Ye perceive then that we have so much the more cause too humble us, seeing we were in the way of perdition, till he had drawn us out of it. And it standeth us in hand too mark that well: For there are some fantastical heads, which imagine that God doth so guide his chosen ones by his holy spirit, that they be sanctified aforehand, even from the time that they be borne into the world, as soon as they come out of their mothers womb: but the contrary appeareth. And in good sooth we see how S. Paul in another text speaking too the faithful,1 sayeth, some of you were plunged in covetousness, some were given too cruelty, some were scorners, some were whoremongers and lo livers, and othersome were gluttons and drunkards: and too be short, ye were full of all uncleanness: but God having changed you, and made you clean from such filthiness and infection, hath dedicated you too himself. Again he sayeth too the Romans, you •ught too be ashamed of the life which you led before he drew you too himself. So then, whereas it is said in this text, that God chose his servants to make them walk in holiness of life: it is not meant that he is bound too govern them with his holy spirit even from their childhood forth. For (as I have said already) experience showeth that he letteth them run astray, till convenient time be come for too call them. But yet must we always bear in mind, that Gods choosing of us, was too the end too call us too holiness of life. For if he should let us alone still as wretched castaways: surely we could do nothing but all manner of naughtiness, according too the corruption that is in us. The good then proceedeth of his free bestowed mercy, which he hath used already towards us before we were borne, yea ⟨p. 16⟩[…] the world was made. Thus ye see in effect what we have […] this strain. And so the blasphemies of such as would […] praise are repressed, which make a jar, and as it were […] Gods free election, and endeavour of doing well. […], Hath God chosen us? Then let every of us do what […] we cannot perish. And what should we pass of […] good or evil, seeing that our salvation is grounded upon […] grace, and not upon any virtue. The answer […] easy: namely that if Gods election were not, look […] thoughts and appetites there are in us, so many […] should there be against all righteousness:
Yee perceyue then that wee haue so much the more cause too humble vs, seyng wee were in the way of perdition, till he had drawen vs out of it. And it standeth vs in hand too mark that well: For there are some fantasticall heades, which imagin that God dooth so guyde his chozen ones by his holy spirit, that they bee sanctifyed aforehand, euē from the tyme that they bee borne intoo the worlde, as soone as they come out of their moothers womb: but the contrarie appeereth. And in good sooth wee see how S. Paule in another text speaking too the faythfull,1 sayeth, some of you were plundged in couetousnesse, some were giuen too crueltie, some were scorners, some were whoremongers and looee lyuers, and othersome were gluttons and drunkardes: and too bee short, yee were full of all vnclenesse: but God hauyng chaunged you, and made you cleane from such filthinesse and infection, hath dedicated you too himselfe. Agein he sayeth too the Romanes, you •ught too bee ashamed of the lyfe which you led before he drewe you too himselfe. So then, whereas it is sayd in this text, that God choze his seruantes to make them walke in holinesse of life: it is not ment that he is bound too gouerne them with his holy spirit euē from their chyldhood forth. For (as I haue sayd alredy) experience sheweth that he letteth them runne astray, till conuenient tyme bee come for too call them. But yit must wee alwayes beare in mynd, that Gods choozing of vs, was too the end too call vs too holinesse of lyfe. For if he should let vs alone still as wretched castawayes: surely wee could doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse, according too the corruption that is in vs. The good then proceedeth of his free bestowed mercy, which he hath vsed alredy towardes vs before wee were borne, yea ⟨p. 16⟩〈…〉 the world was made. Thus yee see in effect what wee haue 〈…〉 this streyne. And so the blasphemies of such as would 〈…〉 praise are repressed, which make a iarre, and as it were 〈…〉 Gods free election, and indeuer of dooyng well. 〈…〉, Hath God chozen vs? Then let euery of vs doo what 〈…〉 wee cannot petishe. And what shoulde wee passe of 〈…〉 good or euill, seying that our saluation is grounded vppon 〈…〉 grace, and not vppon any vertew. The answere 〈…〉 easie: namely that if Gods election were not, looke 〈…〉 thoughtes and appetites there are in vs, so many 〈…〉 should there bee ageinst all ryg••uousnesse:
- 1Rom. 1. d. 29.
