a church of God but thou muste beleue to be a porcion therof one of the lyuely stones therfore one of the electe And to beleue the cōmunion of sainctes thou must feele that as a mēber of Christ he doth perticipate his grace with the and that thou art therby saued thou must also beleue that remissiō of sinnes that is not only that he dothe pardon sinnes but that he hathe pardoned the thine and so elected the. Euen so thou must beleue that thou shalt rise glorious and haue life euerlasting Then ther is no article of our faith that can be beleued in suche sorte as it ought to be of those whiche do not beleue they are elected To the Christian it is then necessary to beleue that God is his God and father that he worcketh all for his benefite and that Chryste is come was borne hath liued died and risen againe for his saluacion so that with liuely faith he imbraceth Christ wholi for his own with al his treasur and grace And likewise al his life death resurrection assention and glorye and perceiueth the charitie of God in Christe as if there hadde bene no mo but onlye him selfe in the world and that Christ for him onlye wold haue wrought and suffered no les then he hath done The which when thou dost beleue thou shalt perceyue thou arte elect Yea he that beleueth not he is electe can not praye as he oughte beinge withoute faithe withoute the whiche after Paul we can not effecteously recommende vs to god Roma x. Iaco. i. bicause that we must aske in faith if we wil aske in veriti be hard now if thou beleue not to be his sōne heire how cāst thou as Christ taughte say our father as a sonne with cōfidence aske him grace Praier may wel be made of infidels and Ipocrites but lyke folishe scoffers and mockers When thou saiest halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thou must haue in the the spirit of adoption of the sonne of God And as the sōne is moued of vehemente loue pure and sincere to desire the kingdome and glory of the father so must thou seinge the the sonne of God with a deuine spirite by the force of loue aske and desyre that thy heauenlie father be honored and reigne in his elect with oute rebellion Likewyse shalte thou neuer thancke God with all thy herte if thou beleue not to be one of the elect yea if thou shalt doubte therin or thinke to be dampned in thy harte and in thy lyfe and paraduenture also with thy wordes thou wilte dispraise him that he hath giuen the a beinge that he hath create the world sente Chryste and so the rest his benefites and wilt saie If I am not saued what do these thinges profit me it had ben better for me that I had neuer ben Mar. xiiii as Christ said of Iudas If I shal be dampned the death of Christ serueth me not but doth inflame burne with al the rest of his benefites thou canst not in perfection thē thācke god if thou feare dampnaciō Rom. viii But who so beleueth he is one of the elect therby that al things serue him to saluacion euen the verye troubles he holdeth for a speciall grace and benefite in them perceiuinge the goodnes of God he giueth him thanckes with all his herte Who shal he be that committeth him selfe holy to the gouernaunce of God as euery one oughte to do if he beleue not that God is his father that he pardoneth him doth take of him most singuler cure Other wise they shal neuer trust in God but with Adam shall feare him and flye sekinge to hide him selfe from the face of God nether is it possible to loue God in veritie honor him as he ought to be honored and approue for iuste and hollye all his worckes and so delite wholye in him if he fele not in Christe so much the goodnes of God Gala. iiii that he se him selfe hys sonne also heire If he know not him selfe to be a sonne he shal feare as aseruaunt and in all his worckes haue respecte to him selfe his paines displeasures incommodites dishonoures and hel or els to this paradice and not to the glorye of God As he that seeth him selfe a sonne lord of al and heire and suer therof such a one worketh only by strength of spiirt vehemēcie of loue to the glory of God to whome he hath turned his whole intent to that ende ordreth his whole lyfe Also it can not be possible to loue thy neighbour as thi selfe as a brother in Christ and mēber with the of the same bodie if thou do not beleue to be in the nomber of the sonnes of God And finalli ther can not one good worcke be done but of them that are regenerate sonnes of God members of Christe and haue in them the holy spirite which testifieth in their hertes that they be the sonnes of God And mai parteli be sene howe false and vngodlye is the doctrine of the antechristians that where as it is cheiflye necessarie to beleue that we are elected also aboue all thinges most commodious thei force thē selues to withdraw euery one frō this fayth perswading them to stand in doubte as thoughe they had wherin to mistruste the goodnes of God Osee xiii vpon whome onlie dependeth oure saluation as our dāpnacion doth of our selues But let vs praye to God to open our eyes to the ende they maye no longer blaspheme but render to God all honor laude and glorie by Iesu Christe our Lorde ☞ Amen ☜ ¶ If it be good to seeke to know wherfore God hath some electe and some reprobate the syxt Sermon THy desyre maye be wycked as it is in many to whō it apeareth that it should haue ben better if God who being of power as he is had elected all men and semeth thē that in this God hath lacked of charitie yea in theyr language they say in their herrte secretly If we had bene God we would haue elected all and would haue had more charitie thē he Now behold whether this be vngodly folyshe proude blasphemy or not They Imagine to haue more loue to the soules then he that for to saue them gaue his onely begotten and dearly beloued sonne vpon the crosse i. Iohn iiii There are some other to whom it semeth on the one syde that god can not erre and on the other parti hearinge that he hath reproued many they thinke the cōtrary They are not certeine by fayth that God can not erre and that al that he willeth must nedes be iuste Therfore to make it clere they go searchyng wherfore he hath not elected all men and they would fynd a cause where is none If such were godly they shuld quiete and satisfie thē selues shuld haue their felicitie in the deuine plesure wtout searching to assēd any hler It is euyl thē to seke wherfore god
hebrues that which in faith do imitate folow Abraham they are the elect Mala. i. When God also in Mala. sheweth to the Iues that he hath loued thē because he loued Iacob of whom they descended and hated Esau His reason had ben vnuailable if God dyd loue and those by workes For the Iewes might haue answered if thou didest loue Iacob the Hebrues it was because thou didest forsee their good workes and in lyke case thou wouldest haue done to Esau and the Gentils Roma ix if thou haddest foresene any good workes in them But Paule sheweth that the Messias is come also to the gētils because God geueth his gyftes with out hauinge respecte to workes If thou demaund wherfore he hath elected thē Paul answereth because it is written I wyl shew mercy on whom it pleaseth me Roma ix Therfore Paule doth inferre and bringe in that paradise is not his that wyl nor that runneth or laboreth by hymselfe to get it but his that God wyl shewe mercy vnto He myght also haue answered that although God hated Esau before he was borne before he dyd sinne he is not therfore wycked for he had hym not in hate or he did forese his wickednes But he saith that he doth indurate whō he wyl to set forth the brightnes of his glorie And to his purpose he doth alledge the example of Pharao Now tel me howe it is possible that God can forse in vs any good if he determine not to geue it vs Thou wilt say he saw that some could vse well frewil and some not therfore he chose the fyrst and refused the seconde they coulde not vse it well wythout hys grace Wherefore then dyd he determine to geue that grace of well vsynge to the one and not to the other It behoueth to returne to the deuine wyll and saie because it pleased him not for the vsinge wel of fre wil is the effecte and frute and not the cause of election Peraduenture thou wylte saye he did determine to geue grace to all but he sawe that some wold vse it wel and those he chose and some euel and those he forsoke But tell me the vse of that grace is also the gyfte of God wherfore did he not determine to geue that grace to all also to vse it Thou muste nedes saie at laste also because it pleased him not If thou wilt saie those that vsed it not well was not because thei lacked the grace to vse it no more then the other but they did not occupye it when they had it the desalte was theires not of God nor of the grace If it were so we shuld haue wherin to glorye in our selues But Paul is in the contrarie willeth that to God ought to be rendred all honour and glorye i. Cor. iiii Romm iiii i. Timo. i. Iero. i. so as frō him commeth al goodnes We might also of our selues seperate vs frō the reprobate and so our hope shuld not be al wholy in God our saluaciō could not be certeine and suer as Chryst said nor the cause of oure election so hid Ihon. x. Rom. iiii vi.ix and .xi. as Paule saieth it is yea fre mercie shulde be no more fre merci if we might be saued by worckes and paradise shuld be a rewarde and not a gyfte cleane agaynst Paule The Hebrues dyd mo warckes thē the gentils and neuertheles he did chose the gentils and reproued the Iewes that soughte to be iustified by theyr workes God from the beginning for sawe in vs nothing but repugnancie and rebelliō agaynst his grace being by the sinne of Adam the children of ire proue Ephe. ii Gene. viii Rom. xi Psal xvii ii Reg. xxii Psalm xliii i Cor ii Iaco. i. Ihon. xv and enclined to all euyl Paule calleth our elecciō the eleccion of fre mercye Dauid sayth he saued me because he loued me and because it pleased him He saueth then his electe because he delitethe in them and distributeth his mercy after his owne wyl Thē he hath begotten vs voluntarily by mere mercye and not by our workes so that the .xij. Apostels dyd not chose Christe but he chose thē to the Apostleship So we be not they that haue chosen God to saue vs but God is he that hathe chosen vs to saluacion Euen as Paul was called withoute workes by free mercy because it pleased God so he was elected to shewe his mercie Acte ix Gala. i. i. Timo. i. Ephe. ii and the aboundaunt ryches of his glorie It is humilitie it selfe to beleue that we are chosen by grace Thys opinion geueth al glory to God and to vs only confusion And because we can not erre in glorifiyng to much the fre mercie and bountie of God and abatinge the pryde of man Therfore it is most sure yea although it stode not wyth the holye scriptures as it doth And the more it displeaseth the carnal man because it cōfoundeth al hys glorye so much the more it is pleasing to the spiritual because it magnifieth God Christ his fre mercy the gospel And to say my opinion it pleaseth me best to be all wholy in the hande of God Yea if mine elecciō were in my custodie I wolde if I myght render it vnto God in whose hand it must of force be better and more sure Yea woe to vs if in the least point it did depend vpō our selues Se then what becommeth of them that imagine although falsely that it dependith only vpon the goodly workes that they do to make thē selues elected again wher on the other partie thou shalt se that those which with lyuely faith beleue to be by the mere mercy of God and by the death of Christe in the number of the electe and sonnes of God for that they fele in Christe and by Christ the greate charitie of God are by strength of the spirite and loue forced to do worckes to bee wondered at not seruile for they see them selues heyres but the worckes of a sonne sincere and pure to the glorie of their lyuely father beynge preuented by loue If thou wouldeste beleue we are not worthye to be so elected by free mercye I woulde aunswere neyther that Chryste shoulde suffer for vs vpon the Crosse but dyd he not therfore die Christe hathe not elected vs because we were worthy therof but for the glorie of his goodnes Ephe. i. The cause of oure eleccion is not then to bee soughte but at the diuine wyll Of the reprobate I entende not to dispute wherefore God hath cast them of because it is neyther nedefull to vs nor profitable to knowe It serueth to humble vs and to knowe better the greate goodnesse of God that wee are elected by his grace and not by our workes The christiane ought to beleue to be one of the chosen Ephe. i. i. Cor. ii.v. and it ought to suffise hym to haue Christe for his booke in the which he seeth hym selfe
shewe in the worldes to come Ephe. i .ii the abundante riches of his grace Paule also shewyth the worthines of our electiō by respecte of the dignitie of the person by whose meanes we are chosen and saithe he hath willed that betwene vs and him there shuld be one mediator nether he wold it to be an angel but Christ the sōne of God i. Timo. ii Ephe. i. He meaneth not onlie a mediator with wordes but with his owne bloud and death Paul doth exalt our electiō as concerning the end For bicause he hathe elected vs for his sonnes to the end we may taste not only in the life to come but also in this present things so highe happye riche and pure that the eie hath not sene nor the eare hath not hard nor into the hart of man being carnal hath at any tyme entred i. Cor. ii he hath then elected vs to the ende that regenerate bi Christe Iesu we shuld walke to God by good workes Ephe. ii that we may be hollie and inreprehēsible before his presence Our election is also excellente by the suertye therof for that the elect are in the handes of God Ephe i. Ihon. x. Therefore shal not thei perishe as Christ sayth yea they can not peryshe euen as they can not bee pluckte oute of his handes Therfore oure election is moste happye so that nothynge oughte so muche to bee reioysed in as to bee the elected and chosen of God Therfore it is read the disciples returning to Christ and reioisinge with greate gladnes that euen the veray deuelles were subiecte to them Luke x. Chryst amonge the reste of wordes bade them thei shulde not reioyse of the subiection of the deuels but that their names were written in heauen by which wordes he did shew that we ought to make a singuler Ioye of our elecciō for that includeth and bringeth with it the sūme of all our wealth since then that our eleccion is so excellent ryche sure and hapy Let vs pray to God to geue vs lighte and grace to perceyue it to th ende that tastinge in it with the spirite the myghtie goodnes of God we may rēder him al laude honor and glorye by Iesu Christe our Lorde ¶ If wee maie knowe in this present lyfe This hole sermon must be warely red wel vnderstanded or els it must be taken but as persuasiu◠not as doctrine whether we be in the grace of God one of his electe or not and in what maner the thyrd Sermon IT is not to be douted that God seeth all thinges specially his legittimate childrē sēce he himself hath chosen them to that dignitie ii Timo. ii Ephe. i. Christ also knoweth knew thē alwaies that which was very cōueniēt sence his father had geuē thē to him for that he shulde be theyr gouernor shepherd brother and that he shuld saue thē with his own death he knew thē doth know his shepe euen as himselfe sayd Ihon. vii Iohn vi yea frō the beginning he knew who should beleue But it is not now conuenient Math. xiii that we may or can deserue distinctlye the elect from the reprobate to the ende we may be more fervent in exercisinge charite with all men as if they were brethern with vs in Christ the which we would not do towarde the reprobate if we knewe thē distinctly But in the ende the tares shal be seperate frō the good wheat none then beinge in this present lyfe knoweth certenly of his neighbour if he be of the elect or not nor also whether he be in the fauour of God we may only haue therof an obscure confused vncertein and faylyng knowledge by cōiecture of the outward lyfe and workes of whom Christ speaking sayd Math. vii Ye shall knowe them by their fruites But forasmuch as we see not the hertes of men i. Cor. ii Luke xvi which often times although within they are vngodly and abhominacion it selfe in the syght of God neuertheles coueringe them with the veyle of hipocrisie maskinge therin they apeare to be sainctes Therfore without speciall oracle we can haue no certeine knowledge therof But I saye that euery elect whyle he is in this present lyfe beinge come to the yeres of discression maye and ought to know it of himself not by natural lyght by meanes wherof thinges supernaural can not be perceiued as the excellent diuine wyl toward vs but by faithe without other speciall priuilege And this not with hauing respect to them selues where is nothing sene but worthy damnacion neither with cōsideringe or beholding thē selues in God without Christe for in that case he must shew himself to vs a iust iudgeful of wrath then we neither se our selues his sōnes nor in fauour But with liuely fayth beholding both our selues God in Christ we se our selues to be in the fauour of god his elect sonnes god to be pacified with vs in loue and our only father Such then as liuely beleue that Christ for thē hath died vpō the crosse haue the holy gost within them are in the fauour of God bicause that faith doth purifie the hert This muste be warly red and well vnderstāded or it is not true But if thou vnderstande what it is to beleue in christ with a liuely faith thē there is no daunger at al. i. Iho. v. And further I say that al they which in this present lyfe to beleue liuely in Christ yea were it for a moment of time shal be sauid Thei are electe and sonnes of God and may be suer and certeine of their saluation And that this is true the wordes of sainte Ihon ought to suffise which saith that he is the sonne of God therfore electe and sauid who so beleueth Iesu Christe to be the sonne of God And also Christ sayde who so beleueth in me hath lyfe euerlasting neuerthelesse it may clearlye be prouid that none beleueth liuelye in Chryste but he that but he that beleueth Chryst to be wholy his rightwisenes and that he is saued thorowlye by him and he that seethe this wyth supernatural vnderstāding hauing no respect to him selfe nor his workes but only to the goodnes of God discouered in Christ vpō the Crosse can not by any meanes be disceiued bicause the light which he hath to be in the fauor of God elect to saluaciō cā not grow but onlye of the bounty of God considered in Christ wherof can spring no false nor deceitfull knowledge Full well may he be begiled and shal be that doth behold his workes and by them thinketh that he is in the fauour of God and his sōne But seing him selfe in Chryst saued chosen in the fauour of God it muste nedes be said that he seeth the truthe and that which is once trewe although it were but for the twincke of an eie must be saide to be euer true he then whiche beleueth in Christe were it
so muche but that we euer lacke of the perfection so can we not to muche hope trust in him Yea we lacke euer bycause we do not promise of God so muche as we shulde do he that beleueth to be sauid becommeth not proud nether magnifieth him selfe nor his worckes but the goodnes of God and the grace that we haue by Christ Therfore is it not euell Peraduenture thou wylt saie one oughte to stande in feare I agre therto in the reuerend and sonnelike feare the whiche importeth obseruaunce of reuerence to God but now not so vile Rom. viii for we ar no more seruauntes but sonnes not Hebreues but Christians we are not vnder the lawe but grace we haue God for our father and not onlye for a Lorde Rom. vi Therefore our office is to loue him like childrene and not to feare him as seruauntes Rom. viii sence that we haue the spirite not of seruitude but of adoption of the sonnes of God If our saluacion did depēd in any parte vpon ourselfes I wolde saye we ought to fear our dānaciō yea to be sure therof but sence it is al in that hādes of God therfore beholding not oure selues i. Iho. iiii but hys goodnes discouered in Christ vpō the crosse we may be suer and certeine of our saluacion Perfect charitie chaseth away al seruile feare faith neuer douteth if it be perfect the feare then of our damnaciō groweth of imperfectiō of our charitie faith and hope We ought neuer to feare the mercyfulnes of God but our owne wyckednes Thou woldest saye if we were wholie confirmed in grace we shuld not nede to feare but we synne daylie therfore it is necessary to stād in doubte I answere that yet thou goest aboute to builde my hope vpon my worckes the whiche shuld be no hope but a presumpcion If we shulde hope wyth condition if we do well and perseuer therin my hope shulde stande wyth desperacion for of my selfe I knowe I ought to despaire If I had the synnes of the whole worlde yet wold I moste stedfastly beleue to be saued without anye feare of dampnacion nether may this be sayde to be euell for that I woulde not builde my hope but vpon Christe If thou woldest saie the feare of dampnaciō causeth men to abstein frō sinne therfore it is good I aunswere that it causeth men to refrayne in their owne loue as doth the fear of death wherby they become dayly more sensuall in them selues and therfore truely worse inwardly Feare worketh wrathe in God euen as the lawe doth and although it cause the abstaine frō some euill outward worke neuerthelesse the venime remaineth within the which is so much the worse as it is more vnited to the inwarde partes yea that feare geuen to the vngodly is the scorge of God The electe knowinge that God in this present lyfe doth punyshe more the legittimate chyldrē then the bastardes abstaine also by this feare more then the other But truly the loue of God the quicke feelynge of hys greate goodnes to beleue firmely by Christ and his grace to be the sonnes of God elect and sure in deede are those thinges whiche mortifie vs to the worlde and to ourselues and maketh synne displeasaunt to vs euen frō the botome of the hert Therfore where the seruile feare maketh Ipocrites the son-lyke loue maketh true christians If thou woldest sai to beleue so is a thing veri perilous because that herof thei take occasiō to liue idle yea to geue them self to al vice saiyng I wil make my paradise in this world for euerye wai I shal be sauid sēce that alredi I am elect I answere that whē one beleueth to be elect and perceiueth in spirite the mercifulnes of God in Christe then God tasted in Christe hath in the herte such efficacie and strength that he can not offende but is forced to dyspraise the worlde is rapt to so highe estate that he falleth to obliuion of the world him selfe and his paradise setting only God before his eies Ioh. iii Therfore sayeth sainte Iohn Who so hathe this faithe sanctifieth hym self So as thē of chariti springeth but goodnes euen so is it of this faith hope Knowest thou where in is the parille In beleuing to be elected by theire workes and by beleuinge in Christ not stedfastlye but to haue only a certaine barraine idle and a dead opinion therof the which stādeth in the worste life in suche sorte that of that colde and vnfrutefull faythe they may take occasion to geue thē to Idelnes and all vyce But now not of that perfecte faith the which is effectuous in doinge worckes by loue beinge an enflamed lyghte Gala. v. the whiche is neuer withoute burninge If also thou wouldest say in beleuinge to be electe thou shouldest peradaduenture be begiled therfore it is euell I wold yet answere that I wolde soner geue faithe to the holy gost whiche testifieth in the hartes of the electe that thei are the sonnes of God as Paule writeth then to the that woldest put me in doubt of it Rom. viii The electe to heare inwardlye in their hertes a spirituall voyce quicke and deuine whiche biddeth them not doubte and that they are suer of theire saluacion that God loueth them and hathe taken them for his children and that thei can not perishe the testimonie of God is greater thē mans Ihon. x. Therfore not onlie he is to be beleued afore man but he deseruethe to haue giuen vnto him vndoubted credite If thou woldest sai it might be not the spirite of God but their imaginacions I saye that what so euer it is they knowe better then thou i. Cor. ii for that as Paule saithe none knoweth what is in mā but the spirite of man that is within hym Farder I am suer that the same spirit whithc saith to me I am elected is the spirite of God bicause the faithe I haue of my election springeth not of my worckes but onlye of the goodnes of god vnderstand in Christ and for that of his goodnes can growe nether gyle nor falshod therfore am I suer to be in the trueth Deceites falshedes mai do come of the belefe to be saued by workes and elected Moreouer the lyght whiche the electe haue of their saluacion is so cleare that they do not onlye se them selfes suere therof but they knowe also that the lyghte and knowledge they haue is supernaturall diuine But we suppose as thou sayst that in beleuinge to be electe onlye by Christe and the goodnes of God I myghte be begiled whiche is false and impossible yet wolde I still saye let me be deceiued for it is good to be so begiled sence I can finde no thinge that so much doth kindel me into a sincere and pure loue of God as to beleue to be elected bi his mere goodnes Therfore vsinge it to make me inamored of God I oughte not to be withdrawen
chifelie for that I am happye onlie bi that faythe of the whiche whosoeuer is voide is not yet entred in to the kingdome of God where is nothinge but ryghtuousnes peace and Ioie Rom. iiii Finalli Paule beleued to be elected as in many places he saythe yea he gloried therin neuerthelesse in God and so to beleue he induced others the which if it had bene euel he wolde not haue done Therfore if it be not euel let vs also with Paule glori vs by God in Christe who likewyse induced the Apostles Luke x. Math. xv Math. xvi to beleue that theyr names were writē in heauen that theyr heauenli reward was plētuous that they shulde iudge the xii tribes therby brought them to beleue thei were electe and that is also suer that if that belefe had bene euell he wold not haue caused it Thou wilt saie thou oughtest not to compare thy selfe equall wyth the sainctes I saie it is true that I oughte not to presume to be like them or holy by myne owne worckes for while I presume of my selfe I muste of force become a deuell but it is not euell to compare with the saintes in veritie for they were humble and in beleuing that they were elect they gaue to God all laude and glorye bicause they did not beleue to be of the electe for their merites but for Christes And wold to God I mighte beleue that firmelye and with stedfast fayth the sacred scriptures are ful that we ought not to despeire of our saluacion but that we ought to hope and beleue to be all readye saued and dayly to certifie oureselues therof bi doing good worckes ii Pet. i. i. Iohn iiii which are a testimonie to vs of oure election and that we shulde also increase in charitye to take from vs all feare of oure dampnaciō to the end we may serue God without feare in rightuousnes and holinesse as zacharie sayde Luke i. And likewise wee ought to demaūd perseueraūce in the good with faith to obtein it Therfore to trust to be saued of the elected to hope beleue to be saued of the electe is not euel Paul also saithe oure hope was neuer confounded nor dyd shame to them that had it And lykewyse that fayth was neuer beguiled Wherfore then is it euyll that I beleue stedfastly to be saued by Christ Let vs beholde then wyth open eyes of liuely fayth Christe vpon the crosse in whome we se presentlye the goodnes of God in the face in suche sorte as we maye beyng pilgrimes to th ende wee may render to him al laud honor glory through Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen ¶ Vvhether it be necessarye to saluacion to beleue that we are elected or not the fyft Sermon Hebr. xi Mar. xvi Iohn iii. FAyth is very necessarye because that withoute it not onlye God cānot bee pleased but he that beleueth not shall be condempned and is already iudged But it is also impossible that one that doth not beleue to be elected should beleue as he ought to do any of the articles nceessarie to saluaciō And to proue that this is true if thou beleuest not that thou art one of the elect thou beleuest not in God in the maner that thou arte bounde bicause that it suffiseth not to haue a certeine dead opinion that Godi◠but thou muste effectuously beleue that he is thy God that he loueth the that he is propiciatory to the that he is cōtinually beneficial to the that he hath most special cure of the causeth euery thinge to serue the to saluacion therfore that thou arte electe Yea who so beleueth not that he is electe doeth not fele in spirite the benefite of Christe Therfore beinge without Christ Ephe. i. Gala. iiii he is with oute God and knoweth him not as Paule wryteth Then howe is it possible that thou mayste beleue perfectli that he is thy father if thou do not beleue that thou arte his son and therfore his heire saued Gala. iiii Thou canst also neuer earnestlie beleue that God is omnipotente if thou vnderstande not that continually he vseth his omnipotēcie towards the in doinge the good Whiche when with the spirite thou didest proue thou shuldest of force beleue thy selfe to bee his heyre if thou beleue not thou arte elect howe causte thou beleue that God hathe created the heauens and thearthe that he susteineth gouerneth all to thy behofe hauing of the moste singuler cure it is nedefull that with liuely sayth imbrasinge al the world for thy owne thou perceiue effectuallye the goodnes of God in euerye creature And when that is thou shalt be inforced to beleue that thou arte the sonne of God Thou canste not also beleue in Iesu that is that he is to the Iesus and sauioure if thou beleue not that thou arte saued nether canste thou beleue that he is thy Christe that is to saye a Prophete kinge and prieste if thou fele not in spirite that he doth illuminate and lighten the as a prophet rule the as a king and as an onlye prieste is offered for the vpon the crosse The which if thou didest beleue thou shuldest also beleue to be elected How shalt thou beleue that Iesus is the only begotten sonne of God thi Lord come into the world to saue the and geuen to the with al his deuine treasures and graces if thou dost not beleue thy selfe to be one of his lambes thou causte not beleue as thou arte bounde to do that he died for the nor perceiue his excessiue charitie so that with Paule thou maist saye Rom. viii nothing can seperate me from the charitie of God It is necessarye to beleue that Christ vpon the crosse hath satisfied for thy sinnes and that he hath reconciled the satisfied to his father and saued the and therfore that thou art the sōne of God he that beleueth as he ought that Christ is rysē to iustifie vs doth also know him selfe saued so he that perfectly doth vnderstand that Christe our head is ascēded into heauē entred for vs in possessiō of paradise Philli. iii. perceiueth him self risen with Christ alredy bi hope being ascended into heauē Ephe. ii practiseth with that minde in Paradise where Christ is sitting in peaceable possessiō of thinges celestial he saieth with Paul we are made safe by hope Rom. viii it suffiseth not to beleue that he shal iudge the quicke the dead the which also the deuils beleue but that the sētence shal be al in thi fauour hauing to thi iudge him that died vpō the crosse for thee We cā not liuely beleue the sēding of the holy ghoste if we fele it not in oure selues and if we do feale it we shal be forced with Paule to saye the spirite of God rendrethe testimony to oure spirite that we are the sonnes of God therfore heires and saued Roma viii Neyther is it inoughe that there is
the diuine eleccion neither quench or diminishe the diuine charitie Yea hereof our sinnes toke occasion to be shewed with excesse of more loue Roma v. We are not by this inuited to more Idlenes nor to watche when we shall haue Manna from heauē neither to be wickedly occupyed but we are drawē and moued so much more to loue him as he is discouered to vs by more bountie and charitie But those that are not by Christe regenerate are of so base vyle a mind through sinne that they can not thinke God to be so liberall as to geue heauē without our workes But they ought at the leaste to thinke that to bye it the bloud of Christ is sufficiēt without adioyning therto their workes to boote which surely are rych iuels to be mingled with his God is so frāke that he hath geuen vs Christ Roma viii and in him al thinges and canst not thou thinke he hath geuen the heauen It is also our greater glorie that God hath loued vs somuche that his owne selfe hath wylled to take the care charge of our saluation And so to that ende hath wylled his only sonne to die vpon the crosse so that if with all our trauaile we might enter into heauen by our selues the glorie only of the crosse is a far greater glory then any other which by our selues we could attaine Yea there is no other trew glory then to glorie to be so much loued of God that he hath to saue vs put his sonne vpon the crosse He may not dwel in his owne loue that willeth to be happy and only glory in God If we myght glorye of ourselues we should haue wherof to waxe proude and prefer our selues afore oure brethern where otherwyse we should haue occasion to be humble and geue to God all honoure and glorye as to him it apperteineth i. Timo. i. And further such as beleue thē selues to be by grace elected saued sonnes of God heyres and sure therof not only because ther remaineth no more to get God in Christ hauing geuen them all but also by the great vnderstanding they haue of the goodnes of the Lord they are cōstrained to worke as childrē for the glori of their father and not for their owne gaine and so also sure of their saluacion with Christ they turne them with al their force to seke the saluacion of their brother they demaund also grace with a bolder spirite and confidence sence they axe it not for their owne lucre but for he honor of God Ephesi i. Rom. vi Psal xxxii and to his laude and gloy so that in the worldes to come may be sene aboūdant riches of his fre mercy Moreouer such hope to be hard for that thei thinke not to deserue grace Rom. iiii Gala. iii. ii Cor iii. Ioh. iii. neither put their trust in their owne workes but in the goodnes of God being inspired and moued therto by the holy gost Suche also as feele that our saluacion dependeth not vpon vs but oure damnacion and that it standeth wholye in the hande of God are forced to turne their backes to them selues and theyr faces to God Where as the cōtrary belefe wold make the contrary operacion they would withdraw them from God and seke to reste with hope in them selues also if God had elected vs with this condicion Ephe. i. If we wolde do well we should be vnder the lawe contrary to Paul neither we should be saued for the law saueth not but worketh wrathe and is the minister of cursing and damnacion Let him therfore that lusteth haue Christ for his iudge for I wyl none of him but as a sauiour If our eleccion by fre mercy dyd harme vs he wold not thē haue elected vs so But note them that thinke to haue theyr eleccion in their owne handes thou shalt se that thei are in their owne loue and trust presumtuous and full of vyce and yet for all thys they be so blynd and arrogant that they wyll haue heauen by iustice But let vs praye to the Lorde that he gyue them knowledge to the ende they may render to God all laude honour and glorye throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe Amen ¶ Howe excellent oure eleccion is the seconde Sermon PAul magnifieth our eleccion fyrste in his behalfe that hath elected vs sayinge Wee are elected neyther by man nor Aungell but by God Hyer cā not he go Then cōcernynge hym that elected vs oure eleccion is moste excellente And lykewyse concernynge the circumstaunce of tyme although aboue there is properlye no course of tyme. He elected vs as Paull wryteth before the constitucion of the worlde Ephe. i. meanynge from wythoute begynnynge sooner coulde he not electe vs. And moreouer he saythe that he elected vs which are most base most vile most abiect wormes in comparison of him Bi the sinne of Adam we were all defyled infected in firme frayle blynd malingnaunte full of venim contrari to god enemies and rebels so that a thinge more miserable coulde not haue binne chosen Paule doth also magnifye oure election in respect of the dignittie to the whiche we are elected and sayth he hath not chosen vs to be hys seruauntes or frendes but to be hys children nothyng to god can be more nyghe entire and dere thē his children nether is it possible to imagine a greater dignitie It doth include al other vertues and goodnes it is so hyghe and excellent Being then elected from so miserable an estate to be the sōnes of god He hath also chosen vs to be the brethren of Christe therby with him coheires of god Rom. viii yea the worlde is oures Chryst with al his gyftes al that is the fathers is the sonnes therfore al is ours that is gods whose goodes we mai dyspose as children their fathers And bycause we should shame to be the sonnes of god not hauing the maners graces and vertues conueient to suche a dygnitie therfore not onlye oure heauenlye father hath chosen vs to be his sonnes but hath blessed vs not wyth wordes onlye but wyth effectes not as Isaac blessed Iacob or Esau but wyth all spirituall bless nge in thinges celestiall And so accordyng to Paule Ephe. i. Collo i hathe made vs mete to be partakers of the feloweship of lyght delyuering vs frō the power of darkenes hath ledde vs into the kingedome of his beloued sonne God then with oute beginninge did determyne to iustifye glorifye and magnyfie those that he hadde elect and euen so he hath done Rom. vii◠as Paule wryteth who also exaltyth our election for that cause sainge that it was not our good worckes which God forsawe wythout beginning that were the cause of our electiō but he chose vs by mere mercie accordynge to the decreed purpose of his owne wyll to the laud and glorie of his mercie we were not then chosen bycause we were Holye but bycause we shoulde be holly bi his election and to
hath elected some other some not if this grow of the suspicion that God may or haue erred The godly knoweth certeinly by faith that he can not erre hereupoÌ„ resteth There are some that aske after it of arrogaÌ„cie and presuÌ„pcion They woulde be answered that god had elected them for theyr good workes to haue wherein they myght glory of them selues And wheÌ„ they hearsay that God hath elected them by grace it displeaseth them they gainsaie it seming them there resteth nothinge to glory in And they perceiue not that thys is the whole glory of the humble and true christiane to be saued by the mere grace of God and Christ crucified and to glorie only in God by Christe and in them selues not to se but thynges worthy to be ashamed of to th end that to God only be honour and glory i. Timo. iiii It groweth also to many of vnreuerence for if they coulde se howe inaccessible the maiestie of God is howe irreprehensible is his wyll and howe incoÌ„prehensible is his wisedome they wold not set them selues to dispute with God specially if they knewe howe blynd Roma ix darke fraÌ„ticke and folyshe they be And who art thou sayd Paul that wilt dispute with God answer and contend with God Paul was returned from the thyrd heauen where he had heard secrets so hygh that it was not lawfull to speake to man Neuerthelesse doynge reuerence to the diuine secret iudgementes he sayd O profouÌ„d riches of the wisedome and science of God how incoÌ„preheÌ„sible are his iudgementes And man blynd folyshe and vngodly is so high minded that he wil do wronge to God condeÌ„pning him and reproue his holy iust irreprehensible iudgementes And how many are thei that seke to knowe speake wryte of it and be commeÌ„ded therfore And al that they ran Imagine by force of their owne wytte and naturall knowledge which can not perce so hygh secretes they put in writyng And they are as arrogant as if they were in goodnes and sapience superior to God to be adored of the worlde they condemne the workes of God Ther are mani which are not coÌ„teÌ„t to know asmuch as God hath vouchsaued to opeÌ„ to vs but they wold knowe also a great deale more But it is not the office of a good seruaunt to wyl to know al the secretes of his Lorde yea the sonne ought to contente hym with the secretes of his father and to know of it only as much as is reueled to him and to be suer and certeine that he wil not faile to manifest al that shal be expedieÌ„t for him euen so we ought to contente vs to knowe that which God hath and dothe reuele vs knowing that he doth loue vs in such sorte that we haue not wherin to doubte that he wyll fayle to manifest vnto vs all those secretes the knowledge wherof shal be profitable and necessari Ihon. xv Yea christ him selfe said that he had made knowne all that he hadde heard of the father oure office is to seke to taste and fele with the spirite that which he hath opened to vs and we may also desire to know all that pleaseth God to reuele vs for the benefite of oure soule and his glory nowe for that God to beate downe carnall man to the ende that to him be geuen al honoure laude and glorye hath vouchesafed to open in the holy scriptures wherfore he hath elected some other some he hath not Therfore we mai ought to seke to know it that we may so much the more honour God but we ought to beleue it to be so as God hath declared to coÌ„tent vs with that way God hath taken in electing reprobating neither to thinke nor suspect that God hath erred nor ought to desyre any other waye but to be satisfied and pleased with so much as pleaseth the Lorde without beinge curious in wyllynge to knowe more then that which pleaseth God to reuele vnto vs and all that to th ende that by Iesus Christe we may render him al honor laude glorie Amen ¶ Of the diuerse effectes that it worketh in man to beleue that one eleccion is al in the handes of God and that of him only it depeÌ„deth the seuenth Sermon IT is seene by experience that of one selfe cause doth growe some times contrary effectes And is euideÌ„t bi the sun whiche hardeneth mire and â—etteth waxe and this is by theyr diuerse disposicions Euen so of the belief that our eleccioÌ„ is wholy in the handes of God dothe springe in men contrary effectes by theyr contrary disposicions The vngodlye perceiuing that in the deuine minde is resolued theire beinge to be saued or dampned they are wroth with God thei blaspheme him with their hearte they cal him parciall and vniuste they giue them selues to do euell Inoughe sayinge euerye waye that shal be which God hath infalliblye foresene immutabli determined yea their faltes thei cast in the face of god thinking that he is the cause therof many also despaire of their saluacion presume more of them selues then they hope in God they beleue that they shuld be saued if theyr saluacion dyd depende vpon them selues therfore if thei could disturbe the deuine counsayles and make that their saluacion shuld not be in the handes of god they wolde do it And this is for that they knowe not their owne greate mysery howe blynd infirme frail and vnprofitable thei are to God impoteÌ„t of them selues to goodnes and full of all wickednes and that thei dyd neuer worke if it were put in the balaÌ„ce of deuine iustice that merited not to be punished and so likewise they fele not the great goodnes of God nor the benefits of Christ but thincke him to be Irefull reuengable disdaineful proude parpetuall vniust and malignaunt as them selfes are There are some whiche haue not perfecte fayth but they are not so vngodly as the fyrste Nowe these when they heare say or thincke that their saluacion is all in the handes of God they remaine confused and euell contented And this is also for wante of knowledge of the goodnes of God they truste partly in God and partly in theÌ„ selues they loue not God nor truste nor hope perfectly in him they remaine doubtfull and knowe not whether it be best to depend all vpon God or not and it semeth them that it shulde haue bene beste that in some parte it shuld depend vpoÌ„ them selues yet thei thincke it wel beinge al in the handes of God troubled in suche sorte that thei caÌ„ not tel which to chuse Therfore they liue in a great perplexiti They consult some times with the holye scripture or with theÌ„ that haue the knowledge of the truth they find that it is al in the handes of God they iudge wheÌ„ their eies are somewhat opened to the goodnes of God their own miseries that it staÌ„deth wel and that so it is beste but then harkeninge to humane
in sorte coÌ„mit them wyllingly that if they had power not to do them yet euery waye they wold do them beinge their wyll so malignauÌ„te as it is Their wyll then is not violented or forced to do euel of ani outward power but of his owne proper entiere or inward malyce And so the other partie the regenerate by the gladsome entier liuelye enflamed light that they haue of the bouÌ„ty of god thei are forced to eleuate theÌ„ selues with an amorous violeÌ„ce Therfore voluÌ„tarily with perfect liberti to god to whom for euer be all laud honor and glory through Iesu Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ Of the effectes wrought bi the spirite of god when it entreche in to the soule the .xiiii. Sermon EVen as Christ entring into the holye citye of Ierusalem Math. xxi the whole citie was moued so moueth the citie of the soule when Christe entreth therein specially sence from that as from a fort strong municioned rocke he hath the greate deuyll to chase away And if in the lunatike son Luke xi Luke ix ther was a greate coÌ„mocion when Christ out of his body wold haue drawen the malignauÌ„t spirite that had possessed hym thinke what coÌ„mocion there is when he chaseth hym froÌ„ the soule in the which he dwelleth more willyngly And knowe that it maketh a coÌ„mocion not onli outward in ceremonies as do coÌ„monly the false christianes when it is nere Easter but there is a coÌ„mocion within the very bowels of the soule and inward parte of the herte there is nothing that so caÌ„ perce the soule as doth the spirite of god when it entreth into it by speciall slidinge Not only it spoileth vs of the olde Adam with hys concupiscence doth cloth vs wyth Christ Roma xlii Ihon. iii. with all his vertues but also maketh vs to be borne a new that as if a poore man were sodenly made an Emperoure he shulde be wholy chaunged so he that of a vile sinner is made the sonne of God chauÌ„geth thoughtes effectes desires and wyll chaungeth frenshipes practises wordes workes and life and of humaine beastly carnall earthe and deuelishe he becommeth heuenly spirituall angelicall and deuine as did Paul goinge to Damasco when Christ did enter his herte Actes ix Psalm lxxvi i. Reg. xi Math. xii There was a mutacion from the righte hande of God When the spirite of the Lorde entreth in a person he is chaunged into another man for that dieng to the world he beginneth to liue to him self And if when Christe did enter in to the temple he purged it from those that bought and solde thincke if when he entreth into the spiritual temple he clenseth it from euery vnclennes of sinne Rom. viii there restith not in it any thinge of dampnacion he healeth it moste perfectlye so that if the vncleane woman was healed at the touche of the hemme of Christes garment thou mayst thinke what it is when Christ in spirite entring in to the soule and the person with lyuely fayth imbraceth him wholy for his Also as when the sonne beames enter into thy house thou perceiuist in the ayre eueÌ„ to the smalest mote which thou couldest not se before so wheÌ„ in the soule do enter the beames of lyght of the diuine grace the sinnes are perceiued in more cleare maner Luke xv Yea as the prodigal sonne neuer knew nor perceiued truly his own errour til with such pitie he was imbraced of his father had profe how great was the fatherly goodnes and charitie whiche he had offended so the sinner when he conuerteth beginneth with the spirite to taste the diuine goodnes he beginneth also to know his malice pride and ingratitude with the rest his vnlawful sinnes Luke xvi He restoreth with Zacheus that which is not his if Christ enter into his house and dispenseth the superfluous thinges yea beyng ryche with the treasures of Christe he leaueth al with vnmeasurable loue He can not participate or take parte of the bountie of god that doth not coÌ„municate distribute to others The liuelye flame muste needes breake forth Iho. vii or els beinge smoudered it queÌ„cheth the fouÌ„taines that coÌ„tinuallye receiue ruÌ„ning water must of force ouerflow so thei that haue in theÌ„ the holy gost Roma viii by that testimonie wherof they are sure to be the soÌ„nes of god haue coÌ„tinually one such so entire sincere and pure gladnes whiche groweth of the liuely knowledge that they haue of the greate goodnes of god that thei caÌ„ not expresse it i. Pet. i. nor thei caÌ„not coÌ„preheÌ„d theÌ„ selfes Therfore not being able to with hold theÌ„ selues they springe leape for ioye with Ihon Baptist Luke i. with his mother they make exclamacioÌ„ Exo. iiii Acte iiii Math. vii as to Zacharie so are their toÌ„ges losed so that although in praising of god thei perceiue with Moses that they staÌ„mer and are of an vnlearned tonge neuertheles with the Apostels Math. vii they can not kepe scilence of that which they haue heard sene felt with the spieite they must nedes speake by the superabundauÌ„ce of loue that they haue Ihon. iiii they desyre with the woman of Samarye that euery one should taste that which they them selues haue had experieÌ„ce of And although for preaching the gospell they be persecuted for al that they do not desiste and leaue of but triumphing in al they perseuer and go furth euen to the death Roma v. thei feele in such sorte in the herte the charitie of god â—cte v. that not onlie it is swete to them to suffer for his loue but with the apostels they reioyce therin And for that they participate of that greate charitie of Christe by beynge his members Therfore with hym they pardon al men beyng ready to shed their bloud and put theyr lyfe for their enemies with Paul also to be accursed from Christe Roma ix Acte vii And this because that as to Steuen so the heauens are opened to them in suche sorte that in spirite with clere supernatural lyght of fayth they see the glory of god in hauing geuen his only begotteÌ„ dearely beloued soÌ„ne for them vpon the crosse they rest also quiet as the shyp when Christ entred into it they haue the peace of coÌ„science knowyng with certeine fayth Mat. vi Roma v. that god by Christe by hys mercie hath pardoned them They haue also quietnes of minde in suche maner that thoughe they were in al the perils necessities of the world yet alwayes aprouing for iuste the iudgemeÌ„tes of god knowyng that he is their only father that he hath most singuler cure of them that euery thynge serueth them to saluacion they stand most suerly quiet in peace traÌ„quillitie These suche for that they walke according to the vocacion of god haue honour of euery enterprise that they take in hand they can not be letted or resisted no more theÌ„ god Yea it is force that euerye one feare them as Herode feared Sainte IhoÌ„ Baptiste Gene. xxi Gene. xxvi for that he had in him the spirit of the Lorde as Abimelech did AbrahaÌ„ Isaac They are daylye more firme stablyshed in good purposes to do euer better beyng lyfted vp coÌ„tinually to a greater perfeccion with Paule althoughe their minde be conuersaunt in heaueÌ„ neuerthelesse descending by christian pitie i Cor i. to fele the miseries of their brethern they laboure also to drawe them to Christ and moue theÌ„ to haue the spirite to be in veritie Christianes not I pocrites As the very grape doth moue the birdes to taste therof and not the pytfal And finally although with the Apostelles they euer remaine wyth Christe and wyth the Cananite Ihon. vi Math. vii whiche woulde not departe for his vngentle wordes neuertheles they are promte and readie for his honoure and glorye to leaue wyth the Samaritane hys swete presence And what is more to be sayde when the spirite of God dothe enter in to a soule he suffereth it not to slepe Ioh. iiii nor stand in idlenesse but maketh it worcke thynges merueylous and inexplicable for the loue of God to whome be euer all laude honoure and glorie by Iesu Christe oure Lord AmeÌ„ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwellynge ouer Aldersgate Wylliam Seres dwellyng in Peter Colledge Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum