A10213:948
The treasure of trueth touching the ground work of man his salvation, and chiefest…The treasure of trueth touching the grounde worke of man his saluation, and chiefest…
The treasure of trueth touching the ground work of man his salvation, and chiefest points of Christian religion: with a brief sum of the comfortable doctrine of God his providence, comprised in .38. short aphorisms. Written in Latin by Theodore Beza, and newly turned into English by John Stockwood. Whereunto are added, these godly treatises. One of the learned and godly Father. Master I. Fox. In the which the chiefest points of the doctrine of God his election, are so plainly set forth, as the very simplest may easily understand it, and reap great profit thereby. The other of Master Anthony Gylbie, wherein the doctrine of God his election and reprobation, is both godly and learnedly handled. Seen and allowed, according to the order appointed.The treasure of trueth touching the grounde worke of man his saluation, and chiefest pointes of Christian religion: with a briefe summe of the comfortable doctrine of God his prouidence, comprised in .38. short aphorismes. VVritten in Latin by Theodore Beza, and nevvly turned into English by Iohn Stockvvood. VVhereunto are added, these godly treatises. One of the learned and godlie Father. Maister I. Foxe. In the which the chiefest poyntes of the doctrine of God his election, are so plainely set foorth, as the verie simplest may easily vnderstand it, and reape great profite thereby. The other of Maister Anthonie Gylbie, wherein the doctrine of God his election and reprobation, is both godly and learnedlie handeled. Seene and alovved, according to the order appoynted.
London: printed by J. Charlewood for Thomas Woodcocke, 1576
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.
This Election must of necessity drive down the pride we have of our own strength, our own power, our own nature, our own free will, our own merits, our own justification of our own works, and bring us to the feeling of the mighty power of God, which worketh all in all things, to the restoring of all things in our Christ, both in Heaven and Earth, by whom we are called into this state, long before appointed according to his purposed pleasure, by whose power all things are wrought, that we may boldly say with the Apostle, who dare lay any thing to the charge of the Elect of God? It is God that justifieth, who is he that can condemn? Who can separate us (which are this chosen Jacob) from the love of God.
This Election must of necessitie driue downe the pryde wée haue of our owne strength, our owne power, our owne nature, our owne frée wil, our owne merites, our owne iustification of our owne workes, and bryng vs to the feelynge of the mighty power of God, which worketh all in all things, to the restoring of all things in our Christ, both in Heauen and Earth, by whome wée are called into this state, long before appointed accordyng to his purposed pleasure, by whose power all things are wrought, that we may boldly say wyth the Apostle, who dare laye any thing to the charge of the Elect of God? It is God that iustifieth, who is hée that can condemne? Who can seperate vs (whiche are this chosen Iacob) from the loue of God.
Can affliction? Can anguish? Can persecution? Can hunger? Can nakedness? Can peril? Can the sword? For I am persuaded, sayeth he, that neither death nor life, ⟨image 113⟩nor Angel, nor power, nor things present, either things to come, neither height, nor depth, neither any creature can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lo, this is the love wherewith the Lord loveth his Jacob, whereby we say: O heavenly Father, Lord of heaven and earth, it hath pleased thee that thou might show thy great goodness most liberally and freely towards us, before that we were, and therefore before we had done either good or evil, without any our merits or deservings only through thy free mercy to elect and choose, ordain and appoint us heirs of everlasting life, and thereby to make all things pertaining to our salvation, so firm and sure, that they cannot stagger, waver, nor fail. Where contrariwise if they did hang of our worthiness, we should ever be doubtful, because every man is a liar, & all our righteousness is like a spotted cloth, and nothing but counterfeit hypocrisy, weighed in the balance of thy severe justice. But the grace of this thy free Election maketh us most certain & sure, seeing no creature