in vs by that spirit of sanctification whereby wee are renewed vvhich hee hath giuen vs. CHAP. 4. CH. TO return again to that which was before mentioned shall we beleeue all that say they haue the spirite Ioh. 1. Dearely beloued beleeue not euery spirit vz. doctrines which men bragging of the spirit do teach but try the spirits vvhether they be of God for many false prophets are gone out into the vvorld Ch. Howe may we discerne of spirits Ioh. 2. Hereby shall vve knowe the spirite of God euery spirit doctrin vvhich confesseth that Iesus Christ the Messias is come in the flesh is made true man this being the substance of the Gospell is of God 3. And euery spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist of vvhom ye haue hard how that he shal come now alredy is in the world Ch. We fear because these fals spirits ar of gret power to perswade seduce many Ioh. 4. Little Children ye are of God and haue ouercome them for greater is he that is in you Gods spirit then he that is in the vvorld the spirit of Sathan Ch. But the doctrine of these men is of great account and hath many followers in the world ours hath but few which imbrace it Ioh. 5. They are of this vvorld therefore speak they of this vvorld and this vvorlde vz. Ignorant and vngodly men heareth them 6. We are of God hee vvhich knoweth God heareth vs he vvhich is not of God heareth vs not Hereby knovve vve the spirit of truth and the spirit of error namely by the liking and applause of the world Ch. Howe may we preserue our selues against these seducers Ioh. 7. Beloued let vs loue one another for loue commeth of God euery one that loueth is born of God and knoweth God by a special knowledg whereby they are assured that God the father of Christ is their father Christ their redemer the holy ghost their sanctifier 8. He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue vz. whollie bent to shew his loue and compassion to his people For a proofe of this 9. Herein was that loue of God made manifest among vs because God sent that his only begottē son into the world that we might liue through him 10. Herein is that loue not that we loued God but that he loued vs sent his sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes Ch. What of all this Ioh. 11. Beloued if God so loued vs we ought also one to loue another Ch. How can God manifest his loue to vs he being a spirite and inuisible Io. 12. No man hath seene God at any time neuerthelesse if vve loue one another this is a signe that God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs vz. that loue wherewith he loueth is throughlie made manifest towards vs by our loue as the light of the Moone shining on vs argueth the light of the sun shining vpō the moon of whom as frō a fountain the moone takes her light Ch. How may we know that God dwelleth in vs Ioh. 13. Hereby do we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his spirite Ch. What other signe haue you of Gods dwelling in vs Ioh. 14. Wee haue seene and do testifie that the father sent that sonne to be the Sauiour of the vvorld 15. Whosoeuer confesseth in faith and loue that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God Ch. The Diuell will confesse Christ. Ioh. 16. And wee which is more haue known beleued the loue which God hath in vs Ch. Declare how our loue should be a signe of God his dwelling in vs. Ioh. God is loue therfore he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him Ch. God is loue we graunt but howe may we knowe that God is loue to vs. Io. 17. Hereby is that loue perfect vz. fully made manifest in vs that vvee may haue boldnes to stand before him without fear in the day of iudgement for euen as he is so are vve in the vvorld not in equalitie but in conformitie of holines As may appeare by the contrary 18. there is no feare in loue vz. when a man is assured of Gods loue to him hee doeth not distrust nor seruile feare him in respect of his sinnes but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painfulnesse checkings and torments of conscience and hee that feareth is not perfecte in loue Ch. What other sign is there that God is loue to vs Io. 19. We loue him because he loued vs first As when a man warmes him the heate of his body is because the fire is first hote Ch If this be so then they which loue not their brethrē loued of God in Christ seeing al generally say they loue God Ioh. 20 If any man say I loue God and hate his brother he is a lyer for hovv can he that loueth not his brother vvhome he hath seene loue God vvhom he hath not seene 21. And this commandement haue we of him that hee that loueth God should loue his brother also CHAP. 5. 1. WHosoeuer beleeueth that Iesus is that Christ true Messias is born of god euery one that loueth him which did beget vz. God the Father loueth him also vvhich is begotten of him the Child of God a true Christian. Ch. This being manifest that they ar hypocrits which say they loue God yet shew no loue to their brethren teach vs howe wee may knowe that wee loue our brethren Ioh. 2. In this we know that we loue the children of God when wee loue God and keepe his commandements that is indeuour to keep the beginning of the action being put for the whole 3. For this is the loue of God the duty of loue to God that we keepe his commandements Ch. But no man can keepe the lawe Ioh. His commandements are not burdenous to them that are in Christ and are freed from the curse of the lawe which makes the law grieuous and are also guided by his holy spirit And this is apparant 4. for al that is borne of God ouercommeth the vvorld Sathan with all corruptions and workes of darknes Ch. By what meanes Ioh. And this is the victorie vvhich hath ouercome the vvorld euen our faith which is the instrument and hand whereby we lay hold on him that he in vs and so wee by him might ouercome the world 5. Who is this that ouercommeth this vvorlde but hee vvhich beleeueth that Iesus is that Son of God Ch. How may we be resolued that Iesus of Nazaret the sonne of Marie was the sonne of God and the Messias hee came but basely into the world Ioh. 6. This is that Iesus Christ vvhich came by vvater sanctification signified by the legall washings and blood imputation of Christs righteousnes or the sprinkling of his blood
it was sure vnto him before the foundation of the worlde but vnto our selues and to our neighbours And this is one of the chiefest vses of good woorkes that by them not as by causes but as by effects of predestination and Faith both we and also our neighbours are certified of our election and of our saluation to Furthermore considering whiles we haue a care to glorifie God to do good works and wee will not bee conformable to the world in the wickednes of it neither submit our selues to our flesh Sathan the flesh the world and Sathan do perpetuallie war against vs therwithal it coÌ„meth to passe they being most valiant enemies that eyther we are ouercome or at the least in fighting are foyled And therfore we are constrained to flie vnto the Lord and to craue his assistance Therefore the eight effect of our predestination is the calling vpon God that in this fight he wold giue vs aide against the Deuil the worlde and the flesh For this is the propertie of the Spirite which the elect haue to stir them vp to prayer for the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs vvith groninges vvhich cannot be vttered that is to say it mooueth vs to make request And because we are sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father And God biddeth vs call vpon him in the day of tribulation promising to heare vs. From these proceedeth the ninth effect of predestination namelie a perpetuall repentance for our daylie slips and a continuall desire to be bettered in godlines So that also for this cause chieflie we hartily desire to be dissolued out of this world and to be with Christ for this end that we might sin no more For this is a thing proper to the elect of God euen now borne anew as we may see in the Apostle who speaketh thus in the name of all the regenerate O miserable man that I am vvho shal deliuer me from the bodie of this death And againe I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. From this ninth effect proceedeth the tenth namelie a desire that Christ may come make an end of all our miseries and sinnes perfectly restore his own kingdome That this is proper to the elect the Apostle sheweth when he saith that they loue the comming of the Lord and Iohn bringeth in the Spouse of Christ crying Come Lord Iesu come quicklie Yea and Christ himselfe hath taught vs to pray Let thy Kingdome come And because that they which pray on this wise are also heard according to Gods promise In the day of tribulation call vppon mee and I vvill heare thee Thence appeareth the eleueth effect of predestination true patience that is not onelie true comfort but also a reioycing in aduersitie as the Apostle describeth it And therefore a certaine taking vp of courage and recouerie of strength against his enemies Whereby it commeth to passe that al things turne to the saluation of the elect For the elect albeit they be often beaten downe in fight yet because Christ speedilie sendeth ayde from heauen vnto them they rise vp couragiously and begin againe the fight against sinne and the Diuel and al other the enemies of Christ and they fight so long til they be made conquerers are assured of the victorie and of the crowne which assurance also is an effect of predestination giuen to all the Electe For what saith the Apostle shall we say to these things If God be on our side who can be against vs Therefore our Lord Iesus techeth that the elecâ—â—annot be seduced and so perish no not by the comming of Antichrist and his miracles And lastly hence appeareth that last effect of predestination vvhich vve can obtaine in this life the gift of perseuerance vnto the end in faith and a true confession of Christ ioyned with a manifest care to liue a godly life a desire to glorifie him For this gift is bestowed vpon all the elect as the Lorde promiseth by Ieremie I will put my feare into their heartes that they may not departe from me And when they shal come to the end of their liues they shall bee receiued into the heauenly glorie vntill such time as their bodies also being raised vp they may take full possession of eternall life Thus we see that it is very certaine that those which are elected to eternall life ar also predestinate to vse those meanes by which as by certaine steppes and stayres they climbe into that heauenly dwelling place And therefore that we were predestinate to these meanes namely Faith Iustification and good workes because wee were elected to eternall life according to the purpose and grace of God Wherefore by this means the doctrine also of the Pelagians is confuted as touching predestination to life by our faith and workes which God foresaw we shuld do Whereas on the contrary therefore God did predestinat vs to faith and good workes because he did choose vs to eternal life For the Apostle saith not I obtained mercie because I was faithfull or because I should be faithfull but that I might be faithfull Neither saith he that we are elected in Christ because we should be holy and without blame but that vvee might be holy and vvithout blame Neither doth he say that we were created in Christ becaus wee did or should do good workes but we were created to good workes vvhich God prepared that vvee might vvalk in them Lastly he saith not that the grace of christ appeared becaus we were to liue soberly iustly and godly but that it therefore appeared that we denying all vngodlines the lusts of this worlde might liue soberly iustly godly in this present vvorld Wee see therfore that by this doctrine that wicked opinion is ouerthrowen which teacheth that we do preuent the grace of God by our merites which God foresaw And on the contrary here wee see how fowlly the belli-gods of this world are deceiued which reason thus If wee be predestinate to eternall life and our predestination be certaine and vnchangeable what neede we endeuour our selues beleeue or doe good workes for howsoeuer it fall out howsoeuer the elect do liue vndoubtedly they cannot perish because they are predestinate to eternall life Alas poore wretches they see not that they seuer those thinges that are to be conioyned namely the end and the meanes of the end and that they breake the cheine which in no wise either can or must be loosed whilst that they seuer their calling and iustification yea and Faith too and good works from predestination and glorification As though God did glorifie them whome he did predestinate before hee called and iustified them yea and before they can beleue and shew their quick and liuely faith by workes Contrariwise let vs learn what our duetie is If any be elect to eternal life they also are predestinate to the meanes
doeth declare to any outwardlie in priuate and speciall maner and that in expresse wordes his election but the general word of the Gospel by which Christ calleth all them which beleeue in him elect both by himselfe and by his Apostles as in the new Testament euerie where is most manifest For although in particular propositions he say not to thee or to him particularlie thou art elect to eternall life yet by means of generall propositions he doeth aswell conclude in the heart of euerie one that beleeueth that he is elected as any man shall be able to conclude vnto particular men that euery one of them is a liuing creature indewed with reason by this general proposition Euerie man is a reasonable creature indued vvith reason the Assumption beeing suppressed Therefore after this maner dealeth God He hath chosen all and euerie seuerall man whom he was to indew with Faith to haue the euerlasting inheritance Furthermore he publisheth it to al the Elect by the Apostles in this general proposition that all the faithful are elect to eternall life the assumption is concealed in the word of God But when he giueth vs faith he maketh euerie one of vs to make an assumption by himselfe in his minde but I am of the faithfull for I finde in my selfe that I trulie beleeue in Christ. Therefore who is it that maketh this conclusion for thee that thou art predestinat to euerlasting life euen God himselfe the proposition being taken forth of the gospell the assumption proceedeth of the gift of faith But that indeed by which we properlie attaine to the knowledge of the matter conteined in the conclusion is the midle tearme as they call it Wherefore it is manifest that God by the worde of his Gospel wher he saith that al the faithfull ar elect doth reueale to euerie faithfull man his owne predestination Onelie this one thing is to be required that the faithfull man hearing the vniuersall propositions in his mind should make an assumption But I am faithfull by the gifte and grace of God And is not God said to haue reuealed to euery man his speciall malediction in this generall proposition Cursed is euerie one that doth not continue in al things that are vvritten in this book althogh he say to no man specially thou art accursed for euery one doth mak this assūptiō that he is accursed because he knoweth most certēly that he doth not cōtinue in al things that are written in the book of the Lawe Therfore the schoolmen ar deceiued whē they say it maybe that euery man may be sure of his election namelie if God which is able will reueale it to him yet that hee doth onlie reueale it to a very few as the Apostles for God as hath bene proued declared euen by his worde in generall propositions doth reueale to euerie man his predestination For what can be more certaine than this demonstration Whosoeuer doe truelie beleeue in Christ they are elect to eternall life in Christ but I truelie beleeue in Christ therefore I am elected But some make an exception and say that this were a demonstration and that most certaine and euident if a man might be able to knowe that he were indewed with true faith in Christ but here lieth all the difficultie For many thinke that they trulie beleeue in Christ whereas neuertheles their faith is hypocritall and tēporary as appeareth by the Euangelists Ansvver We graunt that they which beleeue by such a faith which is in hypocrisie and only lasteth for a time that they are deceiued whilst they thinke that they doe trulie beleeue and yet do not indeed for they are like them which dream that they are Kings when as they are very beggers but we say that they which beleeue by a true faith doe knowe whether they trulie beleeue or no and they are not deceiued when they say and think that they trulie beleeue For they are like vnto thē which handeling a pretious stone by reason that they are indued with sense know and say that they handle it And if no man might certainly know whether he beleeued truly or not why doeth the Apostle say Trie your selues vvhether you bee in the faith And if it be so no man can euer certainlie know whether he be justified considering that they onlie which trulie beleeue can be justified And if a man giuing credit to another mans words doth certainly knowe that he beleeueth him how much more doeth he know it which being indued with true faith by the holy Ghost beleeueth the Gospell In a word godlie Writers haue prooued against School-men that they which are indued with true faith in Christ cannot bee ignorant of it But say they no man is certaine of his perseuerance in faith And therefore out of this vniuersall proposition He vvhich beleeueth namelie vvith a true and constant faith is elected to life no man can conclude that he is elected by reason that albeit hee may knowe that hee is indued with true faith yet he cannot tel whether it shal be perpetuall This collection is absurde the learned haue fully prooued that true faith is perpetual And therfore they which certainly know that they beleeue in a true faith are also certaine that the same their true faith shall neuer perish in this world partlie for the promise of God I vvill put my feare into their hearts that they may neuer depart from me and partlie for the prayer of Christ I haue praied for thee Peter that thy faith doe not faile Seeing it is so it is very certain that God by his word in which generallie he saith that all the faithfull are elect doeth reueale to euerie man his election cōsidering that the proposition taken out of the Gospell is most certaine and euerie faithfull man may assume to himselfe that he is indewed with true faith in Christ. The third way by which God reueleth to euery one of vs his predestination is by the effects of predestination as wel inward in vs as outward by which as by certaine markes imprinted in vs he doeth seale vs to himselfe in Christ and doth so seale vs that if we shall giue diligent heed we may thereby euidently perceaue that we are set apart from the common sort of men which is often called by the name of the world that we are foreknowen for his sonnes and loued in Christ and predestinated to eternall life yea and that we appertaine no longer to the world but to that Citie which is aboue that hath his foundation as the Apostle saith And wee haue a two fold reason of this argument one because these effectes of which wee speake and which we will afterward handle God worketh not in any but his elect as also afterward wee will shewe Therefore by right a man may by a true feeling and experience of these effects in himself be assured of his particular election and predestination to haue fellowshippe with
from the alone goodnes of God the Father and grace of christ In this manner the Deuill will neuer perswade any Lastlie the perswasion of the holy ghost is ful of power for they which are perswaded that they are the sonnes of God cannot but needs must call him Abba Father and in regarde of loue to him doe hate sin and whatsoeuer is disagreeing to his will and on the contrarie they haue a sound and a hartie desire to do his will If at anie time thou hast felt in thy selfe any such testimonie perswade thy selfe it was the testimonie of the holie Ghost and that very true certain to therfore that thou art the child of God predestinate to eternal life This is the first proppe by which wee must vnderset that weake beleefe we haue of our certain election to eternal life Again hold this without wauering whosoeuer thou art that art tempted to doubt of thy election euen as nothing is required at our handes to worke our election for God chose vs of his onlie meer goodnes so that we may trulie know whether we bee elect or not this one thing shall be sufficient namelie if we shal attain to the certain knowledge of this that we are in Christ and partakers of him for he that is nowe ingrafted into Christ is justified it cannot be but that he was elected in Christ before the foundation of the worlde And that wee may be in Christ Faith is both required and is sufficient not perfect faith but true faith though it be so litle that it be like a graine of mustarde seed and feeble like a young borne babe and that sore diseased to Now that faith which is a liuelie and a true faith lasteth alwaies as hath bene before declared neither can it at any time altogether faile And so it commeth to passe that they which once haue ben truly ingrafted into Christ remaine alwaies continue in him according to that saying All that my father giueth me shall come to me he which commeth vnto me I wil not cast forth This is true no doubt that look how much the faith is more perfect so much the greater power it hath to knit vs more to Christ and therefore we must alwayes endeuour to increase in Faith Yet for all that this is most certaine one litle sparke of true faith is sufficient to ingraft vs into Christ. And for that cause we must in no wise doubt of our ingrafting into Christ and of our election to by reason of the weaknesse of Faith and of the small and slender fruits it bringeth out But how shal I certainly know say you whether my Faith be a true liuely Faith or not Out of the same groundes from whence the testimonie of our adoption is perceiued First of all if you shall trulie feele that you are perswaded of the truth of the Gospell yea and that all your sins are pardoned you for Christ and you receiued to fauour Againe if you see that this perswasion is grounded not vpon any merits of yours but on the sole goodnesse of God and grace of Christ. Lastly if you feele such a confidence to approch vnto and call vpon the Father such a loue towards him and his son Iesus Christ that ye do hate and detest whatsoeuer is against his glorie as all sinne and on the contrarie bee caried away with a desire to doe those things which serue for the aduancing of his glorie and therfore that you loue all those which desire and seeke the same as the brethren friendes of Christ. For these be the effectes which can neuer be seuered from true Faith And this is the disposition of true faith therefore as long as thou feelest these effects in thy selfe albeit verie slender and greatlie languishing yet assure thy selfe thou art indewed with true Faith although it bee weake and therefore thou art in Christ yea and in Christ elected to Wherefore thou must not doubt of thy saluation and election by reason of thy daylie slips proceeding from thy weaknesse of Faith no not for haynous crimes like as neither Dauid for his adulterie and murther nor Peter for his threefold deniall did dispair of their election which appeareth in that being plunged in the verie gulfes of their temptations they held fast their Faith as an anchor and called vppon God This is the second propp Lastlie in no wise wee must forget namelie that our election is certaine and immutable and therefore as it is done without respect of any works of ours so in like sort it can neuer be chāged by any of our euill deserts For as it is first proceded from the only free purpose of God so it is grounded thereon True it is we prouoke Gods wrath against vs by our sins and neither wil God let them escape vnpunished but hee chastiseth vs by diuers both inward outward scourges as may appeare in Dauid aboue all other Yet for al that it is his good pleasure that for his goodnes sake and trueth for the obediēce of Christ that his purpose shuld remaine sure and our election So it commeth to passe that he giueth vs repentāce anew to raise vs vp to receiue vs to fauour Therfore although for the present thou feelest thy selfe to be of weake faith and to haue fallen to diuers sinnes Yet whereas heretofore thou hast had many and euident testimonies of thy election as the testimony of the holie Ghost and the testimonie taken from Faith the effects of Faith at this present assuredlie thou canst not doubt of thy electiō for thy sins committed but thou shalt much derogate from this free election and also from the testimonies of thy election heretofore injoyed yea those which yet thou enjoyest For if thy sinnes displease thee thou desirest to liue without blame onely for that thy sins displease thee why now thou hast a new testimonie of thy election For such repentance as this is is onely proper vnto the elect Therefore by these three proppes we must vphold our faith as touching euerie ones particular election And thus much as concerning the certaintie with the which euerie man must bee perswaded that he is elected in Christ to eternal life before the foūdation of the world ASSERTION II. Whosoeuer are predestinate to the end they are also predestinate to the means vvithout vvhich they cannot attaine to the end and therefore as the elect necessarilie at length doe come vnto the end by reason of the certaintie of their election so also by reason of the same certainty it is necessary that they should bee traced through those means vvhich tend to the same end WEe must mark the end to which we are predestinate to which we say that one day wee shal be brought for there is a double end of our election the one concerneth the elect themselues namely their glorification or their eternall life and glorie in heauen Of which is spoken Rom. 8.