IIII. To bear crosses patiently. Rom. 8.29. Those which he knew before, he also predestinate, to be made like to the image of his Sonne. This likeness to Christ, is in bearing afflictions. Phil. 3.10. That I may know him, and the virtue of his resurrection, and […] ⟨image 165⟩saved. And by Paul, Ye which are baptized, have put on Christ. David being armed with the like comfort from his circumcision, feared not to join battle with that great Giant Goliath: and if this were not so, it must needs follow, that Baptism were nothing else but an idle ceremony, and also the persons of the Trinity would be thought liars. Wherefore those afflicted men, when Satan assaulteth them, must resist him with these words: Depart from me Satan, thou hast neither part nor portion in the inheritance of my soul, because I am baptized in the Name of the holy Trinity, and so am truly made the Son of God by adoption. And are these the strong weapons, which so many times, and in so many words, have been objected against me by D. Andreas? and whereby he hath gotten the victory? but because this his reason is somewhat intricate, I will explain it after this sort. First, for the place of Scripture which he allegeth, namely, that God is greater then our hearts. It is so far from comforting an afflicted conscience, that it will rather drive him to despair. Neither doth Joh. 1. epist. 3.20. make mention of it, to ease such as are in despair, showing unto them by that sentence, the greatness of Gods mercies: but rather that he might thereby, even bruise in pieces, the hearts of proud persons, when they consider the greatness of Gods majesty. And for the other place, when as a man doubteth of his salvation, and feeleth no testimonies of faith in himself, (for such an one we here speak of) what comfort, think you, […] ⟨image 165⟩is baptized, shall be saved? For he would rather reason contrarily, thus: I indeed am baptized, yet for all that I believe not, and therefore my baptism is not available, I must needs be condemned. For the saying of August. in his treatise upon Joh. 6. is very true, who speaking of Simon Magus, saith, What good did it him to be baptized? Brag not therefore (saith he) that thou art baptized, as though that were sufficient for thee, to inherit the kingdom of heaven. As for the place of Paul, Gal. 3. I showed plainly before, how D.
IIII. To beare crosses patiently. Rom. 8.29. Those which he knewe before, he also predestinate, to be made like to the image of his Sonne. This likenesse to Christ, is in bearing afflictions. Phil. 3.10. That I may knowe him, and the vertue of his resurrection, and 〈…〉 ⟨image 165⟩saued. And by Paul, Yee which are baptized, haue put on Christ. Dauid being armed with the like comfort from his circumcision, feared not to ioyne battell with that great Gyant Goliah: and if this were not so, it must needes followe, that Baptisme were nothing else but an idle ceremonie, and also the persons of the Trinitie would bee thought lyers. Wherefore those afflicted men, when Satan assaulteth them, must resist him with these wordes: Departe from mee Sathan, thou hast neither parte nor portion in the inheritance of my soule, because I am baptized in the Name of the holy Trinitie, and so am truely made the Sonne of God by adoption. And are these the strong weapons, which so many times, and in so many wordes, haue beene obiected against me by D. Andreas? and whereby hee hath gotten the victorie? but because this his reason is somewhat intricate, I will explane it after this sorte. First, for the place of Scripture which he alledgeth, namely, that God is greater then our hearts. It is so farre from comforting an afflicted conscience, that it will rather driue him to despaire. Neither dooth Ioh. 1. epist. 3.20. make mention of it, to ease such as are in despaire, shewing vnto them by that sentence, the greatnesse of Gods mercies: but rather that he might thereby, euen bruise in pieces, the hearts of proud persons, when they consider the greatnes of Gods maiestie. And for the other place, when as a man doubteth of his saluation, and feeleth no testimonies of faith in himselfe, (for such an one we here speake of) what comfort, thinke you, 〈…〉 ⟨image 165⟩is baptized, shalbe saued? For he would rather reason contrarily, thus: I indeed am baptized, yet for all that I beleeue not, and therefore my baptisme is not auaileable, I must needs be condemned. For the saying of August. in his treatise vpon Ioh. 6. is very true, who speaking of Simon Magus, saith, What good did it him to be baptized? Brag not therefore (saith he) that thou art baptized, as though that were sufficient for thee, to inherit the kingdom of heauē. As for the place of Paul,
