and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things; as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God; so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's predestination, is a most dangerous downfal, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation,

Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they are generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: And in our doings, that will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God.

From the Homilies.

BOOK I.

HOMILY 2. Of the Misery of all Mankind,

(passim.)

HOMILY 3. Of the Salvation of all Mankind, (passim.)

CRANMER'S CATECHISM.

And by these three God's ministers do work with us in the name and place of God (yea, God himself worketh with us) to confirm us in our faith, to ascertain us that we are the lively members of God's true church, and the chosen people of God, to whom the Gospel is sent; and that all those things belong to us whereof the promises of the Gospel make mention.

KING EDWARD THE SIXTH'S CATECHISM.

To the furnishing of this commonwealth belong all they, as many as do truly fear, honour, and call upon God, wholly applying their mind to holy and godly living and all those that, putting all their hope and trust in him, do assuredly look for the bliss of everlasting life. But as many, as are in this faith stedfast, were fore-chosen, predestinated, and appointed out to everlasting life, before the world was made. Witness hereof, they have within in their hearts the Spirit of Christ, the author, earnest, and infallible pledge of their faith. Which faith only is able to perceive the mysteries of God: only bringeth peace unto the heart only taketh hold on the righteousness, that is in Christ Jesus.

PARKER'S PREFACE TO THE BIBLE.

It will else come to pass, saith that Prophet Moses, that whosoever shall not hear and obey that Prophet in the words that he shall speak in his Father's name, I will be, saith the Father, a revenger of him. This is the last Prophet to be looked for to speak unto us. In him be universally enclosed the riches and treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God his Father: by him he hath decreed finally to judge the whole world, the living and the dead; by him hath he decreed to give to his elect the life everlasting, and to the reprobate, who hath contemned his life and doctrine, death everlasting...

...

If we be now the children of grace, and made lively members of his body, though sometime strangers and foreigners far off, and made near by the blood of Christ; and made citizens with the Saints and of the household of God, let us direct our hearts thither where our Head is, delighting ourselves in all heavenly cogitations, walking in all spiritual works and fruits of the Spirit, as God's dear elect: God grant that Christ may so dwell in our hearts by faith, that we may be able to comprehend with all Saints the unspeakable love of Christ, which passeth all man's knowledge. Unto Him, therefore, which is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, be praise in the church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all generations for ever. Amer.

JEWELL'S APOLOGY OF THE CHURCH.

We believe that Jesus Christ, the only Son of the eternal Father, as it had been decreed, before the beginning of all things, when the fulness of time came, took our flesh and perfect human nature of that blessed and pure Virgin, that he might reveal to men that hidden and secret will of his Father which was concealed from all former ages and generations; and that in this human body he might finish the mystery of our redemption, and might nail to his cross our sins, and the obligation which lay against us. Col. ii. 14.

NOWELL'S CATECHISM.

To this commonweal do all they properly be long, as many as truly fear, honour, and call upon God, altogether applying their minds to live holily and godly, and which putting all their trust and hope in God do most assuredly look for the blessedness of eternal life. They that be steadfast, stable, and constant in this faith, were chosen and appointed, and (as we term it) predestinated to this so great felicity, before the foundations of the world were laid, whereof they

have a witness within them in their souls, the Spirit of Christ the author, and therewith also the most sure pledge of this confidence. By the instinct of which divine Spirit, I do also most surely persuade myself that I am also, by God's good gift through Christ, freely made one of this blessed city.

Master. Are not, then, all they that be in this visible church, of the number of the elect to everlasting life?

Scholar. Many, by hypocrisy and counterfeiting of godliness, do join themselves to this fellowship, which are nothing less than true members of the church. But, forasmuch as wheresoever the word of God is sincerely taught, and his sacraments rightly ministered, there are ever some appointed to salvation by Christ, we count all that whole company to be the church of God, seeing that Christ also promiseth that himself will be present with two or three that be gathered together in his name.

Mast. Can we not, therefore, prevent God with any works or deservings, whereby we may first provoke him to love us and be good unto us?

Scho. Surely, with none. For God loved and chose us in Christ, not only when we were his enemies, that is, sinners, but also before the foundations of the world were laid. And this is the same spring, head, and original of our justification, whereof I spake before.......