A Golden Chain

The duties to be learned hence are these. And first of all here comes a common fault of men to be rebuked. Every one will say, that he believeth the remission of sins, yet no man almost laboureth for a true and certain persuasion hereof in his own conscience: and for proof hereof, propound this question to the common Christian; Doest thou persuade thy self, that God gives remission of sins unto his Church? The answer will be, I know and believe it. But ask him further: Doest thou believe the pardon of thine own sins? & then comes in a blind answer, I have a good hope to God-ward, but I can not tell, I think no man can say so much: for God saith to no man, thy sins are pardoned. But this is to speak flat contraries, to say they believe, and they can not tell: & it bewrays exceeding negligence in matter of salvation. But let them that fear God, or love their own souls health, give all diligence to make sure the remission of their own sins: withal, avoiding hardness of heart, and drowsiness of spirit, the most fearful judgements of God which every where take place. The foolish virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom with lamps in their hands as well as the wise, but they never so much as dreamed of the horn of oil, till the coming of the bridegroom. So many men live in the Church of God as members thereof, holding up the lamp of glorious profession: but in the mean season they seek only for the things of this life; never casting, how they may assure themselves in conscience touching their reconciliation with God, till the day of death come.

The duties to be learned hence are these. And first of all here comes a commō fault of men to be rebuked. Euery one wil say, that he beleeueth the remission of sinnes, yet no man almost laboureth for a true and certen perswasion hereof in his owne conscience: and for proofe hereof, propound this question to the common Christian; Doest thou perswade thy selfe, that God giues remission of sinnes vnto his Church? The answer will be, I know and beleeue it. But aske him further: Doest thou beleeue the pardon of thine owne sinnes? & then comes in a blind answer, I haue a good hope to God-ward, but I can not tell, I thinke no man can say so much: for God saith to no man, thy sinnes are pardoned. But this is to speake flat contraries, to say they beleeue, and they can not tell: & it bewraies exceeding negligence in matter of saluation. But let them that feare God, or loue their owne soules health, giue all diligence to make sure the remission of their owne sinnes: withall, auoiding hardnesse of heart, and drowsines of spirit, the most fearefull iudgements of God which euery where take place. The foolish virgins went forth to meete the bridegroome with lamps in their hands as well as the wise, but they neuer so much as dreamed of the horne of oyle, till the comming of the bridegroome. So many men liue in the Church of God as members thereof, holding vp the lampe of glorious profession: but in the meane season they seeke onely for the things of this life; neuer casting, how they may assure themselues in conscience touching their reconciliation with God, till the day of death come.