A09362:181
A case of conscience the greatest that [sic] ever was, how a man may…A case of conscience the greatest taht [sic] euer was, how a man may…
A case of conscience the greatest that [sic] ever was, how a man may know, whether he be the son of God or no. Resolved by the word of God. Whereunto is added a brief discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius.A case of conscience the greatest taht [sic] euer was, how a man may know, whether he be the son of God or no. Resolued by the vvord of God. Whereunto is added a briefe discourse, taken out of Hier. Zanchius.
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Walde-grave, 1592Edinburgh: printed by Robert VValde-graue, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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.