A Golden Chain

¹The Schoolmen demand whether a man may be made sure of his Election? And they determine that a man cannot, except it be by divine revelation: because Predestination is in God, and not in us. And no man knoweth the things of God, but the spirit of God: as no man knoweth the things of man, but the spirit of man which is in him. Again, who knoweth the mind of the Lord? therefore (say they) some special revelation is needful: if any desire to be certified, either of his own or of any other mans predestination, their sayings are not simply to be disliked: but in that meaning, in which they understand them, they are no way to be approved. For they take a special revelation to be this, if God shall signify and say expressly to any: either by some Angel outwardly, or by his spirit inwardly, that he is predestinate to life: after which sort, they hold that Paul and a few other Saints had their predestination revealed to them. So they conclude that, because every man hath not his election revealed to him after this manner, that all men cannot be assured of their election. But they are deceived; for God, not only by this one manner which they speak of, doth reveal his will and his counsels; but by many: for God revealeth things, either by the inward inspiration of his spirit, or outwardly by his word: or both inwardly and outwardly by inward and outward effects. By his spirit he did inspire his Prophets, and open many things to come. And Christ said to his Apostles, as concerning the holy Ghost:² He shall lead you into all trueth. By his word he spake unto the prophets, and in like manner, by his word he teacheth us his will. Also by divers effects, he declareth either his mercy or his justice: as it is known. The same must be thought of the revealing of his election: to wit, that God revealeth the same to the elect, by the holy Ghost, by the word, and by the most certain effects of predestination.

¹The Schoolemen demaund whether a man may be made sure of his Election? And they determine that a man cannot, except it be by diuine reuelation: because Predestination is in God, and not in vs. And no man knoweth the things of God, but the spirit of God: as no man knoweth the things of man, but the spirit of man which is in him. Againe, who knoweth the minde of the Lord? therefore (say they) some speciall reuelation is needfull: if any desire to be certified, either of his owne or of any other mans predestination, their sayings are not simplie to be disliked: but in that meaning, in which they vnderstand them, they are no waie to be approoued. For they take a special reuelation to be this, if God shall signifie and say expresly to any: either by some Angel outwardly, or by his spirit inwardly, that he is predestinate to life: after which sort, they hold that Paul and a fewe other Saints had their predestination reuealed to them. So they conclude that, because euerie man hath not his election reuealed to him after this manner, that all men cannot bee assured of their election. But they are deceiued; for God, not onely by this one manner which they speake of, doth reueale his will and his counsels; but by many: for God reuealeth things, either by the inward inspiration of his spirit, or outwardly by his word: or both inwardly and outwardly by inward and outward effects. By his spirit he did inspire his Prophets, and open many things to come. And Christ said to his Apostles, as concerning the holy Ghost: