A16580:330
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable…Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable…
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable meditations, prayers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternal election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God John Bradford in the time of his imprisonment. The contents whereof appear in the page next following.Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable meditations, praiers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternall election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God Iohn Bradford in the tyme of his imprisonment. The contentes wherof appeare in the page nexte folovvyng.
London : Now first printed by Rouland Hall, dwelling in gutter lane at the sign of the half Eagle and key, the .12. of October 1562London : Nowe fyrst prynted by Rouland Hall, dwellyng in gutter lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and key, the .12. of October 1562
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.
Eighthly and last of all, that election is so certain, that the elect and 1predestinate to eternal life shall never finally perish or err to damnation, the apostle doth here also very plainly show in saying: that they are predestinate to the praise of God's grace: he saith not to the praise of has Justice, to the praise of his wisdom, to the praise of his power (although he might most truly ⟨image 114⟩say so) but he saith to the praise of his grace: which were not grace if there were any respect at all of works on our behalf, for then were 2grace not grace. If there should be any condemnation of the elect and predestinate to eternal life, it must needs be because of their sins: but where were the praise of gods grace then, which is the end of gods election? Shall we not by this means make gods election without an end, and so without a head, and so no election at all, as some would have, further then they elect themselves? Let such fear they shall not find the benefit of gods election, because they seek it as the Israelites did and not as the elect, which not only find it but also obtain it. The other are blinded, as it is written: god hath 3given them the spirit of unquietness, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, even to this day &c. Again, he showeth the certainty of salvation to them that be elected, in saying that they be accepted in the beloved. ⟨image 115⟩once accepted and beloved, in Christ and ever beloved: for whom he loveth, he loveth to the end. And gods 4gifts are such that he cannot repent him of them. And therefore saith christ I know whom I have chosen, attributing to election the cause of final perseverance. By which thing Judas was seen not to be elected to eternal life, although he was elected to the office of an Apostle, as Saul was elected to the office of a king. Which kind of election is to be discerned in reading the scriptures, from this kind of election the which I speaks of now, that is, from election to eternal life in christ. Thirdly he showeth y certainty of salvation of y elect, by calling them heirs. For if we be heirs of god, then are we fellow hey res with Christ, to be afflicted and