Godly Meditations Upon the Lords Prayer, Part 24
A ſhort and pithie defence of the doctrine of the holy election and predeſtination of God, gathered out of the firſt Chapter of S. Paules Epiſtle to the Epheſians. By I. bradford.
THere is neyther vertue nor vice to be conſydered All thinges muſt be eſtemed after goddes will.accordinge to any outwarde action, nor accordinge to the will and wiſedome of man: but accordynge to the wyll of god. Whatſoeuer is conformable therto, the ſame is vertue, and the action that ſpringeth thereof is laudable & good, howſoeuer it appaere otherwiſe to the eyes and reaſon of man: as was the lifting vp of Abrahams hand to hauehave ſtaine his ſonne. geneſ. 22.Whatſoeuer is not conformable to the will of god, that ſame is vice, & the action ſpringing thereof is to be diſalowed & taken for euell: & that ſo much the more and greater euell, by howe much it is not conſonaunt and agreeing to gods wil, although it ſeme faire otherwiſe to mans wiſdome, as was Peters wiſhe of makinge three tabernacles, and the requeſt Math. 17.of ſome which wold hauehave had fyer to hauehave come downe from heauen, Luke, 9.vponupon a zeale to god &c.
Nowe, the wyll of God is not ſo knowen as in his worde. Therfore Gods will muſte be ſought for in his wordeaccordinge to it muſte vice and vertue, good and euell, be iudged: and not accordinge to the Iudgemente, wyſedome, reaſon, and collection of anye man, or of all the whole world, if all the Angelles in heauen ſhuld take their part.
But thys worde of god whiche is writen in the canonicall bookes of gods word is writen in the bible. In the bible is predeſtinatiō publiſhed.the byble, dothe playnelye ſet ſurth vntounto vsus that god hath of his owne mercye and good will, and to the prayſe … hys grace and glorye, in Chryſte elected ſome and not all, whome he hathe predeſtinate vntounto euerlaſtyng lyfe in the ſame Chriſt, and in hys tyme calleth them, iuſtifyeth them, and gloryfyeth them, ſo that they ſhall neuer periſhe and erre to dampnation finally.
Therefore to affyrme, teach, and preache thys doctrine hath in it no No enormitye is therefore in it.hurte, no vice, no euell, muche leſſe then hathe it anye enormityes (as ſome doe affyrme) to the eyes and ſpyryte of them whiche are guyded and wylbe, by the worde of god.
That god the eternall father of The propoſition that ſhevvethe what is ment by electiō and predeſtination.mercyes, before the begynnynge of the worlde, hathe of hys owne mercye and good wyll, and to the praiſe of hys grace and glorye, elected in Chriſte ſome and not all of the poſterytye of Adam, whom he hathe predeſtynate vntounto eternall life, and callethe them in hys tyme, iuſtyfyeth them, and gloryfyeth them, ſo that they ſhall neuer peryſhe or erre to dampnatiou fynallye: that thys propoſytyon is trewe and accordinge to goddes plaine and manifeſte worde, by the helpe of hys holye ſpyryte (whyche in the name of Ieſus Chryſt I humbly beſeche hys mercy, plenteouſly to geue to me at this preſent and for euer, to the ſanc tification of his holye name: by the helpe I ſay of his holy ſpirit I truſt ſo euidently to declare, that no man of god ſhalbe able b… the word of god euer to impugne it, muche leſſe to confute it.
In the firſt chapter of the epiſtle to the Epheſians, y• apoſtle ſaith thus: Bleſſed be God the father of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, whiche hath bleſſed vsus with all maner of bleſsinges in heauenlye thinges by Chriſt, Eph…. 8.according as he hath elect or choſen vsus in him before the foundation of the worlde was layed, that we ſhoulde be holye and without blame before him through louelove: & hath predeſtinat vsus (or ordeyned vsus) thorough Ieſus Chriſt, to be heires vntounto him ſelf, accordynge to the good pleaſure of hys wyll, to the praiſe of the glorye of his grace, where with he hathe made vsus accepted in the beloued, by whome we hauehave receyued redemption thoroughe his blood, and the forgeuenes of our ſynnes, accordyng to the ryches of his grace, which grace he hath ſhed on vsus abundauntly in al wyſedom & vnderſtāding and hath opened vntounto vsus the myſterie of his wil according to his good pleaſure, whiche he purpoſed in him ſelfe, to hauehave it declared when the tyme was full come, that he might gather together all thinges by (or in) Chriſt, as well the things that be in heauen, as the thynges that be in earth. euen in (or by) hym: by (or in) whome we are made heyres, being thereto predeſtinat according to the purpoſe of hym whyche worketh al things according to the decree (or counſaile) of his owne wyll, that we whiche hoped before (you) in Chriſt, ſhoulde be vntounto the prayſe of his glorye: in whom ye alſo hoped after that ye heard the worde of trueth, the goſpell of your ſaluation, wherein ye alſo beleuing, were ſealed with the holy ſpirite of promiſe, whiche is the earneſt of our inheritaunce, vntill the redemption (or full fruition) of the purchaſed poſſeſsion vntounto the praiſe of hys glorye.
Theſe be y• words of Paull, which I hauehave faithefully tranſlated according to the very texte in the greeke, as by the iudgement of all y• be learned I deſire herein to be tried: oute of the which words of Paul we may well perceyue eueryevery thing affirmed in my propoſition, as I will geue occaſion plainly to them that will, to ſee it.
Firſt, that y• cauſe of gods election is of his good will, the Apoſtle ſheweth in ſayig that it is through his The cauſe … gods election is his grace and good will.louelove, wherby we are holy and without blame: alſo, according to y• good pleaſure of his wil: according to his good pleaſure purpoſed in him ſelfe: according to his purpoſe which worketh all things after the counſell of his owne will.
Secondly, that electiō was before The time of gods electiō was from the begiuningthe beginning of the world, the apoſtle plainly ſheweth in ſaying, that we were choſen before the foundatioſ the worlde was layed: and afterwards, in calling it the miſterye of his will purpoſed wyth him ſelf, in time to be declared.
Thridly, that election is in chriſt, Election is in Chriſt.the Apoſtle dothe ſo flatly and plainly ſet it fourth, that I nede not here to repete it. We (ſayeth he) are choſen in hym: we are heyres by hym: we are accepted by hym: we are gathered together in him &c.
Fourthelye, that electyon is of Election is not of all men.ſome of Adams poſterytye and not of all, we maye playnelye ſee it, yf we conſyder that he makethe the trewe demonſtratyon of it beleuinge, hopinge, and hauynge the earneſte of the ſpyryte. In whom yea hoped (ſayeth he) after ye hard the worde &c: in whom ye beleued, were ſealed vp &c. Agayne in attrybutynge to the electe, forgeueneſſe of ſynnes, holyneſſe, blameleſſe lyuynge, beinge in Chriſt &c. That we ſhoulde bee holye ſaieth he &c: we hauehave receyued forgeueneſſe of ſynnes &c. Whoe ſeeth not that theſe are not common to all men? All menne hauehave not ſaythe, ſayeth Paulle elles where. None beleued 2. …heſs. 3.(ſayeth …ake) but ſuche as were Act 13.ordayned to eiernail lyfe. None beleue but ſuche as be borne of god. …. Iohn. 1.None beleue treewlye but ſuche as hauehave good heartes, and keepe Math. 13.gooddes ſeede to brynge forth frutes by patience.
So that it is plaine (faith being a Faith is a demonſtration of election to ſuche as be of yeres of diſcretion. Pſa 125.demonſtration of goddes election to them that be of yeres of diſtretion) that all men are not elect becauſe all mē beleue not. For he that beleueth in the lord, ſhalbe as mounte Sion: that is, he ſhall neuer be remoued. For if he be remoued, that is finally periſhe, ſuerly he neuer truely beleued. But what goe I about to lighten a candel in the cleare ſōne light, when our ſauiour plainly ſaith y• all be not choſen, but fewe? Many be called (ſaith he) but fewe be choſen. And Math. 20.in the ſecond chapter to the eph: the Apoſtle plainly ſaith that the great riches of gods mercy through his exceding greate louelove, hath ſaued them before their parentes & manye other gentils, which were excluded from Chriſt, and ſtraungers from the promiſe, hoples, godles &c. Whertherough we may be occaſioned to crie: Oh the depth of the Iudgements of god, which is iuſte in al his doinges Rom. 11.and holy in all his workes, extēding his mercy after his good pleaſure & Pſal. 144.will, aboue al his workes.
Fyftly, that god hath predeffinate theſe, thus elect, vntounto euerlaſting life Election to eternall life.in Chriſt, the apoſtle doth alſo in the words before writen, declare in ſaying: & hath predeſtinate vsus through Ieſus Chriſt to be heires vntounto hym ſelfe. Againe, by him (ſaith he) ye are made heires and predeſtinate to the praiſe of his glorye. So ſaith the Apoſtle els where: whom he hath predeſtinate, Rom. 8.them he hath predeſtinate to be like faſhioned vntounto the ſhape of his ſonne. And Chriſte therefore ſaithe, reioyce in this, y• your names Luke. 10.are writen in heauen.
Sirtly, that the ende of election is The ende of election is to the praiſe and glorye of god.to the prayſe of goddes glorye and grace, the Apoſtle ſheweth here, in ſaing: we are predeſtinate to be holy and without blame before god &c: in ſaying, we are predeſtinate to y• glorye of his grace, and in ſaying alſo, vntounto the praiſe of his glorye: ſo that nothing can be more manifeſt.
Seuenthly, that predeſtination is Election is not wythout vocation & iuſtification in time.not without vocation in gods time, and iuſtification, the Apoſtle here doth teach in bringing vsus to the conſideration of hearinge the worde of truth, beleuing and receiuing the holy ſpirite, remiſſion of ſinnes &c. In whom (ſaith he) ye hauehave hoped, after that ye heard the word of trueth &c. Againe, by whom ye hauehave redemytion, that is, remiſſion of ſinnes thorough the ſheeding of his bloude &c: Alſo, he hathe in his full time declared the miſterie of his will &c. Unto the Rom. the apoſtle ſhewth it moſt manifeſtly in ſaying: whom he hath predeſtinate them he calleth, whom he calleth thē he iuſtifieth. Wherby we may ſe that predeſtination or election is not vniuerſalle of all, for all be not iuſtified.
Eyghtly and laſte of al, that election is ſo certaine, that the elect and Election is certain for euer.predeſtinate to eternall life ſhall neuer finally periſhe or erre to damnation, the apoſtle doth here alſo very playnely ſhewe in ſaying: that they are predeſtinate to the praiſe of goddes grace: he ſaith not to the prayſe of has Iuſtice, to the prayſe of hys wyſedome, to the prayſe of his power (although he might moſt truely ſaye ſo) but he ſaith to the praiſe of his grace: whiche were not grace yf there were any reſpect at all of workes on oure behalfe, for then were Rom. 11.grace not grace. If there ſhoulde be any condemnation of the electe and predeſtinate to eternall life, it muſt nedes be becauſe of their ſinnes: but where were the praiſe of gods grace then, which is the ende of gods election? Shall we not by this meanes make gods electiō without an ende, and ſo without a heade, and ſo no election at all, as ſome would hauehave, further then they elect themſelues? Let ſuche feare they ſhall not fynde the benyfyte of gods electiō, becauſe they ſeke it as the Iſraelites did and not as the elect, whiche not onelye find it but alſo obtaine it. The other are blinded, as it is writen: god hath Rom. 11. Pſal. 69.geuē them the ſpirit of vnquietnes, eyes that they ſhoulde not ſee, and eares that they ſhould not heare, eeuen to thys daye &c. Agayne, he ſhewethe the certayntye of ſaluation to them that be elected, in ſaying that they be accepted ī the beloued. once accepted and beloued, in Chriſt and euer beloued: for whom he loueth, he loueth to the end. And gods …gifts are ſuch that he cannot repent him of thē. And therfore ſaith chriſt I know whom I hauehave choſen, attributing to election the cauſe of finall perſenerance. By which thinge Iudas was ſene not to be elected to eternall life, although he was elected to the office of an Apoſtle, as Saul was elected to the office of a king. Which kind of election is to be diſcerned in readinge the ſcriptures, from thys kinde of election ye which I ſpeaks of nowe, that is, frō election to eternal life in chriſt. Thirdly he ſheweth y• certaintye of ſaluatiō of y• electe, by calling thē heires. For yf we be heires of god, then are we felow hei res with Chriſte, to be afflfcted and rom, 8.glorified with Chriſt, and therefore ſaith he, accordinge to the decree of his owne will. Loe he calleth it a decree or counſel which ſhall ſtand, as Cſai ſaith: the counſell of the lorde ſhall ſtande. Fourthlye he ſhe weth Eſai. 46.this certaintie by ſayinge that they are elect and predeſtinate to y• praiſe of gods glory, which we ſhuld more care for, then for the ſaluation of al the world. This glory of y• lord is ſet ſorth as wel in them y• periſhe & are reprobates, as in the elect, & therfore S. Iohn bringing in y• place of Eſai Iohn. … ▪ſpeakig of y• reprobate ſaith, y• Eſai ſpake that whē he ſawe the glory of the lord. This glory of the lord to be ſet forth by vsus, is a great mercy and benefite of god. I am aſſured that if the very deuyls and reprobates dyd not repyne hereat, but were thankfull that they might be miniſters in any pointe to ſet fourth goddes glorye: I am aſſured (I ſaye) that they ſhoulde fynde no hell nor tormentes. Theyr hell and tourmentes commeth of the louelove they hauehave to them ſelues and of the malyce, enuye, and hatred they hauehave agaynſte God and hys glorye. Let them tremble and feare that maye not awaye withe the glorye of the lord in election and reprobation.
Let not their eyes be euell becauſe god is good, and doth good to whom it pleaſeth him: wrong he doth to no man, nor can doe, for then he were Rom. 8.not righteous and ſo no god. He can not condemne the iuſte, for thē were be vntrue, becauſe his word is contrarie. He cannot condemne the penitent and beleuer, for that were againſt his promiſe. Let vsus therefore labour, ſtudie, crye and praye for repentance and faith, and then cannot we be damned, becauſe we are y• bleſſed of the father before all worldes, & therfore we beleue, therfore we repent. And for aſmuch as it perteineth Math. 25.to vsus whiche be within, to ſee and to ſpeake of thoſe thinges whiche are …. Cor. 2.geuen vntounto vsus of god in Chriſte: let vsus laboure hereaboutes, and leaue them that be withoute to the lorde, …. Cor. 5.which will Iudge them in his tyme. The Apoſtle praieth for the Epheſians, for none other wiſedome and re Ephe. ….uelatiō from god, then wherby they might know god & hauehave their minds illumined, to ſee what they ſhoulde hope for by their vocation, and bow Co…. ….rich the glory of his inheretaunce is vponupon his ſaintes. Further then this, I thinke is vnſemly for vsus to ſearch, vntill we hauehave ſought out, how rich gods goodnes is and wilbe to vsus his children. The whiche we can neuer do, but the more we go theraboutes and the more we taſte his goodnes, the more we ſhall louelove him and loth al thinges that diſpleaſe him. This (I ſay) let vsus do, and not be to buſye bodies in ſearching the maieſtie and glory of god, or in norriſhing in any wiſe the doubting of our ſaluation, wherto we are readye enoughe, and the deuill goeth about nothinge ells ſo muche as that: for by it we are dulle to doe good to other, we are ſo carefull for our ſelues. By it we are more dulle to do good to our ſelues, becauſe we ſtande in doute whether it profiteth vsus or no. By it we diſhonour god, either in makinge hym as though he were not true, or elles as thoughe our ſaluation came not only and altogether from him, but hanged partely on our ſelues. By it the deuyll will bringe men at length to diſpaire and hatred of god. Doubte once of thy ſaluation and continue therin, and ſuerly he then will aſke no more. It was the firſt thing wherwith be tempted Chriſte: if thou be the ſōne of god &c: It is the firſt and Math. 4.principaleſt darte he caſteth at gods ele…t. But as he preuailed not againſt Chriſt, no more ſhall he doe againſt anye of his members, for they hauehave y• ſhield of faith which quencheth his Eph. 6.fiery dartes, they praiſe god nighte & day, how then ſhuld they periſhe? Luk. 18.The Angells of the lord pitch their tentes round about them, how then Pſal. 34.ſhoulde Sathan preuaile? They are borne in y• hands of the angells leaſt they ſhoulde hurt their feete at anye ſtone: God hath geuen commaundement Pſal. 92.to his Angels ouerthem: The Angelles are miniſters vntounto them: Heb. 1.Their names are writen in y• booke of life, & therfore Chriſt bad them reioyce: Luk. 10.as paul doth y• philippiās, for nothig ſhal ſeparate them frō y• louelove Ph. 4.wherwt god loueth thē in Chriſt Ieſu, who ſaith that it is impoſſible for Rom. 8.them to erre finally to damnation: Math. 24.for he is their light to illumine their Pſal. 18. Iohn. 610.darknes: They are geuen to him to kepe, & he is faithful ouer al goddes childrē. He ſaith he will kepe thē ſo that they ſhall neuer periſhe. After Hebr. 3.they beleue, they are entred already Iohn. 5. 6.into euerlaſting life. Chriſt hath ſet thē there already: he hathe comitted Iohn. 17.thē into his fathers hands by praier, which we knowe is ſure, & therefore Heb. 5.death, hell, deuilles nor all power, ſinnes nor miſchefe, ſhall neuer pul Rom. 8.vsus out of our heads hands whoſe mē bres we are, & therfore receiuing of 1. Cor. 6.his ſpirit as we doe, we cannot but bring forth y• frutes thereof, though 1. Cor. 1.now & then the fleſhe fayle vsus. But the lord, euē our lord be praiſed which is more ſtrōg in vsus then he which is in y• world: he alwaies putteth 1. Iohn.vnderunder his hand y• we lie not ſtill nor Pſal. 67. Oſe. 6.ſhal do as y• reprobat, whoſe pietie is as y• mornig dew, ſoone come & ſone gone: & therfor thei cn̄not cōtinue to y• end. Cānot? no they wil not if thei cold, becauſe thei hate god & his glori & therfore al thē y• ſeke it or ſet it forth: wheras y• elect louelove al mē & ſeke to do al men good in god, ſuſpendig their iudgementes of others, y• they maye ſtande or fall to the lorde and Rom. 14.not to them.
Hetherto oute of this one place of Paull to y• Epheſians, if the matter of election and predeſtination be ſo fully ſette forth, to goddes glory and to the comforte of his Church: howe may we ſuppoſe is this matter ſette fourth in the whole body and bokes of y• canonicall ſcripture? whereto I had rather ſend thee good reader, with this candell light whiche I hauehave nowe geuen thee then in a matter ſo manifeſt to make more a doe then needeth.