A09362:193
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.
It remaineth, that we should declare ⟨p. 48⟩some effects of predestination:1 by which, as by marks and seals, the elect may be discerned from Reprobates. The first effect of predestination, is Christ himself, as he is a Mediator and a Saviour, dwelling in our hearts by his holy Spirit. For, as we are elected in him, and by him redeemed, so by the sprinkling of his blood, we are cleansed and sealed; and by his dwelling in us, quickened (for he is our life, and that eternal) and therefore, we are severed from Reprobates, which always remain in death, as in the holy Scriptures we are taught. We say, that this is the first effect of Predestination, because we can enjoy none of the gifts of God, either of election, vocation▪ or justification, except in Christ, and by Christ: For he hath poured out all the effects of Predestination into us. In that therefore, every elect faithful man feeleth Christ to dwell in him, and to quicken him; he hath a seal in himself, by which he may know, that he was elected to everlasting life in the same Christ: A part and beginning of which life, is this spiritual life, by which we now live to God. And as every man knoweth himself to be the son of God in Christ, because he calleth upon God from his heart, as a Father: So he may conclude, that he is ⟨p. 49⟩predestinated to be the son of God, for Christs cause: And that by this first note, the faithful may know, that they are elect to eternal life; the Apostle showeth, know ye not (saith he) your selves, 2that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates? And no doubt a type of this kind of sealing, was that sealing, which was done in Egypt, by the blood of the Lamb: namely, when the houses of the Israelites were sprinkled with this blood, that they might be discerned from the houses of the Egyptians, and so be passed over untouched of the Angel. And by Christ, as by the chief effect: yea, and the cause to of all the effects which follow; all other effects of predestination are put into us, and we are sealed with them. The Apostle nameth three principals; our calling (to wit,3