The School-men demand, whether a ⟨p. 31⟩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:1 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?2 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 spake off, doth reveal his will & his counsels, but by many: for God revealeth things, either by the inward ⟨p. 32⟩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: he shall lead you into all trueth. By his word, he spake unto the Prophets, and in like manner,3 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.
The School-men demaunde, whether a ⟨p. 31⟩man may be made sure of his Election? And they determine that a man cannot, except it be by diuine reuelation: becaus Predestination is in God, and not in vs. And no man knoweth the thinges of God, but the spirit of God:1 as no man knoweth the thinges of man, but the spirite of man, which is in him: Again, who knoweth the minde of the Lorde?2 therefore (say they) some special reuelation is needeful: if any desire to be certified, either of his owne or of any other mans predestinatiō, their sayings are not simply to be disliked: but in that meaning, in which they vnderstād them, they are no way to be approoued. For they take a speciall reuelation to be this, if God shall signifie and say expresly to any, either by some Angell outwardly, or by his spirite inwardly, that he is predestinate to life: after which sorte, they hold that Paul, and a fewe other Saintes, had their predestination reuealed to thē, So they conclude, that, because euery man hath not his Election reuealed to him after this maner, that all men cannot be assured of their election. But they are deceued, for God, not onely by this one maner, which they spake off, doth reueale his will & his counsels, but by many: for God reuealeth thinges, either by the inwarde ⟨p. 32⟩inspiration of his spirit, or outwardly by his word: or both inwardly and outwardly, by inward and outward effectes. By his spirite, hee did inspire his Prophetes, and open many thinges to come. And Christ said to his Apostles, as concerning the holy Ghost: he shall lead you into all trueth. By his word, he spake vnto the Prophets, and in like maner,3 by his word hee teacheth vs his wil. Also, by diuers effectes, hee declareth, either his mercie or his iustice: as it is known. The same must be thought of the reuealing of his electiō: to wit, that God reuealeth the same to the elect, by the holy Ghost, by the worde, and by the most certaine effectes of predestination.
- 11. Cor. 2.16.
- 2Rom. 12.34. The elect by the testimony of the holy Ghost, are made sure of their election.Rom. 12.34. The elect by the testimonie of the holy Ghost, are made sure of their election.
- 3ch. 19.13
