as for example from purpose to saluation and much more from saluatioÌ„ to purpose also from purpose to dampnation or contrarywise ouer hippâ—â— the nearer causes of the iudgement of God 5 vnlesse peraduenture yen haue to â—oo with open dispysers of God whom it auayleth not once to teache sauâ— that they maye bée strooken with the iudgement of God that there can bee no iust suspicion of offence Furthermore this doctrine must neuer bee in such sort set foorth that it bée applyed to any person seuerally albeit some be otherwyse eyther to bée comforten or rebuked then othersome 6 vnlesse peraduenture some Prophete of God bée admonished by some peculyar word from God which notwithstanding is not rashly to bée beléeuéd for as much as it commeth to passe out of order or not ordinarily But in visityng the sicke and in famylyar admonitions it seemeth to bée the duetie of the Minister so farre as he maye to comfort the conscience of the â—â—oubled wyth the declaration of elecâ—ion and contrary wise to strike those â—hat are obstinatly wicked and disobeâ—ient wyth that fearefull iudgement of God but yet so that they kéepe some measure reâ—rayne from that last senâ—ence wherevnto is added no condition For this iurisdiction pertayneth vnto God alone Proueâ— out of the word of God. Math. 28. 18. Go therefore and teach all nations baptising them c. 20. Teaching them to keepe all those things whiâ—h I haue commanded you 2. Tim 2. 23. Foolish and vnlearned questions put away knowing that they bréed striâ—es 2. Tim. 2. 15. Study to shewe thy selfe approued vnto God a workeman that needâ—th not to bée ashamed and which can deuide the worde of trueth aright Math. 25. In the whole chapiter Ioh. 8. 44. You are of your Father the Deuyll and therefore you wyllfulâ— fill the lustes of your Father Ioh. 9. 41. If you were blynd yoâ— should haue no sinne but now you say we see and therefore your sinne remayneth Ioh. 10. 26. But ye beléeue not for yeâ— are not of my Sheepe as I haue tolde you Luk. 20. 46. Be ware of the Scribes whiche desire to goo in long â—oâ—es and long gréetyngs in the markets and the highest seates in the Synogâ—es and the chiefe roumes at feastes 47. Whiche deuowre widdowes houses and vse long praiers for a shew these shall receyue the greater iudgement Math. 23. 38. Behold your house is leâ—te vnto you desolate 1. Cor. 3. 2. I haue geuen you mylcke to drinck and not strong meate for ye were not yet able to beare it neyther yet now are ye able Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weake in the â—ayth receyue vnto you but not for controuersies of disputations Ioh. 8. 33. They answered him wée are the seede of Abraham and were neuer bond to any man howe sayest thou then that we shall be made free 34 Iesus answered them veryly veryly I saye vnto you he that commiteth sinne is the seruaunt of Sinne. Phyllyp. 3. 2. Beware of dogges beware of euyl workmen beware of conâ—ysion 1 Tim. 6. 3. 4. If any man teache contrary doctrine and consenteth not to the wholsome wordes of our Lorde Iesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according vnto godlynes he is puffed vp knowing nothing c. Gal. 5. 12. I would to God also that they were cut of which trouble you 2. Tim. 4. 14. Alexander the copper smith hath done me much harme the Lorde rewarde hym accordyng to hys deedes Ioh. 6. 64. But there are some of you which beleeue not For Iesus knews from the beginning who they werâ— which beléeued not and who should beâ— tray him Ioh. 8. 24. Therefore I sayd vnto yoâ— that you should dye in your sinnes Foâ— vnlesse ye beléeue that I am he you shaâ— die in your sinnes The eyght Chap. Howe euerie seuerall person maie applie with some profite this generall doctrine to himselfe The fyrst Aphorismâ— THey that teache that man his saluation is grounded vpon vvorkesâ— eyther vvhollie or in any parte 1 it is manifest that they doo vtterlie ouerthrowe the gospell of God. But they that teache free iustification or righteous makinge by faith they staie vppon a sure foundation 2 but yet in suche sort that they â—aie vnder faith the euerlasting purpose of God vvherein finallie both Christ him selfe 3 and also the Apostle following his steppes doeth rest and staie 4 For vvhen as perceiueraunce or continuaunce of faith is required vnto saluation to vvhat purpose haue I faith 5 if I be not certaine of the gift of perceiueraunce or continuaunce to the ende And yet is there no neede to feare least this doctrine shoulde make vs negligent and dissolute or carelesse 6 For this peace of conscience whereof we speake doeth greatlie differre from foolishe securitie or carelesnesse and he that is the sonne of God 7 for asmuch as hee is ledde by the spirite of God vvyll neuer take occasion of slouthfulnesse by the consideration of God his benefites Therefore if this doctrine bring but this one fruite that by the aide thereof vvee maie learne to strengththen our faith against all thinges that happen it is manifest rhat the chiefe grounde of our saluation is ouerthrowne by them vvhich because they measure God after the small measure of their braine doo oppugne or reason against this Article of Religion Proues out of the word of God. Gal 2. 21. I do not make voyde the grace of God for if righteousnes bée by the lawe then hath Christ dyed wythout cause Rom. 11. 6. And if it be of grace it is not now of workes or else were grace no more grace but if it be of workes it is no more grace for else were worke no worke Ioh. 6. 44. No man can come vnto me vnlesse my father which sent mée draw hym and I wylll rayse hym vp at the last day 45. It is written in the Prophetes And they shall bee all taughte of God whosneuer therefore hath beard of my Father and hath learned commeth vnto mee Rom. 8. 29. For whome he hath foreknowen those hath he foreordeyned that they myght bée made lyke vnto the image of his sonne that he myght be the first borne amongest many brethren 30. And whome he hath foreordeined those also hath he called c. Looke the same Epistle Chap. 9. 10. and. 11. 1. Cor. 2. 10. But God hath reueled or opened those thinges vnto vs by hys spirit For the spirit searcheth al things euen the depthes of God. Eph. 1. 4. As he chose vs in him before the foundations of the world were laid that we might be holy and vnblameable before him by loue 5. Who foreordeyned vs whome he woulde chose vnto his sonnes through Iesus Christ in him selfe according to the good pleasure of his wyll 2. Tim. 1. 1. According vnto the promise of lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. 9. Who hath saued vs and called vs wyth an holy callynge not accordyng to our workes but accordyng vnto hys
purpose and grace whiche was geuen vs in Christe béefore the tymes of the world 1. Pet. 1. 2. Chosen accordyng to thâ—â—oreknowledge of God the Father vntâ— sanctification of the spirite c. Mat. 10. 22. And ye shall be hated oâ— all men for my names sake but he thaâ— abydeth vnto the ende shall be saued Luk. 21. 19. But possesse your soules by your patience Rom. 2. 7. To them that continue glory and honour and immortallitie of well doing that is to them that séeke euerlasting lyfe Ioh. 6. 37. Whatsoeuer my Father geueth me commeth vnto mée and him that commeeh vnto mée doo I not cast forth 39. This is the wyll of my Father that whatsoeuer he hath geuen mée I should lose nothing of it Ioh. 10. 28. I geue vnto them euerlasting lyfe and they shal neuer perishe neyther shal any plucke them out of my hande c. Act. 13. 48. They beléeued as many as were ordayned vnto euerlasting lyfe Rom. 8. 30. Whome he hath iustifâ—ed those also hath be gloryfied 39. No thing created can seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. 2. Tim. 2. 19. But the foundation of God remayneth sure hauing this seale the Lord knoweth who are his â— Ioh. 2. 19. They went out from vs but they were none of vs for if they had béene of vs they would doubtles haue taryed wyth vs. Rom. 5. 1. Being therefore made righteouse by fayth wée haue peace towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ. 5. And hope doth not make ashamed because the loue of God is shed abroad in our heartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vnto vs. Math. 5. 2. Be gladde and reioyce because your rewarde is great in heauen Rom. 8. 14. For as many as are led by the spirit of Godâ— are the sonnes of God. The seconde Aphorisme NOwe this is the vvaie to applie this doctrine The vvorkes of God euen the verie laste of them are such that a man can not iudge of them but after twoo sortes to wyt either after they are paste or else by the disposition of the seconde causes vvhich by long vse hee hath knowne to portende or geue a token of some certaine ende as is woont to come to passe in thinges that fall out naturallie in vvhich notwithstandingâ— men are vvonderfulle dymme sighted Therefore in this point that is of all other most hard it is no maruaile though the iudgement of man bee driuen into suche a narrowe straite that hee cannot but in this order vnderstande vvhat is determined of him in the secreâ—te counsell of god And now because this whole iudgement consisteth or standeth in the obseruation and marking of those causes vvhich do exceede or passe all power of nature vvee must needes flee some vvhither else to vvytâ— to the sentence of God set forth in his worde which wheras it is in infinite pointes more certaine then all man his coniectures or gesses it doeth no doubt bring vs also a more certaine iudgement 1 The Scripture therefore beareth vvitnesse that whomesoeuer God hath Predestinate or foreordained in his eternall purpose to adopte or choose vnto sonnes through Iesus Christ in him self the same also at the time appointed are so effectuallie called that they heare and imbrace the voice of the caller by which faith being made righteous and holie in Christ 2 they must also necessarilie bee glorified VVylt thou therefore who so euer thou art be assured of thy Predestination or foreordaining and so consequentlie of saluation which thou lookest for against all the assaultes of Sathan bee assured I saie not vvith doubtfull coniectures and suche as are gathered out of man his braine maye vvith suche as are no lesse certaine and sure than if thou haddest gone vppe into heauen it selfe and vnderstoode that secreet decree from the verie mouth of God Takâ— dilligent heede that thou beginne not aâ— that highest degree for else it wyl come to passe that thou vvilt not bee able to abide the exceeding great brightnesse of god Beginne therefore at the lowest degrees 3 and vvhen thou hearest the voice of God soundinge in thine eares and minde vvhiche calleth thee vnto Christ the onelie mediatour consider by litle and litle and search diligentlie 4 vvhether thou be iustified and sanctified that is made righteous and holie by faith in Christ for these are the effectes by the vvhich faith the very cause of theÌ„ in deede is knowne And this thou shalt know 5 partlie by the spirite of adoption crying vvithin Abba Father 6 partlie also by the power and vvorking of the same spirite in thy selfe namelie if thou feele and also indeede shew that although sinne doo dwell in thee yet it doeth not raigne in thee For vvhy Is not the holie ghost hee vvhich maketh that vvee doo not purposelie let lose all the raines vnto vngodlie and vvicked lustes as they vse to doo vvhose eies the Prince of this vvorlde hath blinded for else vvho moueth vs vnto praier albeit being neuer so colde and lyther VVho stirreth vppe in vs those vnspeakeable sighes and gronings 7 vvho after that vvee haue sinned and that sometimes vvittinglie and vvillinglie engendereth in vs that hatred of the sinne that vvee haue committed yea and that not for feare of punishment but because that vvee haue offended our moste mercifull Father 8 VVho I saie beareth vs vvitnesse that our sighinges are hearde and mooueth vs herevnto that vve dare boldelie call God our God and also Father euen after that vvee haue offended him 9 Is it not I praie you that spirite vvhome vvee haue freelie receaued being freelie geuen for a sure pledge of our adoption Nowe if vve maie gather faith by these effectes it remaineth that vvee vvere called and drawne effectuallie and by this calling againe the which vve haue shewed to bee proper vnto the sonnes of God is that vvhich vve seeke for throughlie vnderstoode to wyt that we are therefore geuen vnto the Sonne because in the â—uerlasting counsell of Godâ— vvhich he hath purposed in him selfe wee were predestinated or foreordained whome hee woulde adopt in his Sonne 10 VVhereof finallie ensueth when as wee are predestinate or foreordained by that most stedfast wyl of God which is grounded onelie vppon it selfe 11 and that no man can plucke vs out of the hande of his sonne and that continuaunce in faith is necessarie vnto saluation that the expectation or hope of our continuaunce and so consequentlie of saluation is also certaine so that it is vngodlinesse any more to doubt of it So farre of therefore is it that this doctrine shoulde make vs slouthfull and careles 12 that contrarilie this alone doeth open an entrie vnto vs to searche the verie depthes of God by his spirite and also to vnderstande them as the Apostle doeth plainelie witnesse that when as wee knowe them 13 and vvee knowe them onelie but in parte so long as vvee lyue heere 14 so that vvee must fight
before the worlde vnto our glorye Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vs in him before the fouÌ„dations of the world were layd that wee should be holy and without eame before him in loue 2. Thes. 2. 13. But we ought to gyue thankes alwayes to God for you brethren beloued of the Lorde because God hath chosen you from the beginning vnto saluation through sanctificatioÌ„ of the spirite and faith geuen to the trueth 1. Pet. 1. 2. Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father vnto sanctification of the spirite Exod 9. 16. And in déede for this cause haue I appointed thée to wytte to shew thée my power and that they should declare my name throughout the whole worlde Prouerb 16. 4. The Lord hath made all thinges for his owne sake yea euen the wicked for an euyll daye Rom. 9. 22. What and if God minding to declare his wrath and to make his power known hath suffered with much gentlenesse the vesselles of wrathâ— couched together to destruction The thirde Aphorismâ— THis election and chosing or Predestination and forcordaining vnto saluation being considered in the purpose of God it selfe that is to saie the decree it selfe and purpose of electing or chosing is the first fountaine of the saluation of the Sonnes of God and doeth not spring as some woulde haue it from the forâ—knowledge eyther of their faith or workes but rather of that onelie which is in the good pleasure of God it selfe from the which afterwarde doo both election or chosing and also faith and all good workes spring Proues out of the worde of God. Deut. 4 37. And because he loued thy Fathers he chose their seede after them and hath brought thée out of Egipt before him by his most mightie power Deut. 7. 7. 8. God hath not loued you and chosen you because you were more in number then al other people but because the Lorde loued you c. Ios 24. 2. And Iosua sayde to all the people Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel your Fathers dwelled beyonde the floodde in olde tyme as Thare the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor and serued other Gods c. Psal. 44. 3. For they possessed not the Lande with their owne sworde neither dyd their owne arme saue them but thy ryght hande and thy arme and the light of thy countenannce because thou â—aâ—oâ—â—edst them Iohn 15. â—6 You haue not chosen mée but I haue choseÌ„ you and ordained you that ye goe and bring forth fruite c. Act. 13. 48. And when the Gentyles heard these things they reioyced and glorified the worde of the Lord and beleued as manie as were ordeined vnto euerlasting lyfe Act. 22. 14. And he sayd the God of our fathers hath chosen thee that thou shouldest knowe his wyl and see that iust one shouldest heare the voice of his mouth Rom. 5 6. For Christ when we were yet of no strengthe at his tyme dyed for the vngodlye Ro. 9. 11. 12. For the children being not yet borne wheÌ„ as they had done neither good nor euyll that the purpose of God which is according vnto his electioÌ„ that is to say not of workes but of him y calleth might remaine sure it was said vnto her the elder shal serue the younger 13. As it is written I haue loued Iacob and haue hated Esau. 14. What shall we say then Is there any vnrighteousnesse with God God forbyd 15. For he sayth vnto Moyses I wyll haue mercie on him on whome I wyll haue mercy I wyl haue compassion on him on whome I wyl haue compassion 16. So then Election is not in him that wylleth neyther in him that runneth but in god that sheweth mercie 18. Therfore he hath mercy on whome he wyl and whome he wyl he hardneth 25. And that he might make knowne the ryches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercie which hée hath prepared vnto glorie Rom 11. 7. What then Israell hath not obtained that which he séeketh but the Elect haue obtained it and the rest haue beene hardened 35. Or who hath geuen vnto him first and it shall be geuen vnto him againe 1 Cor. 4â—7 For who separateth thee and what hast thou that thou hast not â—eceaued If thou hast receyued it why reioycest thou as though thou haddest not receyued it Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vs in him before the foundatioÌ„ of the world were laide that we shoulde be holy and without blame before him in loue 5. Who hath Predestinate or foreordained vs whome hée woulde adopt or chose into sonnes through Iesus Christ vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his wyll 11. In whom also we are chosen when we were Predestinate or foreordayned according to the purpose of him which worketh al things after the counsell of his owne wyll Ephe. 2. 10. For we are his workmanshyp created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath ordained that we should walke in them Colos. 1. 12. Geuing thankes vnto the Father which hath made vs meete to bée partakers of the inheritaunce of the Saintes in lyght 2. Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling not according vnto our works but according vnto his owne purpose and grace which was geuen vs in Christe Iesus before the tymes of the worlde The fowrth Aphorismâ— THerefore the Scripture as ofâ—en as it vvyll strengthen the sonnes of God vvith assured hope stayeth not eyther in the testimonies or vvitnesses of the second causeâ— that is to saye in the ftuites of faith nor yet in the seconde and next causes them selues to wyt faith and vocation or calling but ascendeth or clymeth vp vnto Christ him selfe in whom notwithstanding as in the head we are in very deede electe and adopted and afterward goeth vp euen vnto that euerlasting purposeâ— vvhich God hath purposed in no other than in him selfe Proues out of the worde of God. Math. 25. 3 Then shal the King say vnto them which shall be at his right hand come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world were layde Iohn 6. 40. And this is the wyl of him which sent mée that euery one which sâ—â—th the sonne beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting lyfe and I wyll rayse him vp at the last daye Act. 13. 48. And the Gentyles hearing these thinges reioyced and glorified the word of the Lord beléeued as many as were ordayned vnto euerlasting lyfe Rom. 8. 29. For whome he hath foreknowen the same also hath he Predestinate or foreordained that they should be lyke the Image of his sonne Rom. 9. 8 Not they which are the children of the flesh are the children of God but they which are the chyldren of the promise are coumpted in the seede 11. For the chyldren not being yet born when as they had done neyther good nor euyl that the purpose of God which is according vnto his election that is to
daylie against distrust vvith heauenlie armour 15 vve maie learne not to behaue our selues negligentlie but to continue stoutlie to honour him to loue feare and call vppon him 16 so that vve maie daylie more and more as touching vs as Peter sayeth Make our callinge and election sure And moreouer howe shall hee abyde sure and stedfaste against so many noisome temptacions vvithin and vvithout and against so many as the vvorlde termeth them assaultes of Fortune vvhiche hath not firste assuredlie grounded in his minde that vvhiche is moste true to vvyt that God according to his good pleasure doeth all thinges vvhatsoeuer they bee and vvhat instrumentes so euer hee vse to the profite of those that are his amongst vvhose number he must bee reckoned vvhich is set in this daunger Proues out of the worde of God. Rom. 8. 29. For whome he hath foreâ— knowne those also hath he foreordeyned to bée made lyke vnto the Image of his sonne that he might be the fyrst borne among many brethren 30. And whome he hath forehordeined those also hath he called an whome he hath called those also hath hée iustified or made righteous and whome he hath iustified those also hath hée glorified Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vs in him before the foundations of the worlde were layd that wee shoulde be holy and vn blameable before him through loue 5. Who hath foreordeined vs whome he would adopt or chose vnto his sonnes through Christ in him selfe according to the good pleasure of his wyll 9. The mistery or secréete of his wyl being opened vnto vs according vnto his frée good will which he had purposed in him selfe Ioh. 10. 27. My shepe heare my voice and I knowe they follow mée Rom. 5. 2. Through whome also by â—aith we had this entry into this grace â—y which we stand and glory vnder the hope of the glory of God. Rom. 8. 38. For I am persuaded that neyther death nor lyfe neyther Angels â—or principalities neither powers neither things present nor things to come 39. Neyther height nor depth neyther any other thing creatâ—d can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. â— Cor. 2. 10. But God hath reuealed or opâ—ned them vnto vs by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all thinges euen the depthes of God. 1. Iohn 3. 24. Hée tht kéepeth his coÌ„maundementes dwelleth in him and hâ— in him And by this doo we knowe that he dwelleth in vs towyt by his spirite which he hath geuen vs. Psal. 95. 7. 8. To day if ye wyll heare his voice harden not your hearts as in Meriba as in the day of Massa in the wildernes Ioh. 10. 27. My â—héepe heare my voice and I know them and they follow mée 2. Cor. 13. 5. Trye your selues wheâ—ther you bée in fayth or no proue your selues Whether you knowe your selâ—es or no to wyt Iesus Christ to be in you Gal. 4. 6. Because you are the sonnes of God God hath sent forth the Spirit of his sonne into your heartes crying Abba Father 1. Ioh. 3. 24. He that kéepeth his commaundementes dwelleth in hym and he in him and by this do we know that he dwelleth in vs to wit by the spyryt which he hath geuen vs. 1. Cor. 2. 10. But vnto vs hath God reueled or opened them by his spirite For the spirit searcheth al things euen the very depthes of God c. Rom. 6. All most in the whole Chapter 1. Iohn 3. 9. Whosoeuer is borne of God doeth not commytte sinne because his seede abideth in him neyther can he sinne because that he is borne of God. Rom. 6. 11. Lykewise gather ye also that ye your selues are both dead vnto sâ—nne and do also liue vnto God through Christ Iesu our Lord. 12. Let not sinne therefore reigne in your mortall body that you should obey sinne in the lustes of the body Ephes. 4. 29. Let no filthie speache come foorth of your mouth but if any be profitable for the vse of edifying that it maye mynyster grace vnto the hearers 30. And doo yée not make sadde that holy spirite of God by which ye are sealed vnto the daye of redemption Rom. 8. 26. Lykewise the spyrite also helpeth our infirmyties or we aâ—â—enesses for we knowe not what to praye as wée ought but the spyrite it selfe maâ—eth request for vs with sighes that can not be expressed Rom. 7. 24. Wretche that I am who shal delyuer mée from this bodie of death Rom. 8. 15. For ye haue not receaued the spirite of bondage vnto â—eare but ye haue receyued the spyrite of adoption through whome wée crye Abba Father 16. Which verie spirite beareth witnesse togeather with our spirite that we are the sonnes of God. Rom. 8. 27. But he that searcheth the heartes knoweth what is the meaning of the spirite because that hée maketh request for the Saints according to the wyll of God. Eph. 1. 13. In whome ye also haue hoped hauing heard the word of truth c. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritaunce c. Eph. 4. 30. And make not sadde that holye spirite of God by whome you are sealed vnto the daye of redemption 2. Cor. 1. 22. Who also hath sealed vs and hath geuen the earnest of the spirite in our hearts Rom. 11. 29. For the gifte and calling of God are such that he can not repent him of them Hebr. 6. 17. Wherein God wylling abundauntly to shewe vnto the heyreâ— of promyse the vâ—chaungeablenesse of his counsel bound him self by an oath 2. Tim. 2. 19. But the foundation of God standeth sure hauing this seale The Lorde knoweth who are his And let euery one that nameth the name of of Christ depart from vnrightousnesse Rom. 8. 38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor lyfe neither Angels nor principalytyes nor powers neither things present nor thinges to come 39. Neyther height nor depth neyther any thing created can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. Ioh. 3. 33. He that receyueth his witnesse hath sealed that God is true Rom. 4. 20. But he was made strong by fayth geuing the glory vnto God. 21. And being fully persuaded that hâ— was also able to doo that which hée had promised Rom. 5. 5. Hope maketh not a shamed because the loue of God is shed abroade in ourâ— heartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vs. Heb. 4. 16. Let vs therefore boldly approche vnto the throne of grace that we maie obtaine mercie and finde grace to helpe in tyme of néede 1. Cor. 1. 9. God is faithfull by whome ye are called into the fellowshippe of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. 1. Thes. 5. 24. He is faithful which hath called you who also wyll bring it to passe Heb. 10. 22. Let vs approche with a true heart and certaine perswasion of faith with pure heartes from an euyll conscience 23. And hauing our body washed with pure water let vs holde fast the
confession of faith not wauering for he is faithfull which hath promised 1. Cor. 2. 10. But God hath reuealed or opened them vnto vs by his spirite For the spirite searcheth all things euen the verie depthes of God. 11. For who hath knowne the thinges tâ—at are of man saue the spirite of man whiche is in him So also no man hath knowne the thinges that are of God saue the spirite of God. 12. Nowe we haue not receaued the spirite of the worlde c. Rom. 8. 16. Whiche selfe same spirite beareth wytnesse togeather with our spyrite that wée are the Sonnes of God. 1. Ioh. 3. 24. He that kéepeth his commaundementes dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby doo we know that he dwelleth in vs to wyt by the spirite which he hath geuen vnto vs. 1. Cor. 13. 9. For we know but in part and prophesie but in part 1. Tim. 6. 12. Fight the notable fight of fayth laye holde on euerlasting lyfe for which cause also thou art called and hast professed a notable profeâ—â—ion before many witnesses Gal. 5. 17. The fleshe lusteth against the spyrite and the spyrite against the fleshe and these are contrarie one to another that you doo not whatsoeuer yée wyll Rom. 6. â— What shall we say then Shall wée abyâ—â— in sinne that grace maye be more plenteous Hebr. 10. 23. Let vs holde fast the conâ—ession of fayth not wauering for he is faithfull which hath promised 24. And let vs consider one another to prouooke one another vnto loue and vnto good workes Iam. 3. 18. The fruite of righteousnesse is sowen with peace to the peace-makers 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore brethren studie rather to make your calling and election sure For if ye doo these thinges ye shall neuer fall Rom. 8. 28. And we knowe that vnto them that loue Godâ— all thinges worke togeather for the best euen to them that are called of his purpose 31. What shall we saye then vnto these thinges if God be with vs who can be against vs Iob. 13. 15. Although he â—yll mée yet wyll I trust in him not withstanding I wyll reproue my wayes in his sight Rom. 5. 3. And not this onelie but we do also reioyce in troubles knowing that trouble worketh patience 1. Thes. 3. 3. That no man be mooued with these troubles For ye know that we are appointed thervnto 1. Pet. 4. 19. Therefore they which are afflicted or troubled by the wyll of Godâ— let them commende their soules vnto him in well dooing as vnto a faithfull creatour Iam. 1. 2. Brâ—thren accoumpt it for excéeding great ioye as often as ye fall into sundrie temptations Rom. 8. 16. Which selfe same spyrite beareth witnesse together with our spirite that we are the sonnes of God. Rom. 8. 38. For I am persuaded that neyther death nor life neyther Angels nor principalyties nor power neyther thinges present nor thinges to come 39. Neyther heyghte nor depth nor any thing created can separat vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lord. The thyrde Aphorismâ— NOwe as touchiâ—g the other parte in as much as the purpose of electing or chosing can not come into any maâ—â— his mind but therewith the contrarie oâ— it and that in lyke degree must needes runne in his thought that in the meane season I saie nothing of that vvhiche is manifest to vvyt that these two are verie oftentimes knitte togeather in the vvorde of God it appeareth I thinke that they doo great wrong vnto the spiâ—ite of God which would haue this part buried as curious or not necessary This therefore is also to be considred but yet suche moderation being vsed that the depth of God his iudgements maie put a byt into man his curiositie and in such finally that it be not applied priuatlie eyther to any man or vnto any certaine multitude For in this point it doth also differre from election that election as we haue shewed before is reuealed or opened vnto vs by the spirite of God not in others whose heart wee can not see but in our selues and reprobation or ofcasting is alwaie for the most part hidden from men vnlesse it bee opened by God out of order or more then ordinarilie For vvho knoweth vvhether God â—aue dâ—termined 1 at the verie last moment of his lyfe to haue mercie on him vvhiche hath spent all his vvhole lyfe â—n vvickednesse and sinne And yet there is no cause vvhy this hope shoulde strength then any man in his vvickednesse vvhen as I speake of those thinges vvhich vve ought to obserue and marke in others and suche examples of God his goodnesse are but rare or seldome and no vvyse man vvyll promise him selfe vpon vaine securitie or reachlesnes that vvhich is not in our hande 2 It is therefore suffycient that vve knowe generallie that there are certaine vesselles prepared to destruction 3 vvhiche for as muche as God hath not shewed vnto vs vvee ought dilligentlie according to our power to call euerie one to saluation both vvith example of lyfe and also with vvordes yea euen those of vvhome vvee are almost past hope vvhen as vve beholde their naughtie actes Proues out of the word of God. Luk. 23. 43. Iesus sayd vnto him beâ— ryly I say vnto thée this daye shalt thoâ— bewyth mée in paradice Rom. 9. 21. Hath not the potter powerâ— ouer the clay to make of the same lumpâ— one vessell vnto honor and an â—ther vnto dishonor 2. Tim. 2. 20. Furthermore in a great house not only vessels of golde and siluer but also of yearth and wood and some for honor and some for dishonor Math. 5. 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may sée your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen 1. Cor. 9. 22. I became to the weake as one that was weake that I mighte winne the weake I became all vnto al that I myght by all meanes saue some 2. Tim. 2. 25. Wyth gentlenesse teaching them whiche are of a contrarye mynd c. 1. Pet. 2. 12. And haue your conuersation honest among the Gentyles that they which speake agaynst you as euyll 〈◊〉 may by your good workes which they shall sée gloryfâ—e God in the day of â—â—utation The fowrth Aphorisme THis meane if vve keepe vve also shall receiue much fruite by this doctrine For 1 first by the knowledge thereof we shall learne vvillinglie to yeeld our neck vnder the Maiestie of God that the more vve shall feare and reuerence him the more vve maie labour to make sure in vs the vvytnesse of our election in Christ. 2 Secondlie vvhen as vve shall â—â—ygentlie consider the difference of â—od his mercie made betweene men otherwyse subiecte vnto the lyke curse it can not bee chosen but that vvee must muche more vvyllinglie acknowledge and imbrace that singular goodnesse of God than if vve should make this grace of his common vnto all men or shoulde seeke the cause of
were not redeemed with corruptible thinges as syluer and golde from your vaine conuersation c. 20. Whiche was foreordained before the foundation of the worlde were layd but was declared in the last times for your sake Iosua 24. 2. And Iosua sayde vnto all the people Thus sayth the Lorde God â—f Israel your Fathers dwelt beyonde â—he flood of olde tyme euen Thare the Father of Abraham and the Father of Nachor and serued other Gods. 3. And I tooke your Father Abraâ—am from the place which was beyond the flood Ezec. 16. 8. And I passed by thée and sawe thée and beholde thy tyme was as the tyme of loue and I spread my garmentes ouer thée I couered thy shame c. Esai 65. 1. I made my selfe manifest to them that asked not I was founde of them that sought mée not I sayde Beholde mée beholde mée vnto a Nation that called not vpon my name Eph. 2. 3. Among whome also we all had our conuersation in tymes paste in the lustes of our flesh doing such things as pleased our fleshe and our mindes were by nature the sonnes of wrath as well as they 4. But God which is rytch in mercie for his great loues sake wherewith he loued vs. 5. Euen when we were dead by sinnes raysed vs vp togeather through Christ by whose grace ye are saued 11. Wherefore remember that ye béeing in times past Gentyles in the fleshe whiche were called vncircumâ—icion of that which is called cyrcumsicion in the fleshe and which is made with handes 12. That ye were I saye at that time without Christ and were alâ—aunts from the common wealth of Israel and were straungers from the couenaunt of promise hauing no hope and were without God in the worlde 13. But now in Christ Iesus ye which once were farre of are made neere by the blood of Christ. Rom. 5. 10. For if when we were enemyes wée were reconcyled or made friendes with God by the death of his sonne much more being now reconciled or made friendes wée shall be saued by his lyfe 1. Pet. 2. 10. Ye which were sometyme no people are nowe the people of God which were not vnder mercy haue now â—btayned mercie Ioh. 9. 41. If ye were blind you should haue no sinne but now ye say we see and therefore your sinne remaineth Ioh. 3. 19. And this is the condemnation that light is comen into the worlde but men haue loued darknes more then â—light because their workes are euyll Rom 1. 18. For the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against al vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men as who with holde the truth vniustly Rom. 2. 15. Who shewe the effect of the law written in their heartes their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughtes accusing one an other or excusing Act. 14. 17. All though hée hath not suffered him selfe to be without witnes in that he doeth good vnto vs geuing vs raigne fruitful seasons from heauen filling our heartes with foode and gladnes Ro. 2. 14. For wheÌ„ the Gentyles which haue not the law do by nature y things of y law they hauing not the law are a law vnto them selues Act. 14. 17. Althought he hath not suffered him selfe to be c. Rom. 7. 7. What shall we say then Is the lawe sinne God forbyd naye I had not knowne sinne but by the lawe For I had not knowen luste except the lawe had sayd thou shalt not luste 1. Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God and also one mediator of God and man the man Iesus Christ. 2. Tim. 2. 25. Instructing them whiche are contrary minded if God at any time wyll geue vnto them that they may repent and know the truth 19. And that being escaped out of the snare of the Diuyll of whome they are taken captiue they may receyue helth of minde to do his wyll Act. 2. 37. When they heard these things they were pricked in heart and sayd vnto Peter and vnto the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we doo 38. And Peter said vnto them Repent and let euery one of you be baptized in â—he name of Iesus Christ c. 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Litle children these thinges â— wryte vnto you that you shoulde not â—inne But if any man sinne c. The Seuenth Aphorisme THerefore after that seuere or sharpe preaching of the lawe 1 hee setteth foorth vnto them grace and gentlenesse of the gospell yet adding this condition if they beleeue in Christ 2 vvho alone can delyuer them from condemnation 3 and geue vnto them power and right to obtaine the heauenlie inheritaunce Proues out of the word of God. Ioh. 1. 12. And as many as receiued him â—he gaue vnto them this dignitie to bée made the sonnes of God to wyt vnto them that beléeue in his name Ioh. 3. 16. For so God loued the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne c. Rom. 1. 19. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of christ For it is the power of God vnto saluation vnto euery one that beléeueth to the Iew first and also to the Gréeke Rom. 8. 1. Now therefore there is no condempnation to them whiche are in Christ Iesus that is which walke not after the fleshe but after the spyrite 1. Ioh 2. 1. My lyttle chyldren these things write I vnto you that you sinne not If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous c. Ioh. 〈◊〉 And as many as receiued him he gaue vnto them this dignitie that c. Ioh. 3. 16. For God so loved the world c. Rom. 1. 16. For I am not ashamed of the gospell of Christ c. Rom. 5. 1. Being therefore iustifyed or made righteous by faith we haue peace towarde God through our Lorde Iesus Christ. The nynth Aphorisme AND because all these thinges should bee done in vaine if God dyd sette foorth these secreetes vnto men onely by the outwarde preaching of his worde vvrytten and openlie published in the Churche of God 1 vvhiche notvvithstanding is the ordinarie and necessarie instrument by supposition vvhereby Iesus Christ is communicated or imparted vvith vs 2 therefore vvhen as hee hath to doo vvith his electe and chosen togeather vvith the outwarde preaching of the vvorde hee ioyneth the inwarde power of the holie spyrite vvhich doeth not as Sophisters doo suppose repayre or renewe the remnauâ—tes of theyr free vvyll for vvhatsoeuer freevvyll is lefte vnto vs it doeth consiste or lye in this 3 that vvee sinne vvyllinglie 4 shunnishe God 5 hate him 6 yea and moreouer can neither heare him 7 nor beleeue him 8 nor acknowledge the gyfte of God 9 no nor once so muche as thinke any good thing 10 and to bee short that vve bee vvholy subiecte vnto vvrath and the curse 11 But contrararywise rather turneth theyr stonie heartes into fleshie 12 draweth 13 teacheth 14 lightneth their eyes 15 openeth their sence heart eares and vnderstanding Proues out
did repent Luc. 24. 4. 5. Then he opened their â—â—ind that they might vnderstand the scriptures Act. 16. 14. And a certaine woman named Lydia which solde purple in the Citie of the Thyatirians which worshipped God heard vs whose heart the Lord opened that she gaue heede vnto the thinges which Paule spakeâ— 1. Cor. 2. 10. But vnto vs hath God reuealed or opened them by his spyriteâ— For the spirite searcheth al things eueâ— the depthes of God. 11. For what man hath knowen theâ— thinges of man but the spyrite of manâ— which is in him So also the thinges which are of God no man knoweth but the spyrite of God. 12. And we haue not receaued the spirite of the worlde but the spyrite which is of God that we maye knowe those things which God hath geuen vnto vs. 16. For who hath knowne the minde of the Lorde that he might instruct him But we haue the minde of Christ. Colo. 1. 26. To wyt the mysterie or secréete hyd since the world began and from all ages but nowe is it made manifest vnto his Saints 27. Unto whome God woulde make knowen what is the ryches of his glorious mysterie or secréete amonge the Gentyles that is of Christ in you who is that hope of glorie Ephes. 1. 16. Making mention of you 〈◊〉 my prayers 17. That the God of our Lorde Iesus â—hrist the Father of glorie would geue â—nto you the spyrite of wisedome and â—euelation through the knowledge of â—im 18. That the eyes of your minde beâ—ng lyghtened you may knowe what is â—hat hope of his calling and what are â—he ryches of the glorie of his heritage â—n the Saintes â— Ioh. 3. 24. For hée that kéepeth his â—ommaundementes dwelleth in him and he in him and by this doo we know â—hat hée dwelleth in vs to wyt by the spyrite which he hath geuen vs. â— Ioh. 5. 20. But we knowe that the sonne of God is commen and hath geuen vs a minde to knowe him which is â—râ—e and wee are in him that is true that is in his sonne Iesus Christ he is verie God and lyfe euerlasting Rom. 8. 15. For you haue not receaued the spyrite of bondage vnto feare but you haue receaued the spyrite of adoption by whiche wée crye Abba that is to say father 16. The which very spirit witnesseth together with our spirit that we are the sonnes of God. Gal. 4. 6. And because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirit of his sonne into your heartes crying Abba that is to say Father Rom. 8. 14. For as many as are ledde by the spirit of God these are the sonns of God. 1. Ioh. 3. 10. By this are the sonnes of God and the sonnes of the Deuyl manifesâ— whosoeuer doth not exercise righteousnes is not of God nor he whiche loueth not his brother 1. Ioh. 4. 13. By this do we know that we dwell in him and he in vs because he hath geuen vs of his spirit 14. And we haue seene and beare witnes that the Father hath sent his soÌ„ne to be the Sauiour of the world Phi. 2. 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to wyl and to doo or both the wyll and the deede euen of his frée good pleasure Rom. 6. 18. And being made frée from â—nnne ye are made the seruants of righâ—eousnes The eleuenth Aphorisme THese are therefore the degrees or steppes by vvhiche it pleaseth the Lorde freelie to create in his electe or chosen that precious and peculyar gifte of faith vvhereby they maie laye hold on theyr saluation in Christe But because faith is onelie begunne in vs to the ende vvee maie bee able not onelie to perseuere or continue in it but also to profite vvhich thing is altogeather necessarie 1 for this cause fyrste of all vvee are imitiated or entred as it vvere into Relygion by the Sacramente of Baptisme moreouer besides the hearing of the vvorde that fayth is 2 againe â—ealed â—n vs by the sacrament of the Lord his Supper of the which Sacraments this verily is the chiefe end that they are certaine and effectual seales also charters of the faithfull communicating or partaking with Christ 3 vvho is made vnto them vvisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 4 VVherfore it is verie often rehearsed in Paule that vve being iustified or made righteous by faith haue peace Proues out of the worde of God. Mar. 16. 16. He that beléeueth and is baptized shall be saued Act. 2. 38. Repente and be euery one of you baptized in the name of Iesus Christ vnto remission or forgeuenesse of sinnes and ye shall receyue the gifte of the holy ghost Rom. 6. 3. Know ye not that as many of vs as are baptized into Iesus Christ are baptized into his death 4. We are buried then togeather with hym through baptysme into his death that as Christe was raysed vp from the dead vnto the glorie of his Father so we also shoulde walke in a new lyfe Gal 3. 27. For all ye that are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ. Româ— 4 11. And he receyued the signe of circumcision which should seale the 〈◊〉 righteousnes of fayth which was in the uncyrcumcision Cololâ— 2. 12. Being buryed with him through baptisme by which also ye haue rysen againe with him through the faith of God working effectually who raysed 〈◊〉 vp from the dead Ephes. 5. 25. 26. Lyke as Christ loued â—â— congregation and gaue him selfe for 〈◊〉 sanctifie it or make it holy clensing 〈◊〉 with the washing of water throâ—gh the worde 1. Pet. 3 21. To the which the figure of baptisme now agréeing saueth vs also not in that the filth of the flesh is cast away but in that a good conscience maketh request vnto God by the resurrectâ—â—n or rising againe of Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 10. 16. The cuppe of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we breake is it not the communion of 〈◊〉 body of Christ 1 Cor. 1. 30. But ye are of him in Christ Iesus who is made vnto vs of God wisdom and righteousnes and sanctification and redemtion Rom. 3. 21. But now the righteousnesse of God is made manifest without the law being approbated both of the lawe and of the Prophetes 22. The righteousnesse I say of God by the fayth of Iesus Christ vnto al and vpon all whiche beléeue for there is no dyfference c. 24. And they are iustified or made righteouse fréely that is to saye by his grace through the redemption made in Christ Iesus 25. Whome God hath set forth to bée an appeasement through fayth in his bloud to declare his righteousnesse by the forgeuenesse of the sinnes that are passed Rom. 4. 2. For if Abraham were iustified or made righteouse by workes hee hath whereof he may glory but not with God. Rom. 5. 1. Therefore being iustified or made righteous by fayth we haue peace towardes God through our Lord Iesus
Moreouer it is God that hath created vs for this thing who also hath genen vs the earnest of the spirit Rom. 6. 23. And that he might make knowne the riches of his glory towards â—he vessels of mercy whiche hee hath ordâ—â—ned vnto glory Rom. 3. 25. Whome God hath set forth â—o bee an ap peasement through fayth in his blood to declare his righteousnesse â—y the forgeuenes of the sinnes that are pâ—ssed 29. Through the pacience of God to shewe at this time his righteousnesse that he myght bée righteous and a maker ryghteous of him which is of the fayth of Iesus Eph. 1. 5. Who hath foreordayned vs Whome hee would adopte or chose vnto sonnes through Iesus Christ in him selfe according to the good pleasure of his wyll 6. To the prayse of his glorious grace wherwith he hath freely made vs acceptable or to be lyked of in that beloued The seconde Aphorisme ANd contrariwise they that remaine in the pollution or fylthinesse and death of Adam are worthelie hated of God that they maie bee damned by him those not being so much as once excepted which haue died before that they coulde sinne after the lykenesse of Adam that is to saie in acte or deede Proues out of the word of God. Rom. 5. 14. But death reigned from Adam vnto Moyses ouer those also which had not sinned after the lykenes of the transgression of Adam whichâ— was the figure of him that was to come Eph. 2. 3. Amongest whome also we in times paste had our conuersation in â—â—e instes of our â—lesh doing such things 〈◊〉 liked our flesh and thoughtes and â—â—ere by nature the sonnes of wrath as â—ell as others Ioh. 3. 36. He that beléeueth not the â—â—nne shall not see lyfe but the wrath of â—od remaineth vpon him The thirde Aphorisme BOth these executions or perfourminges of the iudgementes of God â—â—e brought to passe by three degrees as â—ell in the one as in the other whereof â—â—e fyrst hath beene by vs declared alâ—eadie For as touching the electe or â—hosen 1 the verie selfe same moment â—hat they haue receyued the gyfte of â—ayth after a sort they haue passed from â—eath to lyfe 2 a sure pledge whereof â—hey haue But this their lyâ—e is altogeâ—her hydde in Christ vntyll such tyme â—s that first death set them one degree â—â—rewarde 3 by which death the soule â—eeing loosed from the chaynes of the â—odie entreth into the ioye of his â—orde 4 Finallie at the daie appointed foâ— the iudgemente of the quicke and the deadâ— vvhen as this corruptible shall puâ— on immortalitie and God shall be all in all then shall they at length in presence see his Maiâ—stie and shall inioye that vnspeakeable ioye vvhiche vvas prepared for them from everlasting to wit a rewards due vnto the righteousnesse and holinesse of Christ vvhich vvas deliuered for their sinnes and raised againe from the dead for their iustification or righteous making by whose power and spirite they haue vvalked from faith to faiâ—h as by their vvhole life shall plainly appeare Proues out of the worde of God. Ioh. 5. 24. Uerily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my worde and beleeueth him that sent mée hath euerlasting life shal not come vnto condemnation but hath passed froÌ„ death to life 2. Cor. 1. 22. God hath sealed vs and hath geuen the earnest of the spirite in our hartes â— Cor. 5. 5. Moreouer it is God who hath created vs for this thing who also hath geuen vs the earnest of the spirit â— Cor. 1. 4. I thanke my God alwayes on your behalfe for the grace of God which is geuen you in Christ Iesu 5. â—hat in all things ye are made riche in him in all kinde of speach and in all knowledge 6. According as the testimony or witnesse of Iesus Christ hath béene confirmed in you 7. So that you are not destitute of any gifte wayting vntyll our Lorde Iesus Christ be reuealed 8. Who shall also confyrme you vnto the ende c. Rom. 8. 24. For we are saued by hope And hope if it bâ—e séene is no hope For that which a man seeth why should he hope for 25. But if we hope for that which wée sée not we wait for it by patience Eph. 1. 13. In whome also after that you haue beléeued ye are sealed with that holy spirit of promisse 1â— Which is the earnest of our inheritance vntyl that we are set at liberty to the prayse of his glory Rom. 5. 2. By whom also we haue entrance through fayth into this grace by which we stande and reioyce vnder the hope of the gâ—ory of God. Luc. 23. 43. Uerely verely I say vnto thée thys daye shalt thou be with mee in paradise Mathâ— 22. 31. And concerning the resurrection or rysing againe of the dead haue you not read what is spoken vnto you of God saying 32. I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the lyuing Luk. 16. 22. And it came to passe that the beggar died and was carried of Angels into Abrahams bosom Phillip 1. 23. For I am in a straite on both sides desiring to go hence and to be with Christ for that is best of all Act. 3. 21. Who must be conteined in heauen vntill the times of the restoring of all things which God hath forespoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world beganne Rom. 8. 21. And the creatures themselues shall bée deliuered from the bondage of destruction into the lyberty of the glory of the sonnes of God. Looke 1. Cor. 15 In the whole chapiter 2. Cor. 5. 10. For all wée must appears before the tribunal or iudgemeÌ„t seate of Christ that euery man may receiue the things which he hath done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or euill Rom. 14. 10. For we shall all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ. Math. 25. 34. Then the king shall say to those that shall be on his right hande come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdom prepared for you from the laying of the foundations of the world The fowrth Aphorisme NOw contrariwise 1 the reprobates or ofcastes being conceyued borne and brought vp in sinne death and the wrath of God remayning vpon them 2 when as they go out of this world do fal into another gulfe of destruction theyâ— soules being throwne headlong into anâ— euerlasting horrour or trembling 3 vntyll that daie when as their bodie and soule being ioyned togeather againe they shall goe into that euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuyll and his Angelles Proues out of the worde of God. Psal. 51. 7. Beholde in iniquity was I borne and in sinne hath my mother conceyued mée Ioh. 3. 36. He that beléeueth not the sonne shall not sée lyfe but the wrath of God remaineth vpon him Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore lyke as by one man sinne
notâ— or consideration which is to considerâ— whether a man in this lyfe maye be certaine of his election To answere this question we haue first to vnderstand that although our election and vocation simply in déede he knowen to God onely him selfe a Priore yet not withstanding it may be knowne to euery particular faithful man a Posteriore that is by meanes whiche meanes is fayth in Christ Iesus crucified for so much as by his fayth in Christ a man is iustified and therebye made the childe of saluation reason must needes leads the same to bée then the chylde of election chosen of God vnto euerlasting â—yfe for howe can a man be â—aued but by consequence it followeth that hee must bée elected And therefore of election is truely sayde De electione indicandum est A posteriore that is to saye We must iudge of election by that whiche commeth after that is by our fayth and beléefe in Christ which fayth although in tyme it followeth after election yet is it the proper and immediate cause assygned by the Scripture which not onely iustifyeth vs but also certifyeth vs of the election of God. Wherevnto lykewise well agréeth this saying Election albeit in God it be the first yet to vs it is the last opened And therefore begynning first with creation I come from thence to redemption and iustification by fayth and so to election Not that fayth is the cause efficient of election being rather the effecte thereof but is to vs the cause certifycatorie or the cause of our certifycation whereby we are brought to the feeling and knowledge of our election in christ For albeit that election fyrst be certaine in the knowledge of God yet in our knowledge fayth onely that wée haue in Christ is the thing that geueth to vs our certyficate comfort of this election Wherefore whosoeuer desireth to be assured that he is one of the elect number of God let him not clyme vp to heauen to knowe but let him descend into himselfe and there searche his fayth in Christ the sonne of God Which if hée fynde in him not fayned by the working of Gods holy spyrite accordingly therevpon let him staye and so wrappe himselfe wholy both body and soule vnder Gods generall promyse and â—umber his head with no farther speculations knowing this that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perysh loh 3. Shall not be confounded Rom. 9. Shal not see death Ioh. 8. Shall not enter into iudgement Ioh. â— Shall haue euerlasting lyfe Iohn 3. 7. Shall be saued Math 28. Act. 16. Shall haue remyssion of all his sinnes Act. 10. Shall be instifyed Rom. 3. Gal. 2. Shall haue flooddes flowing out of him of water of lyfe Ioh. 7. Shall neuer dye Ioh. 11. Shal be raysed in the last daye Ioh. 6. Shall fynde rest to his soule and shall bée refreshed Math. 11. Nowe then for so muche as we sée fayth to be the grounde wherevpon dependeth the whole condition of our iustifying let vs discusse in lyke maner what is this faith wherof the scripture so much speaketh of for the more plaine vnderstanding of the symple For many kyndes there be of fayth As a man maye beléeue euery thing that is true yet not euery trueth doeth saue neyther doeth the beleeuing of euery trueth iustifie a man He that beleeueth that God created all thinges of nought beléeueth trueth He that beléeueth that God is a iust God that he is omnipotent that he is mercyfull that he that is true of promyse beléeueth well and holdeth the trueth So he that beléeueth that God hath his election from the begynning and that he also is one of the same elect and Predestinate hath a good beleefe and thynketh well But â—et this beleefâ— alone except it be seasoned with another thing wyll not serue to saluationâ— As it aâ—ayled not the olde Iewes which so thought of themselues and yet thinke to this daye to bée onely Gods electe people Onely the fayth which auayleth to saluation is that whose obiect is the body and passion of Christ Iesus crucifyed so that in the aâ—te of iustifying these two fayth and Christ haue a mutuall relation and must alwayes concurrs together fayth as the action which apprehendeth Christ as the obiect which is apprehended For neyther doth the passion of Christ saue without fayth neyther doeth fayth helpe except it be in christ As we see the body of man sustayned by bread and drinkeâ— not except the same be receaued and conueyed into the stomacke and yet neyther doth tho receyuing of any thing sustaine mans body except it be meate and drinke which haue power to geue nourishment In lyke sort it is with fayth for neyther doeth the beléeuing of euery thing saue But onely fayth in the blood of Christneyther doeth againe the same blood of Christ profite vs except by fayth it be receaued And as the sonne being the cause of all lyght â—â—yâ—eth not but to them onely which haue eyes to see nor yet to them neyther â—â—esse they wyll open theyr eyes to receaue the lyght So the passion of Christ is the efficient cause of saluation But fayth is the condition whereby the sayde Passion is to vs effectuall And that is the cause why wee â—aye with the Scrypture that fayth onelye iustifyeth vs not excludinge thereby all other eâ—terne causes that goe before fayth As grace mercye election vocation the death of Christ c. All which be externe causes working our saluation through fayth But when we saye that fayth onely iustifyeth vs the meaning thereof is this that of all internall actions motions or operations in man geuen to him of God there is no other that contenteth and pleaseth God or standeth before his iudgement or can helpe any thing to the iustifying of man before him but onely this one action of fayth in Christ Iesu the sonne of God. For although the action of praying fasting almes patience charitie repentaunce the feare and loue of God bee his gyfts in man and not of man geuen of God to man yet bee none of all these actions in man imputed of God to saluation but onely this one action of faith in man vpon Christ Iesus the sonne of god Not that the action it selfe of beleeuing As it is a qualyty in man doeth so deserue but because it taketh that dignity of the obiect For as I sayde in the acte of iustifying Fayth as it is an action in man is not to be considered alone but must euer goe with this obiect and taketh his vertue thereof Lyke as the looking vp of the olde Isralytes dyd not of it selfe procure any health vnto them but the promyse made in the obiect which was the brasen Serpent wherevppon they looked gaue them health by their looking vp Euen so after lyke sort are we saued by our fayth and spyrituall looking vppe to the bodye
of Christ crucifyed which fayth to defyne is this To beléeue Iesus Christ to bée the sonne of the lyuing God sent into this worlde by his death to satisfye for our sinnes and so to receaue the same And thus much touching election and fayth with the order and explycation of the causes necessary to bée considered in our saluation whereby maye appeare howe for tho pretenced Catholiques doo swarue from the ryght minde of the Scriptures For where the Scriptures in declaring the causes of saluation doo sende vs onely to fayth as the onely condition whereby these causes haue theyr workyng these Catholiques doo quyte leaue out fayth and in stéedâ— thereof place in other condicions of merytes wylworkes pardons masses and especiall auricular confession with penaunce and satisfaction for our sinnes c. FINIS ¶ A briefe Treatise witâ— certayne Answers to the Obiections of the Aduersaries of this doctrine written by Anthonie Gylbie â—Hereas three yeeres ago dearely beloued I did write of this matter of Election Reprobation whiche is called Predestination in a certayn Commentarie vpon the Prophet Malachie by the occasion of this text I haue louâ—d Iacob and I haue hated Esau. The whiche Treatise by the rage of persecution partly perished and part dyd come of late to my handes accompting this doctrine so necessarie that vppon all occasions it ought with reuerence to bee vttred to the glory of God whiche so wonderfully appeareth in this his riche mercie towarde vs whome he chooseth from the fylthe of sinne to serue him in righteousnesse and to the beating downe of our corrupt nature whiche without this eyther mouÌ„teth by pride vnto presumption or falleth by infidelyty to desperation Because that without some taste of this diuine prouidence in Predestination there can bee no fayth but eyther a doubtfull wauering leading to dispayre which wée haue lefte in the Papisterye wyles wée looked to our owne weakenesse and infirmitie not able to endure one houre in the way of righteousnesse or else a vayne presumption of feyned holynesse whyles wee beeholde our owne beleefe and good works or the perfection that we doo imagine in our owne selues as doo the Annabaptistes Therefore I thoughte it good according to my simple Talent to testifie this truthe agayne vnto the worlde at the Printing of this worthy Table of the great lerned man Master Beza which is set forth in French Latin and Italian and now into Englyshe translated by our brother VV. VVhittingham wherein is most euideÌ„ntly set forth before our eies the chyefe ground of this doctryne and the principall poyntes thereof are so deepely opened that there seemed to wante nothing that was possible in fewe lynes to be vttered yet for the shortnesse therein all thinges can not be conteyned but that some briefe lessons for the vnlearned who hath not theyr sences fully exercised wyth such déepe sentences may well be adioyned as euery man hereafter shall héerevnto be moued by the spirit of God working in their hartes that many bearing wytnesse to the truthe of this most profitable doctrine nowe reuealed the mercies of God in choosing his chyldren may more and more daye by daye be disclosed and by the witnesse of dyuers consentyng togyther in one God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ may be gloryfyed For heerein chyefly standeth his prayse honor and glory that these his wonderfull mercyes toward hys Electe maye be praysed Nowe there is no meane more apte nor doctrine more conuenient to establysh the fayth of the Sayncts than to certyfye by the Scryptures that God hath chosen them before the begynnyng of the worldâ— to be holy to hym selfe and so wrytten theyr names in the booke of lyfe in the heanens that all theyr saluatyon resteth wholy vpon his handes and holy counsell that can by no meanes be altered or chauÌ„ged so that neyther death Diuell noâ—â—ell dare nowe accuse them that are by adoption grafted in Christ who are called of the eternall purpose bicause it is God that iustifieth and who dare condempne them It is Christ that is giuen for them how shall not all things with him be geuen to them also For them that he knew before them he ordeyned before that they should be lyke fashioned to the image of his sonne and whome hee appoynted before those also hee called and whome hée called those also he iustified and whom he iustifyed those also be glorifyed that his eternall purpose and counsell of God béeing once reuealed to his Saincts by the effectuall vocation and calling whiche is the iustifycation of fayth wrought in their heartes by the holy spirite they can no longer doubt neyther of Election Predestination saluation or glorifycation Neither can any thing more beate downe mans nature and the pride of his vayne heart than to behold the maiestie of God making them by grace so farre vnlyke one to the other who were bothe one altogither by nature the chyldren of wraths of vengeance damnation as the wonderful example of Iacob Esau doeth declare of whom the Lord pronounceth that he loueth the one hateth the other before they were borne and the terrible sentence agaynst Pharao whome the Scripture affyrmeth that God raysed vp to shewe vppon him his power and hardened hys hart to make his name knowne and such like which euery where are set before our eyes to cause man to fall downe before God and to feare his iudgementes But our Aduersaries obiect agaynst vs that this doctrine is an offence to many and that some abuse it to carnall lybertie I doo answere that Christe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—umbling stone to many and all the 〈◊〉 of the Gospell is lykewise slaundered by the euill conuersation of others yet may we not prohibite the sweete floures from the Bées bicause Spiders sucke thence their poyson no more than wée maye stoppe the sunne to shyne bycause it hurteth sore eyes But that it may bée the glad tydings of saluation to the assurance of the fayth of the one and a cleare testymony of coÌ„demnation of the other to the beating downe of the pryde of man thys glorious counsel of the mightie God ought vnto all in this cleare reuelation of the Gospell to bee offered opened and publyshed Wherefore by the good wyll of God we entende to speake of this greate matter none other wayes neyther in any other sorte then the open Scriptures shall approue our sayings Therfore we say with the holy Apostle Sayncte Paule Blessed bee God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche hath blessed vs with all spirytuall blessinges in heauenlye thinges vnto Christ lyke as he hath elected and châ—sen vs in him before the foundations of the worlde were layde that wée shoulde be holy and blamelesse before him by loue who hath predestinate vs that hee myghte freely choose vs to bee hys chyldren by Iesus Christ. Ephes. â— And thoughe there come some wycked men whiche were long before apoynted to this iudgement whiche doo turne the grace of our
of Israel to his owne destruction Exod. 14. So that resysting the power of God he perysheth in this worlde and in the worlde to come hee is appoynted to the euerlasting fyre prepared for the Deuyll and his Angelles by the iust iudgement of the almighty Lorde who being refused and so openly resysted iustlye doeth geue ouer the wycked to theyr owne Reprobate myndes with greedynesse to fulfyll theyr fleshlie desyres and obstinate purpose to prosecute that which the Deuyll and the worlde wylleth them to doo and causeth them to heape vpon theyr owne heades theyr owne dampnation treasuring and storing vp al theyr lyfe long workes deseruing the wrath of God against the daye of his wrath and vengeaunce as the Apostle sayth to the Romaines This Reprobation then is the declaration of God his seuere iustice and iust iudgement against the Serpent and his séede whome by the worde of his eternall wisedome hée hath accursed from the begynning and appoynted to euerlasting torment The which worke necessarie for the procéeding of God his holy prouideÌ„ce Eternall and neuer ceasing regyment and gouernaunce because it is the worke of the wyll of the myghtie God which is the verie lawe equity and iustice it selfe frée from all affections farre from all faulte cryme or sinne It ought to bee knowne vnto vs all that all fleshe maye tremble and consider before whome it standeth euen before that great Lord and mighty God who hath power both ouer the bodie and Soule to cast into hell fyre To whome no man may saye what doest thou Being lyke the claye in the Potters hande or the staffe or axe in the hande of the smyter Who offendeth against no lawe bicause his godly wyll is the lawe it selfe and to knowe his pleasure is to know the lawe to follow his wyl is to doo the lawe so that of necessitye this great Lorde is so farre frée from al sinne that nothing is good but that which is wrought by him nothing can be euyll that he worketh in his creatures No the fall of Lucifer the father of the reprobate doth vtter his maiestie doth shew his iustice which olde Satan and Father Deuyl was worthily cast downe into the bottome of Hell and eternally condempned to euerlasting payne and torment because he dyd so ambiciously and proudly climbe vp aboue his apointed place in the heauens And where the mallice of this olde serpent caused Adam the first man to mount aboue his estate to desyre to know good euyl lyke a God the maruellous mercy of God and inestimable loue towardes mankind caused compelled this wicked worke of the Serpent to serue his glory and to turne to our great commodity and profyte in that he rayseth of the seede of man another Adam most innocent and holy agaynst whom no Diuel neyther any helly power may preuayle by whome we are not only reconciled vnto God and doo obteyne pardon for this offence but wée are borne a newe and as it were agayne created into greater glory by farre than wée were at the first for the first man had onely a promise to lyue in 〈◊〉 earthly garden to long as 〈◊〉 dyd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the for bidden frute wée haue the â—â— of the heauenly Paradice and euerlasting pleasures He had earthly meate and fruâ—â— we haue the heauenly 〈◊〉 which â—â—deth into life euerlasting He was created to worke in the Garden workes naturall we are renewed vnto workes supernaturall aboue nature heauenly and celestiall He was 〈◊〉 by the Serpentâ— wee doo ouercome and triumpâ—e ouer the Serpent sâ—nne Diuell Death and Hell. He had the gifte of reason and vnderstanding we haue the rich wisdome of God his holy spirite whereby wée discerne our owne infirmity and weaknesse and his almightie power mercy and goodnesse To bee shorte where hee dyd runne from God â—id himâ— sowed Figge leaues to couer his shame following his â—ond fantasie We doo boldly beholde the course of Gods working in our nakednesse sinne and infirmitie and magnifie renowme and prayse our Lord God which sheweth his grace by our sinne which vttereth his power by our weaknesse his wisedome by our foolishnesse which setteth forth his elect vessels his chosenâ— Abels by Caynits the vessels of his wrath In which Cayn the first murtherer and therfore manifestly of the serpentes seede appeareth euidently the iust iudgement of the Almightie God accuâ—sing and condemning in Satan and Cayn all sinnes and wickednesse To vtter that he abhorreth sinne and hateth it béeing so farre contrarie from his nature which is iustice it selfe contrarie from his wyll which is equitie and his lawe which is iudgement In Pharao a childe of the same father reprobate indurate and accursed whome God stirred vp for the declaration of his great power and mightie arme as well in the manyfolde myracles wrought for his people which nothing had needed neither had ben occasioned if there had not bene such a tyraunt soo indurate and so obstinate to withstande God his seruants as also by the subuersion drouning of him his people in the red Sea a signe taken first of the eternall and iâ—eâ—itable destruction damnation whervnto the wicked are appoynted than of the saluation assigned sealed vp for the elect chosenâ— we do learne héerby also y power of God which the very Sorcerers the enimies of God were compelled to confesse before Pharao Exod. 8. Wée doo learne moreouer the iustice of God which iustice Pharao him selfe was compelled agaynste him selfe to denounce and affirme Exod. 9. And finally wée may sée expressed moste manifestly the fatherly mercy of the God of Iacob whiche dyd giue the king and the whole people of Egypt a pryce for his chosen Iacob â—o the loue towardes Iacob and the hatred towardes Esaâ— What shall wee speake of Iudas and other manifestlye reprobate whiche are compelled by the testimonye of theyr owne consciences to pronounce them selues wicked and therefore to feare god his seuere iustice and iust iudgement to flye the refrom by the terrour of their euill consciences which is more sore than a thousand witnesses agaynst suche as God doth leaue to their owne selues The which terrible examples the elect of Godâ— hauing before their eyes hath great cause to prayse their heaueÌ„ly father through his sonne Christ who hath sent them his holy spirit of comfort which will neuer suffer them to be tempted aboue that they are able to suffer and to beare But where we haue two kinde of men that be aduersaries to this doctrine of Reprobation The one sorte vttering them selues most manifest Reprobate obstinate and wylfully wicked crying and blaspheming we wyll followe our lusts what neede we to care howe we lyue or what we doo If we be elected with Iacob wee shall bée saued if wée bée reiecte and cursed with Cham wée shall bée damned These Lucifers not submitting themselues to the gouernance of God carelesse what becommeth of them must be heatâ— downe with the consideration of the
commaundement of God and what so euer lawe is not the mynde wyll and commaundement of God as was the lawes of the Scribes and Phariseys and of the cursed Papists the same be wicked who of necessitie were set vp the body of Antichrist to vtter theyr vnrighteousnesse that Christe the sonne of righteousnesse the head of his body in his manyfolde mercies more playnely might appeare and shine with more glory Agayne to define sinne to be the affection motion or operation of any reasonable creature agaynst the lawe of God his maiestie must needes be secluded and excused who is the lawe maker the creator no creature hauing no euill motion nor ledde with any affection whiche mighte make his worke euyll Like as the creature is for the most part blame worthie because euen when it doth the best of all It is subiect to some affection eyther selfeloue or hatred of some other yea the Lorde God maye vse any of his creatures in any worke without the blame of any euill as well as the Smith may make his coles to flame or to quenche them eyther the same peece of yron sometimes his hammer sometime his tongs or stithy Wherefore though very muche might be sayde in this parte that as the potter may make of one peece of clay what hym liketh the Smith mays make of hys yron diuers instrumentes yet following the godly wisdome of S. Pauleâ— I thinke it more meete to beate downe mans subtilties with the contemplation of the Maiestie of the mightie God pronouncing boldly that suche as saye if my lyes and sinne set foorth his glory why am I then iudged as a sinner let vs doo euyll that good may come and so in their wycked words dare make God the author of euyl hath their worthy damnation alreadye as Paule sayth Rom. 3. For of necessitye whiche their eyes can not sée suche diuersitie of sinne and grace of righteousnessâ— and vnrighteousnesse of the contrarietie and chaunge of things must be in this woÌ„derfull creation of heauen and earth by the high maiestie of God appoynted and ordeyned For what needed the goodly creature of lyghte If there had bene no darknesse or howe shoulde this benefite haue bene felt or perceyued what matter or cause of vttering iustice mighte haue bene found without sinne and vnrighteousnesse how should grace haue bene shewed if no wrath had bene deserued No the mightie God thereby most euidently vttereth his maiestie in that he sheweth how the heauens fal into darknesse without him the earth into dust the Angels into deuyls the men into sinne and so finally without him all thinges to come to nought that he might be magnified creating all things his sonne our sauiour renowmed who hath redéemed vs all hys holy spirite exalted who hath renewed all vs that be his elect and chosen Nowe to what creature is the maiestie of God bounde and founde debter of his spirite If he withholde it from any his dreadfull maiestie may rightly withhold it for who hath giuen him first to aske any thinge agayne of debt or dutie If his maiestie doo giue his spirite it is of his free mercy and grace If the earth fal into dust if man fal into sinne that all things may be knowne to be nothing without God what blame deserueth God or who dare accuse hym No let all flesh fall downe before his maiestie and confesse All thinges doth onely rest vpon thee O Lorde thou hast created all things of nothing so that without thee they all do fall to their originall to she we them selues vayne and nothing worthâ— weake wretched miserable wherfore if we haue any good thing it commeth of thy mercy if we haue any weaknesse sinne or infirmitie it commeth of our owne conâ—â—piscence lusts vanity our perditioÌ„ is of our selues our sinne is of our selues onely of thée is our saluation thou made vs clay potts vessels to thine vse Do thou with vs as thou shalt think good in thine eyes and the shame shall fall vpon our own faces The second cause which concerneth man wherby many mistake this doctrin is that God exhorteth man alwayes in his Scriptures to good and forbiddeth euyll with many terrible threatnings whiche things seemeth not to be needful say they seeing the Eleâ—â—e shall be saued the Reprobate condeÌ„ned by decree sentence giuen vpon them before they be borne To this we do answere that these exhortatioÌ„s and coÌ„munications are very necessary to both twaine bicause God leadeth vs men alwayes like reasonable creatures not like insensible steâ—ks or stones And to the Elect they are most necessarie prickes and spurres to stirre the dull flesh toward his dutie as all good men feeleth can beare witnesse To the Reprobate they are testimonies of the good wyll of the almighty God to them opened and vttered but openly resisted and refused and reiected accordinge to the saying of oure Sauioure Christ If I had not come and spoken to them they had had no sinne but nowe they haue no pretence or excuse for theyr sinne Paraduenture you wyll answere mée They can not obey vnto it What is the cause thereof I pray you bicause they lacke the spirite of Christe to leade them you wyll say I dare easily graunt you but wyll they graunt this wyll they thinke you submite them selues vnder poore Christe and the foolyshnesse of the crosse and not rather boast and brag their wisedome their knowledge and their vpright dealyng and righteousnesse Are not these the men that dare thus boast Wée knowe as well as the Preacher can tell vs Is the spirite of God departed from vs to speake with him As was sayde to Micha 2. of the Kings 22. chapter Or as the Pharisies did answere vnto Christe are we blynde To whome our Sauiour sayth agayne If you were blinde you had no sinne but nowe you say you see therefore your sinne remayneth Ioh. 9. Thus doubtlesse they are so farre from the submission subiection to poore Christ that contrariwise they doo willingly and naturally followe their Father Lucifer who did lift him selfe arrogantly aboue Christ the sonne of righteousnesse and euermore fyghteth against Christ though the mightie power and high wisedome of God turneth his euyll wyll and all theyrs to his glory good purposes None other wayes than bodily and naturall darknesse which by the wonderfull wisdome of God clearly setteth forth the bright Sunshyne and yet laboureth by continuall course to shadowe the Sunne and to couer the whole earth Wherefore the Lord God to driuâ— away this naturall darknesse from man exhorteth to iustice and equitie which is his nature and the Image which man ought to counterfayte And alwayes commaundeth thinges therevnto agréeable And forbyddeth that hee is not that is to sâ—ye iniquitie and dehorteth therefrom by his Prophetes and Preachers publyshing his wyll and pleasure which is the lyght and lawe most perfecte to man his noble creature whome he hath made for his honour and glory whome he hath appointed
compelled to crye and call to sigh and sobbe before theyr heauenly Father for the deliueraunce of this mortall and sinful booy subdued to vanitie and though they do most euidently perceyue how they are called from darknesse to lighte from loue of iniquitie to the hatred of the same from obedience somtime giuen to Sathan and to the lustes of the flesh to the obedience of the spirit whiche fighteth against the flesh and though I say they perceyuing this be not able to quench these raging lustes yet do they mourne and dayly lament calling for the grace of their heauenly father which lamentations sighings and sorowyngs of theyr sinnes bée the sensible féelings and liuely signes and tokens of Gods infallible and sure Election Wherefore whosoeuer shal féele these secret sighes and mournings thereby hating â—â—nne desiring therfroÌ„ to be delyuered considering theyr owne weaknes and by the fruite and a good man forth of the good treasure of his harte doth bring foorth good workes the euyll man euyl works This doth Iames byd vs to shewe our fayth of our workes and sayth that Abraham did thus vtter his faith by his works and Rahab by her workes and were iustifyed Where we are compelled with all the godly learned to expounde the worde iustifyed declared to bée iust or else we doo make Iames contrary to him selfe contrary to Moyses whose sentence he in the same place alledgeth contrarie to Paule and the whole course of Scriptures And thus muste all the generall sentence of woorkes bée vnderstoode that by these woorkes wherein God wyll haue vs to walke we are knowne to haue his spirite to be good trees so iudged by our fruites as is the good Apple tree by the Apples not that the Apples make hym good but testifye that hee is good and that it hath within it selfe a kindly power of good iuiâ—â— and norishment So we féeling the power of the spyryte workinge in our hartes Godlye motions and so brynging forth good fruites of fayth and good workes doo coÌ„firme our Election and vocation as Peter speaketh to our selues and others The seconde vse of workes is that God in vs by them may be gloryfied Whereof our sauiour Christ sayth Mat. 5. Let your lyght so shine before men that they séeing your good works may glorifie your father which is in heauen And this is the chiefe vse of good workes the laude and glorye of God where vnto wée were fyrst created in the earthy Adam now are a new restored by the heauenly Adam Christ Iesu to walke in good works to be holy blamelesse and without fault And to this ende that God in them might bee gloryfied doth scripture commend vnto vs good works setteth forth the crowne of glory to them that therin are exercised So ruÌ„ne that ye may obtaine sayth the Apostle labor for the crowne incorruptible 1. Cor. 9. Nowe because these latter dayes are the tymes wherein our Sauiour Christ dyd saye that â—ayth should fayle and charytie shoulde ware colde we that haue so cleare reuelation of Gods great mercyes wishing alwaies to be of more perfection let them with all thankes geeuinge vnto God reioyce knowing that this procedeth not from flesh nor bloud but froÌ„ the spirite of our head Iesus Christ who maketh intercession for his afflicted members who are his Sainctes with vnspeakeable gronings Whome though for a time hee doo permit to be afflicted both in spirite and bodie as sometimes he did Iob Ionas Ieremie and other yet at the ende hee giueth vnto them most triumphant victorie accordinge to the euerlasting purpose of his diuine prouidence who is to be feared reuerenced renowmed and praysed for euer So be it Heretofore haue we answered generally to them that woulde make God the Author of euyll and to them which do say that this doctrine taketh away exhortations and threatninges and the preachyng of the worde Nowe by the grace of God we wyl more briefly answere to some arguments whiche they bryng foorthe of the scriptures setting aparte all such cauyllations as mans reason whiche in Gods mysteries can neuer bée satisfyed by the craft of the deuyl doth excogitate inueÌ„t But first we wyl speake somthing of good workes the true vnderstanding of those scriptures which commend them vnto vs lest we should seeme to dissuade men from the same or exteâ—â—ate the meaning of the holy ghost in such sentences as our aduersaries doo wickedly peruert for the maintenance of mans power against this doctrine of grace free Election which dare affirme that by works they purchase part of theyr saluation the which as we haue sayde is freely geuen by this Election in Christ Iesu before the foundation of the world was layâ—â— The good works which are so in déede that is to say which proceede of the spirite of adoption the feeling of Gods mercies in electing calling iustifying fyrst of all haue this vse y they declare the power of God to bee in vs and the spyrite of Christ which doth conforme vs to his image and this is the ende whervnto we are Elected and Predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his sonne Rom. 8. Elected before the foundation of the world to be holy and blamelesse Eph. 1. Created vnto good workes which God hath prepared for vs to walke therein Eph. 2. These haue the reward as Paul sayth not onely of this lyfe but of the world to come Therefore sayth our Sauiour Christ. Math. 25. Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the begynning of the world I was hungry and ye gaue me meate I was thyrstie and ye gaue me drinke c. Of this excellent commendation and rewarde of good workes we do learne the dignity of the same not of the worthinesse of theÌ„selues which are neuer able to stand in Gods iudgementes for our very righteousnesses are as Esay sayth as clothes fylthily polluted but of the dignitie of the grace of the promise of God who worketh them in vs For it is God sayth Paul that worketh in vs both the wyll and also the worke euen of his purpose Phi. 2. Therefore all is of grace not of works least any should glory Ephes. 2. For if there were any power in our selues or dignity in the workes then had we some thing to glory but now that all is confessed to be of Gods free mercies and nothing of our selues we conclude that God crowneth and rewardeth his owne workes in vs that who so gloryeth should glory in the lord 1. Cor. 1 â—nâ— where some â—â—edge this place Ma. 26 so to commende workes that they shoulde bee the cause of the Election and the fauor of God they doo not consyder the fyrst wordes Come you blessed of my Father inheryte the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Wherin we may note that they beeing the blessed and beloued of the father are called to the inheritance of the heauenly kingdom not wonne by