A Golden Chain

The use of this is manifold: first it serveth to overthrow the opinion of carnal men which reason thus: If I be ordained to damnation, let me live never so godly and well, I am sure to be damned, therefore I will live as I list: for it is not possible for me to alter Gods decree. Blasphemous mouths of men make nothing of this and like speeches, and yet they speak flat contraries. For whom God hath purposed in his eternal counsel to refuse, them also he hath purposed for their sins, to leave to the blindness of their minds and hardness of their hearts, so as they neither will nor can live a godly life.

The vse of this is manifolde: first it serueth to ouerthrowe the opinion of carnall men which reason thus: If I be ordained to damnation, let me liue neuer so godly and well, I am sure to be damned, therefore I will liue as I list: for it is not possible for me to alter Gods decree. Blas•hemous mouthes of men make nothing of this and like speeches, and yet they speake flatte contraries. For whome God hath purposed in his eternal counsell to refuse, them also he hath purposed for their sinnes, to leaue to the blindenesse of their mindes and hardnes of their hearts, so as they neither will nor can liue a godly life.

Secondly, this rule doth as it were, lead us by the hand, to the consideration the fearful estate of many people among us. We have had for the space of thirty years and more the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and the more plentifully by reason of the schools of learning. But what hath bin the issue of it? I doubt not but in many it hath been the means of their conversion & salvation: but to speak generally of the greater part there is little or no fruit to be seen. The most after this long preaching remain as blind, as impenitent, as heard hearted, and as unreformed in their lives as ever they were, though they have heard the Lord calling them to repentance from day to day, and from year to year. Well if this rule be the trueth of God, as no doubt it is, then I say plainly, that there is a most fearful judgement of God among us. My meaning is not to determine or give sentence of any mans person, of any town or people, nevertheless this may be avouched, that it is a terrible and dangerous sign of the wrath of God, that after this long and daily preaching, there is still remaining a general hardness of heart, impenitency, and want of reformation in the lives of men. The smiths stithy, the more it is beaten the harder it is made: and commonly the hearts of men, the more they are beaten with the hammer of Gods word, the more dull, secure, and senseless they are. This being so, it stands every man in hand to