8. CHAP. VIII

How euery man may with profit apply this uniuersal doctrine to himselfe.

IT is most euidet, that they, which teach that mans saluation either in part or wholly, dependeth and is grounded in works, destroy the foundation of the Gospel of GOD 1. And contrariwise, ¹ they that teach iustification freely by faith, ground on a sure foundation; but so, that they build vpon that eternal counsell of God, whereupon Christ himselfe 2, and the Apostle Paul folowing Christs steppes, groundeth his doctrine 3. For seeing perseuerance in faith is requisite to saluation 4, to what purpose shall saith serue me, except I be sure of the gift of perseuerance? nor we need not fear, least this doctrine make vs negligent, or dissolute: for this peace of conscience whereof wee speak 5, ought to be distinct and separat fro foolish securitie: and he that is the sonne of God, seeing hee is mooued and gouerned by the spirit of God 9, vvill neuer through the consideration of Gods benefit take occasion of negligence and ² dissolution. Then if by this doctrine we had but this one commoditie, that wee might learn to assure & cofirme our faith against all brunts that might happen, it is manifest that they which speak against & resist this article of religion, either through their wickednes, or else through their ignorance, or some foolish blind zeale (which hapneth, when men will me⟨…⟩sure God according to the capacity of their own wits) subuert & destroy the principall ground & foundation of our saluation. And in very deed, though some (as I must cofesse) do it not purposely: yet doe they open notwithstanding, the dore to al superstition & impiety. As for the. which nowadaies maliciously oppugne the truth, I beseech the lord, euen from my hart, either to turne their mindes (if so be they appertaine to the elect) or else to send them a most speedy destruction, that by their owne example they may confirme and establish that doctrine, which so maliciously they resist. These other I will desire most instantly, and require them in the name of God, that they would better aduise themselues what they doe.

Now, to touch briefly how this doctrine may bee applied, let vs marke that all the works of God, euen the least of all, are such, that man cannot iudge of them, but in two sorts: that is, either whe~ they are done; or else, by foreseeing them to come to passe by the disposition of the second and manifest causes, whose effects haue been diligently, and by long vse obserued, as men accustome in naturall things to do: wherin, notwithstanding men are wonderfully blind. In this matter then, which is most obscure of all others, it is no maruel if mans wit be driuen into this straight, that it can not otherwise vnderstand, but by this meanes, what is determined as touching him selfe in this secret counsell of God. But because these are most high mysteries, & therfore ³ stand in the obseruation of those causes which passe all naturall things, wee must needs seeke farther, & come to Gods word: which forasmuch as without all comparison, it is more certain, then mans comectures: so it can best directvs heerein and assure vs.

The Scripturne then witnesseth 7, that all those that God hath, according to his counsell, predestinate, to be adopted his children throgh Iesus Christ, are also called in their time appointed, yea & so effectually, that they hear the voice of him that calleth, and belieue it 8: so that beeing iustified and sanctified in Iesus Christ, they are also glorified. Wilt thou then, ⁴ whatsoeuer thou art, be assured of predestination, and so in order of thy saluation, which thou lookest for, against all the assaults of Satan? assured I say, not by doubtful coniectures, or our owne fantasie, but by arguments, and conclusions, no lesse true and certaine 9. then if thou were ascended, into ⟨…⟩ and had heard of Gods owne mouth his eternall decree and purpose? Beware thou begin not at that most high degree: for so thou shouldest not be able to sustaine the most shining light of Gods maiestie. Begin therefore beneath at the lowest order, and when thou shalt heare the voice of God 10, sound in thine eares, and in thy hart, which calleth thee to Christ the onely Mediator, consider by little and little, & try diligently 11; if thou be iustified & sanctified in Christ through faith: for these two bee the effects or fruites, whereby the faith is known, which is their cause. As for this thou shalt partly ⁵ know by the spirit of adoption, which cryeth within thee Abba Father 12: and partly by the vertue and effect of the same spirit, which is wrought in thee. As if thou fall, and so declare indeede, that although sinne dwell in thee, yet it doth no more raigne in thee 13. For is not the holy Ghost hee, that causeth vs not to let slip the bridle, and giue libertie willinglie to our naughtie and vile concupiscences 14, as they are accustomed, whose eyes the prince of this world blindeth 15? or else who mooueth vs to pray, when we are ⁶ cold, and slothfull? who stirreth vp in vs those vnspeakable gronings 16? Who is he that when wee haue sinned (yea and sometimes willingly and wittingly) ingendreth in vs an hate of the sin committed: and not for the feare of punishment, which vvee haue therefore deserued, but because wee haue offended our most mercifull father 17?

Who is hee, I say, that testifieth vnto vs that our sighings are heard, and also moueth vs to call daily God, our God, and our father, euen at that time when we haue trespassed against him 18? Is it not that spirit, which is freely giuen vnto vs as a gift, for a sure and certaine pledge of our adoption 19? Wherfore, ⁷ if wee can gather by these effects, that wee haue faith, it followeth that wee are called and drawen effectually. And againe, by this vocation, which we haue declared properly to belong to the children of God, that is euidently proued, which we tooke in hand to shewe, that is, for asmuch as we were predestinat by the eternall counsell and decree of God (the which he had determined in himselfe) to be adopted in his Sonne, therefore wee were giuen to him: whereof the conclusion followeth, that sith by the most constant will of God 20, which onely is grounded on it selfe, and dependeth on none other thing, wee are ⁸ predestniate, & no man can take vs out of the hands of the Sonne: also seeing that to continue and perseuere in the faith is necessary, it followeth I say, that the hope of our perseuerance is certaine, and so consequently our saluation: so that to doubt any more of it, is euill and wicked 21. So farre then it is against reason to say that this doctrine maketh men negligent or dissolute, that contrariwise, this alone doth open vs the way, to search out and vnderstand, by the power of the holy ghost. Gods deepe secrets, as the Apostle plainly teacheth 22, to the end that when we knowe the~ (albeit we know the~ here in this world but after a sort 23, so that we must daily fight with the spirituall armor against distrust 24,) wee may learne to behaue our selues not idlelie, but rather to perseuere valiantly 25, to serue and honor God, to loue him, to fear him, to call vpo~ him, that daily more and more as saith S. Peter, asmuch as in vs lieth, wee may make our vocation and election certaine 26.

Moreouer, how shall hee stand sure and constant against so many grieuous tentations, both within & without, and against so many assaults of fortune (as the world doth tearm it) that is not wel resolued in this point, which is most true? that is, that god according to his good vvill, doth all things whatsoeuer they be, & what instruments and meanes soeuer hee vseth in working of the same, for the commoditio of his elect 27. Of the which number he is, that findeth himselfe in ⁹ this danger and trouble 28. As touching the other point, which concerneth reprobation, because no man can cal to mind the determinat purpose of election, but at the same instant the contrary wil come to remembrance (besides that in the holy scripture these two are oftentimes ioyned together) it must ¹⁰ needs he, that such as esteem this part curious, or vnprofitable, and therfore not to be talked of, doe great iniury to the spirit of God. Therefore this part is to bee wayed and considered; but with such ¹¹ modestie, that the height of Gods iudgements may at all times bridle our curious fanfies: in such sort, that we doe ¹² not apply it particularly to any man, nor to any certain company. For in this sort also it differeth from election, because election (as hath beene said) is reuealed to vs by the spirit of God with in our selues, not in others, whose harts we cannot know. And reprobation is euer hid from men, except it bee disclosed by God, contrarie to the co~mon course of things. For who can tell, if God haue determined to shew mercy at the last house of death to him which hath spent all his life past lowdly and wickedly 29? But this trust ought not to encourage any man to maintaine, and continue in his sinne and vngodliness. For I speake of those things which vvee ought to consider in others: for the examples of such mercie of GOD, are very rare, neither any man that is vvise, vvill promise to himselfe through a vaine security and trust, that thing which is not in his owne power 30.

It is therefore sufficient if we can vnderstand generally that there bee vessels prepared to perdition 31: the which seeing God doth not reueale vnto vs who they are, we ought both in example of life and prayer diligently indeuour to win and recouer to ¹³ their saluation, yea euen very such of whom by seeing their horrible vices we almost despaire 32. And if wee obserue this order, wee shall receiue great fruit of this doctrine. For first, by the knowledge ¹⁴ heerof, we shal learn humbly to submit our selues to the maiestie of God, so that the more we shall feare and reuere~ce him, the more we ought to labour to confirme in our ¹⁵ selues the testimonie of our election in Christ 33.

Furthermore, when wee shall diligently consider the difference, which through the mercie of God is betwixt men, which are all alike subiect to the selfe same curse & malediction, it cannot bee, but we must acknowledge & imbrace more earnestly, the singular goodnesse of God, then if wee did make this grace common to all men indifferently, or else referred the cause of the inequality of this grace to men 34.

Besides this, whe~ we know that faith is a speciall gift of God, shall wee not receiue it more willingly when it is offered, and be more careful to haue the same to increase, then if wee should imagine ¹⁶ (as some doe) that it is in euery mans povver to turne and repent when hee vvill; because (they say) the Lord vvould that all men should bee saued, and will not the death of a sinner.

Finally, when wee see the doctrine of the Gospell not onely despised of all the world, but also cruelly persecuted: and vvhen vvee see so great falshood and rebellion amongst men, what thing then can better confirme ¹⁷ and fortifie vs, then to bee assured that nothing chaunceth by fortune: that GOD knoweth his 35, and that they vvhich commit these thinges (except the Lord GOD turne their hearts) are those which are destinate, not by chaunce, but by the sure and eternall counsel of GOD, to be as it vvere a glasse, wherein the anger & power of God doth appeare? Truth it is, that these things can neuer bee so commodiously and perfectly treated of, that mans reason and wit cannot find out some thing to reply alwaies to the contrary; yea and so kindleth with desire of contradiction, that it is ready to bring an action against God, and to accuse and blame him, as chiefe author of all things. But let the Diuell roare and discontent him selfe, and the wicked kick and winse: yet their owne conscience shall ¹⁸ reproue & condemne them 36: when as ours, being confirmed in the truth, by the grace & mercie of our God, shall deliuer & freevs 37, in the day of Christ. To whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost, praise, glory, and honour be giuen for euer.

So Be It.

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← 7. CHAP. VII · Contents · 9. CHAP. II →

Footnotes

1. Iustification by faith is vnprofitable, if it bee seperat from election. ↩

2. Peace of co~ science dependeth on predestination. ↩

3. 1. Cor. 2. d.
   ↩

4. How a man may haue assurance of his election. ↩

5. By what signes faith is known. ↩

6. The effects of the holy Ghost in the elect. ↩

7. The assurace of the vocatio is knowe~ by faith, and so by the vocation the election. ↩

8. The confidence to perseuere & to be saued, is sure and certaine. ↩

9. The election onely doth comfort vs in all afflictions. ↩

10. The doctrine of reprobation ought not to be suppressed. ↩

11. Reprobation must be wisely considered. ↩

12. It may not be applyed particularly. ↩

13. We must labor to win all men. ↩

14. The doctrin of reprobation maketh men hu~ble. ↩

15. It maketh the grace of God to be better knowen of the elect. ↩

16. It bringeth a godly care ↩

17. It doth co~ firme vs against all offences. ↩

18. The reprobate resist against God in vaine. ↩