Too be short we have to mark here, that we shall never know […] our salvation cometh, till we have lifted up our minds too […] Gods everlasting purpose, whereby he hath chosen whom he thought […]; and left the residue in their own confusion and fall. Now then […] is no marvel though some men think this doctrine too be strange ⟨image 26⟩and hard: for it agreeth no whit at all too mans natural wit. If a man ask of the Philosophers: They will always tell him that God loveth such as are worthy of it, and that forasmuch as virtue pleaseth him, he doth also mark out such as are given thereto, too hold them for his people. Ye see then, that after our own imagination, we will deem that God putteth none other difference between man and man, in loving some, and in hating other some, than each mans own worthiness and deserving. But by the way, let us remember also, that in our own understanding there is nothing but vanity, and that we must not measure God by our meteyard, and that it is too excessive an overweening too bind God too the stake, so as he should not do any thing but that which we could conceive, and which might seem rightful in our eyes. The matter therefore concerneth here the reverencing of Gods secrets which are incomprehensible too us, & without we do so, we shall never taste the principles of faith. For we know that our wisdom ought always too begin at humility: and this humility is as much too say, as that we must not fall too weighing of Gods judgments in our own balance, nor take upon us to be judges and determiners of them, but that we must be sober, because of the weakness of our wit, and that forasmuch as we be gross and dull, we must magnify God,1 and say as we be taught by the holy scripture, Lord thy determinations are as a great deep, and no man is able too reckon them up unto thee. Ye see then, that the cause why some men find this doctrine hard and irksome, is for that they be too much wedded too their own opinion, and cannot submit themselves to Gods wisdom, to receive his sayings soberly & modestly. And truly we ought too take warning by that which S. Paul sayeth:2 namely that man of his own mother wit understandeth not Gods secretes, but taketh them too be stark foolishness. And why?
Too bee short wee haue to marke heere, that wee shall neuer know 〈…〉 our saluation commeth, till we haue lifted vp our myndes too 〈…〉 Gods euerlasting purpose, wherby he hath chozen whom he thought 〈…〉; and left the residew in their owne confuzion and fall. Now then 〈…〉 is no maruell though some men thinke this doctrine too be straunge ⟨image 26⟩and hard: for it agreeth no whit at all too mans naturall wit. If a man aske of the Philosophers: They wil alwayes tell him that God loueth such as are worthy of it, and that forasmuch as vertue pleaseth him, he dooth also marke out such as are giuen theretoo, too hold them for his people. Yee see then, that after our owne imagination, wee will deeme that God putteth none other difference between man and man, in louing some, and in hating other some, than eche mans owne worthinesse and deseruing. But by the waye, let vs remember also, that in our owne vnderstanding there is nothing but vanitie, and that wee must not measure God by our meetyard, and that it is too excessyue an ouerweening too bynd God too the stake, so as he should not do any thing but that which wee could conceyue, and which myght seeme ryghtfull in our eyes. The matter therfore concerneth heere the reuerencing of Gods secrets which are incomprehensible too vs, & without wee doo so, wee shall neuer taste the principles of fayth. For wee knowe that our wisdome ought alwayes too begin at humilitie: and this humilitie is as much too say, as that we must not fall too weying of Gods iudgments in our owne balance, nor take vpō vs to be iudges and determiners of them, but that wee must bee sober, bycause of the weaknesse of our wit, and that forasmuch as wee bee grosse and dull, wee must magnifie God,1 and say as wee bee taught by the holy scripture, Lord thy determinations are as a great deepe, and no man is able too recken them vp vntoo thee. Yee see then, that the cause why some men fynd this doctrine hard and irksome, is for that they bee too much wedded too their owne opinion, and cannot submit themselues to Gods wisdome, to receiue his sayings soberly & modestly. And truly we ought too take warning by that which S. Paule sayeth:2 namely that man of his owne mother wit vnderstādeth not Gods secretes, but taketh them too bee starke foolishnesse. And why?
- 1Psal. 36. b. 6.
- 21. Cor. 2. d. 15.
