Gods Effectual Calling, To the reader 1 – Table of contents
To the Reader.
ALthough the greater part both of authors and tranſlators of bookes may be taxed of officiouſnes, and not a few of vngodlines: yet are there ſome whoſe merits in this kinde doe out-way the demerits of the other. Theſe are either thoſe worthie lightes themſelues, or elſe thoſe ſecond candleſtickes to tranſlate the light into, which God ſpecially in theſe latter yeares hath beſtowed as gifts (to vſe Saint Paules word) vponupon his Church to the edification of it. It is true indeede in one ſenſe, that both the one and the other are but candleſtickes, for the light is Gods: but otherwiſe comparatiuely the author is the light, and the tranſlator is as it were an other candleſticke, to tranſlate the light into, and that for thoſe which thorough ignorance of the tongue, could not attaine to the light when it ſhone out of the authors owne lampe. Now although there ſeeme no great gifts to be required in a tranſlator; yet the truth is, that if he be not of good diſcretion, to chooſe the fitteſt workes, of good ſpeech to expreſſe the authors ſentence with fitteſt wordes, and of ſo great apprehenſion, and former ſtore, that by that which he ſeeth in the author, he hath attained to more, then paraduenture the author himſelfe ſaw or minded: his defectiuenes will bring him in daunger of ſhewing what gifts are required in a tranſlator: for a good tranſlator is neither a paraphraſt, nor a periphraſt, which is committed by needeles chaunging or adding words. He ſo behaueth himſelfe that the comparing of the originall, will commend his fidelitie, and that they which know of no originall would take the tranſlator for the author himſelfe. He muſt naturalize his tranſlation for the reader, without miuring the gift of the author in the natiue worke. But theſe ſeeme criticke rules to the irregular, which offend againſt their authors, to pleaſe themſelues: for as there are many tranſlations of vnworthie workes; ſo are there many tranſportations of worthie workes, which like plantes ill taken vp, reioyce not to growe in the ſoyle into which they are tranſlated. And yet neuertheleſſe it cannot without iniurie be denied, that this age hath afforded many excellent tranſlations of excellent and learned authors to the benefit of our people: amongſt whom Maiſter Rollocke the reuerend Author of this worke deſerueth an eminent place, as alſo this worke it ſelfe is very acceptable together with the tranſlators godly labour in this, and other things commodious to the Church of Chriſt. This inclined me the rather to commend it to thee, in theſe few lines, not as taking vponupon me any thing, but as a poore man where he is better knowne, is ſometimes engaged for a rich. This labour is become ours not onelyonly becauſe it is thus well engliſhed, but alſo becauſe the Author is a Scottiſhman, which is now to the wiſe hearted a ſynonymie of an Engliſhman. And it ſhall be to the praiſe of both the Nations to receiue both mutuall and common benefits, without that emulation which was betwixt Iſrael and Iuda. It is a comely thing, (to ſpeake in the words of that King that was ſo miraculouſly reſtored) to declare the ſignes and wonders of the high God, which we ſee this day, euen this vnanimitie in receiuing the King wrought (no doubt) by diuine inſtinct, rather then grace in ſome, which otherwiſe, mendaciter deduntie, as Dauid ſaith. Let vsus on the otherſide goe out in our ſinceritie and meete the King of Kings with Hoſanna. And I beſeech you by the wonder of our neighbours, which is our innocent aggregation to this ſcepter: let the ſolution of an obiection by King Henry the ſeuenth of noble memorie, and of ſo renowned wiſedome, be our ſatisfaction, that the ſoueraigntie is deuolued where it is, (not onelyonly by the prouidence, but alſo by the ordinance of God) to the comfortable vniting of that Nation, rather then Nations which at the firſt vponupon the matter was indeede but one, though for ſome yeares paſt it were diuided by conceit. Let vsus take vp the argument of Abraham: We are brethren, &c. And as this is a worke of vocation, ſo let vsus hold the comming of our King to bee the worke of reuocation, to call vsus backe to vnitie. And ſo gentle reader I commit thee to the God of peace and vnitie.
Thine in Chriſt, Francis Marbury.
To the Reader.
CHriſtian reader, I pray thee pardon all faults in this firſt impreſſion: I could not well be preſent with the workemen for their direction. Some ſchoole poynts and phraſes of ſchoole men doe not ſo well reliſh in the Engliſh tongue, nor could be rendred to my content, whatſoeuer is wanting in word or matter in this edition I will amend in the next if the Lord permit: farewell.
Thine in Chriſt Ieſus, Henry Holland.
The Contents.
1 OF our effectuall calling. 1
2 Of the word of God, or of the couenant in generall; and of the couenant of workes in ſpeciall. 6
3 Of the couenant of Grace. 11
4 Of ſuch as be comprehended in, may truely be ſaid to be vnderunder, the couenant of God. 27
5 A compariſon of our iudgement and of the aduerſaries, concerning both theſe couenants. 31
6 Of the written word, or of the written couenant of God. 38
7 Of the number of the controuerſies which are concerning the written word: and firſt whether the ſcripture be the word of God. 40
8 How it may appeare that the ſcripture is the word of God, 45
9 Of the firſt proprietie of the ſacred ſcripture. 54
10 Of the ſecond proprietie of the ſacred ſcripture. 57
11 Of the third proprietie of the ſacred ſcripture. 62
12 Of the fourth proprietie. 66
13 Of the fift proprietie of the ſcripture. 70
14 Of the ſixt proprietie of the ſcripture. 74
15 Of the ſeuenth proprietie of the ſcripture. 77
16 Of the eight proprietie of the ſcripture. 80
17 Queſtions more accidentall concerning the holy Scripture, and firſt of the bookes wherein the ſame is contained. 82
18 Of the authenticall edition of the Bible. 90
19 Of the Greeke edition of the new Teſtament. 97
20 Of the tranſlations of the old Teſtament. 102
21 Of the Syriacke tranſlation of the new Teſtament. 108
22 Of the Latin tranſlations of both teſtaments. 110
23 Of the tranſlation of the Bible into the mother tongue. 113
24 Of ſinne in generall. 127
25 Of originall ſinne. 133
26 Of concupiſcence. 144
27 Of actuall ſinne. 146
28 The controuerſie concerning the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt. 153
29 Of iuſtifying faith. 158
30 Of the improper ſignifications of faith. 167
31 The opinion of the aduerſaries concerning faith 176
32 Of hope. 191
33 Of Charitie or LoueLove. 198
34 Of Repentance. 202
35 How farre a wicked man may proceede in repentance. 210
36 What the iudgement of Papiſts is of repentance. 213
37 Of mans free-will. 216
38 Concerning the free grace of God. 226
39 Of the meanes whereby God from the beginning hath reuealed both his couenants vntounto mankinde. 238