A brief declaration of the chief points of Christian religion set forth in a…A briefe declaration of the chiefe points of Christian religion set forth in a…

The Scripture then witnesseth 7, that all those that God hath, according to his counsel, predestinate, to be adopted his children through Jesus Christ, are also called in their time appointed, yea & so effectually, that they hear the voice of him that calleth, and believe it 8: so that being justified and sanctified in Jesus Christ, they are also glorified. Wilt thou then, ¹whatsoever thou art, be assured of predestination, and so in order of thy salvation, which thou lookest for, against all the assaults of Satan? assured I say, not by doubtful conjectures, or our own fantasy, but by arguments, and conclusions, no less true and certain 9. then ⟨p. 63⟩if thou were ascended, into […] and had heard of Gods own mouth his eternal decree and purpose? Beware thou begin not at that most high degree: for so thou shouldest not be able to sustain the most shining light of Gods majesty. Begin therefore beneath at the lowest order, and when thou shalt hear the voice of God 10, sound in thine ears, and in thy hart, which calleth thee to Christ the only Mediator, consider by little and little, & try diligently 11; if thou be justified & sanctified in Christ through faith: for these two be the effects or fruits, whereby the faith is known, which is their cause. As for this thou shalt partly ²know by the spirit of adoption, ⟨p. 64⟩which crieth within thee Abba Father 12: and partly by the virtue and effect of the same spirit, which is wrought in thee. As if thou fall, and so declare indeed, that although sin dwell in thee, yet it doth no more reign in thee 13. For is not the holy Ghost he, that causeth us not to let slip the bridle, and give liberty willingly to our naughty and vile concupiscences 14, as they are accustomed, whose eyes the prince of this world blindeth 15? or else who moveth us to pray, when we are ³cold, and slothful? who stirreth up in us those unspeakable groanings 16? Who is he that when we have sinned (yea and sometimes willingly and wittingly) engendereth ⟨p. 65⟩