A Golden Chain

Lastly, the persuasion of the holy Ghost is full of power, for they which are persuaded that they are the sons of God, cannot but needs must call him Abba, Father, and in regard of love to him, do hate sin, and whatsoever is disagreeing to his will: and on the contrary, they have a sound and a hearty desire to do his will. If at any time thou hast felt in thy self any such testimony, persuade thy self it was the testimony of the holy ghost: and that very true and certain too: and therefore that thou art the child of God, and predestinate to eternal life. This is the prop by which we must underset that weak belief we have of our certain election to eternal life. Again, hold this without wavering whatsoever thou art, that art tempted to doubt of thy election: even as nothing is required at our hands to work our election, (for God chose us of his only ⟨p. 704⟩mere goodness) so, that we may truly know whether we be elect or not: this one thing shall be sufficient, namely, if we shall attain to the certain knowledge of this, that we are in Christ, and partakers of him: for, he that is now ingrafted in Christ, and is justified, it cannot be, but that he was elected in Christ before the foundation of the world. And that we may be in Christ, faith is both required, and is sufficient: not perfect faith, but true faith, though it be so little as a grain of mustard seed, and feeble like a young borne babe, and that sore diseased too. Now that faith, which is a lively & a true faith lasteth always as hath been before declared, neither can it at any time altogether fail. And so it cometh to pass, that they which once have been truly ingrafted into Christ, remain always and continue in him, according to that saying; All that my Father giveth me, shall come to me: and he which cometh unto me I will not cast forth. That is true no doubt, that look how much the faith is more perfect, so much the greater power it hath, to knit us more and more to Christ: and therefore we must always endeavour to increase in faith. Yet for all that, this is most certain; one little sparkle of true faith is sufficient to engraft us into Christ. And for that cause, we must in no wise doubt of our engrafting into Christ, and of our election too by reason of the weakness of faith, and the small and slender fruits it bringeth out.

Lastly, the perswasion of the holy Ghost is full of power, for they which are perswaded that they are the sonnes of God, cannot but needes must call him Abba, Father, and in regard of loue to him, doe hate sinne, and whatsoeuer is disagreeing to his will: and on the contrarie, they haue a sound and a heartie desire to doe his will. If at any time thou hast felt in thy selfe any such testimonie, perswade thy selfe it was the testimony of the holy ghost: and that very true and certain too: and therefore that thou art the child of God, and predestinate to eternall life. This is the prop by which wee must vnderset that weake beleefe wee haue of our certaine election to eternal life. Againe, hold this without wauering whatsoeuer thou art, that art tempted to doubt of thy election: euen as nothing is required at our hands to worke our election, (for God chose vs of his onely