A68595:183
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
20. Remedies against the last and most dangerous temptation, which is▪ whether we be saved or not.
20. Remedies against the last and most daungerous temptation, vvhiche is▪ vvhether vve be saued or not.
Here resteth yet the last and most dangerous temptations of all. Sometime it happeneth that Jesus Christ deferreth to call some of his elected until y• last hour of their alife, so ye it seemeth y• they be not very well furnished with these virtues whereof we have spoken, neither did ever feel them, for2 that the cause was not as yet working in them, and the cause must go before the effect. And also sometimes the perfectest and most holyest persons fall into this extremity, sorrowing and lamenting for that they feel not these good motions, but seemeth that it is utterly quenched in them: and then Satan bringeth in these doubts, that where as before they thought they had faith but was not but a shadow or vain appearance of faith, ⟨p. 38⟩Or else that whereas they believed before, now by their own fault the gift is taken from them. Now we must take heed to resist this temptation as most dangerous of all.
HEre resteth yet the last and moste daungerous temptations of all. Sometime it hapneth that Iesus Christ deferreth to call some of his elected vntyl y• last howre of their alife, so ye it séemeth y• they be not very well furnished with these vertues wherof we haue spoken, neither did euer féele them, for