A Golden Chain

If therefore I have to do with such an one, who either was never called by the preaching of the Gospel, or if he were called, yet seemeth both to himself and others, never to have regarded him that called: and hence concludeth that he is not in the number of them, whom God hath purposed to take pity upon: I forthwith tell him, that Satan playeth the Sophister, in teaching him thus to conclude: for this his reason is as untrue, as if a man looking at midnight, & seeing that the Sun is not then risen, should therefore affirm that it would never rise. And this is that which when I objected to D. Andreas, pag. 482. he very boldly corrupting my meaning printed this as mine assertion, Say unto a man that is afflicted, the sun is risen, although as yet it be not risen. But I teach not lies, howsoever this depravation of my words came from D. Andreas printers, or himself. And whereas D. Andreas excepted, that this consolation were to no purpose, because he that was afflicted might doubt whether this sun would ever rise or not: I answered to him, that which the printers have quite left out, and which I will now therefore more fully repeat. I was wont therefore to tell the party thus troubled, after he had forsaken his false and devilish position: that although an external vocation were not of force enough to appease an afflicted conscience, yet it was of sufficient force and efficacy against the devil. For I tell him that they which never had external nor internal calling, they (if we regard an ordinary calling) must needs perish: but whosoever is once called, he hath set as it were his foot in the first entry into the kingdom of heaven: and unless it be by his own default, he shall come afterwards into the courts of God, & so by degrees into his Majesties palace. And for the confirmation of this, I use divers ways. For why, say I, doubtest thou of his good will towards thee, who in mercy hath sent me a minister to call thee unto him? thou hast no cause, unless thou allege the number of thy sins. If this be all, why, oppose the infinite greatness of Gods mercy against thy sins, who hath sent me to bring thee unto him. The Lord vouchsafeth to bring thee into the way of the elect, why art thou a stumbling block unto thy self? & refusest to •ollow him?

If therefore I haue to doe with such an one, who either was neuer called by the preaching of the Gospel, or if he were called, yet seemeth both to himselfe and others, neuer to haue regarded him that called: and hence concludeth that he is not in the number of them, whome God hath purposed to take pitie vpon: I forthwith tell him, that Satan plaieth the Sophister, in teaching him thus to conclude: for this his reason is as vntrue, as if a man looking at midnight, & seeing that the Sunne is not then risen, should therefore affirme that it would neuer rise. And this is that which when I obiected to D. Andreas, pag. 482. he very boldly corrupting my meaning printed this as mine assertion, Say vnto a man that is asflicted, the sunne is risen, although as yet it be not risen. But I teach not lies, howesoeuer this deprauation of my wordes came from D. Andreas printers, or himselfe. And whereas D. Andreas excepted, that this consolation were to no purpose, because he that was afflicted might doubt whether this sunne would euer rise or not: I answered to him, that which the printers haue quite left out, and which I will now therefore more fully repeat. I was woont therefore to tell the partie thus troubled, after he had forsaken his false and diuelih position: that although an externall vocation were not of force enough to appease an aflicted conscience, yet it was of sufficient force and efficacie against the deuill. For I tell him that they which neuer had externall nor internall calling, they (if wee regard an ordinarie calling) must needes perish: but whosoeuer is once called, he hath set as it were his foote in the first entrie into the kingdome of heauen: and vnlesse it be by his owne default, he shall come afterwards into the courts of God, & so by degrees into his Maiesties pallace. And for the confirmation of this, I vse diuers waies. For why, say I, doubtest thou of his good will towards thee, who in mercy hath sent me a minister to cal thee vnto him? thou hast no cause, vnlesse thou alleadge the number of thy sinnes. If this be all, why, oppose the infinite greatnes of Gods mercie against thy sinnes, who hath sent me to bring thee vnto him. The Lord vouchsafeth to bring thee into the way of the elect, why art thou a stumbling blocke vnto thy selfe? & refusest to ollow him?