A09362:203
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.
Let us now see in the second place, what are those means,1 by which the elect are brought unto this end: and therefore to which means we hold, that all are predestinate, whosoever are predestinate to ⟨p. 59⟩the end? And they are of two sorts, some of them are soe necessary unto all, that without them, no man simply can attain unto eternal life and glory: and they are Christs, as he is mediator and high Priest, and his obedience and justice (for without Christ no man can be saved:) also our effectual calling to Christ, by the holy ghost; and that which followeth this, is our justification, yea, and our regeneration to. For these four, predestination, vocation, justification, and glorification, are so linked together, that it is not possible to sever the one from the other. And therefore, no man can be glorified, which is not justified; and no man can be justified, which is not effectually called; as also, no man can be effectually called, which is not predestinate: therefore without these, not so much as children and infants, can be brought to this end of eternal glory. And therefore even all the elect infants are inwardly, in a certain peculiar manner, by the holy ghost, called, and justified, and glorified. Now, there are some certain means annexed unto these, albeit they have no place in infants, by reason of their age, yet they belong to all other elect, howsoever they are found in some more plenteous and lively, and in other some more slender and weak. ⟨p. 60⟩As namely, a lively faith, the hearing of the word, a detestation of sin, the love of righteousness, patience in adversity, a care to do good works (and such like) all which, the Apostle comprehendeth under the name of good works, when he saith, that we are created, that is, borne a new in Christ, unto good works, which God hath prepared, 2that we might walk in them, that is, that we might lead our lives in them, and so walking, at length might come to eternal life: for without them, we cannot come to eternal glory; but by them God traileth us thither. Therefore we say, that all which are elect to that end, are also predestinate to the same means. For predestination is not only of the end, but also of the means, which concern the end and all, as well the end as the means, are the effects of predestination.