88
The
f
ate
of
the
queffion,a out the cent iintie
of
eleE1ion.
the
remifíion
ofour
owne
finne
and euerlafling
life in
par_
.titular.
And
becaufe
they cannot
but
confeffe,
that doubting
and
beleeuing,
in themfelues are oppofed one againfl another;
they teach,
that
their faith
is
affured
of
Gods
mercie
and
Chrias
merits,
as
in
themfelues
infinite and fufficient;
but
it
doubteth)
in
refpe&
of
our
vnworthineffe
and manifold
im-
perfe&ions)
to
applie
them
particularli.e
unto
our
felues
:
fo
that
when
we
looke
vpon
God
and Chriíl,
there
is caufe
of
firme affurance,
but
when
we
looke
vpon our
felues,there
is
nothing_but matter
of
doubting.
There
is
indeed
fome place
left to their flaggering hope,
but
none
to
affurance
offaith
as
thoughaour
faith
were
grounded
on our owne worthines,
and not
vpon
Gods
free
mercie and
Chrif+s
merits; and
as
.
though
refli
ng vpon thefe
alone,
it
could
not
haue
certaine
affurance
ofour
el
e&ion and faluation,
notwithfianding
our
vnworthineffe and corruptions. But let
vs
arme
our
felues
a-
,gainfl
this
their
do&rive,
which containeth nothing
els
but
principles whereupon
Satan may
ground
his
temptations,
whereby
he
perfwadeth
vs
firfl
to doubting,
and afterwards
to
defpairing
ofour
elelion
and
faluation; for when
the
troubled
confcience
hath no other
affurance
of
Gods
loue
and
his
owne
ele
&ion,
but that
which
is
gathered from his
owne worth
ineffe
and
works, he
flill
doubteth whether yet
he be
worthie,or
haue
fulfilled
the
meafure
ofworkes
requi-
red;and then
further examining
himfelfe
to
cleare
his
doubt,
and
finding
his
bell
works exceeding
imperfea,and
that
his
fins
and corruptions
are
innumerable, then
is
his
confcience
fet vpon the racke,and
his foule
plunged into
deepe defpaire,
hauing no other
flay
but
the broken
!Jaffe
of
his owne
nigh_
teoufheffe,which
moll
deceiueth him
when
he
moil trufleth
to
it.
4.Se3.3.
And that
wee may bee confirmed
againfi
Satans
tempta-
Tbepeintsto
tions,
and.
the fubtilifophiflrie
of
thefe his
Do&ors,I
will
be
cenfidcred
handle this
point
at
large, and
will plainelie
proue,
fira,that
of
in
this
con-
the child
ofGod
being
conuerted,
iuflified
and fanaified,
treuerf¡iie.
may be certainelie affured
ofhis
particular
ele&ion,and that
without
any
fpeciall
reuelation after
an ordinarie
m
annly.