This rule being the truth of God, must be observed: for it hath special use. First of all it serves to stop the mouths of ungodly & profane men. They use to bolster up themselves in their sins by reasoning on this manner: If I be predestinate to eternal life, I shall be saved whatsoever come of it, how wickedly and lewdly soever I live: I will therefore live as I list, and follow the swing of mine own will. But, alas, like blind bayards they think they are in the way, when as they rush their heads against the wall, and far deceive themselves. For the case stands thus: all men that are ordained to salvation, are likewise ordained in the counsel of God to use all the good means whereby they may come to salvation. And therefore all the elect that live in ⟨p. 461⟩this world shall be called, justified, sanctified, and lead their lives in all good conscience before God and men: and they that live and continue in their own wicked ways disputing on this manner, If I be ordained to salvation, I shall not be damned; overshoot themselves, and as much as they can, plunge themselves headlong into the very pit of hell. And for a man to live and die in his sins, let the world dispute as they will, it is an infallible sign of one ordained to damnation. Secondly, there be others that think that the preaching of the word, the administration of the Sacraments, admonitions, exhortations, laws, good orders, and all such good means are needless, because Gods counsels be unchangeable: if a man shall be condemned, nothing shall help: if a man be saved, nothing shall hinder. But we must still for our part remember, that God doth not only ordain the end, but also the means whereby the end is compassed: and therefore the very use of all prescribed means is necessary. And for this cause we must be admonished with diligence to labour and use all good means, that we may be called by the ministry of the Gospel, and justified, and sanctified, and at length glorified. If a king should give unto one of his subjects a princely palace, upon condition that he shall go unto it in the way which he shall prescribe; oh what pains would the man take to know the way, and afterward to keep and continue in it: but behold, the kingdom of heaven is the most glorious and royal palace that ever was; and God hath bestowed the same on his elect:
This rule beeing the truth of God, must be obserued: for it hath special vse. First of all it serues to stoppe the mouthes of vngodly & profane men. They vse to bolster vp themselues in their sinnes by reasoning on this manner: If I be predestinate to eternall life, I shall be saued whatsoeuer come of it, how wickedly and lewdly soeuer I liue: I will therefore liue as I list, and follow the swinge of mine owne will. But, alas, like blinde bayards they thinke they are in the way, when as they rush their heads against the wall, and farre deceiue themselues. For the case stands thus: all men that are ordained to saluation, are likewise ordained in the counsell of God to vse all the good meanes whereby they may come to saluation. And therefore all the elect that liue in ⟨p. 461⟩this world shall be called, iustified, sanctified, and lead their liues in all good conscience before God and men: and they that liue and continue in their own wicked waies disputing on this manner, If I be ordained to saluation, I shall not be damned; ouershoote themselues, and as much as they can, plunge themselues headlong into the very pit of hell. And for a man to liue and die in his sinnes, let the world dispute as they will, it is an infallible signe of one ordained to damnation. Secondly, there be others that thinke that the preaching of the word, the administration of the Sacraments, admonitions, exhortations, lawes, good orders, and all such good meanes are needlesse, because Gods counsels be vnchangeable: if a man shall be condemned, nothing shall helpe: if a man be saued, nothing shall hinder. But we must still for our part remember, that God doth not onely ordaine the ende, but also the meanes whereby the ende is compassed: and therefore the very vse of all prescribed meanes is necessarie. And for this cause we must be admonished with diligence to labour and vse all good meanes, that we may be called by the ministerie of the Gospell, and iustified, and sanctified, and at length glorified. If a king should giue vnto one of his subiects a princely pallace, vpon condition that he shall goe vnto it in the way which he shall prescribe; oh what paines would the man take to know the way, and afterward to keepe and continue in it: but behold, the kingdome of heauen is the most glorious and royall pallace that euer was; and God hath bestowed the same on his elect:
