These foundations being laid, I affirm that whosoever hath a certain testimony of his faith once in all his life, may be assured that it is there still, ⟨p. 41⟩and shall be until the end, although for a time they feel it not, nor perceive it. For doeth it follow that a little child hath no reasonable soul in him, because he hath not the use of it? Or that a drunken man hath not a reasonable soul, because that for a time he hath lost the use & feeling thereof? Peter denied his master with an oath. Was his faith therefore void and naught? or did the Lord give him a new faith? No, but on the contrary, according to the prayer that Christ made for him, his faith never failed him altogether. And as the vital and lively spirit and strength is not clean out of him that for a time seemeth to be rather dead then alive, not only by the judgement of Physicians, but also by his own feeling. Wherefore let us keep steadfast this precious testimony of our faith, and keep these infallible arguments against Satan in this hard battle, assuring our selves, that if ever faith were in us, it is there still and shall be. Wherefore, we ⟨image 64⟩conclude, that we be the children and elected of God, & we shall never perish, but he heard and received of him to our amendment: thus calling upon him1 which never changeth nor altereth his purpose, neither will condemn him to day, that he was determined to save yesterday. Let us know then that our salvation dependeth upon the eternal providence and will of him that hath given us to his son, who said plainly that he would not lose one of those2 which his Father had given him, nor they should never be rejected. For it is most necessary that our salvation should remain in surer hands then our own. But there may be alleged certain reasons contrary to this doctrine, but they be easily refuted, as is amply declared from point to point, in sundry books set forth in our time of this matter.
These foundations beyng layde, I affirme that whosoeuer hath a certayne testimonie of his faith once in all hys life, may be assured that it is there styll, ⟨p. 41⟩and shalbe vntyll the ende, although for a time they feele it not, nor perceyue it. For doeth it followe that a little chylde hath no reasonable soule in him, bicause he hath not the vse of it? Or that a dronken man hath not a reasonable soule, because that for a time he hath lost ye vse & féeling thereof? Peter denyed his maister with an oth. Was his faith therfore voyde and naught? or did the Lord geue him a newe fayth? No, but on the contrarye, accordyng to the prayer that Christe made for hym, hys fayth neuer fayled him altogether. And as the vytal and liuely spirite and strength is not cleane out of him that for a time séemeth to bée rather dead then aliue, not onely by the iudgement of Phisitions, but also by his owne féeling. Wherefore let vs kéepe stedfast this precyous testimonie of our faith, and kéepe these infallible argumentes agaynst Sathan in this harde battayle, assuring our selues, that if euer faith were in vs, it is there styll and shall be. Wherefore, wée ⟨image 64⟩conclude, that we be the children and elected of God, & wée shall neuer perishe, but he heard and receyued of him to our amendement: thus calling vppon him1 which neuer chaungeth nor altereth his purpose, neyther wyll condempne him to daye, that he was determined to saue yesterdaye. Let vs knowe then that our saluation dependeth vppon the eternall prouidence and wyll of him that hath giuen vs to his sonne, who sayde piainlie that he woulde not lose one of those2 which his Father had giuen him, nor they shoulde neuer be reiected. For it is most necessary that our saluation should remaine in surer handes then our own. But there maye bée alleaged certaine reasons contrarie to this doctrine, but they be easily refuted, as is amply declared from point to point, in sūdrie bookes set foorth in our time of this matter.
- 1Note.
- 2John. 6.Iohn. 6.
