1Answer. We grant that they which believe by such a faith• which is in hypocrisy & only lasteth for a time; that they are deceived whilst they think that they do truly believe, and yet do not indeed: for they are like them ⟨p. 699⟩which dream that they are kings, when as they very beggars: but we say, that they which believe by a true faith, do know whether they truly believe or no: and they are not deceived when they say and think that they truly believe. For they are like unto them, which handling a precious stone, by reason that they are endued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he believed truly or not: why doth the Apostle say,2 Try your selves whether you be in the Faith? And if it be so, no man can ever certainly know, whether he be justified: considering that they only which truly believe, can be justified. And if a man giving credit to an other mans words, doth certainly know that he believeth him: how much more doth he know it, which being endued with true faith by the holy Ghost, believeth the Gospel? In a word, godly writers have proved against Schoolmen, that they which are endued with true faith in Christ, can not be ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certain of his perseverance in faith: and therefore out of this universal proposition, He which believeth, namely, with a true and constant faith, is elected to life, no man c•n conclude that he is elected, by reason that albeit he may know, that he is endued with true faith, yet he can not tell whether it shall be perpetual. This collection is absurd, and the learned have fully proved, that true faith is perpetual. And therefore they which certainly know, that they believe in a true faith, are also certain, that the same their true faith shall never perish in this world: partly for the promise of God, I will put my fear into their hearts, that they may never depart from me: 3and partly for the prayer of Christ, I have prayed for thee Peter, that thy faith do not fail. Seeing it is so, it is very certain, that God by his word, in which generally he saith, that all the faithful are elect, doth reveal to every man his election: considering that the proposition taken out of the Gospel, is most certain, and every faithful man may certainly assume to himself, that he is endued with true faith in Christ.
1Answere. We graunt that they which beleeue by such a faith• which is in hypocrisie & only lasteth for a time; that they are deceiued whilst they think that they doe truely beleeue, and yet doe not indeede: for they are like them ⟨p. 699⟩which dreame that they are kings, when as they very beggers: but we say, that they which beleeue by a true faith, doe know whether they truly beleeue or no: and they are not deceiued when they say and thinke that they truly beleeue. For they are like vnto them, which handling a pretious stone, by reason that they are indued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he beleeued truly or not: why doth the Apostle say,2 Trie your selues whether you be in the Faith? And if it be so, no man can euer certenly know, whether he be iustified: considering that they onely which truly beleeue, can be iustified. And if a man giuing credit to an other mans words, doth certēly know that he beleeueth him: how much more doth he know it, which beeing indued with true faith by the holy Ghost, beleeueth the Gospel? In a word, godly writers haue prooued against Schoolemen, that they which are indued with true faith in Christ, can not be ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certaine of his perseuerance in faith: and therefore out of this vniuersall proposition, He which beleeueth, namely, with a true and constant faith, is elected to life, no man c•n conclude that he is elected, by reason that albeit he may know, that he is indued with true faith, yet he can not tell whether it shall be perpetuall. This collection is absurd, and the learned haue fully prooued, that true faith is perpetual. And therfore they which certenly know, that they beleeue in a true faith, are also certaine, that the same their true faith shall neuer perish in this world: partly for the promise of God, I will put my feare into their hearts, that they may neuer depart from me: 3and partly for the praier of Christ, I haue prayed for thee Peter, that thy faith doe not faile. Seeing it is so, it is very certaine, that God by his word, in which generally he saith, that all the faithfull are elect, doth reueale to euery man his election: considering that the proposition taken out of the Gospel, is most certaine, and euery faithfull man may certainly assume to himselfe, that he is indued with true faith in Christ.
- 1They which do truly believe, know that they believe.They which doe truly beleeue, know that they beleeue.
- 22. Cor. 15. 65.
- 3Jer. 32.40. Luk. 22. 32.Ier. 32.40. Luk. 22. 32.
