Now I desire you to mark diligently, by what means & fashion the holy ghost doth work this sanctification or hallowing in us. After that our Lord Jesus Christ by his death passion and resurrection had redeemed us, and obtained for us, that our since should ⟨p. cxxxv⟩be forgiven, and we be made the children of God, shortly after in the feest of Pentecost, he sent down up on his Apostles the holy ghost in the likeness of fiery tongues. The which holy ghost gave them wisdom conning audacity and constancy, to teach boldly this holy gospel of Christ, that is to say, this christen faith whereof we do speak. And where they could not be present themself, or long abide & continue in their own persons, thither they sent their disciples & other godly & learned men, & to them they gave the holy ghost, by laying their hands upon their heads. And this rite or ceremony, to ordain preachers & ministers of gods word, hath continued in the church even from the Apostles time unto this day, and shall endure unto the worlds end. For saint Paul ⟨image 158⟩sayeth. How shall men believe without a preacher? And how shall men preach, except they be sent? And here you may learn, that this holy gospel which we preach, and the doctrine of the grace of Christ, taught in the hole church, cometh not of the will of man, but by the commandment of God, & by the motion of the holy ghost which doth stir up mens minds, to publish gods most holy word, and doth work by his secret inspiration in the preachers and ministers of the same. For they were not able so much as to open their mouths, to teach so high mysteries and heavenly wisdom, if the holy ghost did not move them thereto, and work in them. Neither would the hearers so greatly esteem the preachers word, and give so good ear unto it, except the holy ghost did persuade ⟨p. cxxxvi⟩them, that the doctrine of the gospel, were of God and cam from heaven. Now the holy ghost worketh by this word on this fashion. First he that believeth the gospel, and receiveth the doctrine of Christ, is made the son of God, as saint John witnesseth in his gospel,1 saying. As many as receive him, he hath given them power to be made the children of God. For when we believe in Christ, and are baptised, then we be borne again, and are made the children of God.
Now I desier you to marke dyligently, by what meanes & fashion the holy gost dothe worke thys sanctification or halowyng in vs. After yt our Lorde Iesus Christ by his death passion and resurrection had redemed vs, and obteyned for vs, that our synnes should ⟨p. cxxxv⟩be forgyuen, and we be made the childrē of God, shortly after in the feest of Pētecoste, he sent down vp on his Apostles the holy goost in the lykenes of fyery tongues. The whiche holy goost gaue them wysdome connynge audacitie and constācie, to teach boldly this holy gospell of Christe, that is to saye, this christen faith whereof we do speake. And where they could not be presēt thēselfe, or long abide & continew in their awne persons, thither they sent their disciples & other godly & learned mē, & to thē they gaue the holy gost, by layng their hādes vpō their heades. And this rite or ceremonie, to ordē preachers & mynisters of gods worde, hath cōtinued in the churche euen from the Apostles tyme vnto this day, and shall endure vnto the worldes ende. For saincte Paule ⟨image 158⟩saieth. How shal men beleue without a preacher? And how shal men preache, excepte they be sente? And here you may learne, that this holy gospel whiche we preache, and the doctrine of ye grace of Christe, taught in the hole churche, cōmeth not of the wil of mā, but by the cō maūdemēt of God, & by ye motion of the holy gost which doth sturre vp mēs myndes, to publishe gods most holy worde, and doth worke by his secret inspiration in the prechers and ministers of the same. For they wer not able so muche as to open their moughtes, to teache so highe mysteries and heauenlye wysedome, yf the holy gost did not moue theim therto, and worke in theim. Neyther wolde the hearers so greatlye esteme the preachers worde, and giue so good eare vnto it, excepte the holy goost dyd parsuade ⟨p. cxxxvi⟩theym, that ye doctrine of the gospell, wer of God and cam from heauen. Now the holy goost worketh by this worde on this fashiō. First he that beleueth ye gospel, and receaueth the doctrine of Christ, is made the sonne of God, as sayncte Iohn witnesseth in his gospel,1 saiyng. As manye as receiue him, he hath gyuē them power to be made the children of God. For when we beleue in Christ, and are baptised, then we be borne agayne, and are made the children of God.
- 1John. iiIohn. ii
