Who is he, I say, that testifieth unto us that our sighings are heard, and also moveth us to call daily God, our God, and our father, even at that time when we have trespassed against him 18? Is it not that spirit, which is freely given unto us as a gift, for a sure and certain pledge of our adoption 19? Wherefore, 1if we can gather by these effects, that we have faith, it followeth that we are called and drawn effectually. And again, by this vocation, which we have declared properly ⟨p. 66⟩to belong to the children of God, that is evidently proved, which we took in hand to show, that is, forasmuch as we were predestinate by the eternal counsel and decree of God (the which he had determined in himself) to be adopted in his Son, therefore we were given to him: whereof the conclusion followeth, that sith by the most constant will of God 20, which only is grounded on it self, and dependeth on none other thing, we are 2predestinate, & no man can take us out of the hands of the Son: also seeing that to continue and persevere in the faith is necessary, it followeth I say, that the hope of our perseverance is certain, and so consequently our salvation: ⟨p. 67⟩so that to doubt any more of it, is evil and wicked 21. So far then it is against reason to say that this doctrine maketh men negligent or dissolute, that contrariwise, this alone doth open us the way, to search out and understand, by the power of the holy ghost▪ Gods deep secrets, as the Apostle plainly teacheth 22, to the end that when we know them (albeit we know them here in this world but after a sort 23, so that we must daily fight with the spiritual armour against distrust 24,) we may learn to behave our selves not idly, but rather to persevere valiantly 25, to serve and honour God, to love him, to fear him, to call upon him, that daily more and more ⟨p. 68⟩as saith S. Peter, as much as in us lieth, we may make our vocation and election certain 26.
Who is hee, I say, that testifieth vnto vs that our sighings are heard, and also moueth vs to call daily God, our God, and our father, euen at that time when we haue trespassed against him 18? Is it not that spirit, which is freely giuen vnto vs as a gift, for a sure and certaine pledge of our adoption 19? Wherfore, 1if wee can gather by these effects, that wee haue faith, it followeth that wee are called and drawen effectually. And againe, by this vocation, which we haue declared properly ⟨p. 66⟩to belong to the children of God, that is euidently proued, which we tooke in hand to shewe, that is, for asmuch as we were predestinat by the eternall counsell and decree of God (the which he had determined in himselfe) to be adopted in his Sonne, therefore wee were giuen to him: whereof the conclusion followeth, that sith by the most constant will of God 20, which onely is grounded on it selfe, and dependeth on none other thing, wee are 2predestniate, & no man can take vs out of the hands of the Sonne: also seeing that to continue and perseuere in the faith is necessary, it followeth I say, that the hope of our perseuerance is certaine, and so consequently our saluation: ⟨p. 67⟩so that to doubt any more of it, is euill and wicked 21. So farre then it is against reason to say that this doctrine maketh men negligent or dissolute, that contrariwise, this alone doth open vs the way, to search out and vnderstand, by the power of the holy ghost▪ Gods deepe secrets, as the Apostle plainly teacheth 22, to the end that when we knowe thē (albeit we know thē here in this world but after a sort 23, so that we must daily fight with the spirituall armor against distrust 24,) wee may learne to behaue our selues not idlelie, but rather to perseuere valiantly 25, to serue and honor God, to loue him, to fear him, to call vpō him, that daily more and more ⟨p. 68⟩as saith S. Peter, asmuch as in vs lieth, wee may make our vocation and election certaine 26.
- 1The assurance of the vocation is known by faith, and so by the vocation the election.The assurāce of the vocatiō is knowē by faith, and so by the vocation the election.
- 2The confidence to persevere & to be saved, is sure and certain.The confidence to perseuere & to be saued, is sure and certaine.
