a church of God but thou muste beleue to be a porcion therof one of the lyuely stones therfore one of the electe And to beleue the cōmunion of sainctes thou must feele that as a mēber of Christ he doth perticipate his grace with the and that thou art therby saued thou must also beleue that remissiō of sinnes that is not only that he dothe pardon sinnes but that he hathe pardoned the thine and so elected the. Euen so thou must beleue that thou shalt rise glorious and haue life euerlasting Then ther is no article of our faith that can be beleued in suche sorte as it ought to be of those whiche do not beleue they are elected To the Christian it is then necessary to beleue that God is his God and father that he worcketh all for his benefite and that Chryste is come was borne hath liued died and risen againe for his saluacion so that with liuely faith he imbraceth Christ wholi for his own with al his treasur and grace And likewise al his life death resurrection assention and glorye and perceiueth the charitie of God in Christe as if there hadde bene no mo but onlye him selfe in the world and that Christ for him onlye wold haue wrought and suffered no les then he hath done The which when thou dost beleue thou shalt perceyue thou arte elect Yea he that beleueth not he is electe can not praye as he oughte beinge withoute faithe withoute the whiche after Paul we can not effecteously recommende vs to god Roma x. Iaco. i. bicause that we must aske in faith if we wil aske in veriti be hard now if thou beleue not to be his sōne heire how cāst thou as Christ taughte say our father as a sonne with cōfidence aske him grace Praier may wel be made of infidels and Ipocrites but lyke folishe scoffers and mockers When thou saiest halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thou must haue in the the spirit of adoption of the sonne of God And as the sōne is moued of vehemente loue pure and sincere to desire the kingdome and glory of the father so must thou seinge the the sonne of God with a deuine spirite by the force of loue aske and desyre that thy heauenlie father be honored and reigne in his elect with oute rebellion Likewyse shalte thou neuer thancke God with all thy herte if thou beleue not to be one of the elect yea if thou shalt doubte therin or thinke to be dampned in thy harte and in thy lyfe and paraduenture also with thy wordes thou wilte dispraise him that he hath giuen the a beinge that he hath create the world sente Chryste and so the rest his benefites and wilt saie If I am not saued what do these thinges profit me it had ben better for me that I had neuer ben Mar. xiiii as Christ said of Iudas If I shal be dampned the death of Christ serueth me not but doth inflame burne with al the rest of his benefites thou canst not in perfection thē thācke god if thou feare dampnaciō Rom. viii But who so beleueth he is one of the elect therby that al things serue him to saluacion euen the verye troubles he holdeth for a speciall grace and benefite in them perceiuinge the goodnes of God he giueth him thanckes with all his herte Who shal he be that committeth him selfe holy to the gouernaunce of God as euery one oughte to do if he beleue not that God is his father that he pardoneth him doth take of him most singuler cure Other wise they shal neuer trust in God but with Adam shall feare him and flye sekinge to hide him selfe from the face of God nether is it possible to loue God in veritie honor him as he ought to be honored and approue for iuste and hollye all his worckes and so delite wholye in him if he fele not in Christe so much the goodnes of God Gala. iiii that he se him selfe hys sonne also heire If he know not him selfe to be a sonne he shal feare as aseruaunt and in all his worckes haue respecte to him selfe his paines displeasures incommodites dishonoures and hel or els to this paradice and not to the glorye of God As he that seeth him selfe a sonne lord of al and heire and suer therof such a one worketh only by strength of spiirt vehemēcie of loue to the glory of God to whome he hath turned his whole intent to that ende ordreth his whole lyfe Also it can not be possible to loue thy neighbour as thi selfe as a brother in Christ and mēber with the of the same bodie if thou do not beleue to be in the nomber of the sonnes of God And finalli ther can not one good worcke be done but of them that are regenerate sonnes of God members of Christe and haue in them the holy spirite which testifieth in their hertes that they be the sonnes of God And mai parteli be sene howe false and vngodlye is the doctrine of the antechristians that where as it is cheiflye necessarie to beleue that we are elected also aboue all thinges most commodious thei force thē selues to withdraw euery one frō this fayth perswading them to stand in doubte as thoughe they had wherin to mistruste the goodnes of God Osee xiii vpon whome onlie dependeth oure saluation as our dāpnacion doth of our selues But let vs praye to God to open our eyes to the ende they maye no longer blaspheme but render to God all honor laude and glorie by Iesu Christe our Lorde ☞ Amen ☜ ¶ If it be good to seeke to know wherfore God hath some electe and some reprobate the syxt Sermon THy desyre maye be wycked as it is in many to whō it apeareth that it should haue ben better if God who being of power as he is had elected all men and semeth thē that in this God hath lacked of charitie yea in theyr language they say in their herrte secretly If we had bene God we would haue elected all and would haue had more charitie thē he Now behold whether this be vngodly folyshe proude blasphemy or not They Imagine to haue more loue to the soules then he that for to saue them gaue his onely begotten and dearly beloued sonne vpon the crosse i. Iohn iiii There are some other to whom it semeth on the one syde that god can not erre and on the other parti hearinge that he hath reproued many they thinke the cōtrary They are not certeine by fayth that God can not erre and that al that he willeth must nedes be iuste Therfore to make it clere they go searchyng wherfore he hath not elected all men and they would fynd a cause where is none If such were godly they shuld quiete and satisfie thē selues shuld haue their felicitie in the deuine plesure wtout searching to assēd any hler It is euyl thē to seke wherfore god
hebrues that which in faith do imitate folow Abraham they are the elect Mala. i. When God also in Mala. sheweth to the Iues that he hath loued thē because he loued Iacob of whom they descended and hated Esau His reason had ben vnuailable if God dyd loue and those by workes For the Iewes might haue answered if thou didest loue Iacob the Hebrues it was because thou didest forsee their good workes and in lyke case thou wouldest haue done to Esau and the Gentils Roma ix if thou haddest foresene any good workes in them But Paule sheweth that the Messias is come also to the gētils because God geueth his gyftes with out hauinge respecte to workes If thou demaund wherfore he hath elected thē Paul answereth because it is written I wyl shew mercy on whom it pleaseth me Roma ix Therfore Paule doth inferre and bringe in that paradise is not his that wyl nor that runneth or laboreth by hymselfe to get it but his that God wyl shewe mercy vnto He myght also haue answered that although God hated Esau before he was borne before he dyd sinne he is not therfore wycked for he had hym not in hate or he did forese his wickednes But he saith that he doth indurate whō he wyl to set forth the brightnes of his glorie And to his purpose he doth alledge the example of Pharao Now tel me howe it is possible that God can forse in vs any good if he determine not to geue it vs Thou wilt say he saw that some could vse well frewil and some not therfore he chose the fyrst and refused the seconde they coulde not vse it well wythout hys grace Wherefore then dyd he determine to geue that grace of well vsynge to the one and not to the other It behoueth to returne to the deuine wyll and saie because it pleased him not for the vsinge wel of fre wil is the effecte and frute and not the cause of election Peraduenture thou wylte saye he did determine to geue grace to all but he sawe that some wold vse it wel and those he chose and some euel and those he forsoke But tell me the vse of that grace is also the gyfte of God wherfore did he not determine to geue that grace to all also to vse it Thou muste nedes saie at laste also because it pleased him not If thou wilt saie those that vsed it not well was not because thei lacked the grace to vse it no more then the other but they did not occupye it when they had it the desalte was theires not of God nor of the grace If it were so we shuld haue wherin to glorye in our selues But Paul is in the contrarie willeth that to God ought to be rendred all honour and glorye i. Cor. iiii Romm iiii i. Timo. i. Iero. i. so as frō him commeth al goodnes We might also of our selues seperate vs frō the reprobate and so our hope shuld not be al wholy in God our saluaciō could not be certeine and suer as Chryst said nor the cause of oure election so hid Ihon. x. Rom. iiii vi.ix and .xi. as Paule saieth it is yea fre mercie shulde be no more fre merci if we might be saued by worckes and paradise shuld be a rewarde and not a gyfte cleane agaynst Paule The Hebrues dyd mo warckes thē the gentils and neuertheles he did chose the gentils and reproued the Iewes that soughte to be iustified by theyr workes God from the beginning for sawe in vs nothing but repugnancie and rebelliō agaynst his grace being by the sinne of Adam the children of ire proue Ephe. ii Gene. viii Rom. xi Psal xvii ii Reg. xxii Psalm xliii i Cor ii Iaco. i. Ihon. xv and enclined to all euyl Paule calleth our elecciō the eleccion of fre mercye Dauid sayth he saued me because he loued me and because it pleased him He saueth then his electe because he delitethe in them and distributeth his mercy after his owne wyl Thē he hath begotten vs voluntarily by mere mercye and not by our workes so that the .xij. Apostels dyd not chose Christe but he chose thē to the Apostleship So we be not they that haue chosen God to saue vs but God is he that hathe chosen vs to saluacion Euen as Paul was called withoute workes by free mercy because it pleased God so he was elected to shewe his mercie Acte ix Gala. i. i. Timo. i. Ephe. ii and the aboundaunt ryches of his glorie It is humilitie it selfe to beleue that we are chosen by grace Thys opinion geueth al glory to God and to vs only confusion And because we can not erre in glorifiyng to much the fre mercie and bountie of God and abatinge the pryde of man Therfore it is most sure yea although it stode not wyth the holye scriptures as it doth And the more it displeaseth the carnal man because it cōfoundeth al hys glorye so much the more it is pleasing to the spiritual because it magnifieth God Christ his fre mercy the gospel And to say my opinion it pleaseth me best to be all wholy in the hande of God Yea if mine elecciō were in my custodie I wolde if I myght render it vnto God in whose hand it must of force be better and more sure Yea woe to vs if in the least point it did depend vpō our selues Se then what becommeth of them that imagine although falsely that it dependith only vpon the goodly workes that they do to make thē selues elected again wher on the other partie thou shalt se that those which with lyuely faith beleue to be by the mere mercy of God and by the death of Christe in the number of the electe and sonnes of God for that they fele in Christe and by Christ the greate charitie of God are by strength of the spirite and loue forced to do worckes to bee wondered at not seruile for they see them selues heyres but the worckes of a sonne sincere and pure to the glorie of their lyuely father beynge preuented by loue If thou wouldeste beleue we are not worthye to be so elected by free mercye I woulde aunswere neyther that Chryste shoulde suffer for vs vpon the Crosse but dyd he not therfore die Christe hathe not elected vs because we were worthy therof but for the glorie of his goodnes Ephe. i. The cause of oure eleccion is not then to bee soughte but at the diuine wyll Of the reprobate I entende not to dispute wherefore God hath cast them of because it is neyther nedefull to vs nor profitable to knowe It serueth to humble vs and to knowe better the greate goodnesse of God that wee are elected by his grace and not by our workes The christiane ought to beleue to be one of the chosen Ephe. i. i. Cor. ii.v. and it ought to suffise hym to haue Christe for his booke in the which he seeth hym selfe
in sorte coÌ„mit them wyllingly that if they had power not to do them yet euery waye they wold do them beinge their wyll so malignauÌ„te as it is Their wyll then is not violented or forced to do euel of ani outward power but of his owne proper entiere or inward malyce And so the other partie the regenerate by the gladsome entier liuelye enflamed light that they haue of the bouÌ„ty of god thei are forced to eleuate theÌ„ selues with an amorous violeÌ„ce Therfore voluÌ„tarily with perfect liberti to god to whom for euer be all laud honor and glory through Iesu Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ Of the effectes wrought bi the spirite of god when it entreche in to the soule the .xiiii. Sermon EVen as Christ entring into the holye citye of Ierusalem Math. xxi the whole citie was moued so moueth the citie of the soule when Christe entreth therein specially sence from that as from a fort strong municioned rocke he hath the greate deuyll to chase away And if in the lunatike son Luke xi Luke ix ther was a greate coÌ„mocion when Christ out of his body wold haue drawen the malignauÌ„t spirite that had possessed hym thinke what coÌ„mocion there is when he chaseth hym froÌ„ the soule in the which he dwelleth more willyngly And knowe that it maketh a coÌ„mocion not onli outward in ceremonies as do coÌ„monly the false christianes when it is nere Easter but there is a coÌ„mocion within the very bowels of the soule and inward parte of the herte there is nothing that so caÌ„ perce the soule as doth the spirite of god when it entreth into it by speciall slidinge Not only it spoileth vs of the olde Adam with hys concupiscence doth cloth vs wyth Christ Roma xlii Ihon. iii. with all his vertues but also maketh vs to be borne a new that as if a poore man were sodenly made an Emperoure he shulde be wholy chaunged so he that of a vile sinner is made the sonne of God chauÌ„geth thoughtes effectes desires and wyll chaungeth frenshipes practises wordes workes and life and of humaine beastly carnall earthe and deuelishe he becommeth heuenly spirituall angelicall and deuine as did Paul goinge to Damasco when Christ did enter his herte Actes ix Psalm lxxvi i. Reg. xi Math. xii There was a mutacion from the righte hande of God When the spirite of the Lorde entreth in a person he is chaunged into another man for that dieng to the world he beginneth to liue to him self And if when Christe did enter in to the temple he purged it from those that bought and solde thincke if when he entreth into the spiritual temple he clenseth it from euery vnclennes of sinne Rom. viii there restith not in it any thinge of dampnacion he healeth it moste perfectlye so that if the vncleane woman was healed at the touche of the hemme of Christes garment thou mayst thinke what it is when Christ in spirite entring in to the soule and the person with lyuely fayth imbraceth him wholy for his Also as when the sonne beames enter into thy house thou perceiuist in the ayre eueÌ„ to the smalest mote which thou couldest not se before so wheÌ„ in the soule do enter the beames of lyght of the diuine grace the sinnes are perceiued in more cleare maner Luke xv Yea as the prodigal sonne neuer knew nor perceiued truly his own errour til with such pitie he was imbraced of his father had profe how great was the fatherly goodnes and charitie whiche he had offended so the sinner when he conuerteth beginneth with the spirite to taste the diuine goodnes he beginneth also to know his malice pride and ingratitude with the rest his vnlawful sinnes Luke xvi He restoreth with Zacheus that which is not his if Christ enter into his house and dispenseth the superfluous thinges yea beyng ryche with the treasures of Christe he leaueth al with vnmeasurable loue He can not participate or take parte of the bountie of god that doth not coÌ„municate distribute to others The liuelye flame muste needes breake forth Iho. vii or els beinge smoudered it queÌ„cheth the fouÌ„taines that coÌ„tinuallye receiue ruÌ„ning water must of force ouerflow so thei that haue in theÌ„ the holy gost Roma viii by that testimonie wherof they are sure to be the soÌ„nes of god haue coÌ„tinually one such so entire sincere and pure gladnes whiche groweth of the liuely knowledge that they haue of the greate goodnes of god that thei caÌ„ not expresse it i. Pet. i. nor thei caÌ„not coÌ„preheÌ„d theÌ„ selfes Therfore not being able to with hold theÌ„ selues they springe leape for ioye with Ihon Baptist Luke i. with his mother they make exclamacioÌ„ Exo. iiii Acte iiii Math. vii as to Zacharie so are their toÌ„ges losed so that although in praising of god thei perceiue with Moses that they staÌ„mer and are of an vnlearned tonge neuertheles with the Apostels Math. vii they can not kepe scilence of that which they haue heard sene felt with the spieite they must nedes speake by the superabundauÌ„ce of loue that they haue Ihon. iiii they desyre with the woman of Samarye that euery one should taste that which they them selues haue had experieÌ„ce of And although for preaching the gospell they be persecuted for al that they do not desiste and leaue of but triumphing in al they perseuer and go furth euen to the death Roma v. thei feele in such sorte in the herte the charitie of god â—cte v. that not onlie it is swete to them to suffer for his loue but with the apostels they reioyce therin And for that they participate of that greate charitie of Christe by beynge his members Therfore with hym they pardon al men beyng ready to shed their bloud and put theyr lyfe for their enemies with Paul also to be accursed from Christe Roma ix Acte vii And this because that as to Steuen so the heauens are opened to them in suche sorte that in spirite with clere supernatural lyght of fayth they see the glory of god in hauing geuen his only begotteÌ„ dearely beloued soÌ„ne for them vpon the crosse they rest also quiet as the shyp when Christ entred into it they haue the peace of coÌ„science knowyng with certeine fayth Mat. vi Roma v. that god by Christe by hys mercie hath pardoned them They haue also quietnes of minde in suche maner that thoughe they were in al the perils necessities of the world yet alwayes aprouing for iuste the iudgemeÌ„tes of god knowyng that he is their only father that he hath most singuler cure of them that euery thynge serueth them to saluacion they stand most suerly quiet in peace traÌ„quillitie These suche for that they walke according to the vocacion of god haue honour of euery enterprise that they take in hand they can not be letted or resisted no more theÌ„ god Yea it is force that euerye one feare them as Herode feared Sainte IhoÌ„ Baptiste Gene. xxi Gene. xxvi for that he had in him the spirit of the Lorde as Abimelech did AbrahaÌ„ Isaac They are daylye more firme stablyshed in good purposes to do euer better beyng lyfted vp coÌ„tinually to a greater perfeccion with Paule althoughe their minde be conuersaunt in heaueÌ„ neuerthelesse descending by christian pitie i Cor i. to fele the miseries of their brethern they laboure also to drawe them to Christ and moue theÌ„ to haue the spirite to be in veritie Christianes not I pocrites As the very grape doth moue the birdes to taste therof and not the pytfal And finally although with the Apostelles they euer remaine wyth Christe and wyth the Cananite Ihon. vi Math. vii whiche woulde not departe for his vngentle wordes neuertheles they are promte and readie for his honoure and glorye to leaue wyth the Samaritane hys swete presence And what is more to be sayde when the spirite of God dothe enter in to a soule he suffereth it not to slepe Ioh. iiii nor stand in idlenesse but maketh it worcke thynges merueylous and inexplicable for the loue of God to whome be euer all laude honoure and glorie by Iesu Christe oure Lord AmeÌ„ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwellynge ouer Aldersgate Wylliam Seres dwellyng in Peter Colledge Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum
the diuine eleccion neither quench or diminishe the diuine charitie Yea hereof our sinnes toke occasion to be shewed with excesse of more loue Roma v. We are not by this inuited to more Idlenes nor to watche when we shall haue Manna from heauē neither to be wickedly occupyed but we are drawē and moued so much more to loue him as he is discouered to vs by more bountie and charitie But those that are not by Christe regenerate are of so base vyle a mind through sinne that they can not thinke God to be so liberall as to geue heauē without our workes But they ought at the leaste to thinke that to bye it the bloud of Christ is sufficiēt without adioyning therto their workes to boote which surely are rych iuels to be mingled with his God is so frāke that he hath geuen vs Christ Roma viii and in him al thinges and canst not thou thinke he hath geuen the heauen It is also our greater glorie that God hath loued vs somuche that his owne selfe hath wylled to take the care charge of our saluation And so to that ende hath wylled his only sonne to die vpon the crosse so that if with all our trauaile we might enter into heauen by our selues the glorie only of the crosse is a far greater glory then any other which by our selues we could attaine Yea there is no other trew glory then to glorie to be so much loued of God that he hath to saue vs put his sonne vpon the crosse He may not dwel in his owne loue that willeth to be happy and only glory in God If we myght glorye of ourselues we should haue wherof to waxe proude and prefer our selues afore oure brethern where otherwyse we should haue occasion to be humble and geue to God all honoure and glorye as to him it apperteineth i. Timo. i. And further such as beleue thē selues to be by grace elected saued sonnes of God heyres and sure therof not only because ther remaineth no more to get God in Christ hauing geuen them all but also by the great vnderstanding they haue of the goodnes of the Lord they are cōstrained to worke as childrē for the glori of their father and not for their owne gaine and so also sure of their saluacion with Christ they turne them with al their force to seke the saluacion of their brother they demaund also grace with a bolder spirite and confidence sence they axe it not for their owne lucre but for he honor of God Ephesi i. Rom. vi Psal xxxii and to his laude and gloy so that in the worldes to come may be sene aboūdant riches of his fre mercy Moreouer such hope to be hard for that thei thinke not to deserue grace Rom. iiii Gala. iii. ii Cor iii. Ioh. iii. neither put their trust in their owne workes but in the goodnes of God being inspired and moued therto by the holy gost Suche also as feele that our saluacion dependeth not vpon vs but oure damnacion and that it standeth wholye in the hande of God are forced to turne their backes to them selues and theyr faces to God Where as the cōtrary belefe wold make the contrary operacion they would withdraw them from God and seke to reste with hope in them selues also if God had elected vs with this condicion Ephe. i. If we wolde do well we should be vnder the lawe contrary to Paul neither we should be saued for the law saueth not but worketh wrathe and is the minister of cursing and damnacion Let him therfore that lusteth haue Christ for his iudge for I wyl none of him but as a sauiour If our eleccion by fre mercy dyd harme vs he wold not thē haue elected vs so But note them that thinke to haue theyr eleccion in their owne handes thou shalt se that thei are in their owne loue and trust presumtuous and full of vyce and yet for all thys they be so blynd and arrogant that they wyll haue heauen by iustice But let vs praye to the Lorde that he gyue them knowledge to the ende they may render to God all laude honour and glorye throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe Amen ¶ Howe excellent oure eleccion is the seconde Sermon PAul magnifieth our eleccion fyrste in his behalfe that hath elected vs sayinge Wee are elected neyther by man nor Aungell but by God Hyer cā not he go Then cōcernynge hym that elected vs oure eleccion is moste excellente And lykewyse concernynge the circumstaunce of tyme although aboue there is properlye no course of tyme. He elected vs as Paull wryteth before the constitucion of the worlde Ephe. i. meanynge from wythoute begynnynge sooner coulde he not electe vs. And moreouer he saythe that he elected vs which are most base most vile most abiect wormes in comparison of him Bi the sinne of Adam we were all defyled infected in firme frayle blynd malingnaunte full of venim contrari to god enemies and rebels so that a thinge more miserable coulde not haue binne chosen Paule doth also magnifye oure election in respect of the dignittie to the whiche we are elected and sayth he hath not chosen vs to be hys seruauntes or frendes but to be hys children nothyng to god can be more nyghe entire and dere thē his children nether is it possible to imagine a greater dignitie It doth include al other vertues and goodnes it is so hyghe and excellent Being then elected from so miserable an estate to be the sōnes of god He hath also chosen vs to be the brethren of Christe therby with him coheires of god Rom. viii yea the worlde is oures Chryst with al his gyftes al that is the fathers is the sonnes therfore al is ours that is gods whose goodes we mai dyspose as children their fathers And bycause we should shame to be the sonnes of god not hauing the maners graces and vertues conueient to suche a dygnitie therfore not onlye oure heauenlye father hath chosen vs to be his sonnes but hath blessed vs not wyth wordes onlye but wyth effectes not as Isaac blessed Iacob or Esau but wyth all spirituall bless nge in thinges celestiall And so accordyng to Paule Ephe. i. Collo i hathe made vs mete to be partakers of the feloweship of lyght delyuering vs frō the power of darkenes hath ledde vs into the kingedome of his beloued sonne God then with oute beginninge did determyne to iustifye glorifye and magnyfie those that he hadde elect and euen so he hath done Rom. vii◠as Paule wryteth who also exaltyth our election for that cause sainge that it was not our good worckes which God forsawe wythout beginning that were the cause of our electiō but he chose vs by mere mercie accordynge to the decreed purpose of his owne wyll to the laud and glorie of his mercie we were not then chosen bycause we were Holye but bycause we shoulde be holly bi his election and to
but a minute of an houre in perceyuing of him selfe elect by Christ seeth that which is true therfore shall it euer be true that he is one of the legitimat sonnes of God so that the same his faythe be not in anye maner founded vpon him self nor his own worckes but in christ and the diuine excellence and that it be not a certeine trifleinge lighte baren and deade opinion but a liuely faithe It must be said then that Iudas had neuer perfect faith nether was elect to saluaciō although he was chosen to the apostelshippe and the like say I of al the reprobate al such then as haue had at anie time liuely belefe to be saued bi christ may be suer of their saluation And so also they whiche haue once at the least bene perfectely geuen to God and committed to his gouernaunce vpon the couenaunte that he shall serue himselfe of them accordynge to his owne purpose and with truste that by Christ and his mere goodnes he hath accepted them for his owne they maye also beleue that they are saued bycause that he shal be no lesse God to them then thei shal be promised of him Therfore hauing had in that couenaunte lyuely faythe This is not spoken to declare that it is possible for gods elect to be wholy geuē to synne but if it were possible yet should they recouer that pestilence that God wyll forgeue them as his Chyldren in suche sorte that he wyl conducte them to saluacion althoughe they as muche as lyeth in them were continuallie prompte to all euyll yet is it necessary to saye that sence God hathe taken them for his as they knowe by the lyuely faythe that they haue hadde thereof that they shall ouercome that wyckednes and haue honoure thereby For hys goodnes passithe theyr euelnes he wold not haue inspired them to gyue them selfes if from withoute beginning he had not elected them and takē thē for his owne Some peraduenture will saye if we were onlye ones suer to haue bene for a litle time in the fauour of God to haue had his spirit in vs and liuely faith in him that we did beleue suerlye to be his elect yet we knowe not if it haue bene a perfect fayth or not we feare it to haue bene a certeine cold opinion and leste we were begiled in beleuing to be in gods fouor and elected of him I answer that this is an euidente signe that ye haue neuer had hitherto liuelye faith and knowledge of christe For as it is vnpossible to haue fyre within the brest and not fele it so is it impossible to haue in the hart christ the holye ghoste ardent charitie and the fierye lighte of faythe and not to perceiue it and this is for that his lighte is so clere and effectuous that not only it maketh thē to se and liuelie to fele with the spirit that christ is deade for them vpon the crosse that they are elect and sauid but also it dothe make them knowe that it whiche they see is by diuine inspiracion that it is the holye spirit whiche testifieth vnto theyr spirite that thei are the sonnes of God Rom. viii Whose testimonie is more clere open firme and certeine then al the outward oracles and miracles of the world which without the inward testimonie of the spirit can leaue vs none other thē doubtful Now that he that hath in him Christ and the spirit of God doth fele know and perceiue it it is clere by Christ which sayde that the world knew not the holy gost but that he was knowen of them in whom he was And by saynct Iohn which sayd also In this we know that Christ is in vs i. Iho. iii. euen by the holy gost which he hath geuen vs. Therfore sayd Paul trie your selues ii Cor. xiii make some profe of your selues is it possible that ye should not knowe Christ in you if ye be not reprobate And in an other place know ye not how ye are the temple of God that the holy gost dwelleth in you The holy spirite goth searching throughout i. Cor. ii Esa xxxii Roma xv Luke i. and iudgeth euery thing fayth is so clere that it sheweth vs the profunditie of god thou wilt that it be blynde of it selfe Yea Paul sayth that the holy gost is geuen to vs to the ende we myght know those thinges that haue bē geuen vs of Christ i. Tesa i. The kyngdom of God is peace as writeth Esai and Paul withoute seruile feare in much certentie Therefore as Chryst sawe that he was in the fauoure of his father and his beloued sonne so also do the electe se them selues all thoughe not with so cleare lighte and certentye but that they goo somtyme doubtynge stumbling and wauering But they oughte wyth the Apostles to pray Christ to augmēt their faith Luke xvii And seke with their good workes continually to make knowē to thē selfes more perfect their saluation and vocation that therby as by the effectes or fruites they shuld come into the ful riches of certeine perswacion and vnderstandinge of their election and saluation i. Tessa i ii Timo. iiii Rom. viii Gala. ii ii Cor. iii. Paule also knew he was in the fauour of God in faith hope and charitye elected the sōne of God saufe and suer and that he had the holy gooste and Christ within him when he said that he was one of them that Christ was come to saue and that he knewe in whome he beleued that he loked for the Crowne that nothynge colde seperate hym frō the loue of God whiche had elected him before the constitution of the worlde that he had the spirite of adopcion of the sonnes of God and that Christe was he who lyued and spake in him Saint Iohn also saied we are suer we know God and that we liue in him worldlie and carnall beastes are they which know not God in the holye gost Gala. ii Ioh. xiiii i. Cor. ii nor those thynges which be his euen as men not regenerate they are rustical paysaūtes of so abiecte and base a spirite that they can not beleue that God hath loued them so much that by the death of his only begotten and most intierly beloued sonne he would saue them take them for his chyldren and make them his heyres But astonied of theyr sinnes they are euer afrayed of hell Where the regenerate fele in such sorte the charitie of God in Christ that they knowe them selues to be saued Neyther canne they once thynke that Christe who hathe all his fathers power and shall be theyr iudge wyll refuse lose or dampne them and geue sentence agaynste his brethern and members Math. xxviii for whom he dyed on the crosse and would dye agayne if it were necessarie Ephe. i. They haue in them also the holye goste for an earneste of theyr saluation But if God had geuen vs nothyng but our beynge should not we
chifelie for that I am happye onlie bi that faythe of the whiche whosoeuer is voide is not yet entred in to the kingdome of God where is nothinge but ryghtuousnes peace and Ioie Rom. iiii Finalli Paule beleued to be elected as in many places he saythe yea he gloried therin neuerthelesse in God and so to beleue he induced others the which if it had bene euel he wolde not haue done Therfore if it be not euel let vs also with Paule glori vs by God in Christe who likewyse induced the Apostles Luke x. Math. xv Math. xvi to beleue that theyr names were writē in heauen that theyr heauenli reward was plētuous that they shulde iudge the xii tribes therby brought them to beleue thei were electe and that is also suer that if that belefe had bene euell he wold not haue caused it Thou wilt saie thou oughtest not to compare thy selfe equall wyth the sainctes I saie it is true that I oughte not to presume to be like them or holy by myne owne worckes for while I presume of my selfe I muste of force become a deuell but it is not euell to compare with the saintes in veritie for they were humble and in beleuing that they were elect they gaue to God all laude and glorye bicause they did not beleue to be of the electe for their merites but for Christes And wold to God I mighte beleue that firmelye and with stedfast fayth the sacred scriptures are ful that we ought not to despeire of our saluacion but that we ought to hope and beleue to be all readye saued and dayly to certifie oureselues therof bi doing good worckes ii Pet. i. i. Iohn iiii which are a testimonie to vs of oure election and that we shulde also increase in charitye to take from vs all feare of oure dampnaciō to the end we may serue God without feare in rightuousnes and holinesse as zacharie sayde Luke i. And likewise wee ought to demaūd perseueraūce in the good with faith to obtein it Therfore to trust to be saued of the elected to hope beleue to be saued of the electe is not euel Paul also saithe oure hope was neuer confounded nor dyd shame to them that had it And lykewyse that fayth was neuer beguiled Wherfore then is it euyll that I beleue stedfastly to be saued by Christ Let vs beholde then wyth open eyes of liuely fayth Christe vpon the crosse in whome we se presentlye the goodnes of God in the face in suche sorte as we maye beyng pilgrimes to th ende wee may render to him al laud honor glory through Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen ¶ Vvhether it be necessarye to saluacion to beleue that we are elected or not the fyft Sermon Hebr. xi Mar. xvi Iohn iii. FAyth is very necessarye because that withoute it not onlye God cānot bee pleased but he that beleueth not shall be condempned and is already iudged But it is also impossible that one that doth not beleue to be elected should beleue as he ought to do any of the articles nceessarie to saluaciō And to proue that this is true if thou beleuest not that thou art one of the elect thou beleuest not in God in the maner that thou arte bounde bicause that it suffiseth not to haue a certeine dead opinion that Godi◠but thou muste effectuously beleue that he is thy God that he loueth the that he is propiciatory to the that he is cōtinually beneficial to the that he hath most special cure of the causeth euery thinge to serue the to saluacion therfore that thou arte electe Yea who so beleueth not that he is electe doeth not fele in spirite the benefite of Christe Therfore beinge without Christ Ephe. i. Gala. iiii he is with oute God and knoweth him not as Paule wryteth Then howe is it possible that thou mayste beleue perfectli that he is thy father if thou do not beleue that thou arte his son and therfore his heire saued Gala. iiii Thou canst also neuer earnestlie beleue that God is omnipotente if thou vnderstande not that continually he vseth his omnipotēcie towards the in doinge the good Whiche when with the spirite thou didest proue thou shuldest of force beleue thy selfe to bee his heyre if thou beleue not thou arte elect howe causte thou beleue that God hathe created the heauens and thearthe that he susteineth gouerneth all to thy behofe hauing of the moste singuler cure it is nedefull that with liuely sayth imbrasinge al the world for thy owne thou perceiue effectuallye the goodnes of God in euerye creature And when that is thou shalt be inforced to beleue that thou arte the sonne of God Thou canste not also beleue in Iesu that is that he is to the Iesus and sauioure if thou beleue not that thou arte saued nether canste thou beleue that he is thy Christe that is to saye a Prophete kinge and prieste if thou fele not in spirite that he doth illuminate and lighten the as a prophet rule the as a king and as an onlye prieste is offered for the vpon the crosse The which if thou didest beleue thou shuldest also beleue to be elected How shalt thou beleue that Iesus is the only begotten sonne of God thi Lord come into the world to saue the and geuen to the with al his deuine treasures and graces if thou dost not beleue thy selfe to be one of his lambes thou causte not beleue as thou arte bounde to do that he died for the nor perceiue his excessiue charitie so that with Paule thou maist saye Rom. viii nothing can seperate me from the charitie of God It is necessarye to beleue that Christ vpon the crosse hath satisfied for thy sinnes and that he hath reconciled the satisfied to his father and saued the and therfore that thou art the sōne of God he that beleueth as he ought that Christ is rysē to iustifie vs doth also know him selfe saued so he that perfectly doth vnderstand that Christe our head is ascēded into heauē entred for vs in possessiō of paradise Philli. iii. perceiueth him self risen with Christ alredy bi hope being ascended into heauē Ephe. ii practiseth with that minde in Paradise where Christ is sitting in peaceable possessiō of thinges celestial he saieth with Paul we are made safe by hope Rom. viii it suffiseth not to beleue that he shal iudge the quicke the dead the which also the deuils beleue but that the sētence shal be al in thi fauour hauing to thi iudge him that died vpō the crosse for thee We cā not liuely beleue the sēding of the holy ghoste if we fele it not in oure selues and if we do feale it we shal be forced with Paule to saye the spirite of God rendrethe testimony to oure spirite that we are the sonnes of God therfore heires and saued Roma viii Neyther is it inoughe that there is