Answer. We grant, that they which believe by such a faith, which is in hypocrisy▪ and only lasteth for a time▪ that they ⟨p. 39⟩are deceived, whilst they think, that they do truly believe, and yet do not indeed:1 for they are like them, which dream that they are Kings, when as they are very beggars: but we say, that they which believe by a true faith, do know, whether they truly believe or no: and they are not deceived, when they say, and think that they truly believe. For, they are like unto them, which handling a precious stone, by reason that they are endued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he believed truly or not, why doeth the Apostle say, Try your selves, 2whether you be in the faith? And if it be so, no man can ever certainly know, whether he be justified, considering that they only, which truly believe, can be justified. And if a man, giving credit to another mans words, doth certainly know, that he believeth him, how much more doeth he know it, which being endued with true faith by the holy Ghost, believeth the Gospel? In a word, godly Writers have proved against School-men, that they, which are endued with true faith in Christ, cannot be ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certain of his perseverance in faith: And therefore, out of this universal proposition, ⟨p. 40⟩He which believeth, namely, with a true and constant faith, is elected to life: no man can conclude that he is elected, by reason, that albeit he may know, that he is endued with true faith, yet he cannot tell, whether it shall be perpetual. This collection is absurd: & the learned have fully proved, that true faith is perpetual. And therefore, they which certainly know, that they believe in a true faith, are also certain, that the same their true faith, shall never perish in this world: partly, for the promise of God,3 I vvill put my fear into their hearts, that they may never depart from me: and partly for the prayer of Christ, I have prayed for thee, Peter, 4that thy faith do not fail. Seeing it is so, it is very certain, that God by his word, in which generally he saith, that all the faithful are elect, doeth reveal to every man his election: considering that the proposition taken out of the Gospel, is most certain:
Ansvver. We graunt, that they which beleeue by such a faith, which is in hypocrisie▪ and only lasteth for a time▪ that they ⟨p. 39⟩are deceiued, whilst they thinke, that they doe trulie beleeue, and yet do not indeed:1 for they are like them, which dream that they are Kings, when as they are very beggers: but we say, that they which beleeue by a true faith, doe knowe, whether they trulie beleeue or no: and they are not deceiued, when they say, and think that they trulie beleeue. For, they are like vnto thē, which handeling a pretious stone, by reason that they are indued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he beleeued truly or not, why doeth the Apostle say, Trie your selues, 2vvhether you bee in the faith? And if it be so, no man can euer certainlie know, whether he be justified, considering that they onlie, which trulie beleeue, can be justified. And if a man, giuing credit to another mans words, doth certainly knowe, that he beleeueth him, how much more doeth he know it, which being indued with true faith by the holy Ghost, beleeueth the Gospell? In a word, godlie Writers haue prooued against School-men, that they, which are indued with true faith in Christ, cannot bee ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certaine of his perseuerance in faith: And therefore, out of this vniuersall proposition, ⟨p. 40⟩He vvhich beleeueth, namelie, vvith a true and constant faith, is elected to life: no man can conclude that he is elected, by reason, that albeit hee may knowe, that hee is indued with true faith, yet he cannot tel, whether it shal be perpetuall. This collection is absurde: & the learned haue fully prooued, that true faith is perpetual. And therfore, they which certainly know, that they beleeue in a true faith, are also certaine, that the same their true faith, shall neuer perish in this world: partlie, for the promise of God,3 I vvill put my feare into their hearts, that they may neuer depart from me: and partlie for the prayer of Christ, I haue praied for thee, Peter, 4that thy faith doe not faile. Seeing it is so, it is very certain, that God by his word, in which generallie he saith, that all the faithfull are elect, doeth reueale to euerie man his election: cōsidering that the proposition taken out of the Gospell, is most certaine:
- 1They which do truly believe, know that they believe.They which do trulie beleeue, know that they beleeue.
- 22. Cor. 13.65
- 3Jer. 32.40.Ier. 32.40.
- 4Luk. 22.33
