A10213:954
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 Reprobation then is the declaration of God his severe justice and just judgement, against the Serpent and his seed, whom, by the word of his eternal wisdom he hath accursed from the beginning, and appointed to everlasting torment. The which work necessary for the proceeding of God his holy providence, Eternal and never ceasing regiment, and governance, because it is the work of the will of the mighty God, which is the very law, equity, and justice it self, free from all affections, far from all fault, crime or sin: It ought to be known unto us all, that all flesh may tremble, and consider before whom it standeth, even before that great Lord and mighty God, who hath power both over the body and Soul to cast into hell fire. To whom no man may say: what doest thou? Being like the clay in the Potters hand, or the staff or axe in the hand ⟨image 117⟩of the smiter. Who offendeth against no law, because his godly will is the law it self, and to know his pleasure, is to know the law, to follow his will, is to do the law, so that of necessity this great Lord is so far & free from all sin, that nothing is good but that which is wrought by him, nothing can be evil that he worketh in his creatures. No, the fall of Lucifer the father of the reprobate, doth utter his majesty, doth show his justice, which old Satan and Father Devil, was worthily cast down into the bottom of Hell, and eternally condemned to everlasting pain and torment, because he did so ambitiously and proudly climb up above his appointed place in the heavens. And where the malice of this old serpent, caused Adam the first man to mount above his estate, to desire to know good & evil, like a God, the marvellous mercy of God, and inestimable love towards mankind caused & compelled this wicked work of the Serpent to serve his glory, and to turn to our great commodity and profit, in that he raiseth of the seed of man another ⟨image 117⟩Adam, most innocent and holy, against whom no Devil, neither any helly power may prevail, by whom we are not only reconciled unto God, and do obtain pardon for this offence, but we are borne a new, and as it were again created into greater glory by far, than we were at the first:
This Reprobation then is the declaration of God his seuere iustice and iust iudgement, against the Serpent and his séede, whome, by the worde of his eternall wisedome hée hath accursed from the begynning, and appoynted to euerlasting torment. The which worke necessarie for the procéeding of God his holy prouidēce, Eternall and neuer ceasing regyment, and gouernaunce, because it is the worke of the wyll of the myghtie God, which is the verie lawe, equity, and iustice it selfe, frée from all affections, farre from all faulte, cryme or sinne: It ought to bee knowne vnto vs all, that all fleshe maye tremble, and consider before whome it standeth, euen before that great Lord and mighty God, who hath power both ouer the bodie and Soule to cast into hell fyre. To whome no man may saye: what doest thou? Being lyke the claye in the Potters hande, or the staffe or axe in the hande