244:ONTe ions again theaffurancr ofourdel ,an were The Lórdhath Paid this,he bath proinifed it,and ifthisbe not enough hee hash fworne it. Becaufe therefore the promife is fure and confirmed, not according toour merits but accor- ding to his mercie,_ let no man profeffe that with feare, of whichhecannot doubt. Dokbting pro- But theyfurther vrge, that humble doubting isbetter than ended;from refute tuous affurance ; I anfwere, firfi that their doubting gayie andarro- p full ofpride,which maketh there look for faluation in their owne i,vorthines, rather than inGods free mercie andChrifls. merits : fecond_lie that our faith and certaineaffurance isfull ofhumilitie; for weefreelyconfeffe our owne vnworthines, and dare not offer before thefeate ofGods iuftice and righ- teoúfncffe that is invs, as deficing in wholeor in part to be iuflified thereby; nayrather we pray with the ProphetPfal. Pfalca.r4$.a 143.2.. nternot into iudgement with thy feruant, forin thyfght fhallnene that liuethbeiuJtified; andtheughwe knownothiu6y oarfelues, yetdoewee plainelieof rmewith theApoflle,that t.Cor.4.1. wearenot herebyiufified. I .Cor.4.4. But this humilitie cloth not abateour faith and certaineaffurance,nay rather it loth` confirm- and incteafe it, for it maketh vs to goe áut of our fclues,as findingno hopeoffaluation wherupon.wemayrat,' and rnoouethvs to feeke for faluation inChrifi,who is fuch a Pure ancorhold, that whofoeuerpitch the ancor oftheir hope on him, (hall findeit fure and fledfafl,and whofoeuer build theirfaith on this foundation and corner (lone, the power of hell (hall neuerpreuaileagainfl them. Secondly,they'óbie& tharwearevnworthy ofGodsloue, our vnmorthi- or tobe ele&ed, and therefore wecannot be affured thereof. 'Ili no catire Ianfwer this werettue ifGodsele6hon depended vpon our why we *aid worthineffe anddeferts butfeeing theLord ref e teth not doubt ()four e- g P 1-6äo?, anything in vs, but ele6tedvsfreche ofhis vndeferued grace andeneeregoodwill; our vnwórthinefle in our felues-may wel Eland with theaffurance ofour ele6lion : for thofe who aremoll vnworthie ngede not_to doubt of Gods loue and their ele6ion and faluation, fo that they whollie relie vpon Godsmercy and Chrifis merits bya trueand lively fáith;for- aftnuchas they arenot grounded vpon their worthines, and tierefore:cannot be oucrthrQwneby their vnworthines. No- table
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=