A68595:216
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.
28. How the holy Ghost is served with the exterior preaching of the Gospel, to create faith in the hearts of the elect▪ and to harden the reprobate.
28. Hovv the holy Ghost is serued vvith the exteriour preachyng of the Gospel, to create faith in the hartes of the elect▪ and to harden the reprobate.
Fourthly we say, that as this exterior preaching of the Gospel is a savour or odour of death to the Rebels, which harden them selves, like wise is it the savour or odour of life to the children of God, anot that this force and virtue to save is in the noise or ⟨p. 55⟩sound of the word, or that it cometh from the power of him which Preacheth, bbut because the holy Ghost of whose office we speak, is served with this external Preaching, as with a trunk or conduit, which entereth and pierceth unto the very depth of the spirit, as saith the Apostle, cfor to make by his only grace and goodness the understanding of the Children of God capable and meet to conceive and understand this high mystery of their Salvation by Jesus Christ dMoreover to reform and renew their judgements, whereby they may approve that to be the sapience and wisdom of GOD, which our sense and reason esteemeth to be folly