A01136:48
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London by John Fox. Containing an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romans. Translated out of Latin into English by James Bell.A sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes. Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell.
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For, as a natural Olive tree and other like trees, the buds, issues, twigs, and branches being either cut of or newly engrafted, work not that of their own power, but receive the same ⟨image 22⟩by the aide and industry of man: Even so in administering the functions of the Church, if we seek for the original cause of the workman, by whose conduct, all inferior causes are induced to observe their due order and course: the same must be adjudged to proceed from the force and efficacy of the unmeasurable election of the heavenly workman only, who by wonderful dispensation, maketh choice where him liketh, and refuseth whom him lusteth, according to the testimony of the Scripture:1 I will take compassion on whom I will take compassion, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. Whereunto accordeth Saint Paul speaking after the same manner: It is neither the willer, nor the runner, but God that taketh compassion. 2Where fortune, and chance, may go play them perdie: no endeavours of man can avail, much less can mens merits or deservings be of any force, neither can ought else bear palm here, but the only election of almighty God. The nature and property of which election, we may learn else where out of the same Paul: The remnant (sayeth he) are saved through the election of gra•e, ⟨image 23⟩which grace can not be said to be grace at all, if mans merits have preeminence before it• for that which is given according to the proportion of deservings, and not according to grace, seemeth in Augustine's judgement,3 a reward rather of duty, then a free gift of promise. But a question may be moved here perhaps, whether the Gentiles were not engrafted for their faiths sake? and whether the Jews were not supplanted from the true Olive for their unbelief? which interchanged dispensation, what else doeth it explain unto us, then a manifest demonstration as well of the meritorious desert, as well of faith, as of unbelief?