For first, when it pleaseth him to disclose that secret which he had purposed from before all beginning 14, at such time as men least look 1for it 15 (as men are blinded and yet think they see most clear 16, when as in very deed death & damnation hangeth over their head 17) he ⟨p. 27⟩cometh suddenly, & setteth before their eyes the great danger wherein they are; and that they might be touched more sharply and lively, he addeth to the witness of their own conscience, being as it were asleep, and dead, the preaching of his law 18, and 2the examples of his judgments, to strike them with the horror of their sins: not that they should remain in that fear, but rather, that be holding the great danger thereof, should fly to that only Mediator Jesus Christ 19: in whom after the sharp preaching of the law, he setteth forth the sweet grace of the Gospel, but yet with this condition, 3that they believe in him 20, who only can deliver them from condemnation 21, ⟨p. 28⟩and give them right and title to the heavenly inheritance 22: Yet all these things were but vain if he should only set before mens eyes these secrets, by the external preaching of his word written, & published in the Church of God, which notwithstanding is the ordinary means whereby Jesus Christ is communicated unto us 23: therefore, as touching his elect 24, unto the external preaching of his word, he joineth the inward working of his holy Spirit, 4the which doth not restore (as the Papists imagine) the remnants or residue of free will (for what power soever of free will remaineth in us, 5serveth to no other use, but willingly to sin 25, to flee from God 26, to hate him ⟨p. 29⟩27, and so not to hear him 28, nor to believe in him 29, neither yet to acknowledge his gifts 30, no not so much as to think a good thought 31: and finally to be children of wrath and malediction) but contrariwise changeth their hard harts of stone, into soft harts of flesh 32, draweth them 33, teacheth them 34, lighteneth their eyes 35, and openeth their sense 36, their heart, their ears, and understanding: first to make them to know (as we have said before) their own misery: and next, to plant in them the gift of faith, whereby they may perform that condition, which is joined to the preaching of the Gospel. And that standeth in two points:
For first, when it pleaseth him to disclose that secret which he had purposed from before all beginning 14, at such time as men least looke 1for it 15 (as men are blinded and yet thinke they see most cleare 16, when as in verie deed death & dānation hangeth ouer their head 17) hee ⟨p. 27⟩commeth sodenly, & setteth before their eyes the great danger wherin they are; and that they might be touched more sharply and liuely, hee addeth to the witnes of their owne conscience, beeing as it were asleepe, and dead, the preaching of his law 18, and 2the examples of his indgements, to strike thē with the horror of their sins: not that they should remaine in that feare, but rather, that be holding the great danger thereof, should flie to that onely Mediator Iesus Christ 19: in whō after the sharpe preaching of the law, hee setteth forth the sweet grace of the Gospell, but yet with this condition, 3that they belieue in him 20, vvho onelie can deliuer them from cōdemnation 21, ⟨p. 28⟩and giue them right and title to the heauenly inheritance 22: Yet all these things were but vaine if he should onelie set before mens eyes these secrets, by the externall preaching of his word written, & published in the Church of God, which notwithstanding is the ordinarie means wherby Iesus Christ is communicated vnto vs 23: therfore, as touching his elect 24, vnto the external preaching of his word, he ioyneth the inward working of his holy Spirit, 4the which doth not restore (as the Papists imagine) the remnants or residue of free will (for what power soeuer of free will remaineth in vs, 5serueth to no other vse, but willingly to sinne 25, to flee from God 26, to hate him ⟨p. 29⟩27, and so not to heare him 28, nor to belieue in him 29, neither yet to acknowledge his gifts 30, no not so much as to thinke a good thought 31: and finally to be children of wrath and malediction) but contrariwise changeth their hard harts of stone, into soft harts of flesh 32, draweth them 33, teacheth them 34, lighteneth their eyes 35, and openeth their sense 36, their heart, their eares, and vnderstanding: first to make them to knowe (as wee haue said before) their owne miserie: and next, to plant in them the gift of faith, whereby they may performe that condition, which is ioyned to the preaching of the Gospell. And that standeth in two points:
- 1External vocation.Externall vocation.
- 2The Law.
- 3The Gospel.
- 4The inward calling.
- 5What free will is, after the fall of Adam.
