestination aeternall 20 God doth be-blind harden and destroy some therefore them to make blind harden destroy hee decreed eternally 21 The finall and principall end both of the reprobation of some and election of other some is Gods glorie which both in the reiection of the wicked and election of the godly doth shine plentifully 22 To bee created and suffered to fall into sinne and into death are effects of Praedestination common to the Elect and Reprobate but to be enriched with grace faith workes perseuerance of faith and finally life eternall are effects proper to the Predestination of the Elect but to bee forsaken in their sinnes perpetually to bee blinded hardned and finally damned are effects of Reprobation proper to the wicked 23 This argumentation a posteriori that is from the effect God created men then did voluntarily permit them to fall into sinne and by sinne to run headlong into death finally of them some he deliuereth and saueth from thence by Christ mercifully others in their sinnes hee forsaketh most iustly blindeth damneth but both he doth to for his glory Therefore God from aeternity hath decreed to doe all these things is not a sophistication but a demonstration And this is the praedestination of the Godly and vngodly None is praedestinate to aeternal life conditionally if he do belieue if he obserue the Law but whosoeuer are praedestinate therevnto are absolutely and simply praedestinate so that euen they therefore do beleeue and keepe the Law because as to life so also they are praedestinate to beleeue and obserue the Law 25 The Elect only attaine true iustifying faith but the Reprobate although they seeme to beleeue for a time yet their faith is not true but temporary and therefore hypocriticall 26 Whatsoeuer good the Saintes haueor do they therefore haue and do it because for the enioying and acting thereof they were from aeternity freely praedestinate Therefore the beginning of Saluation that is faith and the proceeding that is good workes and the end that is finall perseuerance and plenary possession of Life eternall are free effects of diuine praedestination or of God praedestinating Wherfore neither Faith nor good workes can be the cause of predestination seeing the Apostle saith not Hee hâ—th ' chosen vs because we would bee holy but that we should be holy Neither therefore did I obtaine mercy for that I would be faithfull but that I might be fathfull 27 It is no impiety to say The Reprobate therefore not to beleeue not to repent not to obserue the Law because they were praedestinate not to beleeue not to repent not to keepe the Law seeing the Lord thus speaketh Therefore ye do not beleeue because yee are not of my flock Againe Therfore ye do not heare because ye are not of God 28 Nay it is not impiety to say the Reprobate do therefore the works which are euil in the Reprobate because they were praedestinate to do them seing the holy Spirit doth teach this in the Scriptures Acts. 2. 4. 29 Neither Praedestination nor God can be said to be the cause of the sinnes which wicked men do commit or that God did praedestinate the wicked to sinne both for that the warfare whereby wicked men do sinne is not of God but of Satan as also for that God hath praedestinate none to sinnes as they be sinnes but onely as they be either actions in themselues and therfore not euill or punishments of sinne 30 Rather therefore the wicked in doing these things do sinne to the doing whereof they are praedestinate of God because the workes of God otherwise in themselues good they doe infect with the naughtinesse of their fleshly mind 31 Therefore the proper efficient cause of sinne is that home-bred infidelity and mallice in men 32 In euery sinne there be two thinges The worke which is done or at leastwise the action either internall or externall and the naughtinesse of the sinner by which it is effected that the work or action is made sinne The worke of God for he worketh all in all but the euil in no wise In that therfore the wicked doe that worke they haue it of God and of Gods praedestination but in that by doing they sinne through their owne naughtines neither is that of God nor haue they it of Gods praedestination 33 The effects of the grace of God in the Elect first Redemption from sinne and death by the blood of Christ the second effectuall calling by the holy spirit to the participation of this Redemption The third and therefore an actuall separation from the filthines of other men of the world The fourth a reall incision into Christ and therefore the fift iustification by faith the sixt Regeneration the seauenth true sanctification to do the acceptable will of God the eight Remission of daily sinnes the ninth the presence Sophistae dicunt Deum nòn praedestinasse in praeâ—erito sed semper in praesâ—nâ—i Zanchius of the holy Spirit the tenth the gift of eternall life 34 Although God praedestinating be not vnder time yet men praedestinated are vnder time Wherefore seeing the holy Spirit perpetually in the Scriptures saith that God hath praedestinated vs and that before the world was made and not to praedestinate we do duly conclude That Praedestination was determined from all aeternity 35 Praedestination is aeternal wherfore we which were elected from aeternity haue been deare and acceptable to God 36 Praedestination is vnchangeable therfore the saluation of the Elect is most certaine and they can neuer perish 37 Some certaine men are praedestinate to life and not all therefore is the number of the
side saith Onely the Elect doe truly beleeue in Christ the reprobate beleeue but it is for a time and therefore not truely and their faith because it is temporarie neither to be true faith nor to iustifie or make the sonnes of God Idem in Iohn 2. sect 3 vpon these words but Iesus did not commit him-selfe vnto them first teacheth that those who in that place are said to haue beleeued in Christ were temporizers then of temporizers Those saith he were such which beleeue in the name of Christ yet he did not commit himselfe vnto them for he knew what was in man for hee knew them to haue nothing lesse then a true and sound faith in it felfe Thus he Therfore temporary faith is not true and soundfaith Idem in lib dereconcilia Eccles incontrouers de iustif in the significatitions of this word credere to beleeue first hee concludeth that it is wrought in vs by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that wee doe beleeue Then that this inspiration doth happen diuerse waies first sometime in such manner as that wee beleeue some part of the word of God but not all againe sometime such as that wee doe beleeue all but not alwaies but for a certaine time And hee teacheth neither of these to be the inspiration of a true faith fol. 138 128. 139. But the other inspirations of true faith which he there reciteth and explaineth hee conioyneth them all with perpetuitie and therefore teacheth That it is no true faith vnlesse it bee perpetuall And fol. 139. expressely hee saith That Faith not true which the Lord calleth temporary is called by Paul â—aigned and by Iames dead faith and that this is not of the same ranke with a liuely and true faith which doth in veritie apprehend the life of GOD in Christ By which words Bucer teacheth that faith which is temporarie to bee hypocriticall and dead that is neither liuing nor true faith Therefore true Faith must bee perpetuall Idem in Eph. c. 1. vpon these words yee are sealed by the holy Spirit of promise he calleth temporarie faith a picture of faith againe dissembled credulitie and saith it is called of Iames dead faith and therefore not to bee true faith As likewise a dead man is not a true man for that by this addition sciliâ—â—â— of dead it destroyeth the nature of faith as also when wee say a dead man by this addition of dead is extinct the nature of man But saith hee Paul speaketh not of the image of faith but of true faith when he speaketh of a sauing faith and which proceedeth from the Holy Spirit For although that image of faith doth sometime strongly grow on so that it doth paâ— forth fruit yet the Sun arising at last those fruits are extinguished as doth appeare in them who seeke carnall libertie by the Gospell and doe neuer make consideration of the Crosse which is there taught this faith is hypocriticall credulitie Iames calleth it dead faith which condition being added destroyeth the nature of faith as when wee say a dead man by that addition the nature of man is done away These things Bucer Therefore if faith be not perpetuall it cannot be true and liuing faith Idem in ep ad Eph. â— 4. Tract dâ— Eccles in the entrance fol. 111. â—ee putteth downe a three-fold faith first iustifying and therefore true and perpetuall faith then faith vtterly dead thirdly the meane betweene both this temporary faith And hee doth demonstrate these two last not to be a true saith neither men thereby to be iustified Although saith hee there be some to be found who place a certain 〈◊〉 faith between that which iustifieth which worketh by Loue and is expressely called a liuing faith and that which is vtterly dead that is not working any good And indeed there is a certaine temporarie faith noted by Christ which although it doth not endure and profit so farre to fructifie yet it putteth forth into bud This faith is an assent vnto the Gospell which iâ— therefore inspired euen into reprobate men that they in some sort should glorifie God in their words and deedes and should commend him to the prayers of the Saints and withall be stripped naked of all excuse of ignorance Such was the faith of Cain for hee also offered sacrifice of Saul Aâ—hab Iudas the Tâ—aitor and of all others who are so far illuminated of God that in some sort and for some time they embrace and tast of the sacred word of God with ioy and are made partakers of the heauenly gifts and the holy Spirit and yet by relapse they fall into impietie and therein perish in obstinacie Notwithstanding whatsoeuer life or worke is seene in their faith yet these men remaine endued with a temporarie gift and a lame faith so long as they want a iustifying faith without Christ therefore are they in death and vnder Gods wrath and al those motions of faith in them of what qualitie soeuer and benefits in apparance are indeed the good works of the good God as whereby also hee is beneficiall vnto mankinde by euill men to the amplifying of 〈◊〉 glorie in his infinite bountifulnesseâ— but to those men they are euil works and sinnes who doe them yet of an impious minde because they proceede wickedly reiecting the blood of Iesus Christ and iustification by him offered Yet hence is the difference betweene them who through this faith though but vanishing and not regenerating doe confesse the Lord Christ in word and doe not apparantly deny him in deede and them who howsoeuer they say that they beleeue in word yet in deede doe trample vnder foote the Lord Christ and hold his bloud as prophane for that the one sort are tolerated 〈◊〉 the externe fellowship of the Saints vntill they doe plainely discouer their impietie but not the other for that they make themselues manifest in their impietie Yet neither sort are true members at any time of the bodie of Christ for that they liue not in Christ In these wordes of Bucer amongst other things it is manifest first That if saith be temporary it is not true and iustifying therefore true and iustifying faith is perpetuall secondly That Saul and Iudas had neuer true and iustifying faith for that their faith was but temporarie Therfore that is false which one taught and committed to writing That Saul Iudas were iustified as wel as Dauid and Peter thirdly That neither temporizers nor notoriouslie wicked euer were true members of the Church and therfore the Elect onely and such as are endued with true faith are the true members of the Church Musculus in Ioh. cap. 8. pag. 62. vpon these words if ye abide in 〈…〉 then are yee verily my Disciples saith he He ioyneth soliditie and stabilitie with veritie That which is true is solid that which is false is vaine and fained and so cannot be stable specially if it come liable to examination That which is gold remaineth gold that which seemeth and is not
And of infirmitie for that by the violence and force of sinne either presently smitten and quelled they voluntarily yeeld themselues which after a short resistance to the contrarie at last euicted they giue place a time Wherefore these first sort obey sinne willingly but not with a full will and totall consent for they doe not loue sinne these may be said to sinne against their conscience but not properly for they obey sinne wittingly and willingly but yet neither vpon perfect knowledge nor intentiue cogitation of that which they doe nor with full will and full consent as a little before is declared Others obey with the whole will full consent whole heart and all their might and these are such as doe offend of purposed malice or with studie and from the heart They properly sinne against the conscience for they know that they doe contrarie to the Law of God and that with contempt and they obey sinne with such a willing minde as that they loue it and would if they might with impunitie be perpetually seruiceable thervnto Therefore this is called euen that reigning sinne for that while we doe loue the concupiscences of the sinne of Nature and doe from the heart fulfill them we doe bring to passe effectiuely that it râ—igneth in our hearts Therefore there be two sorts of Actuall sinnes drawne from the two different manners of willing one which is so voluntarie as that it is also partly involuntarie of which kinde of Actions Aristotle treateth in his Ethicks which indeed is not committed with plenarie consent as is expounded before This likewise I grant befalleth the Saints for thus sometime they sinne as Dauid and Peter therefore of this as is said before there is no controuersie Neither is it controuerted Whether by this sinne the Saints are obliged with a new guilt by the committing thereof and so also haue need of new remission of this new sinne for none of vs doe deny it Another sort is so vn vluntarie as that in no respect it is involuntarie for which cause it is called the sinne properly against the conscience that is to say plenarie and vtterly wasting the conscience and therefore euen reigning Therefore the difference betweene vs is concerning that other kinde of actuall sinne For our Aduersaries doe vouch That the Saints as Peter do offend with the whole will and with all their heart and so properly against the conscience And for that such sinne cannot in any wise consist with faith therefore hence they conclude That the Saints may loose faith totally But contrariwise I doe deny that this kind of sinne can befall the Elect being sanctified an regenerate and so consequently I deny That the Elect sanctified can vtterly fall from faith and wholly loose the Holy Spirit And why I should deny that this kinde of sinne can befall the Saints I am induced by these reasons and testimonies For how can Sin reigne and by Sinne Satan where Iustice and Christ reigneth And how can Faith reigne there and by Faith Christ where Sinne and Satan reigneth The Parable of Christ is famous When the strong man keepeth his Tower it cannot bee inuaded of the enemie vnlesse hee bee stronger then the Owner of the Tower doe expell him from it Now Christ is stronger then Satan therefore Christ doth often banish Satan out of his Kingdome and there doth reigne himselfe And Satan though hee doe often besiege the Cities of Christ that is the Elect yet can he not surprise them and by eâ—ecting Christ the King there reigne himselfe for hee is not stronger then Christ Therefore is it vtterly impossible That Sinne should properly reigne and get dominion in the Elect. Sinne in his dominion or reigning Sinne is that to whose concupiscences â— as to the Kings mandates Men without any resistance with heart and with full and cheerefull will obey and are alwaies obsequious with readinesse according to that of the Apostle Rom. 6. Let not therefore Sinne reigne in your mortall body to obey the lusts thereof As touching the Saints first before Satan and Sinne doe make any assault against them in them there is no purpose to obey or serue Sin for they hate it with perpetuall hatred Againe in the assault and incursion of Sinne striuing to draw them to the obedience therof they so farre as strength will worke doe resist encounter against it though sometime they are wounded and fall downe buffeted but this commeth vpon them against their wils Finally after this by imbecillitie sometimes beeing surprized they doe obey sinne a fresh they doe by the force of the Spirit thereunto fortified redintigrate the battell against Sinne as against a Capitall and perpetuall enemie and doe continue this combate vnto the end of their daies Gal. 5. How therfore can it be said that Sinne reigneth in the Saints or that the Saints doe obey Sinne as their King to fulfill the lusts thereof Iohn in his Canonicall Epistle doth specially labour in this That it cannot be that such as are truely sanctified and borne of GOD should commit such sinnes which are called sometimes sinnes wasting the conscience sometimes sinnes vnto death sometimes reigning and therefore that they are lyers who boast themselues to be the sonnes of God to acknowledge God when yet in the meane while they sin in securitie hate their brethren and doe not endeuour to obserue Gods Law and therefore that they onely are Saints and borne of God who study to avoyd sinne and keepe the Law of God cap. 2. He that saith that he knoweth God and doth not keepe his commandements is a lier and the truthâ— is not in him And Gods precepts aâ—â— specially obserued when they are laid vp firmely in the heart and beloued So saith Dauid In the volumâ— Psal 41. of thy booke is it wrttten of me that I should doe thy will O Lord I am câ—â—tent to doe it yea thy law is in the middest of my heart scilicet I haue it theâ—e written and ingrauen If the Saints haue the Law so fixed in their harts how then therfore should sin reigne in their hearts cap. 3. Euery one whâ— abideth in him sinneth not and euery one that sinneth haeth not seene him not knowne him againe hee that doth sin is of the diuel because the diuel sinneth from the beginning Hereof it is apparant of what sort of sinnes the Apostle speaketh when he saith He that doth sinne is not borne of God but is of the diuell that is of such as are like to the sinne of Satan the Father of all the wicked And of what quality is the sinne of the diuell sinne committed of purposed malice sinne reigning and perpetuall For the Diuell sinned from the beginning that Aliud est proijcerese in lutum vt sues aliud labi in lutuÌ„ vt solent munditiei studiosi Zanchius is to say from the beginning vnto this present houre he doth continually sinne and adhaere vnto sinne Wherefore it cannot be that
deficieÌ„t Ambroseâ— Rom. 8. Nam quos praesciuit Those saith hee who seeme to beleeue and do not persist in the faith begun are deemed as elect of God for that whom God hath chosen they do continue with him And a little after vppon these wordes Quos ante praedestinaâ—â—t saith he he speaketh the same as before because whom God hath foreknowne as sit for himselfe those beleiuing persist for that it cannot be otherwise Trimasius Episcopus Vticensis who was famous the very same time in Africa with Augustine in 1. Cor. vpon these wordes That your faith be not in the wisdome of men but in the power of God c. saith hee humane wisdome is pleasant for a short time for that it is temporary as man himselfe is but the power diuine is eternall as God himselfe is Therfore that faith is permanent and bestowed vpon man by the power of God Prosâ—er Episcopus Rhegiâ—ns Augustines disciple Of the life Contemplatiue lib. 3. cap. 13. Charity saith he as me thinketh is a right wil alienated vtterly from all terrene and thinges present conioyned and vnited inseperably to God These thinges he He saith that Charity is a right will for that Charity by the Holy Ghost shed abroad in our hearts maketh a right will and conioyneth it inseperably to God And the Fathers are wont to ascribe that to Charity which is proper to faith working by loue Therfore Prosper doth teach that faith which work eth by loue doth conioyn the faithfull to God inseperably Gregor 1. To 2 lâ—b in Ezâ—ch cap. 1 hom 3. col 87. vpon these words They returned not when they went c. This saith hee is spoken of the reprobate for that they returned in heart into AEgipt the truth speaketh by it selfe No man putting his hand to the plough and looking bâ—â—â—kward is fit for the Kingdome of God Indeed to put the hand to the plough is as it were by the plough-share of compunction to open the soile of the heart for to bring forth fruit But he looketh back behind the plough who after the beginning of a good work doth returne to the euils which he had forsaken Which for that in no wise it befalleth the Elect of God it is therefore rightly said by the Prophet vers 17. They returned not when they went Likewise Homil. 5. They returned not when they walked because the Elect euery of them do so goe on to good thinges as that they do not retire from committing of euill thinges for he that continueth out to the end shal be saued Againe in the same homily expounding those wordes This was a ruuning Vision c. he teachâ—h That the holy Spirit according to the vertue of saith hope and loue doth neuer depart from the heartes of the Elect but according to Prophesie and differences of tongues and such like somtime to depart sometime to returne After this concluding saith he therefore in those vertues without which we cannot come to life the holy Spirit in the hearts of his Elect is permanent but in those by which the power of sanctity is manifested sometime it is mercifully present sometime mercifully absent Thus Gregorie In which wordes we may not regard whether aptly he did interprete the Prophet or otherwise but onely what his determination was touching the perseuerance of the Saints To. â— Moralium lib. 2. cap. 28 29. he proposeth a Question touching the holy Spirit How in Iohn 14. that can be a concordance The Spirit shall abide with you and bee in you with that Iob. 1. Vpon whom ye shall see the Spirit descending and abiding vpon him he it is which baptizeth with the holy Ghost If also it abide in the disciples How can it be therefore a peculiar signe wherby Christ is acknowledged to be him who baptizeth in the spirit Answering thâ— Question and reconciling these places he putteth difference betweene those gifts of the holy Spirit without the which we cannot come to life eternal those without which we may attain it Afterward his coÌ„clusioÌ„ is in these words therfor in those gifts without which we cannot come to life whether in Preachers or in all the Elect the holy Spirit is alwaies permanent But in such giftes whereby by manifestation thereof not our life is saued but the life of others sought for in no wise it is alwayes permanent in the Preachers for that alwaies indeed it beareth rule in their heart for to liue well and yet doth not alwayes shew forth by them powerful signes but sometime hee withdraweth himselfe from manifestation of signes that with so much more humility his vertues may be accompted by how much being had they cannot be holden But the Mediator betweene God and Man the Man Iesus Christ hath it in all thinges and alwayes and continually present for that from him the same Spirit is by substance produced Therfore fitly whereas it abideth in the holy Preachers it is said singularly to remain in the Mediator for that in them it abideth by grace for some thing but in him by substance it abideth for all thinges Bedâ— Praesbyter hath plainely taught the same things vpon Iohns Gospell 1. chap. expounding that place Vpon whom yee shall see the Spirit c. For hee moueth the very same Question which also Gregorie did before him and doth giue altogether the same solution The Holy Spirit in the Elect partly to abide for aeternitie partly to depart for to returne to abide aeternally in respect of such vertues without which we cannot be saued to parted for a time in respect of other gifts Bernard de natura dignitate amoris diuini â— 5. v. 6. speaking of the nature of true Charitie which is that it neuer faileth hee citeth that of the Apostle 1. Cor 13. Charitie doth neâ—er fall away and hee saith that sometime indeed the effect of affection and of working doth stagger and wander so long as with this life Charitic cannot see but in part and by a glasse and in a mysterie but yet the entire and solid affection is alwaies permanent in her force Chap. 6. thus hee writeth Disposition is one thing Affection Affectus Affectio another Disposition is that which possesseth the minde with a certaine general power and vertue firme and stable which it hath obtained by grace Affections are they which in varietie the variable euents of things and times doe produce For the infirmitie of the flesh through the corruption of the first originall doth often offend often fall often doth grieuously hurt and receiueth hurt the Minde in wardly lamenting and rather suffering then doing that which is done amisse outwardly yet not loosing Charitie but out of Charitie mourning and crying to God Owretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death Whervpon the Apostle saith I serue saith he the Law of God in my minde but my flesh the Law of Sinne and againe Not I doe worke that but Sinne dwelling within mee Therefore
that prayer Ioh. 17. prayed the Father for all the Elect which should beleeue in him That hee would keepe them in the faith and not permit them at all to fall away from the faith This doth Luther plainely deliuer vppon these words I pray for them I pray not for the World Saith hee So he prayeth for Christians and for all that shall be conuerted that they abide firme touching true faith and profit therin and proceed neither that they sall away from it These things Luther Therefore hath Christ obtained for all the Elect that they shall persist in the faith and neuer shrinke from it Wherefore it cannot bee in regard of this prayer of Christ that the Elect beeing indued with true faith should vtterly slide away from faith Hee that doubteth whether Luther was of this iudgement which I defend doth certainly declare That either he hath not been much conuersant in his books or doth not vnderstand Luther The testimonies of Bucer so many and such ye haue in my Lectures as that of his determination no doubt can be made But beside them I will also put downe these of new In Mat. 6. And leade vs not into temptation pag. 70. in the Entrance Seeing then none can take them out of the Lords hands Ioh. 10. And hee in no wise casteth off such as come vnto him Ioâ— 6. It is necessarie that such as are Christs once shall neuer be alienated from him In Ioh. 4. Vpon these words If thou knewest the gift of God For saith hee as the liuing and springing water out of the fountaine doth alwaies flow to quench the thirst of men So the Holy Spirit giuing testimonie to our Spirit that wee bee the Sonnes of God doth for euer take away the thirst of the good in that it maketh them finally blessed in fulnesse and here doth refresh them continually with sure faith This is that fountaine neuer failing for that it neuer forsaketh such as it once inspireth Rom. 8. in the Quaestion of Praedestination pag. 361. not much before the conclusion of the Third Question He concludeth Predestination to be a Diuine designement of the Saints vnto this that they should bee made partakers of euerlasting saluation by Christ the Lord. This verily is saluation saith hee that being inspired with Gods Spirit thou maist most fully see soundly iudge that which is truely good and prose quute the same with a most eager and constant studie Here of it is a good consequent That therfore the Elect vnto life aeternall are also Elect to this that they should prose quute that which is good with a continuall studie or with perseuerance And that which is by God decreed cannot be made frustrate wherefore the Elect and Saints cannot but perseuere in faith Likewise in ep ad Eph s câ—p 1. vpon these words Hee hath chosen vs that we should be holy Paul saith he Romans 8. doth treat of Election as is meete And when the Saints are compassed with most grieuous afflictions they would often distrust amongst these euills wherevnto they are throwne of the glorie promised to the sonnes of God if they did not relie vpon this buckler For it will come to passe that whatsoeuer their sufferings be they shal be at last glorified Neither can they be dispelled by any thing out of their inheritance which is in Christ Iesus He is our euerlasting Mediatour and we for euer ioyned vnto him our vnion with Christ is inseparable nether can it be but for euer Also vpon the same 1. chap. in his short treatise of faith page 34. Faith although it bee infirme euen in the Saints and therfore also more to be lamented they do commit the more sinnes as euery where both the old and new Testament doe testifie and examples too euident doe declare as in Peter Dauid and others yet doth it not suffer him who is therewith endued vtterlie to lie vnder as surprised He trieth our faith but yet for this purpose that wee may vnderstand how much imperfection is alwaies intermixed in vs. Hence are are afflictions and from thence these voices in the Psalm O God hast thou forgotten mee hast thou forsaken mee From hence it fell out that Peter by the Damsell was assalted and afflicted with the batterings of temptation but yet he fell not for euer for that God put vnder his hand For God doth alwaies sppport his Elect that at last he shall swimme out and break through for the gifts and calling of God is without repentance And what shall wee say to these things If GOD be on our side who shal be against vs which words of Paul are not to be vnderstood of some but of al Gods elect And God doth solace vs against this debility of faith by the mightie power of Christ whereby hee beareth rule ouer all and hath dominion ouer death and sinne For he verily died but he rose againe death being subdued hee ascended to the Father sitteth at his right hand maketh intercession for vs and let all the Elect applie these things to themselues and say Hee arose for mee c. And seeing he is our head he shall â—â—relie quicken vs and confirme vs neither can hee derelinquish the duty of a true head For we liue for his sake which loued vs therefore wee liue not for our owne loue Without doubt ours is required but it is imperfect and cannot vphold the hope of life aeternall Therefore that our hope might be certaine the cause of our life is setled in him not in vs. And therefore whatsoeuer excuse is alleadged touching vncertaintie of faith whatsoeuer commaunded and deliuered is vtterlie impious and blasphemous against the might amplenesses maiestie and loue and dispensation of Christ and doth oâ—erturne all faith and authoritie of the word which Paul presseth Rom. 8. and euerie where else Likewise pag. 38. in the Treatise of the Church quinto signo Touching Perseuerance saith hee wee haue a place 1. Ioh. 2. If they had been of vs they would surely haue continued with vs And that He that is borne of God sinneth not is thus to bee vnderstood Hee sinneth not wittingly and of knowledge Hee sinneth not impenitently for that a certaine efficacacie of the Spirit of Christ doth beare him vp For though many sins doe yet beset the godly yet doe they not perseuere in them or consent therevnto with a suffocation of conscience or of the Law of God See Augustine Of Repentance against the Donatists All these things Bucâ—r Here ye perceiue my Lords First that not vnfitly I did entreat of the perseuerance of the Saints when I did interpret that place of Iohn If they had beene of vs they would verily haue continued with vs. Againe neither did I interpret amisse that place of Iohn He that is born of God sinneth not in my Treatise of Perfeuerance when I gaue this interpretation That the Saints born of God did not sinne from the heart or with their totall and plenarie will and therefore not
as hee was enâ—â—ined by his Reuerend Masters to exhibit a summe of them The whole Treatise of the Book of Life is distinguished into these Positions A BOOKE is not ascribed to God but onely Metaphorically and it is nothing else but an eternall certaine and firme Decree and Praescience in God for all such things which either he or wee are intending to doe 2 Three Bookes by Metaphor are attributed to God One is wherein all men and their names were written yea euen before they were borne And this is nothing else but the Praescience wherby God from all aeternitie did foresee all men whom he did purpose to create their names and actions whereof in Psal 139. and appertaineth to Gods prouidence so that it may be called the Booke of Gods prouidence The next is that wherein are written all men which are born and Aug. de â—iu del 20. c. 14 their actions that euery one according to their actions may likewise be iudged whereof Apoc. 20. And this belongeth to the generall iudgment of God so that it may rightly be termed the Booke of the general iudgement And this is nothing else but the knowledge or remeÌ„brance which God hath of all such things as each one hath or doth doe that according to the things hee hath done euery one may be iudged The third Booke is that wherein all that truely belong to life eternall were written from all aeternitie that is were fore knowne and praedestinate And this is nothing else but that aeternall and certaine Praescience of God and Praedestination of al them whom God hath decreed aeternally Aug. ib. c. 15. Non Deum isle liber coinmemoraâ—sed Praedestinationâ—m significat by Christ to preserue to life euerlasting whervpon as in the Scriptures it is called the Booke of Life so also it may be termed the Booke of Praedestination 3 Although by the name of the Booke of Life the Holy Scripture and Law of God be vnderstood vs Eeeles 24 for that it giueth precepts appertaining to life sometime also that good and temporarie opinion which the Church holdeth of Hypocrites while they abide in the faith of Christ as though they likewise did belong to life aeternall is called vsually the Booke of Life yet properly the Booke of Life is that certaine and eternall Praedestination wherein all who shall be saued Exod. 32. Dan. 12. Ezech 13. Luc. 10. Phil. 4. Apoc. 3. 11. â—0 14. 21. by Christ are written neuer againe to bee razed out And of this Booke speaketh Esaias in this fourth Chapter 4 Such as were once written in this Booke of Life they can neuer bee blotted out Or such as are Praedestinate to life aeternall can neuer from thence be reiected into death aeternall 5 Some to wit Hypocrites are Deleantur secundum spem eorâ—m secundum autem aquit at em tuâ—m quid dico non scribantur Aug. iâ— â—n Psal said to bee razed out of the Booke of Life when their Hypocrisie being discouered they appeare both to the Church and to themselues what manner men they are and that they are not truely prae-ordained to life euerlasting Axiomes which wâ—re propounded touching the Booke of life to bee disputed vpon in the Schooles THE Booke of life that Diuine purpo wherein all aâ—e written to aeternall life to be possessed for Christs sake whom from euerlasting God hath adopted to himselfe for his sonnes 2 Whosoeuer are written in this Booke are called effectually iustified sanctified and of necessitie to be glorified 3 Such as are once enrolled in this Booke can neuer bee againe blotted out 4 Whosoeuer beeing called to the Gospell beleeueth in Christ ought to beleeue that himselfe is written in the Booke of Life together with al other the Saints from all aeternitie 5 And therefore hee ought relying vpon this confidence in sanctitie of this present life goe out industruously to that glorious life to come in a right course by the way of good workes 6 For whosoeuer of vs are recorded in the Booke of life wee are no lesse designed to follow sanctity and doe good workes then to attaine life it selfe The Treatise of Grace standeth vpon these branches THE fiue degrees of our saluation are gathered out of the wordes of the Prophet Esai 4. First The grace of God eternall in Christ whereby alone hee was mooued to praedestinate and saue vs. Secondly Praedestination it selfe or our conscription to life eternall Thirdly Our effectuall Vocation to Christ and Holinesse Fourthly Iustification or remission of sinnes and our washing from filthinesse after which followeth sanctification and reformation Fiftly the continuall guidance of God after which followeth euerlasting peace life glorification 2 So it is called grace for it is Aug. â—p ad Sextum praesqâ—ter de natura gratia c. 4. freely giuen And this Etymologie doth belong to Gods graces That they are freely giuen 3 Grace is diuided into Grace which is not onely freely giuen but also maketh acceptable to God and into that Grace which indeed is freely giuen but doth not make acceptable to God for which cause that is called of the Schoolemen Grace making gratefull but this Grace freely giuen 4 Grace making gratefull is properly the euerlasting fauour of God and free beneuolence wherwith he hath loued vs in Christ and whereby he was onely moued to elect vs vnto aeternall life redeeme call iustifie glorifie 5 This Grace making vs acceptable or the free loue and fauour of God to vs ward is in God himselfe in vs onely the knowledge sense thereof 6 There is indeed a double loue of God one generall whereby hee loueth all his creatures euen the very wicked to wit in that he willeth and doth well to all of which Sapient 11. Another speciall wherwith he loueth the Elect only to aeternall saluation of which Rom. 9. Iacob I haue loued and euery where in scripture Yet properly the Grace of God is taken for the free loue of God toward the Elect. 7 This Grace was giuen vs before all aeternitie by which he loued vs from all beginnings but made manifest in time partly when hee promised but then specially when hee did actually exhibit Christ 2. Tim. 2. 8 This Grace that maketh vs acceptable is the fountaine cause of all other graces and benefits of God 9 The Graces likewise of Faith Regeneration Hope and Loue are reâ—â—ed Graces making acceptable but improperly and secondarily For they are effects of that primarie and aeternall Grace 10 But the Grace of prophecying of speaking with tongues and others whereof 1. Cor. 12. are euen the effects of that first and aeternall grace and they tend to the saluation of the Church in generall but not the saluation alwaies of them doe they appertaine to whom they are giuen 11 These Graces for that they doe not alwaies make for the saluation of them to whom they are giuen therefore also are they giuen to many Reprobates 12 And although they doe not make for the
accuse God of iniustice that he beblindeth them A summe of the Treatise concerning the Redemption of the Church by Christ and the certaintie of our Praedestination and saluation comprised in twenty nine Positions TERRENE or earthly Hierosoleme was a Type of the Church of Christ and such things as most ordinarily fell out therin were figures of such things as were to come to passe in the Church of Christ 2 Therefore the deliuerance of Hierosoleme accomplished in the time of Esaias whereof Esai 9. was a Type of the Deliuerance of the whole Church to bee made by Christ 3 As in that Terrene Hierusalem there were grieuous darknes that is calamities so most greeuous are the darknesses that is calamities both terrene and spirituall into which partly the Church of God did fall presently after the sin of Adam partly wherewith it is dayly pressed 4 As that Hierusalem by the Angell of the Lord through the great power of God found deliuerance insomuch as that the Prophet saith truely To the people â—alking in darknes hath the light appeared so the Church of God by Christ was in part once deliuered in part dayly more and more is freed from her darknesse the diuine light by degrees dispelling the darknesse thereof vntill in the end which shall bee at the end of the World sheâ— bee deliuered from all aduersities and enemies 5 And although there were more Israelites which were besieged of the enemies then Iewes yet not they but onely these were deliuered so though there bee much more Reprobate then Elect yet the Deliuerance made by Christ did not appertaine to the Reprobate but to the Elect so that the Prophet truely admiring spake thus Thou hast multiplyed the Nation but hast not encreased the ioy 6 For Christ according to the purpose of his Father for the Elect onely that is for those who according to the eternall Election should beleeue in him was borne suffered died and rose againe and Mat 1. Ioh. 17. maketh intercession at the right hand of his Father 7 Moreouer the Redemption of the Church by Christ may be considered after foure sorts First in what respect she is totally redeemed before the Father in that Christ died for her for then were all the Elect truely redeemed and reconciled to God Next in as much as by faith shee is made acquainted and partaker of this Redemption for when as the Elect doe yeeld true faith to the Gospell of reconciliation they are said to be iustified and reconciled to God to wit for that they doe vnderstand receiue and embrace the reconciliation perfected by Christ Thirdly in as much as the Church dayly by the same Christ is deliuered more and more from enemies continually besetting them for that though she be daily oppugned yet neuer for all that through Christs defence is she surprised Lastly in as much as all enemies being vtterly dispoiled and euen death it selfe which the Apostle calleth the last enemie so it shall be delivered from all euils as that it shall neuer after haue any encounter with any kind of enemies 8 Now the principall fruit which springeth vp in the hearts of the faithfull by the redemption apprehended is true and solid spirituall and aeternall reioicing before God of which the Prophet also speaketh They shall reioice before thee as men in haruest 9 For the matter of true ioy is when we perceiue by faith the yoke of Sinne Death the Law Satan the World wherewith wee were oppressed to be broken asunder by Christ 10 For none either by their strength or their merit hath deliuered themselues from the yoke of the seruitude of Sinne Death Satan and the Law but Christ onely hath deliuered vs. Therefore our saluation entirely is to be ascribed vnto Christ alone 11 But though it be Christ himselfe which hath obtained victorie to vs without vs against all enemies yet can we not bee partakers of this victorie but as the true Israelites in the voyage against the Madianites wee carry the light of faith in our hearts and haue the trumpet thereof to wit Confession in our mouth as also it is written Ro. 10. With the heart we beleeue but with the mouth we confesse to saluation 12 Furthermore the cause of mans whole Redemption is double One by which and for which this is Christ the Mediatour and Christs merits The other efficiens primarie and principall that is both the aeternall and constant loue of Vaticinia alia aperta alia velaminibus tecta zanch. GOD towards his Church to wit the Elect as also the zeale of his glorie and honour Of the first the Prophet speaketh To vs a child is giuen to vs a Sonne is borne to beare the rule Of the second hee speaketh The zeale of the Lord of Hostes shall doe this 13 Christ doth beare vppon his shoulders the whole principalitie and burden thereof as the Prophet teacheth saying Whose gouernment is upon his sholders Now the Kingdome of Christ is the Church of the Saints therefore all wee faithfull ones are carried vpon his shoulders And whom Christ hath once taken vp to bee borne vpon his shoulders them hee neuer deiecteth downe from off his shoulders according also vnto that Iohn cap. 17. I haue kept those whom thou hast giuen mee Therefore our saluation is secure in Christ 14 The burdens of the principality or Kingdome of Christ are our sinnes but the gouernment with all his burdens is vpon his shoulders Therefore Christ doth beare the sinnes of all the Elect according to Esay 13. that also of the Prophet God hath put vppon him the iniquities of vs all 15 If the gouernment be vpon his shoulders Christ therefore himselfe Esay 9. doth perpetually protect gouerne his Church 16 If the Church be the Kingdome of Christ therefore the Church in respect of her Prince is a Monarchy and hath Christ only their Monarch And hee is an immortall prince and doth continually gouerne his Monarchy Therefore the Church is neuer nor can be without an Head 17 Hierusalem that is the Church is not only deliuered by Christ but also for Christ and that into two sorts first because for the merits of Christ it is redeemed and deliuered then for Christ as the finall cause because therefore the Church is deliuered that is the Kingdome of Christ is freed from the handes of the enemies and daily more and more inlarged that he alone at last himselfe together with the Father may enioy it in Heauen according to that also of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. Then shall he giue vp the Kingdome of God againe to his father as wee also on the other side shall enioy God and our Prince Christ 18 The fountaine and originall of our saluation is the eternall and constant Loue of God to-vs-ward aeternall for that he hath loued vs to life aeternall not in time but from aeternity before we were borne constant for that whom once hee hath imbraced with that his eternal loue he holdeth on