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. ↩