The Treasure of Truth Touching Salvation and the Christian Religion, Treatise 1 · Chapter 4
The fourth Chap.
By what order of causes God hath opened the waie to declare his election, and in some part to extende or perfourme it.
The first Aphorisme.
NOwe vvhen as God had determined those former thinges vvith him self,The foundation or ground vvorke of election in verie act or deede. as vve hauehave sayd, afterwards in the next, and yet eternall or euerlasting rule of causes, as all things are present vntounto him, he seuerallie ordained all those degrees or steppes, by the vvhichwhich he vvould lyfe vp into his kingdome, those of his which vvere to be chosen. Therfore because he is in such vvyse mercifull, that in the meane vvhyle, he neither ought, nor can …orget his iustice, fyrst of all there must …eedes hauehave beene some one ordained to …e a mediatour,A … needfull. by vvhome man might …ee vvholie restored into his former e…tate, and that of free merciemercy vvhiche should appeare in the saluation of his, But man besides that he is more vveake then that hee can sustaine or beare the force of God his wrath, (1) doeth also so please himself in that his most miserable blindnesse, that he seeth it not, (2) as being vvholye brought into slauerie and bondage vntounto the kingdome of sinne, (3) insomuch that the lawe of God turneth vntounto him vntounto death: so farre of is it that he shoulde be able there to set him selfe at lybertie, or else to satis…ie or make aunswere vntounto the lawe of God, euen in the verie least point.Man is so far bound vntounto sinne that he can not anie vvay deliuer him selfe, or yet sasatisfie the lavve of God in the least point of the same.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Ioh. 9 41. If ye were blinde, ye should hauehave no sinne: but nowe ye saye, we sée: therefore your sinne remaineth.
Rom. 1. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heauen against all vngodlinesse, & vnrighteousnesse of mē, which with holde the truth vnrighteouslie.
24. Wherfore also God hath geuen them vp to their hearts lustes, vntounto vncleanes, to defile their owne bodies betweene them selues.
Rom. 7. 14. For we knowe that the lawe is spirituall: but I am carnall or fleshly, soulde vnderunder sinne.
Ephe. 2. 3. Among whom we also had our conuersation in times past, in the lustes of our flesh, doing such thinges as lyked our fleshe and thoughtes, and were by nature the sonnes of wrath, as well as others.
1. Cor. 2. 14. But the fleshly man can not conceiue the things of the spirit of God for they are foolyshnes vntounto him, neyther can he knowe them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2. Cor. 3. 7. If then the ministration of death ingrauen with letters in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israell coulde not beholde the face of Moi…es for the glory of his countenance, which glorie is done away. &c.
9. For if the ministery of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glory.
Rom 7. 10. But I dyed, and the same commaundement which was ordained vntounto lyfe, was found to turne vntounto mee, vntounto death.
The eleuenth Aphorisme.
GOd therefore the most gentle father of the elect and chosen, tempering that his iustice vvith infinite or endlesse mercy,God his iustice tempered vvith merciemercy. appointed his onelyonly sonne of the same substance vvith him, and also God euerlasting, vvho at the time appointed should be made a verie, or true man.
Proues out of the word of God.
Math. 1 20. Ioseph thou sonne of Dauid, feare not to take Marie thy wyfe. For that which is conceyued in her, is of the holye ghost.
Luke. 1. 35. The holy ghost shall come vppon thee, and the power of the highest shal ouershadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thée, shall be called the sonne of God.
Ioh. 1. 14. And the worde was made flesh, and dwelt amongeste vsus (and we saw the glorie therof) the glorie (I say) as of the onelyonly be gotten of the father.
Gal. 4. 4. But after that the full time came, God sent forth his sonne made of a woman, made subiect vntounto the lawe.
1. Ioh. 1. 1. That which was from the beginning, which we hauehave hearde, which we seene with our eyes, which we hauehave loked vponupon, and our handes hauehave handled of the words of lyfe:
2. (For the lyfe appeared, and we hauehave séene it and beare witnesse, and shewe vntounto you that eternall lyfe, which was with the father, and appeared vntounto vsus)
3. That (I saye) which we hauehave seene and heard, declare we vntounto you, &c.
Rom. 1. 3. Concerning his sonne made of the seede of Dauid according the flesh:
4. And declared mightily to bée the sonne of God touching the spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection from the dead.
2. Cor. 5. 19. To wit because God was … Christ reconcyling the worlde vntounto …im selfe.
Philip. 2. 6. Who when as he was in …e fourme of God, thought it no robbe…e to be equall with God.
7. But he made him selfe of no repu…ation, taking vponupon him the fourme of a …eruaunt, being made lyke vntounto man.
Colos. 2. 9. For in him dwelled all the …ulnesse of the godhead bodily.
The thirde Aphorisme.
FYrst that two natures beeing ioyned togeather into one Iesus Christ,The cause… vvhy Christ vvas made man. that vvhole corruption of man myght bee wholie repaired and amēded in one man.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Rom. 8. 3. For when as the weakenesse of the lawe coulde doo nothing in the fleshe, God sending his owne sonne being made lyke vntounto fleshe, subiect vntounto sinne, and that for sinne, condemned …inne in the fleshe.
The fowrth Aphorisme.
SEcondlie, vvhiche mighgt fulfyll all rigteousnesse,Iustification and Sanct…fication in Christe. and might be both able inough to sustaine or beare the iudgement of his father, and also bee an highe priest, worthy inough to pacifie his heauenlie father, dying righteous, for the vnrighteous, and by his obedience doing awaie the stubbornenesse of Adam, and cleansing all the iniquities of vsus all, beeing laide vponupon his shoulders.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Mat. 3 15. And Iesus answering, sayde vntounto him, let mée alone now: for thus it becōmeth vsus to fulfyl al righteousnesse.
Math. 5. 17. Thinke not that I came to breake the law, or the prophets, &c.
Rom. 5. 18. To wit then likewise as by one offence the faulte came on all men vntounto condemnation, &c.
1. Cor. 1. 30. But ye are of him in Christ Iesus who of God is made vntounto vsus wisdom, and righteousnes, and sanctification, and redemtion.
The fyfth Aphorisme.
FYnallie, that with one (1) oblation or o…ering of his owne selfe, he might …anctifie or make holy all them that were …o bee chosen, destroying and burying (2) sinne in them, by the communicating …r imparting of his death and buryall vvith them, and quickening them into… newe lyfe by his resurrection, or rysing… …gaine, (3) insomuch that they doo also …nde more in Christe, then they lost in Adam.VVe finde more in Christ then vve lost in Adam.
Proues out of the word… of God.
Esa. 53. 4. Surely he hath borne our grieffes, & he hath carried our sorr…ws, …et we did iudge him smitten. &c.
…5. But he was wounded for our iniqui…ies, he was broken for our sinnes.
11. He shall sée of the trauaile of his …oule, and shall bée satisfied: and by his …octryne shall my righteous seruaunt …ustifie, or make manie righteous.
Rom. 3 25. Whom God hath set forth …o be an appeasement through fayth in …is blood to declare his righteousnes, by …he forgeuenesse of the sinnes that are …assed.
Act, 20. 28. Take héede therefore vntounto your selues, and to all the flocke, in the which the holy ghost hath made you ouersaers, to féede the Churche of God, which he hath purchased with his owne blood.
Colos. 1. 20. And peace being made through his blood, by him, to reconcyle all things vntounto him self, both the things which are in earth, and the thinges in heauen.
21. And you which were in tymes past straungers and enemies, because your mindes were set in euyll workes, hath he nowe truely reconcyled.
22. In the body of his fleshe, through death, to make you holy, and vnblameable, and without faulte in his sight.
Rom. 5. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many also he made righteous.
1. Pete. 2. 24. Who bare our sinnes in his bodie on the trée, that we being dead vntounto sinne, shoulde lyue vntounto rightcousnesse: by whose stripes ye are healed.
1. Pe. 3. 18. For Christ also once suffere… …or sinnes, the righteous for the vnrigh…eous, to bring vsus vntounto God, being in …éede mortified, or become dead in the …eshe, but quickened in the spirite.
2. Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to …e sinne for vsus which knewe no sinne, …hat we shoulde be made the righteous…esse of God in him.
Rom. 6. 3. Are you ignoraunt, that as …any of vsus as are baptized into Christ …esus, are baptized into his death?
4. We are therefore buried together …ith him through baptysme into his …eath: that as Christ was raysed from …e dead into the glory of his Father: so …e also should walke in a newe lyfe.
5. For if being graffed with him we …aue growen in ye likenesse of his death, …en so shall we growe in the lykenesse …f his resurrection or rysing againe.
Colos. 3. 1. Therefore if you hauehave ryn againe with Christ, seeke the things …hich are aboue, where Christ is sitting … the right hande of God.
…. 12. Being buried together with him through baptisme, by whome also you hauehave risen againe with him through the fayth of God working effectually, which hath raysed him from the dead.
Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them wyth thy truth: thy werd is truth.
19. And for them do I sanctify my self, that they also may bee sanctified by the truth.
Heb 9. 13. For if the blood of Bulles & of G…ates, and the ashes of an Heyser sprinckling the defiled, sanctified as touching the purifiing of the flesh.
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternal spirite offered him selfe with out spotte of God, purge your conscience frō dead workes, to serue the lyuing God?
Heb. 10. 14. For with one offering hath he consecrated for euer those which are sanctified.
Rom. 5. 11. But yet that which God doth gratifye, benefyte, or pleasure vsus with all, is not so as the offence, for if through the offence of that one, many be dead, muche more the grace of God, and the gyfte by grace, which is of one man Iesus Christ, hath abounded vntounto many.
16. Neyther is the gyfte so, as that which entred in by one that sinned: for the faulte entred in of one offence vntounto condempnation: but that which God geueth, is geuen of many offences vntounto iustification.
17. For if by one offence, death raigned through one, much more shall they which receyue that abounding grace, & gyfte of righteousnesse, raigne in lyfe through one, that is Iesus Christ.
20. Moreouer, the lawe entreated that the offence shoulde bee increased: but where sinne increaseth, there grace aboundeth much more.
The syxt Aphorisme.
AND least this remeedie should bee voide and of none effect,Novv God in his euerlasting counsell hath vvrought that the benefits offred vntounto vsus in his sonne, shoulde be effectual vntounto vsus, or turne to our profite. (1) the Lord with all decreed to giuegive this his sōne vntounto them, whome, as we hauehave saide, he ordained from euerlasting vntounto saluation, and in lyke manner to giuegive them vntounto his sonne: (2) that vvhen as he shall bee in them, and they in him, they might bee made perfite into one, by those degrees or steppes which doo hereafter followe.
Proues out of the word of God.
Rom 8. 32. He verilie that spared not his owne sonne, but gaue him for vsus all vntounto death, howe shall he not with him geue vsus all thinges also?
Ioh. 3. 19. For God so loued the world, that he ga…e his only begotte… sonne that who soeuer beléeueth in him should not perish, but hauehave euerlasting lyfe.
Ioh. 17. 2. As thou hast geuen him power ouer all fleshe, that he shoulde geue euerlasting life to so many as thou hast geuen him.
9. I hauehave declared thy name vntounto the men which thou hast geuen me, which are chosen out of the world: they were thyne and thou haste geuen them vntounto mee, and they hauehave kepte thy worde.
11. And I am no more in the worlde, but these are in the worlde, and I come …nto thée. Holy Father, kéepe them …rough thy name, which thou hast ge…en mée, that they maye bée one, as we …re.
12. Whyle I was with them in the worlde, I kept them in thy name: those which thou gauest vntounto mée I hauehave kept and none of them is loste, but that childe of perdition.
Ioh. 17. 23. I in them, and thou in mée, that they may be made perfit in one, and that the …orld may know, that thou hast sent mee, and louest them, as thou louest mée.
The Seuenth Aphorisme.
FOr (1) firstThe firste declaration of …lection: at what time it pleaseth him to reueale and open that secreete ordained from euerlasting, (2) at that time, I saie, in which they thinke not of these thinges,Out vvarde calling effectuall. (3) (as men that are verie blind, and yet notwithstanding, they thinke that they do most sharplie see, (4) whervpon assured destruction hangeth ouer their heads,) (5) beholde at vnwares and sodainlie he setteth before their eyes the great daunger that they are in: and that they maie bee the more pearsed for a vvitnesse vntounto their conscience,God layeth, before vsus the haynousnes of our sinnes and the danger like to insue theron, not to driue vsus to desperation, but to make vsus runne vntounto Christ. The lavv. lying as it were buried and fornummed, (6) hee ioyneth therevnto the preaching of his law, adding examples of his iudgements, that they should be afraide & tremble at the remembrance of their sinnes: (7) yet doth he not this for this intent, that they should remaine in this feare and trembling: but rather that turning to beholde the greatnesse of the daunger, whiche compasseth them about, they shoulde flie vntounto that onelie mediatour Iesus Christ.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Gen. 3 15. Moreouer, I wyll put enmity betweene thée and the woman, and betweene thy séede and her seede. It shal breake thine head, and thou shalt bruyse his héele.
Gen. 22. 18. And in thy séede shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed: because that thou hast obeyed my voyce.
Rom. 3. 25. Whome God hath set forth … bee an appeasement through faith, in …is blood, to declare his righteousnesse, …y forgeuenesse of sinnes that are past.
Rom. 16. 25. To him nowe that is able …o establishe you according to my Gospell, and preaching of Iesus Christ, by the reuelation of the mistery, which was kepte secréete from times euerlasting.
26. But now is opened, &c.
1. Cor. 2. 7. But wée speake the wisedome of God, lying hyd in a mystere or secréete, that is to saye, that hydden wisdome which God hath forcordayned before the worldes for our glorie.
Gal. 4. 4. But after the ful tyme came, God hath sent forth his sonne made of a woman, made subiect vntounto the lawe.
Eph. 1. 9. The mysterie or secreete of his wyl being opened vntounto vsus according vntounto his free good wyl, which he had purposed in him selfe.
10. To wyt, that in the dispensation of the full tyme he might gather all things in Christ.
Col. 1. 26. To wyt, the mistery hid since the world began, and from all ages, but now is made manifest vntounto his Saints.
2. Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saued vsus, and called vsus with an holy calling, not according vntounto our workes, but according vntounto his owne purpose and grace, which was geuen vntounto vsus in Christ Iesus before the tymes of the worlde.
10. But is nowe made manifest by that glorious comming of our Sauiour Iesus Christ.
Tit. 1. 2. 3. Unto the hope of euerlasting lyfe, which God that can not lye, hath promised before the tymes of the world, but hath made it manifest in his due tyme.
1. Pet. 1. 18. As those who know that you were not redeemed with corruptible thinges, as syluer and golde, from your vaine conuersation, &c.
20. Whiche was foreordained before the foundation of the worlde were layd, but was declared in the last times for your sake.
Iosua 24. 2. And Iosua sayde vntounto all the people: Thus sayth the Lorde God …f Israel, your Fathers dwelt beyonde …he flood of olde tyme, euen Thare the Father of Abraham, and the Father of Nachor, and serued other Gods.
3. And I tooke your Father Abra…am from the place which was beyond the flood.
Ezec. 16. 8. And I passed by thée, and sawe thée, and beholde thy tyme was as the tyme of louelove, and I spread my garmentes ouer thée, I couered thy shame, &c.
Esai. 65. 1. I made my selfe manifest to them that asked not, I was founde of them that sought mée not: I sayde, Beholde mée, beholde mée, vntounto a Nation that called not vponupon my name.
Eph. 2. 3. Among whome also we all had our conuersation in tymes paste, in the lustes of our flesh, doing such things as pleased our fleshe, and our mindes, & were by nature the sonnes of wrath, as well as they.
4. But God which is rytch in merciemercy, for his great loues sake, wherewith he loued vsus.
5. Euen when we were dead by sinnes, raysed vsus vp togeather through Christ, by whose grace ye are saued.
11. Wherefore remember that ye béeing in times past Gentyles in the fleshe, whiche were called vncircum…icion of that which is called cyrcumsicion in the fleshe, and which is made with handes;
12. That ye were I saye, at that time without Christ, and were al…aunts from the common wealth of Israel, and were straungers from the couenaunt of promise, hauing no hope, and were without God in the worlde.
13. But now in Christ Iesus, ye which once were farre of, are made neere by the blood of Christ.
Rom. 5. 10. For if when we were enemyes, wée were reconcyled or made friendes with God by the death of his sonne, much more being now reconciled or made friendes, wée shall be saued by his lyfe.
1. Pet. 2. 10. Ye which were sometyme no people, are nowe the people of God: which were not vnderunder mercy, hauehave now …btayned merciemercy.
Ioh. 9. 41. If ye were blind, you should hauehave no sinne, but now ye say, we see: and therefore your sinne remaineth.
Ioh. 3. 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is comen into the worlde, but men hauehave loued darknes more then …light: because their workes are euyll.
Rom, 1. 18. For the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against al vngodlinesse, and vnrighteousnesse of men, as who with holde the truth vniustly.
Rom. 2. 15. Who shewe the effect of the law written in their heartes, their conscience also bearing witnesse, and their thoughtes accusing one an other, or excusing:
Act. 14. 17. All though hée hath not suffered him selfe to be without witnes, in that he doeth good vntounto vsus, geuing vsus raigne, & fruitful seasons from heauen, filling our heartes with foode and gladnes.
Ro. 2. 14. For whē the Gentyles which hauehave not the law, do by nature y• things of y• law, they hauing not the law, are a law vntounto them selues.
Act. 14. 17. Althought he hath not suffered him selfe to be, &c.
Rom. 7. 7. What shall we say then? Is the lawe sinne, God forbyd: naye, I had not knowne sinne, but by the lawe. For I had not knowen luste, except the lawe had sayd, thou shalt not luste.
1. Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God, and also one mediator of God and man, the man Iesus Christ.
2. Tim. 2. 25. Instructing them whiche are contrary minded, if God at any time wyll geue vntounto them, that they may repent and know the truth.
19. And that being escaped out of the snare of the Diuyll, of whome they are taken captiue, they may receyue helth of minde to do his wyll.
Act. 2. 37. When they heard these things they were pricked in heart, and sayd vntounto Peter, and vntounto the rest of the Apostles, men and brethren, what shall we doo?
38. And Peter said vntounto them: Repent, and let eueryevery one of you be baptized in …he name of Iesus Christ, &c.
1. Ioh. 2. 1. Litle children, these thinges … wryte vntounto you, that you shoulde not …inne. But if any man sinne, &c.
The Seuenth Aphorisme.
THerefore after that seuere or sharpe preaching of the lawe, (1) hee setteth foorth vntounto them grace and gentlenesse of the gospell:The gospel. yet adding this condition: if they beleeue in Christ, (2) vvho alone can delyuer them from condemnation, (3) and geue vntounto them power and right to obtaine the heauenlie inheritaunce.
Proues out of the word of God.
Ioh. 1. 12. And as many as receiued him, …he gaue vntounto them this dignitie to bée made the sonnes of God, to wyt, vntounto them that beléeue in his name.
Ioh. 3. 16. For so God loued the world, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, &c.
Rom. 1. 19. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God vntounto saluation, vntounto eueryevery one that beléeueth, to the Iew first, and also to the Gréeke.
Rom. 8. 1. Now therefore there is no condempnation to them whiche are in Christ Iesus, that is, which walke not after the fleshe, but after the spyrite.
1. Ioh 2. 1. My lyttle chyldren, these things, write I vntounto you, that you sinne not. If any man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous, &c.
Ioh. …. And as many as receiued him, he gaue vntounto them this dignitie that, &c.
Ioh. 3. 16. For God so loved ye world, &c.
Rom. 1. 16. For I am not ashamed of the gospell of Christ, &c.
Rom. 5. 1. Being therefore iustifyed or made righteous by faith, we hauehave peace towarde God through our Lorde Iesus Christ.
The nynth Aphorisme.
AND because all these thinges should bee done in vaine, if God dyd sette foorth these secreetes vntounto men, onelyonly by the outwarde preachingPreaching is the ordinarie means vvhereby Christ is opened vntounto vsus, but yet not effectuall vvithout the invvard povver of the spirite: of his worde vvrytten and openlie published in the Churche of God (1) (vvhiche notvvithstanding is the ordinarie and necessarie instrument by supposition, vvhereby Iesus Christ is communicated or imparted vvith vsus) (2) therefore vvhen as hee hath to doo vvith his electe and chosen, togeather vvith the outwarde preaching of the vvorde, hee ioyneth the inwarde power of the holie spyrite,The efficacie or forc… of the spirit. vvhichwhich doeth not, as Sophisters doo suppose, repayre or renewe the remnau…tes of theyr free vvyll, (for vvhatsoeuer freevvyll is lefte vntounto vsus, it doeth consiste or lye in this, (3) that vvee sinne vvyllinglie,VVhat maner of free vvyll is left after the fall. (4) shunnishe God, (5) hate him, (6) yea, and moreouer can neither heare him, (7) nor beleeue him, (8) nor acknowledge the gyfte of God, (9) no nor once so muche as thinke any good thing: (10) and to bee short that vve bee vvholy subiecte vntounto vvrath, and the curse.) (11) But contrararywise, rather turneth theyr stonie heartes into fleshie, (12) draweth, (13) teacheth, (14) lightneth their eyes, (15) openeth their sence, heart, eares, and vnderstanding.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Rmo. 10. 8. But what saith it? the word is neare the euen in thy mouth and in thine heart. This is that word of fayth which we preach.
17. Then fayth is by hearing: and hearing by the word of God.
2. Cor. 5. 18. And all these things are of God, which hath reconcyled vsus vntounto himselfe through Iesus Christ, and hath geuen the mynistery of reconciliation vntounto vsus.
19. For God was in Christ reconcyling the world vntounto him selfe, not imputing or laying theyr sinnes vntounto them, and hath put in vsus this worde of rec…ncyliation.
Iam. 1. 18. He because he would, begat vsus with the worde of truthe, that wee should be as certaine first fruites of his creatures.
1. Pet. 1. 23. Being borne a new not of mortall s…de, but of immortall, by the worde of the lyuing God, which endureth for euer.
25. But the worde of the Lorde endureth for euer. And this is that worde, which is preached among you.
Act. 16. 14. Whose heart the Lorde had opened, that she shoulde geue héede to those thinges, which were spoken of Paule.
Eph. 1. 9. The mysterie or secréete of this wyll being opened vntounto vsus, according vntounto his frée good pleasure, which he had purposed in him selfe.
Colos. 1. 27. Unto whom God would make knowē what are the riches of this glorious mysterie or secréet among the Gentyles, that is, of Christ among you, who is that hope of glory.
Rom. 6. 20. For when as you were the seruanntes of sinne, you were frée from righteousnesse.
Ioh. 6. 44. No man can come vntounto mée, vnlesse my Father which sent mée, drawe him.
65. Therefore I sayde vntounto you, that no man can come vntounto mée, vnlesse it be geuen vntounto him of my Father.
Gen. 3. 8. And by an by they heard the voyce of the Lorde God walking in the garden in the coole of the day: and Adam and his wyfe hyd them selues from the face of the Lord God, in the myddest of the garden.
Rom. 5. 10. For if when we were enemyes, wee were reconcyled or made freends with God, &c.
Rom. 8. 7. Because that the vnderstanding of the flesh, is enimyty against God.
Ioh. 8. 47. He that is of God, heareth the words of God: ye therfore heare not, because ye are not of God.
Esai. 53. 1. Who wyll beléeue our reporte: and vntounto whom is the arme of the Lord reueled or opened?
Ioh. 12. 36. 40. Therefore could they not beleeue, because Esaias hath sayd againe, he hath blynded theyr eyes, and hardened their hearts, lest they should se with theyr eyes and vnderstand with theyr heart: and …rne, and I shoulde heale them
Mat. 13. 13. Therefore speake I vntounto them by parables, because that séeyng they doo not sée, and hearing they do not heare, nor vnderstand.
Mat. 13. 11. Because that vntounto you it is geuen to know the secrets of the kingdom of heauen, but vntounto them it is not geuen.
Ioh. 3. 3. Uerily, verily I say vntounto thée, except a man be borne againe, he can not sée the kingdom of God.
Ioh. 4. 10. If thou diddest know that gifte of God, and who he is that sayth vntounto thée, &c.
1. Cor. 2. 14. But the naturall or fleshly man can not conceiue those thinges, which are of the spirit of God for they are vntounto him folyshnesse, and he can not know them, because that they are spiritually di…cerued.
2. Cor. 3. 5. Not that wée are able of our selues to thinke any thing, as of our selues.
Ephes. 2. 1. And you hath he together quickened when as ye were dead in offences and sinnes.
3. Wherin in times past ye walked, as is the course of this worlde, after the prince that hath power ouer the ayre, euen the spyrite that nowe worketh in men that are disobedient.
3. Among whome also we all had our conuersation in time past, in the lustes of our fleshe, doing such things as lyked our fleshe and myndes: and were by nature the chyldren of wrath, as well as others.
Ezec. 11. 19. And I wyl geue vntounto them one heart, and I wyll put a new spyr…ts within theyr bowelles, and I wyll take away the stony heart from theyr fleshe, and wyl geue vntounto them a fleshie heart.
Psal. 51. 12. Create a cleane heart in mée O God, and renue a ryght spyrite within my bowelles.
Ioh. 6. 44. No man can come vntounto me, except my father which sent mée, drawe him.
Ioh. 6. 45. It is written in the prophets and they shall be all taught of God, whosoeuer therfore hath heard of my father and learned, commeth vntounto mée.
Psal. 119. 130. The doore or entrance of thy wordes doth lyghten, and maketh the simple to vnderstand.
Ephes. 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Iesus Christthe father of glory, maye geue vntounto you the spirite of wisedome and reuelation, through the knowledge of him.
18. That the eyes of your minde being lyghtened, ye may know what the hope is of his calling.
Esai. 50. 5. The Lord God opened mine eare, and I was not rebellious: neither turned I backe.
Psal. 119. 18. Open myne eyes, and I shall beholde the wonders of thy lawe.
73. Thy handes hauehave made mee, and prepared mée: make mée to vnderstand, and I shal learne thy cōmaundements.
130. The doore or entraunce of thy words lighteneth, it maketh the simple to vnderstand.
Col. 1. 9. Wherfore we also since the day that we heard of it, cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye may be filled with all knowlege of his wyll, with all wisdom, &c.
The tenth Aphorisme.
AND fyrst this spyrite in the elect or chosenVVhat things God his spirite vvorketh in the chosen. causeth that they be touched in deede with the feeling of that theyr calamitie or miserie: secondlie it createth faith in them, that they maie be able to performe the condition annexed or… k…yt vntounto the preaching of the gospell. Nowe this faithFaith doeth laie holde on iustification and sanctification in christ. is after a manner two folde. The one, by the vvhichwhich Christ is generallie and vniuersallie knowen, (1) to wyt by the vvhichwhich vvee doo geue assent vntounto the historie of Christ,Tvvo sortes of faith. An historicall faith, and a true faith. and vntounto the Prophecies vvritten of him, vvhichwhich faith is also sometymes graunted to the verie reprobates or ofcastes. Another, which is proper and peculiar vntounto the electe or chosen, standeth in this, that vve applie vntounto our selues as our owne,True faith laying hold on iustification in Christ. Christe vniuersallie and indifferentlie offered to all men, and be euerie one of vsus made assured of our election, which in deede afore time from euerlasting vvas hiddē in the secrete of God, but was afterward declared vntounto vsus, (2) partlie by the inward te…monie or vvytnesse of our conscience …rough the spirite of God being ioy…d vntounto the externall or outward prea…ing: (3) and partlie also by the power …nd effycacie or vertue of the same spi…te, vvhichwhich bringeth to this poiut eue…e one of the electe or chosen, being set … lybertie from the bondage of sinne, …hat they beginne to wyl and to doo the …hinges vvhichwhich are of God.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Ierem. 31. 19. For after that I conuer…ed, I did repent.
Luc. 24. 4. 5. Then he opened their …ind, that they might vnderstand the scriptures.
Act. 16. 14. And a certaine woman named Lydia which solde purple in the Citie of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard vsus: whose heart the Lord opened, that she gaue heede vntounto the thinges which Paule spake…
1. Cor. 2. 10. But vntounto vsus hath God reuealed or opened them by his spyrite… For the spirite searcheth al things, eue… the depthes of God.
11. For what man hath knowen the… thinges of man, but the spyrite of man… which is in him? So also the thinges which are of God, no man knoweth but the spyrite of God.
12. And we hauehave not receaued the spirite of the worlde, but the spyrite which is of God; that we maye knowe those things, which God hath geuen vntounto vsus.
16. For who hath knowne the minde of the Lorde that he might instruct him? But we hauehave the minde of Christ.
Colo. 1. 26. To wyt, the mysterie or secréete hyd since the world began, and from all ages, but nowe is it made manifest vntounto his Saints:
27. Unto whome God woulde make knowen, what is the ryches of his glorious mysterie or secréete amonge the Gentyles, that is, of Christ in you, who is that hope of glorie.
Ephes. 1. 16. Making mention of you … my prayers.
17. That the God of our Lorde Iesus …hrist, the Father of glorie, would geue …nto you the spyrite of wisedome and …euelation, through the knowledge of …im.
18. That the eyes of your minde be…ng lyghtened, you may knowe what is …hat hope of his calling, and what are …he ryches of the glorie of his heritage …n the Saintes.
…. Ioh. 3. 24. For hée that kéepeth his …ommaundementes, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and by this doo we know …hat hée dwelleth in vsus, to wyt, by the spyrite which he hath geuen vsus.
…. Ioh. 5. 20. But we knowe that the sonne of God is commen, and hath geuen vsus a minde to knowe him which is …r…e: and wee are in him that is true, that is, in his sonne Iesus Christ, he is verie God and lyfe euerlasting.
Rom. 8. 15. For you hauehave not receaued the spyrite of bondage vntounto feare, but you hauehave receaued the spyrite of adoption, by whiche wée crye, Abba, that is to say, father.
16. The which very spirit witnesseth together with our spirit, that we are the sonnes of God.
Gal. 4. 6. And because you are sonnes. God hath sent forth the spirit of his sonne into your heartes crying, Abba, that is to say. Father.
Rom. 8. 14. For as many as are ledde by the spirit of God, these are the sonns of God.
1. Ioh. 3. 10. By this are the sonnes of God and the sonnes of the Deuyl manifes…, whosoeuer doth not exercise, righteousnes, is not of God, nor he whiche loueth not his brother.
1. Ioh. 4. 13. By this do we know that we dwell in him, and he in vsus, because he hath geuen vsus of his spirit.
14. And we hauehave seene and beare witnes, that the Father hath sent his sōne, to be the Sauiour of the world.
Phi. 2. 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to wyl and to doo, or both the wyll and the deede, euen of his frée good pleasure.
Rom. 6. 18. And being made frée from …nnne ye are made the seruants of righ…eousnes.
The eleuenth Aphorisme.
THese are therefore the degrees or steppes, by vvhiche it pleaseth the Lorde freelie to create in his electe or chosen that precious and peculyar gifte of faith, vvhereby they maie laye hold on theyr saluation in Christe. But because faith is onelie begunne in vsus, to the ende vvee maie bee able, not onelie to perseuere or continue in it, but also to profite, vvhichwhich thing is altogeather necessarie, (1) for this cause fyrste of all, vvee are imitiated or entred as it vvere into Relygion, by the Sacramente of Baptisme:Baptisme. moreouer, besides the hearing of the vvorde, that fayth is (2) againe …ealed …n vsus by the sacrament of the Lord his Supper:The Lord… Supper. of the which Sacraments this verily is the chiefe end,The chiefe ende of the sacraments. that they are certaine and effectual seales & also charters of the faithfull communicating or partaking with Christ, (3) vvho is made vntounto them vvisedome, righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption. (4) VVherfore it is verie often rehearsed in Paule, that vve being iustified or made righteous by faith hauehave peace.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Mar. 16. 16. He that beléeueth and is baptized, shall be saued.
Act. 2. 38. Repente and be eueryevery one of you baptized in the name of Iesus Christ vntounto remission or forgeuenesse of sinnes? and ye shall receyue the gifte of the holy ghost.
Rom. 6. 3. Know ye not that as many of vsus as are baptized into Iesus Christ, are baptized into his death?
4. We are buried then togeather with hym through baptysme into his death: that as Christe was raysed vp from the dead, vntounto the glorie of his Father, so we also shoulde walke in a new lyfe.
Gal 3. 27. For all ye that are baptized into Christ, hauehave put on Christ.
Rom… 4 11. And he receyued the signe of circumcision, which should seale the … righteousnes of fayth, which was in the uncyrcumcision.
Colol… 2. 12. Being buryed with him through baptisme, by which also ye hauehave rysen againe with him through the faith of God working effectually, who raysed … vp from the dead.
Ephes. 5. 25. 26. Lyke as Christ loued … congregation and gaue him selfe for … sanctifie it or make it holy, clensing … with the washing of water thro…gh the worde.
1. Pet. 3 21. To the which the figure of baptisme now agréeing saueth vsus also, (not in that the filth of the flesh is cast away, but in that a good conscience maketh request vntounto God) by the resurrect…n or rising againe of Iesus Christ.
1. Cor. 10. 16. The cuppe of blessing which we blesse, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we breake, is it not the communion of … body of Christ?
1 Cor. 1. 30. But ye are of him in Christ Iesus, who is made vntounto vsus of God wisdom, and righteousnes, and sanctification and redemtion.
Rom. 3. 21. But now the righteousnesse of God is made manifest without the law: being approbated both of the lawe and of the Prophetes.
22. The righteousnesse I say of God, by the fayth of Iesus Christ vntounto al, and vponupon all whiche beléeue: for there is no dyfference, &c.
24. And they are iustified or made righteouse fréely, that is to saye, by his grace through the redemption made in Christ Iesus.
25. Whome God hath set forth to bée an appeasement through fayth in his bloud to declare his righteousnesse, by the forgeuenesse of the sinnes that are passed.
Rom. 4. 2. For if Abraham were iustified or made righteouse by workes, hee hath whereof he may glory, but not with God.
Rom. 5. 1. Therefore being iustified or made righteous by fayth, we hauehave peace towardes God through our Lord Iesus Christ.
The twelfth Aphorisme.
FOR (1) whosoeuer hath obtained the gifte of true faith, the same also trusting vntounto the lyke lyberalitie of God, ought in deede to bee carefull for perceuerance or continuance to the ende,Perceaueraunce or continuance to the ende. but not to stande in doubt of the same, but rather in all kinde of temptations and afflictions to call vppon God, (2) vvith assured hopeAssured hope. to obtaine that which hee asketh, so farre forth as is expedient or meete: for asmuch as hee knoweth him selfe to be the sonne of God, who cannot disceaue him: (3) Furthermore, he doth neuer goe so farre astray out of the right waye, but that through the benefite of the same grace, at the length hee commeth into the way againe. But, be it that sometimes faith lye buried in the chosen for a season, insomuch that it may seeme to be wholie extinguished or quenched, to wyt, that thereby they maye knowe their owne imbicilitie or weaknesse: yet it neuer goeth so farre awaie, that the louelove of God and their neighbour is vtterlie plucked out of their mindes.LoueLove. Faith is ne…er plucked out of the hearts of the chosen, albeit for a tyme it seme to be quenched. For no man is iustified or made righteous in Christ, but hee is also sanctified or made holie in him, (4) yea, and moreouer is created vntounto good vvorkes, the vvhichwhich the Lord hath ordained, that vve should vvalke in them.
Proues out of the word of God,
Numb. 23. 19. God is not man, that he can lye, nor the sonne of man that he can repent: hath he sayd, and shal he not doo it? Hath he spoken, and shall he not performe it?
Psal. 23. 6. Yet kindnesse and merciemercy shall follow me all the daies of my lyfe, and I shall remaine in the house of the Lord along season.
Psal, 27. 1. The Lord is my light and my saluation, of whom shall I be afraid? the Lord is the strength of my lyfe, of whome shall I stand in feare?
3. Though they pitch Tentes against me, my heart shall not feare, if warre be raysed agaist mée, I doo trust in him.
Ioh. 6. 37. What soeuer my father geueth mee, shall come vntounto mée, and him that commeth vntounto mée, doo I not cast forth.
Ioh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou take thē out of the world, but that thou kéepe them from euyll.
Ioh. 10. 28. And I geue vntounto them euerlasting lyfe and they shall not perish for euer, neither shal any man take them out of my hande.
29. My father which gaue them vntounto mee, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my fathers hand.
Rom. 5. 2. Through whom also we had this entrance by faith into this grace, by the which we stand, and doo glory vnderunder hope of the glory of God.
3. And not that only, but also we doo glory in afflictions, knowing that affliction worketh patience.
4. And patience experience, and experyence hope,
5. And hope maketh not ashamed, because that the louelove of God is shed abrode is geuen vntounto vsus.
Rom. 11. 20. Thou standest by faith, be not hye minded, but feare.
1. Cor. 2. 12. But we hauehave not receyued the spirite of the worlde, but the spirite which is of God: that we maye knowe what things God hath fréelie bestowed vponupon vsus.
16. For who hath knowen the minde of the Lorde, that he wyll instruct him? but we hauehave the minde of Christ.
1. Cor. 10. 12. He that seemeth vntounto him selfe to stande, let him take héede least he fall.
Eph. 1. 9. The mysterie or secréete of his wyll being opened vntounto vsus, according vntounto his frée good pleasure, which he had purposed in him selfe.
Phil. 1. 6. Being perswaded of this same thing, that hee that hath begonne this good worke in you, wyll performe it vntyll the day of Iesus Christ.
1. Thes. 5. 24. Hée is faithfull which hath called you, which also wyll bring it to passe.
2. Cor. 1. 21 Moreouer it is God, which confirmeth or strengthneth vsus with you into Christ, & which hath annointed vsus.
Heb. 4. 16. Let vsus approche therfore with boldnesse vntounto the throne of grace, that wée may obtaine merciemercy, and finde fauour to helpe in tyme of néede.
Heb. 10. 22. Let vsus drawe néere with a true heart, and certaine perswasion of fayth, hauing our heartes pure from an euyll conscience: and washed in our bodies with pure water.
23. Let vsus kéepe the confession of our faith without wauering, for he is faithfull which hath promised.
Iam. 1. 6. But let him aske in fayth, doubting nothing.
I. Ioh. 5. 14. And this the boldnesse whiche we hauehave with God, to wyt, that hée heareth vsus, if we aske any thing according vntounto his wyll.
15. But if wée knowe that hée heareth vsus whatsoeuer we aske, we knowe that we hauehave the requests that we hauehave asked of him.
So erred Abraham, Moyses, Aaron, Dauid, Peter, &c.
1. Ioh. 1. 8. If wée saye, wée hauehave no …nne, we disceaue our selues, and theyr is no truth in vsus.
10. If we say we hauehave not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in vsus.
Luc. 22. 32. But I hauehave prayed for thée that thy fayth should not fayle… therefore when thou art conuerted, strenghthen thy brethren.
I. Ioh. 3. 9. Whosoeuer is borne of God, committeth not sinne, because that his seade abideth in him, and he can not sinne, because he is borne of God.
10. By this are the sonnes of God, and the sōnes of the Deuyl manifest. Whosoeuer exerciseth not righteousnesse, is not of God, nor he which loueth not his brother.
Rom. 6. 1. What shall we say then? shall we remayne in sinne that grace may the more abounde:
2. God forbid, we that are dead in sinne howe shall we yet liue in it? &c.
1. Ioh. 4. 20 If a man say, I louelove God, and hate his brother, he is a lyar, for hee that loueth not his brother whome hee hath séene, how can he louelove God whome he hath not seene?
2. Pet. 1. 5. And geuing all dylygence vntounto this thing, ioyne vertue vntounto your fayth, vntounto vertue, knowledge.
6. And vntounto knowlege temperance, and vntounto temperaunce patience. And vntounto patience godlynesse.
7. And vntounto godlynesse brotherly kindnes, vntounto brotherly kindnes louelove.
8. For if these things bée among you, & …hoūd they wyl make you that you neither shal be idle, nor vnfruitful vntounto the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ.
9. For he that hath not these things, is …lynd, séeing nothing farre of, forgetting that he was clensed from his old sinnes.
Ephes. 1. 4. As he hath chosen vsus in him before the foundations of the world were layd, that we shoulde be holy and without blame before him through louelove.
Eph. 2. 10. For we are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vntounto good workes, the whiche God hath ordeyned that we should walke in them.
The thirtene Aphorisme.
THis therefore is the vvaie vvhereby God ordaineth those his elect or chosen vntounto the full execution or perfourmance of his counselles, vvhome it pleaseth him to bring vp amongste men, so long tyll they growe vp to full age. But as touching those vvhome he calleth out vntounto his kingdome, being yet scarce borne, or in their first yeares, the vvaie is more compendious or shorter. (1) For vvhen as hee comprehendeth in his free conenaunt, vvhereof Christ is mediator, not onelyonly the faithfull, but also their posteritie vntounto a thousande generations, so that hee doeth plainlie pronounce it to bee holie, there is no doubte but that he hath geuen the childrenThe adoption or chosing or Iytle chyldren. of holie men, vvhichwhich pertaine vntounto his election (whom he alone doth know) vntounto his sonne, who surelie vvyll not cast forth these also.
Proues out of the worde of God.
Gen. 17. 7. And I wyll establishe my coue…aunt betweene mee and thée, and betweene they seede after thée, in theyr …eration with an euerlasting coue…nt, to wyt, to be God vntounto thée, and … séede after thée.
… Exod. 20. 6. And shewing merciemercy vn…thousandes that louelove mee and keepe … commaundements.
…. Cor. 7. 14. For the vnbeléeuing hus…ande is sanctified by the wyfe, and the …nbeléeuing wyfe is sanctified by her …usbande: else doubtlesse were your …hildren vncleane: but nowe are they …olye.
Ioh. 6. 37. Whatsoeuer my Father …eueth mée, shall come vntounto mée: and …im that commeth vntounto mée, doo I not …cast forth.