rtiption by little andltttlejl^ind in him is no finjie.
[Thirdly] whofoeuer abideth i n him finncth notr[^^ dd^th notgine himfelfe to p'frf.60
Jinne, fo as it Jhonldraigne in him:] Whofoeuer finncih, hath not {ecne him,nGr
knowne him: [ to wit, ejfetlnally,fo as he can applie Chriji and all hps benefits to
himfelfe?^
Ch. 'Bmfome teach that faith isfufficient , and they embolden vs to line as we
ippill.
M.Little childrcn,let no man dccciue you \ he that worketh rightcoufheSj Verf.y. .
is righteous,as he is ri2;htcGus.
MS He that i:ov(\m\iizi\\{\nnQ^[thefighhefaykedothbeleeifexandtherforethinkes Verfto.
himfelfe iafiiped before ^(?^,]is of the \)c\.\\\\y\i.refembleth the T)euil,as the child
doth the father y.andisgouerned-byhisfpirit:']for.thc dcuill finncth fro the Begin»
7\m'^\ofthe world] [which appeareth that] for this purpoft was made manifell
'4h€ Soa of Godj thatlie might difTolus tlis woi'lcs [ for the beginning and con-
timiiHCedfAllrclfeBionanddifohediemgtogodr\o£t\\tTytm\\. ^
Veyf.p, [jtyfrJ fHrther,to diJpUy thefifedhcers"} whofocuer is borne of God fijnnetK
Ldofoies oHife n ot, Q- ^"^^ ««'^ h'P^ ^ ^°^'^fi tMfmr:e, hovp/oener he fall by injimiitie:'} for his ktdt^
ortheprafiiieof j - q^^ ^^^^ ^^n -^^^ ^^^ heart hj the operatlcffof the Spirit ,?niikwa-a»Mnt0,
Bnnf , a note or L J -i-i- â– 'LiPi eJ
the child of the fhrinff vp into a new creature r\ rcmaineth in nim : neither can he iinne becauft
fcirttirais. hcisbomeotCjod. ■•
Ch. 'Briefy to come to the point : how may it be k»en»ne , i»ho is Gods childi^ kkiij
rth9(i.< to be rep.'^tedjthe child of the deutll. ■^^' o!.oloh... i-? -ui ,/«i= ^^^ ?C£^^.
Verf.i9, Joh.lv) this arc the children of God knownc and the children of the dcuill : '
whofocucr vvorketh riot ri2;hteournes,is not oiCodiHeithcr^jogwe joftaplai^^
«^«v^/fOhcthatloucthnc^t his brother. ^«/^^qtniv^iii^-n i^l /t-jv ji^.. ^
Ver/./ ;. For^tlus is the mcrfagc which ye haue heard fi-om the beginning , that' vvi'
fhouldioue one another.
Not as Cain : he was of that euill onc^Sathanr^^ud Hue his brother ; and
TJerj.ij* v\'hercfore flue he him? becaufe his ownc workes were euill, and his brothers "
good.
Ch. Tet if we lone thofe which be our brethren , recording to the fiepj neuerfi
mHch,theyc€afenottohateandperfeCHtevs.
Verf.'s. /(?/?. Meruaile not my brethren, though this world hate you.
Ch . '-ffnot to hue, be a note of the child of the deml,what is the note of gods child^
Verf.r^. ioh. We know that we arc tranflated from death to life , becaufe we louc
T o lou-a chri- the brethren, [i.fuch as be (^hrifiians, becaufe they are Chri/lians,2 [ju on the con-
hacSi'rn''or /^-^^^Ohc that loucth not hisbrother,abideth in death : \_isvnder the flat e of ^
godlyiiun,u4 damnation7\ \
00« ofuod» whofoeuer hateth his brother, is a manflayer , and ye know that no roan-"*'
Verfif. flayer hath eternall life abiding in hira.
Qh.Toti haftejhewedvsf (illy y that loue is Aworke of adoption: Now /hew vs hoi»
•we may k»ow whether we tone our brethren or not ?
Verfi 6. /i7^.Hereby we haue percciucd loue,that he laid downe his life forvsrther-
fore we ouo-ht [carried with the hke afeUion ofloue^ to lay downe our liues for
the brethren.
Ch . ^JMany in fpeech doe pretend hue , but we find not this willing affeElion and
readinestopjew hue.
Z) erf. 1 7. M.Whofoeuer hath this worlds good; \wherewith this life isfufiained']2v\^
compaffion ftir- feeth his brother haue neede,and fhutteth vp his bowels \\.hath no conopaffiony
ilScSlou"'' becaufe it Jherveth it felfe by the rolling of the intralls] from him , how dwellcth
the loue of God in him ?
Z)erfiS (^What other note is there of true hue ^
Works ofmercy, loh.Mx little children , let vs not loue in word , nor in tongue onely ,but in
%Dejofio«s. cleede and in truth [/JWivr^/)'.]' v^.a:.>D:.f:.r '*?,>.' ;;;"."^ ^;
I .For thereby we know that we arc ofthc truth, [foi^Mdpyefe fours cf'rhegS'-
Ver fig. JpellcfChnj},'] 2 .and fhal! before him appeafc our hearts \in regardofany acctt^
^°"o1 : aiere A''<'» ^hut 9ur co/ifcience/haHiayvntovs before Gods iudgementfeatl\
prcf.:iioii. If our lieart condemne vs, [^« euill confcience accufe vs'\ God is greater then
Vcrf.20. Qyj. }^gar{ \ndittelyiK iudging o/w:]and knoweth all things.
Cli. How m*y we h^ow that owconfcicnces willmt condemne vs?
^ loh.BC'
A Cafe afconfcience. i^q\
/(p^.Beloued/if our hearts condemne vs not, then haiie we boldnes towards verf,20.
Qdf^Xuo come VfitO him l^yprajrr.'] ' Eo! tines in praier
aw^ri ; r ■• I r I t al:gneof apaci-
1. What other prmts is there of true loue ? fied conicitnc*.
/(?/?. Whatlbeuer we aske,wc receiue of him; becaufe wekcepe hisccnmia- 'verf,2 /.
«!emenis,an<.l doe thofe things which arc pleafant in his fight.
Qh.fVloAt are thefe comrnandements ?
fob. This then is his commaundemtnt , that we beleeue in the name of his verf.ij^
Sonne lefus Chrilt,and loue one another as he gaue commandement.
CK Haae they, -which keefe thefe contmandements their praters granted ffroofie
this.
loh. [Tw] For he that keepcth his commaundements dwellcth in him , aacT yerfi^^
he in him.
Ch. How may me k^orv that (Joddwelleth w vs^andwe inhim ? /^
loh. Hereby we knowtlut heabideth invs,by that/pirit[oj^«^//?f^/;V», xhcopenirionof
ypherehy we are renaed 1 which he hath e;iuen t'5. Gods fpirit in ,
CHAP nil fanclify.ngvs,a
Ch. T"'^ ret time againe to that vphkh wm heforemetitiotted : /Ball we ^(r/f
X that fay they haue the (pint f
loh. Dearely bcloued , beleeue noteuery /pirit \\.doEirines, which wen Ifrag- 'Oerf.l,-
gmgfifthe [ptrtt doe teach\\h\ii trie the (pirits whether they be of God : for ma-
ny falfe prophets are gone out into the world.
Qh.How may we difctrne ofjptrits ?
loh. Hei cby fhall ye know the fpirit of God ; euery fpirit [doElrine'] which ^ ^
confefleth that Tefus Chx\{\.[the Meff!M']\s coine in the iie(h[ts made trtte man,.
thisbeeingthefuhfianceoftheGoffel^iso^GoA.
% And euery fpirit that confefTeth not that lefiis Chrift is come in the flefh, t;.^„
isnot of God:but this is the fpirit of Antichrifl,of whome ye haue heard,that
he fhall come, and now already he is in the world.
C h . IVefeare : becaufe thefe falfe jpirits are of great power > toperfwade andfe-'
dttce many.
/o^.Litde children, ye arc of God, and haueouercomethem : for greater is ^. v-^.
he that is in you \(^odsjp'tritf\ then he that is in the world [thejpirit ofSathan."]
Ch. But thedotlrine of thefe men is of great account^yandhath many followers in
the world ; oetrs hath bmfew which imbracett.
loh. They are of this world , therefore fpeakc they of this world , and this
world [i. /g'/^o»'^^/- ^.Wt;»:^^^'/)' «»2,?;i]heareth them.
We are ofGod:hc which knoweth God,he3reth vs:he which is not of god
beareth \s not. Hereby know we the fpirit of truth , and the fpirit of errour
S^amely by the liking and apflaufe of the world.']
Qh.How may-wepreferue onrfeluesagmnfl thefe feducers ?
/o/^.Belouedjlet vslouc one another,for loue commethofGod : and euery '&'. 7^-
one that loueth is borne of God, and knoweth God: [by a (peciall knowledge,
-whereby they are aflired that God the father ofChrifi is their father : ^hrifl their
, Redeemer : the holy ^ko(} their fannifier.'\
} !. He that loueth not,knoweth not G odjfbr God is lQVtef(}.,whollj bent tofhew i,j:^,
%is laua and compafficn to his ^eople^ . . Ak i^'bQ'
Z'.^,.
^p I A Cafe ofconfcieneel
Vcrf.s . ^^GY a proof e of this, 1 herein was that loue of G od tnacJc manifed among
vs , becaufe God fent that his ondy begotten Sonne into the wotW , that we
midit hue through hill). • '
verf.io. Herein is that iouc, not that wclouect God; butthatheloucdvs: andfe^l
his Sonne to be a rcconcihation for our finnes. :;|>
C\\.JVhatofallthl6? â– ' I
verftt. M.BelouedjifGod fo loucd vs, we ought alfo one to loue another.
Ch.f/cw can GodntanifeH hti loue to vs^hc beeing afpirit inuifiblc ?
'9erf 12. loh.Ho man hath feenc God at any time: [neHertheies] if we loue one ano^
^Qr,[thatt-i afg^e] that God dwelletli in vs, & his loue is perfc(ft in vs: [i.//j«?f
loue yvherewith be loKetlo,ii throughly vfiade mamfeji towards vs by cur loue : Oithe
lio-/jt of the moone fhinin7 onvs ,argtieth the hght of the Sunne Jhimng Vfon the
moone,ofrohom(Ai for» the fount ame) the moone takes her lighti^
Qh.Horv ntayrve knort> that Cjoddwelleth in vs ?
verf ts, loh. Hereby doc we know , that we dwell in him, and he in vs : becaufe he
hath giucn vs of his fpirit.
Cli. J^hat other [tgne haue you of Gods dwelling in vs ? ^
verf/^, loh. We haue fcene and doe tclbfie , that the Father fent that Sonne to be
the Sauiour of the world.
^erf./f. Whofoeuer confelTeth [in faith andloue]thzt Icfus is the Sonne of God *, in
fio?"-7h °cot ^^"^ cl welleth God,and he in G od. ■. ;
pel.a note of c6- Ch.The deuill wt/I confejje Chnfi.
cS'*"^'* 7^/;. And vjc[which is more'^dXLQ knownc and bcleeued the loue which god
hath in vs.
Ch. Declare how our louejhouldbe a (igne of Gods dwelling in vs ?
verfiS. M.God is loue,and[/^
God in him.
Ch . God is loue we grant, but how way we k^ow,that ^odis loue to vs?:
vcrf.ij. loh. Hereby is that loue perfeft , \\-f»tij ^Mcie mamfeji in vs ; ] that we may
To ; e like God hauc ho\i\nQ{[c\t {land before him without fear e,'ym the day of judgement : for
ha ig^ioihS* €uen as he is , euen £o arc we in the world [not in equaluie , but in conformitie of
loaetovsparci- ho/inelfe.l
'verfj S ^ ^ ^^ appear e by the contrarie] there i s no fearc i n 1 ou e [i. vphen a man is
ajfured of Gods loue to him , he doth not diflruji nor feruilely fearehim in rejpeEl of
/:?^75;7»
ings and torments ofconfciencci] and he that fcareth is not perfect in loue.
C h . fVhat other [tgne is there that Cjodis loue tovs?
verf.'.p. loh.V^c loue him becaufe he \Q\\z^\s^r{\.iaswhen a manwarmes him, the
Our loue ofGocl, heat of his bodie is becaufe the fire is firf hote.~^
hfS v^pI'rJ- ^^- V ^^^ ^^f'^' ^^^" ^^-y ^^â– ^f^^ ^^^^ ^<'t their brethren , are loued of God in
cukriy. C^rifi .'feeing all generally fay they loue God,
verfio, joh. Ifany manfayJloueGod,andhatehisbrother,heisalyar: forhow
can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath fcene, loue God whome he
hath not feene?
verfii. And this commandcment haue we ofhim,that he that loueth God,fhould
loue his brotlier alfo.
CHAP.
I
A Cafe ofco»fcicncf, 6g^
pma^']:.- CHAP: V. â–
\ /\ /^^^°^w^^ belceucth that lefus is that Chrift [tr$ic MeJJias] isborne J'crf.r.
V V of God : and euery one that loucth him which did beget [i. God the
j^/^fr,]Ioueth him alfo which is begotten of himj[/i6f child of (jodoi true ^hrh-
Bum.']
CM.This hewg manifefi that they are hypocrites which ftj/ they lone god, yet fhero
no lotte to their brethren ; teach vs horv rve may know that we lone our brethren .
loh.lvL this weknmv that wc loue the children of God, when we loue God v.2,
andkcepe \\\%comvc\zx\^mtr)X.%\thatii,endeaHOHrtQklcpe\thebeginrining of the Anend«icurto
H^ton beeingftit for the whole.] dements , a figne.'
For this is theloueofGod [thedatieofloueto Cod] that wc keepe his com- bJij°'""^
imandcmcnts»
Ch.'But MO man can keepe the Law.
Jch.Wxs commandements are not burdcnous[r^ them that ftrein Chri(l,a)jd'v.^*.
are feed fom the curfe of the law , which makes the law grieuotu, and are alfogui'
dedby his holylpirit.]
[Jndthis is apparant'] for all that is borne of God oucrcommeth the world, v,4:.
'\Sathan with all corruptions andworkcs of darknesJ]
Ch .Tj)' what meanes ?
/o^. And this is the vi£lory which hath ouercome the world,euen our faith
\which is thetnflrument and hand whereby we lay hold on hit», that he t» vs, and/a
leme by him mtqht ouercome the rvorld.]
Who rs thatouercGmmeth this world, buthe which belecueth thatlefiisis^-/-
that Sonne of God?
Ch.How may we be refeluedthat lefm of Nazareth thefonne of Mary, was the
fonne ofGod^andthe (J^ieffim: he came bm bafely into the world?
/c^.This is that Ie(us Chrirt,which came by WAitr,]^ fanBificadoJignified by the '^'^-
legal wafhings,]^ h]ood[impf^tation of Chrifis righteoiifnes,or the fprinkling of his bi°^^a"i"!m of
hloode:'] not by water oncly, but by water and blood: [ becaufe Chrifi worketh Natareththeion
both iufltficattoM andfancltfication togither:];iv\d it is that fpirit [a mans ownecon- fo*nneofGocia^*
Jcience inwardly purified] that beareth witnefle : for that Ipirit is truth : [ that is, gainft cbe itwes..
that the tefimonii of the Spirit of adoption , certtfyingvs that we are the fonnes of
God,is true.]
Tor[t hat fmayfpeakeyet more plainly] there are three which beare record in f .7..
bcauen .the Father.the Word 4,r/:?
are one,\namely in tejltmome.]
And there are three which beare record in earth, the Spirit, and the water, ziJ^
and bloodj and thefe three agree in one.
Qh.How (hew you that thefe witneffes be autioenticnlU and to be beleeticd ?
loh. If we rcceiuc the witnes of men, the witncs of God is greater : for this njpyfn
IS the witnes of God, \\.that waifaid t& comefom heanen\] whicli he teflifieth of
his Sonne. •
[iLAgaine,'^Q that belecueth in that Sonneof God, hath the witnes in him- ^^-r/Ty (j-^
ft\^€^[the peace ofconfcience which he may feck in himfelfe: \ And further, ]he that
beleeueth not Go6^, maketh liim a lyar : becaufcht bcieeued not the record^».
iSuitGiid. witneCed; oi liis SojQne;- f - - •■^ -
^P4 ACAfiofconfcicncg.
C\\.rVhat U the ejfeSi of that which thcfe vpttne^es tefli^e /
verf,n, loh.And this is thatrecord,to wit,that God hathgiuen vnto vs eternal life,
and this hfe is in his Sonne.
^crf, 12. ^c which hath the Sonne , hath life : and he which hath not the fonnc of
God,hath not life.
f • \^nito conclnde?^ thefc things haue I written vnto you that belccuc in the
name of the fonne of God,thatyeinay know that ye haue hfe eternal,and that
ye may \)^zt\xt\\irtcreafe wfaith]m the name of that (bnne of G od.
Ch. How can we haue life eternal novr, that arefo mtferable,antifofKlofvfants ?
f. Joh. And this is that aflurance that we haue in hira,that if we aske any thing
verj,i4- according to his willjheheareth vs.
Ch. How may we k»OTv that God graunteth oftr praj/ers , m.ide according to hii
mil?
"jerr I r ^^^' ^^^^ know that he hearcth [that is (at it were)togiHe an eare to our pray- .
Afign'eof our erSy'] whatfocucr we aske, we know that we haue the petitions which we haue
praier, granted Jgf^red of hiui \thouab the things which we Oik^dybe not qinen vs tn that njeafuret
vSjifGod doe I • -^ • / • J I J / T
but beare rhtm. 4tnd manner yandtime,in which we aii^a them. \
Ch. Let vs heare an example of thofe things which God will grannt , when rot
pray?
verfiS, '' ^^h. If a man fee his brother finne a finne, that is not vnto death; [ that is^
tvhich may be pardoned^ let him aske [pardon in his behalfe, ] and he fhall giue
him life for them that finne not vnto death ; there is a finne vnto death [after
rvhich necejfarjly damnation followeth, as the finne againji the holy Ghojli]^ I fav not
that thou (houlden: pray for it.
CMfBut is not fuery finnea fnne to death ?
- loh.hW vnri ghteoufnes is Cmnc[and therefore defertteth deathijhut there is a
'^^J' 7» £innc not\ntodcath',[namely,that which is pardoned in ^hrifi]
Q\\.PVe feareleafl we haue committed this Jinne which is to death.
verf.iS, loh.Wz know that whofoeucr is borne of God, finneth not : but he that \%
begotten of God , keepeth himfelfe, and that wicked one[
hi m n ot [i . ifl^
verf.ip. ^^ know that we arc of God,and this whole world lieth in euill:[?^^/ isyin
feruitude vnder Sathan andpnne.^
Ch . HowJbewyoH that we are of CJod?
^ Joh.VJc know that the fonnc of God is comc,and hath giuen vs a minde to
Verj,20. i^j^g^ j^jj^ that is true,and we are in him that is true : that is,in his Sonne lefiis
Chrift: this fame is that very God,and that eternall life.
verf,2 / . C ^ • How may we keepe ourfelues in Cjod , and neuer commit the /inne to death ?
/b/j.Littlc children, keepe your (elues from Imd^^cs'^hether they be offulfe
godsyOrofthetrueGod^
PSALME XV.
lekoua. Dauid.
Verf.i. /^ Tehoua ! who fliall dwell[^ Pilgrimes dwell in tents'^m thy tabernacle,] /i^'tf
V/ Church militoftt .''] who fliall rcfl: in thy holy Mountaine^[/^f ki^gdome of
heaHsnf^
hh
0,
/r^tf.Hc that walkcth perfectly, {that isjje rvhich (endeth the eourfe ofhU life
9rprightly.-}
J^AM.fVho is the vpright mmn f 71 r
. leho.Hc that workcth rightcoufiics ^aecordiKg to the commancleme»fs of the sincemie of lite,
ficond tahler\ and fpeaketh the trileth in his heart Vju he thinketh. his heart and 'i righteoufnefle
tcngneagreemg.^ ^ note of god»
T)^M.By Tvhat notes ntAj this vpright man be knorpe^andvcho ii hef chi'd-
leho.lMc that flandcrcth not with his t6gue://.nor doth hurt to his neigh- Y^^fS-
bour:/ / /.nor rcceiucth a falfe report againll: his neighbour. *pr^ht;nun° ^
/ V'\n whofe cies a vile pcrfon , [jin vngodly and vnrighteoHi man\ ^is con- Verf.4..
tcnined,but he honoureth them that feare God:^'.He that hauing fwornc XoVerf.s»
his owne hindcrancejchangeth not.
r/.He that giueth not his money to vfuric. VJL neither taketh reward of
the innocent.
Dau. o/4V
Jeho. He that cloth thefe things, Ihall ncucr be mooucd, ^/hallahide in Gods '''
faucurfor eker.J^
A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE, TAKEN OVT OF THE
writings of Hier.Zanchius.Wherein the aforefaid cafe of Confci-
ence ii difpHted andrefolued.
Aflertion. i.
Onely the eleB^artdaH ofthemmot onely trtiely may hee, hut alfo are in that time
tehichgod hath appointed them in this life,indeed ajfared of their Ele^ion to eternal
life in (^hrijl:a-f2d thii is done not one rvayJjHt many veates.
K>^^^^^^p^^Ee fay that the F.leU alone may bee,andindeede are made fur e
^^^^Sf^^^P^''-^'^"'^ ^/f^/W:that fb wee may exclude the reprobate hy-
^^^r """""^l^^pocritescfor confidering they are not elefted, they can nc-
i3Sl ^ iffi^' uer be truelv perfwaded that they are ele£led . I fay truely:
l^^^^^^^p^K becauie it may come to paue that many in their owne
^^^^^^^^^ thinking /hall be predertinate : yet in trueth they are not
B g-^^^^-'^^^gST ; per(v\'acled fo;for they are deceiued.Wc haue an example
in temporaric Chrifl:ians,who thinke of thefelues that they belecue in Chrift,
buttruelydoenotbelccue:for their faith is in hypocrific:and foratimcone- f'Cor.2,1**
ly.Wherei-ore a true and certainc perfwafion of eledion can neuer befall any -^^tt, 1 1,27
of the reprobates:becaule the true perfwafion of heauenly raatters,commeth
of the holy Ghoft',which neuer perlwadeth anv falfe matter .Wherefore how
can reprobates be perfwaded that they are ele6ied?This cofidered , it is not a-
miHcthat we attribute this perfwafion fof which wx now fpeake)to the eleft
alone. Wee adde further/A^f all the eleSl,not onely may bee,but are indeed made
fare of their EleElion: which muft bee demonftratiuely confirmed againft
Schoole-mcn,and other our aduerfaries . Wee fay, this is done in the time
appointed; bccaufe the eleft,before they be called to Chrifl:, are neuer fiirc
oftheirelectionniay they neuer thinke ofit;asappeareth in Taut before hec
â– was called, and in others. Againe in like manner after they haue beene cal-
led; yet not prefentlv arc made fure of their cleftien: but fome(ooncr/omc
Zz I later.
later . Laflly wee adHc >/W tkU is done many wdfS , wliat tliey are , ( if not'
perfeftiy » yet in pait I wirl afterward (hewe.) Nowe lei vs come to th^^
«watter.
- , The Schoolemen deraaund whether a man may be made fure of his Elc-
/..0y.2./6. £^JQj^>^j^^fj^ey^jgtgrmine that a man cannot except It be bydiuinereuetati-
Thf^vVj tit* on:becaufe Predsjltnatbn is in God,and not in vs. And no man kno'vveih the
te impiyof'tuethin^sofGod.butthefpiritofGodrasno man knowethihe things of man, ,
^''i^e ihri'lr but The fpirit ofman which is in him. Againe, who knoweth theminde ofthc
«ikeirWioBr Lord:thercforc(fav ihcy)rome fpeciall rcuclation is needrull : if any defirc to
be certified, either of his owne or of any other mans predeftination, their fay-
in"-s are not limplie to be dilhked:but in that meaning,i-n which they vndcr-
{land chem, thev are no waie to be approoued.For they take a fpecial reuela-
tiontobethis^ifGodiliall fignifie and fay exprefly to any : either by fomc
Angel outwardlVjOr by his fpirit invvardly,that he is predcllinate to hre:after
which foitjthey hold that F^z
on reuealed to them. So they conclude that , becaufe euerie man hath not his
eleftion reuealed to him after this manner, that all men cannot bee aflured of
their eledlion. But they are deceiued; for God, not oncly by this one man-
ner which they fpeake of , doth reueale his will and his counfels} but by ma-
ny:for God reuealeth thin^s,either by the inward infpiration of his{pirit,or
outwardly by his word: or both inwardly and outwardly by inward and out-
ward effefts.By his fpirit he did infpire his Proplicts , and open many thingj
• T y to come. And Chrifffaid to his Apoflles.as concerning the holy Ghoft:Hec
" ' ' fhallleadyouintoalltrueih.Byhis word heefpakevnto the prophets, and in
like manner,by his word he teacheth vs his will. Alfb by diuers effe^s, he dc«
clareth either his mercie or his iuRice: as it is knownc . The fame muftbcc
thought of the reuealin2;of his cleftion:to wit.that God reuealeth the (aireto-
the eletfl,by the holy Gnofl:,by the word,and by the mcft certaine effefi:s of
predeliination.
The firil teftimonie,by which God afTuieth vs of our elefVion , is the in-
ward tefhmonie of the fpirit,of which the Apoftlc (a\^\v.T he fpirit (ofGo^^te-
jiificth vnto optr fpirit. (^t hat vre are the children of God. Nowe what is it tobe the
fonne of God, but firH: of all to bepredeftinated \%i be the child of God by a-
doptioncand thcntoberaadeaftually the fonne of God by faith : &lafl:lyby
the fame fpiiit alfo to be regenerate as Gods children are,&: to put on the na-
ture of the fonne of God, or rather the {q\\ of God himfelfe , as the Apofllc
ipeaketh. Therefore the holy Ghofl:,whilen: heinwardly beareth record vnto
our fpirits,thatis,to our minds being inlightencd by his light, that we are the
fons of God,mofl: plainely reuealeth that we were predeflinate from all eter-
nitie to adoption:for men are not made the fonnes of God by faith , nor re-
generate to be the fons of God ,nor putonChrifl; except they befirflofall
prcdertinated to adoption. And there can be nothingmore certaine then this
teftimonie-.for who better knoweth the things of god, his counfels & decrees,
i.Cor.s.iO» t^C" ^^"^^ fpirit of God,which fearcheth all ttiings,vca the dcepc things of god:
therefore he can mofi: truly reueale vnto euerv one of vs the certaintic of otir
/tf '/. i
s. ekiftion.And he cannot deceiue vs in reuealingit:for hcis the fpirit of trueth
whick
tvhich can neither dccc'mc nor bedecciued.Ifan angel fiom heaucn Hiouldbe
fcnt to thcCjas he was fent to Marie,and as he fpake vnto the fathcrs,5c Hiould
lel thee in the name of God,that thou werteleded to hfc euei]afling:wou!dil
not tbou fay that thou couldfl: not then doubt any longer of thv ele<^ion?But
(b much the more certaine is the tcftimony of the fpirit,\vhich licareth record
to our fpirit;ihat we are the fonnes of god:by how much the holy ghof 1: doth
more know the things of God then any angel : and can lefle decciue then an
angel. And fo much the more fure is this teitmioniCjConlidering it is not kept
in the bodily eares , where it might foone vanifh away , but in our minde and
(pirit : becaufe the fpiritbeareth record to our fpirit. And further;that the ho-
ly Ghoft neuer departeth from our fpirit , but dwelleth in vs , abideth in vs, „
fpeaketh in vs,fheweth forth his power in vs,prayeth in vs. Therefore the A- ^***' * '^*
poftle {aithjthat we haue receiucd the fpirit ofadoptio5i,by which we crie Ab- ^^^"^ '
ba, fathcr.-as though he lliould fay,this teftimonie of the fpirit is altogither fo
fore,by which he bearethvs record that we are the fonnes of God: that pre-
fently without doubting,wc can call vpon God,and eric, Abba, Father. And
allthe eleft haue this tclfimonie^being made the fonnes of God bv faith, and
being renued by the holy ghoff :and ingraffed into Chrift.For fo the Apoftle '^mj.f,