Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And let us mark further, that there is not any §60thing which ought to move us more to the serving of God, than to come to the knowledge of our free election, so as we know that his beginning to do us good is not now presently, but before we were borne, before the creating of the world, insomuch that he took us to him and adopted us aforehand even before that time. So much the more ought we to abhor these rascals which would have the doctrine of Election abolished: for by that mean they overthrow the whole groundwork of our salvation, as though they should stop the spring from whence the water floweth, so as we may no more drink thereof. For how shall we know that God hath called us to salvation, but for that he hath loved us without any desert of ours, and taken us aforehand to himself, even before the world was created? Also how shall we know our selves to be beholden to him for all things, and that he is not bound unto us; unless we come to this point, that we were like to those which perish, so as there was no difference at all between them and us, saving that he hath marked us out to be his, without finding any cause in us why, that we were dearer to him than other men, and that he made more account of our welfare, all which things are grounded upon his everlasting unchangeable purpose and will, the reason whereof is uncomprehensible to the world? They therefore which go about to abolish this doctrine, are deadly enemies to God his glory, and to our salvation, and would (as much as in them lieth) deface all religion. That (say I) is the thing which we have to remember upon this Text.

And let vs mark further, that there is not any §60thing which ought to moue vs more to the seruing of God, than to come to the knowledge of our free election, so as we know that his beginning to doe vs good is not now presently, but before we were borne, before the creating of the world, insomuch that he tooke vs to him and adopted vs aforehand euen before that time. So much the more ought we to abhorre these rascals which would haue the doctrine of Election abolished: for by that meane they ouerthrowe ye whole groundwork of our saluation, as though they should stop the spring from whēce the water floweth, so as we may no more drink thereof. For how shall we know that God hath called vs to saluation, but for that he hath loued vs without any desert of ours, and taken vs aforehand to himself, euen before ye world was created? Also how shall we know our selues to be beholden to him for all thinges, and that he is not bound vnto vs; vnlesse we come to this poynt, that we were lyke to those which pearish, so as there was no difference at all betweene them and vs, sauing yt hee hath marked vs out to be his, without finding any cause in vs why, that we were dearer to him than other men, and that he made more account of our welfare, all which thinges are grounded vppon his euerlasting vnchaungeable purpose and will, the reason whereof is vncomprehensible to the worlde? They therefore which go about to abolish this doctrine, are deadly enemies to God his glory, and to our saluatiō, and would (as much as in them lyeth) deface al religion. That (say I) is the thing which we haue to remember vpon this Text.