Wilt thou therefore who so ever thou art, be assured of thy Predestination or foreordaining, and so consequently of salvation which thou lookest for, against all the assaults of Satan: be assured, I say, not with doubtful conjectures, and such as are gathered out of man his brain, may with such as are no less certain and sure, than if thou haddest gone up into heaven it self, and understood that secret decree ⟨image 75⟩from the very mouth of God? Tak• diligent heed that thou begin not a• that highest degree: for else it will come to pass, that thou wilt not be able to abide the exceeding great brightness of God. Begin therefore at the lowest degrees, (3) and when thou hearest the voice of God sounding in thine ears and mind,1 which calleth thee unto Christ the only mediator, consider by little and little, and search diligently, (4) whether thou be justified and sanctified, that is, made righteous and holy, by faith in Christ, for these are the effects by the which faith, the very cause of them in deed is known. And this thou shalt know,2 (5) partly by the spirit of adoption crying within: Abba, Father: (6) partly also by the power and working of the same spirit in thy self: namely if thou feel, and also indeed show, that although sin do dwell in thee, yet it doeth not reign in thee. For why? Is not the holy ghost he, which maketh that we do not purposely let lose all the reins unto ungodly and wicked ⟨image 75⟩lusts, as they use to do whose eyes the Prince of this world hath blinded? for else who moveth us unto prayer, albeit being never so cold and lither? Who stirreth up in us those unspeakable sighs and groanings? (7) who after that we have sinned, and that sometimes wittingly and willingly, engendereth in us that hatred of the sin that we have committed, yea and that not for fear of punishment, but because that we have offended our most merciful Father. (8) Who, I say, beareth us witness, that our sighings are heard, and moveth us hereunto, that we dare boldly call God, our God, and also Father, even after that we have offended him? (9) Is it not, I pray you that spirit, whom we have freely received,3 being freely given for a sure pledge of our adoption?
VVylt thou therefore who so euer thou art, be assured of thy Predestination or foreordaining, and so consequentlie of saluation which thou lookest for, against all the assaultes of Sathan: bee assured, I saie, not vvith doubtfull coniectures, and suche as are gathered out of man his braine, maye vvith suche as are no lesse certaine and sure, than if thou haddest gone vppe into heauen it selfe, and vnderstoode that secreet decree ⟨image 75⟩from the verie mouth of God? Tak• dilligent heede that thou beginne not a• that highest degree: for else it wyl come to passe, that thou vvilt not bee able to abide the exceeding great brightnesse of God. Beginne therefore at the lowest degrees, (3) and vvhen thou hearest the voice of God soundinge in thine eares and minde,1 vvhiche calleth thee vnto Christ the onelie mediatour, consider by litle and litle, and search diligentlie, (4) vvhether thou be iustified and sanctified, that is, made righteous and holie, by faith in Christ, for these are the effectes by the vvhich faith, the very cause of thē in deede is knowne. And this thou shalt know,2 (5) partlie by the spirite of adoption crying vvithin: Abba, Father: (6) partlie also by the power and vvorking of the same spirite in thy selfe: namelie if thou feele, and also indeede shew, that although sinne doo dwell in thee, yet it doeth not raigne in thee. For vvhy? Is not the holie ghost hee, vvhich maketh that vvee doo not purposelie let lose all the raines vnto vngodlie and vvicked ⟨image 75⟩lustes, as they vse to doo vvhose eies the Prince of this vvorlde hath blinded? for else vvho moueth vs vnto praier, albeit being neuer so colde and lyther? VVho stirreth vppe in vs those vnspeakeable sighes and gronings? (7) vvho after that vvee haue sinned, and that sometimes vvittinglie and vvillinglie, engendereth in vs that hatred of the sinne that vvee haue committed, yea and that not for feare of punishment, but because that vvee haue offended our moste mercifull Father. (8) VVho, I saie, beareth vs vvitnesse, that our sighinges are hearde, and mooueth vs herevnto, that vve dare boldelie call God, our God, and also Father, euen after that vvee haue offended him? (9) Is it not, I praie you that spirite, vvhome vvee haue freelie receaued,3 being freelie geuen for a sure pledge of our adoption?
- 1By what tokens true faith may be known.By vvhat •okens true faith maie be knovvne.
- 2The effects of the holy ghost in the elect.The effectes of the holie ghost in the elect.
- 3The efficacy or virtue of our calling is understood by faith, and by our calling, our predestination, or foreordaining.The efficacie or vertue of our calling is vnderstoode by faith, and by our calling, our predestinatiō, or foreordaining.
