A10213:977
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.
So that this appeareth to be no new learning or vain doctrine of Gods providence and Election. But the only ground of faith and certainty of conscience in all conflicts against the world, the flesh and the devil, against Sin, Death, and Hell, as the Apostle useth it in the latter end of the same chapter, and all the Fathers from the beginning hath felt it. For how could Adam by any other work or creature, either by comfort of any other doctrine, stay his conscience? But in that the Lord God promised to provide for him, and to save him from his enemy (who once had overcome him) by the blessed seed, which not by merits, but by mercy and grace, and therefore of his free purpose before appointed, should be sent unto him, to break the head of the Serpent: Why? Should Abraham have ⟨image 133⟩left his country and his own Father• house, if he had not felt this divine providence: fatherly care, free choice, and Election of him and his s•de? By the which lively feeling of God his careful providence, and free choice, sending him seed when he was past hope of seed (concerning his dead body all the works of nature) and by the steadfastness of faith in the temptations about the same •eede, to be made a slain sacrifice, other grievous temptations and adversities from time to time laid upon him, this chosen vessel Abraham is called the father of all faithful. As by his history appeareth a fatherly care of our God, for all his people, both for bodies & souls for wife and child, and all together. And Isaac his son, that chosen seed, in whom all the Nations of the earth were promised to be blessed long before the child was borne, hath this promise of inheritance given him by favour, that the promise might be sure to all the seed as Paul saith Rom. 14. unto whom and his faithful seed, this free promise & fatherly Election and Predestination (or what else ⟨image 134⟩you will call it) was again revealed and opened Genes 26. In these words: through thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And the lively sense and feeling of this Election and fatherly care of God for him, did then especially shine in his hart, when the Lord said unto him: Go not into Egypt, arie here, I will be with hee, and will bless thee, & through thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Ge. 26.