Whearin resteth the holy gost… sanctifica tion.
The Question of Sanctification
The Master asks what sanctification consists in, prompting the Scholar's response.
Master. What does this sanctification consist in?
The Spirit's Work in the Believer
The Scholar describes how the Holy Spirit regenerates, adopts, enlightens, forgives, and tames the flesh in believers.
Scholar. First, we are begotten anew by his inward motion. And therefore Christ said: we must be born again of water and of the Spirit.✦ Then by his inspiration we are adopted, and as it were by choice made the children of God. For that reason he is not without cause called the Spirit of adoption.✦ By his light we are enlightened to understand God's mysteries. By his judgment sins are pardoned and retained.1 By his power the flesh, with its lusts, is kept down and tamed.
Gifts, Resurrection, and Praise
The Scholar concludes by noting the Spirit's distribution of gifts, the future resurrection, and the fitting response of honoring and calling upon the Spirit.
By his good will the various gifts are distributed among the holy. Finally, through him our mortal bodies will be revived.2 Therefore we have good reason to believe in, honor, and call upon the author of such great gifts.
Read the original English
Master. Wherin consysteth thys sanctification?
Scholer. Fyrste, we be newe gotten by his inward motion. And therfor, said Christ: we muste be newe borne of water, and of the spirit. Thē by his inspiration are we adopted, & as it wer bi choise made the chyldren of God. For whych cause he is not causelesse called the spirit of adoption. By his lyght are we lightened, to vnderstand Gods misteryes. By hys iudgemēt are sinnes pardoned and reteined. By his power is the fleshe wyth her lustes kept downe & tamed.
Bi his pleasure, ar the manifold gyftes dealt amonge the holye. Finallye by hys meanes shal our mortal bodies be relyued. Therfore in the author of so great gifts, we do not wythout a cause beleue: honor, & cal vpō him▪
Scripture echoes
Notes
- 1 ↩'Pardoned and retained' preserves the traditional binding-and-loosing / remitting-and-retaining language for the forgiveness or withholding of forgiveness of sins.
- 2 ↩Source 'relyued' is treated as 'relieved' in the Tudor sense revive/restore to life, fitting Holy Spirit + mortal bodies; less likely mere easing of distress.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit