Therefore the Apostle saith, that we have received the spirit of adoption,1 by which we cry Abba Father: as though he should say, this testimony of the spirit is altogether so sure, by which, he beareth us record, that we are the sons of God, that presently without doubting, we can call upon God, and cry Abba Father. And all the elect have this testimony, being made the sons of God by faith, and being renewed by the holy Ghost: and ingrafted into Christ; For so the Apostle speaketh,2 if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is not his: therefore, whosoever is Christs, and is ingrafted into Christ, it is necessary he should have the spirit of God. And whosoever have received, and do enjoy the spirit of Christ; to their minds the same spirit beareth record, that they are ⟨p. 35⟩the sons of God, and maketh them to cry Abba, Father. And it is certain, that no man is renewed by the holy Ghost, which is not persuaded, that God is his most merciful and most loving Father: & therefore, can call upon him as a Father. Therefore, although all men, in that they are assured by the certainty of faith, that God is their Father, and they are his sons, do not thereby argue and conclude, that they are elected to eternal life: yet all men indeed, have thereby a sure testimony of their election to glory: because, if they be the sons of God, they are also heirs of eternal life. This testimony I will briefly comprise within this demonstration: whosoever call upon God, and in their hearts cry, Abba Father, they are the sons of God, and it is certain, that they thus cry by the spirit of God. And they which are the sons of God, are also heirs of eternal life, and they have been predestinate to adoption: therefore it must needs be, that all they which are persuaded, that they are the sons of god by the holy Ghost; are predestinate to eternal life, and must be persuaded of it. This is the first testimony, and the first way, by which God revealeth to every elect man his predestination: namely, by the holy Ghost within ⟨p. 36⟩our hearts, bearing record unto us, that we are the sons of God, in christ and by Christ. And let this be the first argument, also serving to confirm our assertion.
Therefore the Apostle saith, that wee haue receiued the spirite of adoption,1 by which we crie Abba Father: as thogh he should say, this testimonie of the spirite is altogether so sure, by which, he beareth vs record, that we are the sonnes ef God, that presently without doubting, we can call vpon God, and cry Abba Father. And all the electe haue this testimonie, being made the sons of God by faith, and being renewed by the holy Ghost: and ingrafted into Christ; For so the Apostle speaketh,2 if any man haue not the spirit of Christ, he is not his: therefore, whosoeuer is Christs, and is ingrafted into Christ, it is necessarie hee should haue the spirit of God. And whosoeuer haue receiued, and doe enioy the spirite of Christe; to their mindes the same spirit beareth record, that they are ⟨p. 35⟩the sonnes of God, and maketh them to cry Abba, Father. And it is certaine, that noe man is renewed by the holy Ghost, which is not perswaded, that God is his most mercifull and most louing Father: & therefore, can call vpon him as a Father. Therefore, although al men, in that they are assured by the certaintie of faith, that God is their Father, and they are his sons, do not thereby argue and conclude, that they are elected to eternal life: yet al men indeed, haue thereby a sure testimonie of their election to glorie: because, if they be the sonnes of God, they are also heires of eternall life. This testimonie I will briefly comprise within this demonstration: whosoeuer call vpon God, and in their hearts cry, Abba Father, they are the sonnes of God, and it is certain, that they thus crye by the spirit of God. And they which are the sonnes of God, are also heires of eternall life, and they haue bene predestinate to adoption: therefore it must needes be, that all they which are perswaded, that they ar the sons of god by the holy Ghost; are predestinate to eternall life, and must be perswaded of it. This is the first testimonie, and the first way, by which God reuealeth to euery elect man his predestination: namely, by the holy Ghost within ⟨p. 36⟩our heartes, bearing record vnto vs, that we are the sonnes of God, in christ and by Christ. And let this be the first argument, also seruing to confirme our assertion.
- 1Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6.
- 2Rom. 8 9
