is wholly confined to the tenets refuted, or attempted to be refuted, in the fourth book.-Now it is here unreservedly acknowledged, that little decidedly Calvinistick, as to these tenets, can be found in the book of homilies: except as, according to an illustration before used, they contain an infusion; and the taste of this particular ingredient will be perceived in every part, by those," who by reason of "use have their senses exercised to discern good "and evil." When the homilies were compiled, preachers were very scarce; so that, one of our reformers says, there were not more than two or three in a county; and it is evident that the homilies were specially intended to supply this great deficiency.

And how, that all they, which are appointed 'ministers, have not the gift of preaching, suffi'ciently to instruct the people, which is committed to them, whereof great inconveniences might arise, ' and ignorance might still be maintained, if some honest remedy be not found out and provided." This being the case, when homilies were compiled to supply the place of sermons, among an ignorant people, just emerging from popery; and scarcely capable of receiving "the first principles of the "oracles of God," who especially "needed milk,

and not strong meat;" can it be wondered at, that the deep points of predestination, election, reprobation, &c, were not expressly entered into, in these elementary instructions? Indeed so many Calvinists seem to have mistaken this distinction, between milk

Preface to Homilies, 1562.

for babes, and grown meat for strong men; that the wisdom of our reformers is, on this account, entitled to our admiration, and well worthy of our imitation.

To shew that this is not an opinion, taken up by the author, for the special occasion of answering this ⚫ negative argument:' he must again trespass on the reader's patience, by stating, that in a discourse on repentance, published first in 1785, a Treatise on • Growth in Grace,' published in the form of a sermon, 1786; in a volume of Essays on the most important subjects in religion, 1794; and in a discourse on 'The Warrant and Nature of Faith,' published afterwards, but all subsequent to his having openly avowed the tents called Calvinistick, on these special points; there is as little on the subject of his Lordship's fourth chapter, as in the book of homilies. I suppose these opuscula contain an infusion of these doctrines; but you cannot find them in the lump.And I am confident, that, if the more experienced, and Calvinistick, of the evangelical clergy were called on to supply a set of lectures, homilies, or sermons, for the instruction of persons little acquainted with religion, they would observe the same caution: not because they do not believe these doctrines; but because they do not think them proper instruction for careless or ignorant sinners, or for babes in Christ. And now should any man come forward, and confidently aver that the author of the tracts above mentioned did not hold Calvinistical opinions, because they are not explicitly dwelt on in these books; the author would only have to refer

them to The Force of Truth,' and to his 'Sermon ' on Election,' to confute this negative argument: and we have only to refer the reader to the passages quoted from Tindal, Cranmer, Ridley, Bradford, Hooper, and others, to set aside the force of it, as urged, against the Calvinism of these reformers.— 'When Paul had preached a long sermon at Antioch, "there" believed, as many as were ordained to ever"lasting life.”—With which saying a great number ⚫ of people have been offended, and have said; We ' perceive, that only those shall come to believe and to everlasting life, which are chosen of God unto it; therefore it is no matter, whatsoever we do: for if we be chosen of God to everlasting life, we shall have it. And so they have opened a door ' unto themselves of all wickedness and carnal liberty, against the true meaning of the Scripture. Hence 'we may learn, to keep from all envious and dan'gerous questions. When we hear that some be chosen, and some be damned; let us have a good hope that we shall be among the chosen and live after this hope, that is, uprightly and godly, and then we shall not be deceived. Think that God hath chosen those that believe in Christ, and that "Christ is the book of Life. If thou believest in him; then thou art written in the book of life, and shalt be saved.' Latimer goes on to shew how men might know that their names are written in the book of life. This is the general way of treating the subject. He never opposes the strongest

Latimer, p. 689, 690. vol. xi. Fathers of the English church.

tenets of his more systematical brethren; he never attempts to explain in a different way any text of Scripture, which his brethren considered as containing this doctrine. Even after stating the perversion of the doctrine in the strongest terms, he says nothing against the doctrine itself. He ever seems' to concede the truth of the tenet; and only to be desirous of guarding against perversions of it, and of improving it to practical purposes. And were not controversy in some cases needful, the manner of this most excellent martyr might be the best, in' all respects. But his indecision, as to a systematical statement of his sentiments, rendered it less needful to adduce quotations from him; except as they are here called for.-It may be considered as remarkable, that Jewell, should be ranked with the martyrs, who were burned in Mary's reign, as not holding Calvinistick sentiments. He took shelter on the Continent, during queen Mary's persecitions; and though not at Geneva, yet at Zurich he lived in the house with Peter Martyr; where he was almost as much in danger of imbibing Calvinistick sentiments," as if he had been at Geneva; espe cially, as they read Augustine together, with which father they were both greatly delighted. Jewell is the only one of these refugees, who is mentioned in the Refutation and though others imbibed Cal'vinistic tenets' in Switzerland; Jewell is supposed to have returned uninfected! Perhaps our argument

Page 392, Refutation.

would not suffer, should this be allowed: yet I shall adduce one quotation from him, shewing what were his real sentiments. God hath chosen you from 'the beginning. His election is sure for ever. The 'Lord knoweth who are his. You shall not be ⚫ deceived with the power and subtilty of Antichrist. "You shall not fall from grace. You shall not perish. This is the comfort of the faithful, when they behold the fall of the wicked: when they see them forsake the truth, and delight in fables; when they see them return to their vomit, and wallow again in the mire. When we see these things, in others, we must say, Alas! they are examples for me, and lamentable examples. "Let "him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he "fall." But God hath loved me, and hath chosen 'me, me, to salvation. His mercy shall go before me, and his mercy shall follow in me, and stay me from falling. If I stay by myself, I stay by nothing; I 'must needs come to the ground. He hath loved me; ' he hath chosen me; he will keep me. Neither the

example nor the company of others, nor the enticing ' of the devil, nor my own sensual imaginations, nor sword, nor fire, is able to "separate me from the "love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."This is the comfort of the faithful.-Whatsoever

fulleth upon others, though others fall and perish, although they forsake Christ and follow after Anti'christ; yet God hath loved you, and given his Son 'for you. He hath chosen you, and prepared you unto salvation, and hath written your names in the