Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	comfort_n	doctrine_n	election_n	1,458	5	12.3413	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04827	Of the redemption of mankind three bookes wherein the controuersie of the vniuersalitie of redemption and grace by Christ, and of his death for all men, is largely handled. Hereunto is annexed a treatise of Gods predestination in one booke. Written in Latin by Iacob Kimedoncius D. and professor of Diuinitie at Heidelberge, and translated into English by Hugh Ince preacher of the word of God.; De redemptione generis humani. English	Kimedoncius, Jacobus, d. 1596.; Ince, Hugh, b. 1554 or 5.	1598 (1598)	STC 14960; ESTC S108025	345,675	422

was first made became wicked Is God a debter vnto vs to restore vs because we lost grace receiued Or shall it not therefore be lawfull for him to require againe of vs that which is his owne He hath power to exact it and hath power also to remit it But of whom it must bee exacted and to whom it must be remitted it belongs to the Lord to iudge and not to the debters Obiection But say they the reprobates while God forsaketh and hardeneth them cannot auoide sinnes And it seemeth vniust if God should punish a man for those things that he cannot auoide Answere I know surely that this seemeth vniust to Albert Pighius and other Sophisters whose wisedome God hath made foolishnes but how vniustly it is manifest for if that reason were any thing worth God could not without a token of crueltie and iniustice punish originall sinne which certainly no man can auoide in his birth Obiection They obiect this also He that foreseeth sinne and doth not hinder it when he may is not without fault God foreseeth sins and doth not hinder them when he might most easily Therefore c. Answere Hereunto some make answere that God doth not put away sinnes because hee will haue his reasonable creature to retaine his libertie and choise of good and euil which otherwise he should lose But if that reason were forcible either Gods grace should be destroyed whereby the godly and elect auoide sinnes or els they must be said to want the choise of good and euill Therefore to answer more truly we must here remember that wee ought not to dispute of the righteousnes of God after the rule of mans righteousnes The first proposition taketh place concerning men and not concerning God For men both by the societie of nature Gods law are bound one to ●nother that one should procure the welfare of another and hinder the destruction But God is bound to none and he may doe with his creature what hee will without the iniurie of the creature as Lord of all and hauing full dominion ouer his owne goods Further because of his omnipotent goodnes and wisedome he can tell how to worke good euen of euill which men cannot doe Which things seeing they stand thus let no man in his heart accuse God who will render to euery one according to his workes Psalm 102. but let euery one blame himselfe when he sinneth and let him say when he is damned Thou art iust O Lord in all that thou doest vnto vs and all thy iudgements are true And whosoeuer is set free let him say Psalm 144. The Lord is mercifull and full of compassion he hath not recompenced vs according to our sinnes Obiection 7 As for that that was added touching despaire that it was bred in the mindes of men by the doctrine of the constant and vnchangeable purpose both of Gods election and reprobation Predestination is 〈◊〉 ground of our comfort and no cause of despe●ation it is also a meere slaunder Nay it is the most true ground of all our comfort and saluation that we know that God hath chosen his owne in Christ before the foundation of the world who beleeue in him and hath predestinated them vnto adoption according to the good pleasure of his owne will and that this purpose of free election and predestination is so firme that neither it can bee changed of any creature neither doth God euer repent him of his gifts and calling This thing the places of Scripture euery where confirme which speake of predestination as what the Apostle saith ● Tim. 2. The foundation of God standeth sure hauing this seale The Lord knoweth who are his Doubtles the Scripture speaketh this to our consolation least wee should be troubled for the reuolt of some men from the Gospell and for other offences And more fully Rom. 8. We know that all things work for the best to them that loue God that is to them who are called of purpose For whom he foreknew them he predestinated also to be made conformable to his image c. And thus concludeth I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor any creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu We see how the Apostle armeth vs against all temptations of this world with this perswasion that election is sure and stable whereby wee are chosen in Christ vnto eternall life freely and of his meere loue as the Lord also in the Gospell comforteth vs therewith Matth. ●3 Ioh. 10. Luke 10 11. that the elect cannot be seduced that he suffereth not his sheepe to bee pluck● out of his hand that our names are written in heauen Also feare not little flocke for it pleaseth your father to giue you a kingdome And in Iohn Ioh. 6. least the faithfull should be offended through the obstinacie of the vnbeleeuers what soeuer the father giueth me saith he commeth vnto me and he that commeth vnto me I will not cast him forth because I came downe from heauen to doe his will that sent me Therefore by the view of these sayings of Scripture it appeareth that the doctrine of the firmenes of Gods election is reuealed vnto vs for this cause that it might bee the foundation of all certaintie against all kinde of temptations which arise either in respect of our infirmitie among so many dangers of the godly or of the vnbeliefe or apostacie of others from the faith or in respect of other thing Hereof saith Luther notably when he had auouched Praefat. ad Rom. that the decree of predestination is sure and vnmoueable addeth moreouer that this necessitie is most necessarie vnto saluation and consolation He assigneth the reason because we be so w●●ke in our selues that if our saluation consisted in our owne stregth very few or none should bee saued for the deuill would ouercome all men But now saith he seeing Gods decree is sure and most certaine and cannot be altered by any creature wee haue hope to ouer come sinne at the length Luth. de ser arb cap. 144. Hee teacheth the same thing at large and amplifieth it by the consideration of so many perils and deuils daily assaulting vs. A●●de praed●st sanct cap. ● And surely it is a wonder among so many streites wherewith our life is beset that any man had rather betake himselfe to his owne infirmitie than to the certainety of Gods promise and grace Obiection I am vncertaine of my election which maketh me sad But thou wilt say the will of God concerning my selfe is vncertaine vnto me And this is it that maketh me sad and sorowfull that seeing there is a certaine and sealed number of them that be predestinate which cannot be increased nor diminished I am vncertaine whether I belong to that number if I knew this I would rest my selfe in that sure foundation Answere Answere This is one question whence we may knowe our selues to be elect

peraduenture hee will more increase the griefe because hee seeth a sharpe purgation to be more necessary Fourthly Ambrose weighing Peters words to Simon against the Nouatians that commonly abused them Lib. de poenicent cap. 5. teacheth by many examples that that is the custome of the Scripture euen boldly to vse through a certaine simplicitie of vtterance such kinds of speaking wherein there is some shew of doubting Obiection 4 Furthermore whereas the aduersaries alleage that the certaintie of grace if men could be sure of it would be an occasion and cause of great licentiousnes and Epicurish securitie it is a meere ignorance and slander For it cannot be but the feeling of the loue of God towards vs whereby the multitude of our sinnes is gratiously couered should beget more and more in our hearts towards him againe the loue of new obedience as it is written Psal 13. 18. With thee is mercie that thou maist be feared Also I will loue thee O Lord my strength my tower and the horne of my saluation What if the aduersaries themselues confesse that a speciall reuelation is graunted to some of the certaintie of their saluation It will follow then by their own opinion that God doth cast such men into the danger of prophanenes and Epicurish securitie Neither doth it any whit hinder the certaintie of saluation Prou. 18. that we are commanded to be fearfull in auoiding falles not to be puffed vp nor to bee ouer wise but to feare Rom. 11. 1. Cor. 10. Marke this that he that seemeth to stand fall not For by these and such like the securitie of the flesh and not faith is condemned and the vse of the meanes subordinate to saluation is required So Paul albeit he was certified by an Angell of his owne safetie and of theirs that failed with him and beleeuing God that so it should come to passe as he had told him yet he suffered not the mariners to flie out of the ship but said vnles these men abide in the ship ye cannot be saued Acts 27. Thus the confidence of saluation and a godly care to vse the meanes and not to tempt the Lord doe very well agree together They vse also to charge our doctrine with presumption Obiection 5 Beucer de Concor a●t grat but in vaine For we beleeue God that promiseth Wherfore our confidence and certaintie resteth not vpon our own presumption but vpon his promise as Augustine well distinguisheth tract 22. in Ioh. Finally they wrest for their purpose what our writers plainly Obiection 6 confesse themselues that no man can exclude in this world all doubting alwaies of his owne saluation and of the care that God hath of him Whosoeuer say they doubteth of his saluation is not sure of it but all men doubt therefore no man is sure of it But this snare we easily auoide by this caution or distinction He that doubteth is not sure to wit for that time that he doubteth and in speaking of some * Idea patterne of certaintie But now doubting oftentimes ariseth but not alwaies in the minds of the godly because of the infirmitie and battell of the flesh against the spirit and they get with much adoe the vpper hand againe by this vertue and power to whom they crie with teares I beleeue Lord Mark 9. helpe my vnbeliefe And albeit this be a sufficient impediment that we can not attribute vnto the godly the * Ideam maner or forme of the certaintie of faith whereby all doubting and trembling is excluded yet there is not sufficient cause to depriue them of all certaintie of grace and saluation vnles a man would by the like reason auouch Ierem. 12. Abac. 1. Psalm 73. that euen the holy men of God Ieremie Abacuc Asaph and others were vncertaine of the prouidence of God and his righteous gouernment of all things because of some doubtings that were in them concerning that matter Therefore let it stand as a certaine thing that while wee liue in this mortalitie and banishment as it were of this world we be not without the way and meane whereby to our comfort wee may bee made sure of our saluation And while this standeth fast it necessarily followeth that wee may know and be assured of the election also of vs to eternall life For seeing saluation belongeth to the elect onely doubtles the certaintie of it cannot stand without the certaintie of Gods election which is the fountaine beginning and ground of saluation CHAP. XXIIII How and by what meanes we are made certaine of the election of vs in Christ Reuelation is needefull MOreouer the meane whereby a man may be made sure of the election of himselfe vnto eternall life dependeth vpon the reuelation not of flesh and blood but of God himselfe the chuser Rom. 11. 1. Cor. ● For who hath knowne the minde of the Lord or who is of his counsell Or what man knoweth the things that belong to a man but the spirit of a man that is in him So no man knoweth the things of God but the spirit of God And we saith the Apostle haue not receiued the spirit of the world but the spirit that is of God that we may know what things God hath bestowed vpon vs. Seeing therfore the counsels of God cannot bee knowne without diuine manifestation what marueile is it if so great a secret I meane the predestination of vs to adoption and to eternall life cannot otherwise bee seene into of vs And if we assay speculatiuely or as they speake à priore to search into the eternall counsell of God concerning our saluation the great depth of it will swallow vs vp and hee that searcheth out Gods maiestie Prou. 25.27 shall be ouerwhelmed with the glorie of it But there is for the most par● a threefold reuelation of election first by the most certaine effects of election it selfe Reuelation is threefolde secondly by the word of promise and thirdly by the seale of the holy Ghost The first way therefore as I said is by the effects of election such as these are a true and liuely saith in Christ The first way wherby a man may know himselfe to be elected The effects of election ingrafting into Christ by faith iustification and the regeneration of the spirit shewing it selfe more and more by newnes of life and the studie of righteousnesse and good workes By these à posteriore wee iudge of election as the proper cause of them For strong reasons are drawne as from the cause to the effect so againe from the effect to the cause as it is knowne by the rules of Logike The Minor of this argument to wit that faith iustification conuersion c. proceede from election as the proper cause wee haue confirmed before at large when wee intreated of the effects of predestination here onely let certaine sayings of Scripture be viewed Act. 13. As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeued

teach vs. Cal. li. 3. Iust cap. 24. sect 3. and dangerous questions of the secret counsels of God we enquire not but by the expresse word of God of his gracious will and loue towards vs whereby hee hath chosen vs in Christ before the world And that thou mayest not doubt Christian reader behold the testimonies of two notable writers of this point I meane Caluin and Luther who haue most diligently taught the doctrine of predestination Thus then Caluin saith That we may bee made sure of our saluation wee must begin at the word of God therewith we must be content for our assurance that we may call God father For some men preposterously that they may be certaine of the counsell of God which is neere vs in our mouth and in our hearts desire to flee aboue the cloudes That rashnes must be bridled by the sobrietie of faith that God who is the witnesse of his secret grace may content vs in his externall word And in the next Sectiō We shall obserue the best order if in seeking out the certainty of our election we rest our selues in those latter signes which are the certaine witnesses thereof and doe not inquire after our election without the way By inquiring without the way I meane when wretched man goeth about to pearce into the hidden secrets of Gods wisedome to vnderstand It is very dangerous to seeke for our election without the word what is determined of him before Gods iudgement seate But as they plunge themselues into a deadly gulfe that search into the eternall counsell of God without his word to bee certified of their election so they that seeke for it rightly and orderly as it is shewed in the worde receiue from thence great fruite of consolation In Gen. 16. And Luther intreating of this matter writeth after this sort Such thoughts as search out any high misterie aboue and without the reuelation of God are altogether deuillish whereby no other good commeth than our headlong destruction because they lay before vs an vnsearcheable obiect that is God vnreuealed And at large in that place he reproueth that horrible disease as they cal it whereby men go on to search out God speculatiuely and rush at length into desperation contempt Contrariwise Luther teacheth Try thy faith and the fruites of it if thou wilt know thy election that this examination Whether thou bee predestinated or no dependeth on faith in Christ and the fruites of a true faith saying If thou heare the sonne and be baptized in his name and loue his word then surely thou art predestinated and certaine of thy saluation Also If thou beleeuest in God reuealed and receiuest his worde thou shalt by little and little know God also who is secret yea euen now thou knowest him And interlasing a few words he saith Thou ought certainely and without doubting to make account of God that he is mercifull vnto thee for Christs sake that thou art redeemed and sanctified through the precious blood of the sonne of God and so thou shalt be sure of thy predestination without all curious and dangerous questions of the secret counsels of God Behold thou hast the sonne he that beleeueth and is baptized is written in the booke of life c. Our election must be found a posteriore And this way of finding out our election a posteriore that is by that which cōmeth after he elegātly compareth with the vision of Moses to whom when he desired to see Gods face the Lord answered I will shew thee my backe partes but thou canst not see my face Exod 33. as though God should say to euery one of vs by Luthers exposition I will shew thee plainely my foreknowledge and predestination but not by way of natural searching and carnall wisedome being God vnreuealed I will bee reuealed and yet I will abide the same God still I will send my sonne heare thou him behold him what he doeth and what hee saith if thou heare him thou art certainly predestinated Concerning this vision of the Lord wee may vse that saying of Bernard O place of true rest this vision doth not terrifie but comfort it doth not stirre vp restles curiositie but doth alay it neither doth it weary a man but giue him ease here is true quietnes a peaceable God calmeth all things and to behold him peaceable is to be at rest and quiet Further this caueat also must not bee omitted that A needefull admonition if any man finde not as yet in himselfe these later signes whereof we haue spoken he ought not therefore despaire of the predestination of himselfe to life For there bee twelue houres of the day and he that is not called in the morning or about the third houre may bee called of God at the sixt or ninth peraduenture euen at the eleuenth houre Albeit wee ought not in the meane while to deferre repentance as it is written Put not off from day to day to turne to the Lord Eccles 5. neither make any delay for his wrath will come suddenly and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee And in the Psalme Psalm 95. To day if ye will heare his voyce harden not your hearts CHAP. XXV What is meete for vs to iudge of the election of other men FVrthermore by the grounds that hitherto haue been laid open concerning the certaintie of our election it is no hard thing to iudge what we are to thinke being Christians of the election of others in Christ according to the rule of Christ that is Charitie to wit we ought not onely to be sure of the predestination of our selues in Christ but also to iudge the same thing of our brethren in Christ and not to despaire of others before their death We here make a difference betweene brethren that professe with vs the same faith and those that are without who are vnbeleeuers as yet and strangers from the societie of a holy brotherhood As touching our brethren albeit a faithfull man cannot iudge so certainly of others as of himselfe ye the ought to account and acknowledge them for elect In whom we see faith and repentance we must count them for elect so long as the contrary doth not appeare The reason is because faith and conuersion be signes of election Therefore whom we iudge to be partakers of faith conuersion those also must we needs comprehend in election And of this iudgement we haue the Apostles of the Lord for authors 1. Pet. 1. Eph. 1. 1. Thes 1. where Paul saith Wee know brethren beloued that ye are chosen of God because our Gospell was among you not in word only but in power in the holy Ghost and in much assurance And 2. Thes 2. We thanke God brethren beloued of the Lord because God hath chosen you vnto saluation from the beginning through the sanctification of the spirit and faith in the trueth Obiection But many such often happen to fall