For although that the knowledge 1of Jesus Christ be unto all men necessary to salvation, it followeth not therefore, that none can be saved, if it be not full and perfect in him. For who ever had in this world so full knowledge of him, and a faith so perfect, that he had nothing to say? There was never such a one found in this world. It sufficeth then that that knowledge & faith, hath taken root in us, & that we do travail as much as we can possible to augment and increase it. And afterwards when we shall do our endeavour, as much as we can, the Lord which hath begun his work in us will bring it to pass, and will supply and recompense through his grace the default of the faith and knowledge which we have received of him (even as he doth of our works, which are all imperfect, because of the imperfection of our faith) so that there be not despising, and to great negligence in us, which cannot be but to the reprobate. Even then as GOD, by his great mercy supporteth the imperfection of our faith, and ceaseth nor leaveth off to receive us for his children, so that the seed and the root of the same be quickened in us, so I cannot uphold and maintain by any witness of the holy Scripture, that any should have just occasion to hope for salvation after this life, which from ⟨p. 299⟩the same shall be departed without any knowledge of God & of Jesus Christ his Son. Wherefore I do hold me to that which the Scripture hath revealed unto me, & do leave the rest with the secrete judgements of God, which are hid from us and covered. But yet nevertheless I think that it is always most sure, to travail very much after the knowledge of the truth, whilst that we be in this world, that we may have so much as is needful for our salvation: and that our despising be not any cause unto us of damnation. And if we do our endeavour, we are very sure that the Lord will not fail us, and that he will not hide himself or withdraw himself from us, if we do seek him and desire to approach and come unto him. For it is impossible, that he will hide himself from those whom he hath chosen, & whom he hath purposed to glorify, and to make them blessed by his knowledge.
For although that the knowledge 1of Iesus Christ be vnto all men necessary to saluation, it followeth not therefore, that none can be saued, if it be not full and perfect in him. For who euer had in this world so full knowledge of him, and a faith so perfect, that he had nothing to say? There was neuer such a one found in this world. It sufficeth then that that knowledge & faith, hath taken roote in vs, & that we do trauaile as much as we can possible to augment and increase it. And afterwards when we shall doe our endeuour, as much as we can, the Lord which hath begun his worke in vs will bring it to passe, and will supply and recompense thorow his grace the default of the faith and knowledge which we haue receiued of him (euen as he doth of our workes, which are all imperfect, bicause of the imperfection of our faith) so that ther be not dispising, and to great negligence in vs, which cannot be but to the reprobate. Euen then as GOD, by his great mercye supporteth the imperfection of our fayth, and ceaseth nor leaueth off to receiue vs for his children, so that the seede and the roote of the same be quickened in vs, so I cannot vpholde and mainteine by anye witnesse of the holy Scripture, that any should haue iust occasion to hope for saluation after this lyfe, which from ⟨p. 299⟩the same shall bée departed without any knowledge of God & of Iesus Christ his sonne. Wherefore I doe holde me to that which the Scripture hath reuealed vnto me, & do leaue the rest with the secrete iudgements of God, which are hid from vs and couered. But yet neuerthelesse I think that it is alwayes most sure, to trauaile very much after the knowledge of the truth, whilest that wée be in this worlde, that wee may haue so much as is néedfull for our saluation: and that our despising be not any cause vnto vs of dampnation. And if wée doe our endeuour, wee are very sure that the Lorde will not faile vs, and that he will not hide himselfe or withdrawe himselfe from vs, if wée doe seeke him and desire to approch and come vnto him. For it is impossible, that hee wil hide himselfe from those whom he hath chosen, & whō he hath purposed to glorifie, and to make them blessed by his knowledge.
- 1What knowledge of God is necessary to salvation.VVhat knovvledge of God is necessary to saluation.
