Here you see,1 how they divide all men into two sorts, one elected or chosen which by no means can perish, and the other rejected or reprobate before the world, so that by no means, can they be saved. What can the devil wish his members to teach more for the advancement of his Kingdom, then this? What can be invented to provoke men to live a careless, and libertine life, more §1then if they be persuaded that neither well doing availeth or pleaseth God nor evil doing doeth hinder unto salvation. this is as much as if one should counsel the patient to refuse all healthful Physic and good diet and so wilfully to be the occasion of his own death. for if they be (say they) of the elect sort, though they do commit theft, fornication, adultery, murder or any other sin, yet be they still so beloved and favoured of God, that they can not finally perish. And if they be of the reprobate sort (say they) neither repentance, amendment of life, abstaining from evil, neither fasting prayer Alms nor other good deed can avail. for they be so hated of God before the world, that by no means they can obtain his favour, but of mere necessity, do what they can they must perish, seeing it is so sayeth the natural man let us set the cock on hoop and let the world slide, let us eat and drink, for to morrow shall we die. so the people ⟨p. 191⟩sit down to eat and drink, and then rise up to play, why masters §2have ye no conscience thus to cause the people of God to sin, see ye not how ye be led with the same spirit that Balaam was led withal when he counselled to give occasion of sin to the people, I §3know ye will answer, that I mean not so. Mean what ye list, and do what ye can, yet this is the issue and fruit of your doctrine, and who so ever is thus corrupt by you, without he repent he shall die the death, but God shall require his blood of your hands. Mark well your disciples how many of them endeavour them selves to bring forth the fruits of repentance, how many of them seek for power to crucify the flesh with the lusts and concupiscence thereof. How many of them can we perceive by their conversation, that they have cast of the old man, and put on the new man, walking sincerely in their vocation and the true fear of God.
Here you se,1 how they deuide all men into two sortes, one elected or chosen which by no meanes can perishe, and the other reiected or reprobate before the world, so that by no meanes, can they be saued. What can the deuill wishe his membres to teach more for the aduancement of his Kingdom, then this? What can be inuented to prouoke men to liue a careles, and libertyne life, more §1then if they be persuaded that neither well doing auaileth or pleaseth God nor euill doing doeth hinder vnto saluatiō. this is asmuch as if one should counsell the pacient to refuse all healthfull Phisick and good diet and so wilfully to be the occasion of his own death. for if they be (say they) of the elect sorte, thogh they do commit theft, fornicatiō, adulterie, murther or any other sinne, yet be they still so beloued and fauored of God, that they can not finally perish. And if they be of the reprobate sorte (say they) neither repetance, amendement of life, absteining frome euill, neither fasting praier Almes nor other good dede can auale. for they be so hated of God before the world, that by no meanes they can obtein his fauor, but of mere necessitie, do what they can they must perish, seing it is so saieth the naturall mā let vs set the cock on hoope ād let the world slyde, let vs eate and drinke, for to morow shall we die. so the people ⟨p. 191⟩sit downe to eat and drink, and then ryse vp to play, why masters §2haue ye no conscience thus to cause the people of God to sinne, se ye not how ye be led with the same spirit that Balaam was led withall when he counselled to giue occasion of sinne to the people, I §3know ye wil answer, that I mean not so. Mean what ye list, and do what ye can, yet this is the issue and frute of your doctrine, and who so euer is thus corrupt by you, without he repent he shall die the death, but God shall require his bloode of your hāds. Marke well your disciples how many of them endeuore thē selues to bring furth the frutes of repentance, how many of thē seke for power to crucifie the flesh with the lusts and cōcupiscence thereof. How many of thē cā we perceaue by their conuersatiō, that they haue cast of the old mā, ād put on the new mā, walking sincerely in their vocation ād the true feare of God.
- 1The 27 section.
