A10213:962
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.
First, by the authority of Scriptures. Secondly, by the testimony of their own consciences which be the reprobate. Thirdly, by the nature of sin. Fourthly, by the majesty of God, which is bound to none of his creatures, to make him this or that vessel. For the first, Saint James sayeth: Let no man say when he is tempted, that he is tempted of God, for God, as he can not be tempted with evil, so neither doeth he tempt any man. But every man is tempted, ⟨image 122⟩drawn away, and enticed of his own lust and concupiscence. Then the lust when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin. James. •. And even thus it appeared in the first fall of mankind. First, though the Lord our God had warned and commanded the contrary, our old enemy stirreth the concupiscence and lust of the Woman, with the goodness, pleasantness and beauty of the Apple, then her lust conceiving this, bringeth forth sin, enticing also her husband, to the breaking of God his commandments. Genes. 3. But contrariwise, sayeth James in the same place. Jam. 1. least you should err and conceive any evil opinion of God, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of light, with whom is no variableness, neither change into darkness, that he should give now good things, now evil, now light, now darkness. No, saith the Apostle Paul, let God be true, and all men liars. Can God be unjust? Howe shall he then judge the world? Rom. 3. Again, God ⟨image 123⟩sayeth by his Prophet Ezekiel: I will not the death of a sinner, but I will rather that the sinner convert, repent and live. And unto wicked Jerusalem saith our saviour Christ: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which slayest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee: Howe oft would I have gathered together thy children, as the Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not. Lo, thy house therefore is left desolate. Mat. 23. Lo, here appeareth the goodness of the living Lord, so diligently calling the wicked to him by his word, by his Prophets, by his messengers, and at the length by his own son, that he can not in any case be accounted the Author of their evil, nor cause of their fall. But contrary wise, their own wilful and wicked stubbornness is the cause of their evil, and the only occasion of their fall, as it is written: