True it is that I have long understand, and to this hour do understand, that by those words, would the Apostle admonish the Corinthians, and all others that suddenly they should not receive, and believe every person, & doctrine that offereth it self, under the cloak of justice, and of trueth: but that diligently we should try the spirits from whence they are & whether they come, from God, or not. for if the devil the great angel of darkness enemy to mankind, and father to all false prophets, can yet so transform him self, that for a time his purpose and intent are not seen, but that under the cloak of amity and love, he seeketh or destruction as in tempting the woman, doeth plainly appear, how much more can his servants and soldiers, being deceitful workers transform them in to the Apostles of Christ, pretending at the first enter, nothing but love and justice, nothing but gods glory, nothing but mortification of the flesh, and such like, most beautiful pretences, although that yet these things be most far from their hearts. Thus I say do I, and with me, I am assured who so ever deeply ⟨p. 205⟩do weigh the purpose of the Apostle, in that place, understand that sentence, and do not as ye falsely write, allege it to prove, that no man can be known to be ether in the election, or out of the election during this life. It may be, that we have said and written, (as the trueth is) that no man could have known, by the good works of that happy thief hanged with Christ, that he had been gods elect, before that in that anguish, so instantly he began to defend Christs innocency, so sharply to rebuke the other being a blasphemer: and humbly to submit himself, and pray, that Christ would remember him,1 when that he came in to his kingdom: And contrary wise that none could have defined by the evil works of Judas, before his treasonable defection, from Christ Jesus, which was but few days before his death, that he had been the reprobate. And what serveth this for your purpose?2 how can ye hereby prove, that we are the sons of darkness, that we take the most shameful men by the hand, flattering them so, that they can not return from their wickedness, and so by our doctrine give occasion of sin to the people, declaring our selves thereby, not to be sent of God, &c.
Trewe it is that I haue long vnderstand, and to this houre do vnderstand, that by those wordes, wolde the Apostle admonish the Corinthiās, and all others that sodēly they should not receaue, and beleue euerie person, & doctrine that offereth it selfe, vnder ye cloke of iustice, and of trueth: but that diligently we shoulde trie the spirites from whence they are & whether they come, frō God, or not. for if the deuil the great angel of darkenes enemie to mankind, and father to all fals prophetes, can yet so transforme him self, that for a time his purpose and intent are not sene, but that vnder the cloke of amitie and loue, he seketh or destruction as in tempting the woman, doeth plainly appere, how much more can his seruāts and soldiors, being deceitful workers transforme them in to ye Apostles of Christ, pretending at the first entre, nothing but loue and iustice, nothing but gods glorie, nothing but mortification of the flesh, and such like, most beautiful pretences, although that yet these thīgs be most farre frome their heartes. Thus I say do I, and with me, I am assured who so euer depely ⟨p. 205⟩do wey the purpose of the Apostle, in that place, vnderstand that sentēce, and do not as ye falsly write, alledge it to proue, that no man can be knowen to be ether in the election, or out of the election during this life. It may be, that we haue saied and writen, (as the trueth is) that no man coulde haue knowē, by the good workes of that happie thief hanged with Christ, that he had bene gods elect, before that in that anguissie, so instātly he began to defend Christes innocencie, so sharpely to rebuke ye other being a blasphemer: and humbly to submit himself, and praie, that Christ wolde remembre him,1 when that he came in to his kingdome: And contrarie wise that none coulde haue defined by the euil workes of Iudas, before his tresonable defection, from Christ Iesus, which was but fewe daies before his death, that he had bene ye reprobate. And what serueth this for your purpose?2 howe can ye hereby proue, that we are the sonnes of darkenes, that we take the most shameful men by the hand, flattering them so, that they can not returne from their wickednes, and so by our doctrine giue occasion of sinne to ye people, declaring our selues thereby, not to besent of God, &c.
- 1Luke 23
- 2To the 6
