A10213:949
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.
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 ⟨image 114⟩is able to take out of thy hand, O God. Wherefore we do laud and magnify thy name, world without end. So be it.
Can affliction? Can anguish? Can persecution? Can hunger? Can nakednes? Can peryll? Can the sword? For I am perswaded, sayeth he, that neyther death nor life, ⟨image 113⟩nor Angel, nor power, nor things present, eyther thinges to come, neyther heyght, nor depth, neyther any creature can separate vs frō the loue of God in Christ Iesu our Lorde. Loe, this is the loue wherwith the Lorde loueth his Iacob, whereby we saye: O heauenly Father, Lord of heauen and earth, it hath pleased thée that thou myght shewe thy great goodnesse most lyberally and freely towards vs, before that we were, and therfore before we had done eyther good or euyl, without any our merytes or deseruinges onely through thy frée mercy to elect and choose, ordaine and appoint vs heyres of euerlasting lyfe, and thereby to make all things pertayning to our saluation, so fyrme and sure, that they cannot stagger, wauer, nor fayle. Where contrariwise if they dyd hang of our worthynesse, we should euer be doubtfull, because euery man is a lyar, & al our righteousnesse is lyke a spotted cloath, and nothing but counterfayte hypocrisie, wayed in the ballaunce of thy seuere iustice. But the grace of this thy frée Election maketh vs most certaine & sure, séeing no creature