A16580:347
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.
A BRIEF SUM OF THE doctrine of election and predestination.
A BREIFE SVMME OF THE doctrine of electon and predestination.
Gods fore sight is not y• cause of sin or excusable necessity, to him that sinneth. The damned therefore have not nor shall have any excuse because god foreseeing their condemnation through their own sin, did not draw them as he doth his elect, unto Christ. But as the elect have cause to thank god for ever for his great mercies in Christ: so the other have cause to lament their own wilfulness, sin and contemning of christ, which is the cause of their reprobation, & wherein we should look upon reprobation: as the only goodness of god in Christ is the cause of our election and salvation, wherein we should look upon gods election. He that will look upon god or any thing in god▪ simply and barely as it is in god, the same shall be stark blind. Who can see God's goodness as it is in god? Who can see his Justice as it ⟨image 127⟩is in him? If therefore thou wilt look upon his goodness, not only look upon his works, but also upon his word: even so if thou wilt look upon his justice do the like. Then shalt y• see that election is not to be looked on but in christ, nor reprobation but in sin. When the second cause is sufficient, should not we think that they are to curious y• will run to search the first cause, further then god doth give them leave by his word? The which first cause, because they cannot comprehend, therefore do they deny it. God be merciful unto us for his names sake, & give us to love & live his truth, to seek peace & pursue it. Because god of his goodness, for the comfort of his children, and certainty of their salvation, doth open unto them some thing the first cause of their salvation, that is, his goodness before the beginning of the world, to be looked upon in Christ, a man may not therefore be so bold as to wade so