The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 16 · Section 7
SECTION 7. Removall of feares riſing from doubts about falling from Grace.
THere yet remaine many, who though they be driven up into ſo narrow a corner, that they cannot reply to the anſwers given to take away their falſe feares and doubts; but they are inforced to yeeld, that they find that they now are, or at leaſt have beene in ſtate of grace, they now ſee they have beleeved, and have beene, and it may bee now are ſanctified; yet, this they feare, that they either are already fallen, or ſhall not perſevere, but ſhall fall away before they dye
Touching falling away fromAnſw. grace, firſt know, that of thoſe that give their names to Chriſt in outward profeſſion, there are two ſorts.
The firſt ſort are ſuch, who have received onelyonly the aHeb. 6. 4. 5common gifts of the Spirit; as firſt, illumination Firſt ſort of Chriſtians.of the mind to know the myſtery of Salvation by Chriſt, and tru…y to aſſent unto it.
Secondly, Together with this knowledge, is wrought in them by the ſame ſpirit, a …hter impreſſion upon the affections, which the Scripture calleth a bHeb. 6, 4 5taſte of the heavenly gift, and of the good Word of GOD, and of the powers of the world to come; By theſe gifts of the Spirit, the ſou…es of theſe men are raiſed to an abilitie to doe more than nature, and meere education can helpe them unto; carrying them further then nature or art can doe, by working in them a kinde of ſpirituall change in their affections, and a kinde of reformation of their lives. But yet all this while they are not ingrafted into Chriſt, neither are cMat 13. …1deepely rooted, as the Corne in good groūd, nor yet are throughly changed and renewed in the inward man; they have at beſt only d2 Tim. 3. 8a form… of godlineſſe, but have not the power thereof.
Now theſe men may, and oftWho may fall away, and how▪ doe fall away, not onelyonly into ſome particular groſſe ſinnes, of which they were ſometimes after a ſort waſhed; but into a courſe of ſinning; falling from the very forme of godlineſſe, and may ſo utterly looſe tho…e gifts received, that they may turne Papiſts, Anabaptiſts, or may fall into any o…her Hereſie, and in the end become very Apoſtates; yet this is not properly a falling from grace. It is onelyonly a falling away from the common graces or gifts of the S…irit, and from thoſe graces which they did eLuk. 8. 18ſeeme to have, and which the Church out of her charitie did judge them to have; but they fall not from true ſaving grace, for they neuer had any. For if ever they had beene indeed f1 Ioh. 2. 19incorporated into Christ Ieſus, and had beene ſound members of his body, and in this ſenſe had ever beene of us, as the Apoſtle Iohn ſpeaketh, then they ſhould never have departed from us, but ſhould no doubt have continued with us.
The ſecond ſort of ſuch as haveThe ſecond ſort of Chriſtians given their names to Chriſt, are ſuch as are indued with true iuſtifying faith, and ſaving knowledge, and are renewed in the ſpirit of their minde; whereby through the gracious and powerful working of the ſanctifying Spirit, the Word maketh a deeper impreſſion upon the will, and the affections, cauſing them not onelyonly to taſte, but which is much more, to feed and to drinke deepe of the heavenly gift, and of the good word of GOD, and of the powers of the world to come; ſo as to digest them unto the very changing and gRom 12. 2transforming them by the renewing of their mindes, and unto the ſanctifying of them h1 Theſ. 5 23throughout in their whole man, both in ſpirit, ſoule, and bodie; ſo that CHRIST is indeed formed in them, and they are become k2 Cor. 5 17 2 Pet. 1. 4.new creatures, being made partakers of the divine nature.
Now concerning theſe; It isOnce & ever inſtate of grace. not poſſible that any of them ſhould fall away, either wholly, or for ever.
Yet it muſt bee granted, thatA truly regenerate man may fal far back though not quite away they may decline and fall backe ſo farre, as to grieve the good ſpirit of GOD, and to offend and provoke God very much againſt them, and to make themſelves guiltie of eternall death. They may fall ſo farre as to aPſal 32. 3interrupt the exerciſe of their faith, bPſal. 51. 8 9, 10, 11wound their Conſcience, and may looſe for a time the ſenſe of Gods favour, and may cauſe him like a wiſe and good father, in his iust anger to chide, correct, & threaten them, making them beleeve hee will turne them out of doores, never to receive them into his heavenly Kingdome; untill by renewing their faith and repentance, they returne into the right way, and doe recover GODS lo-ving countenance towards them againe.
That you may underſtand and beleeve this the better, conſider what grace God giveth unto his elect, and how, and from what they may fill: alſo you muſt obſerve well the difference that is betweene the ſinning of the regenerate and unregenerate, together with their different condition wherin they ſtand, while they are in their ſinnes.
In the firſt act of Converſion, What grace God giveth to his Elect in their converſion, and how.(I ſpeake of men of yeeres, and diſcretion) GOD by his Word through his holy Spirit doth infuſe an habit of holineſſe, namely, an habit of Faith, and all other ſaving graces, this, every childe of GOD receiveth, when he receiveth that loh. 2. 20holy annointing of the ſpirit, that which the Scripture calieth the m1 Ion. 3 9Seede remaining in him.
Secondly, God by his gracious meanes and ordinances of the Goſpell doth increaſe this habit and theſe graces.
Now becauſe every man thatWhence it is that the Elect may decline and backeſ…e, and how …arre. is truely regenerate, doth carry about with him the body of ſin and corruption, and lyeth open daily unto the temptations of the world, and the divell, a truely regenerate man may be drawne, not onelyonly into ſinnes of ignorance, and common frailty, but into groſſe ſinnes; whereby the light and warmth of Gods ſpirit may be ſo much chilled and darkned, that he may breake out into preſumptuous ſinnes. Yea, upon his negligent uſe, or omiſſion of the means of ſpirituall life and ſtrength, God may juſtly give him over to a fearefull declination in grace and backeſliding: Yet the truely regenerate fal onelyonly from ſome degrees of holineſſe,He never fals from the firſt infuſed habit of grace. and from certaine Acts of holineſſe; but not from the firſt infuſed habit of holineſſe that o1 Ioh. 3. 9bleſſed ſeede ever remaineth in him. His falling is either onelyonly into particular ſinnes, and into much failing in particular good duties, or if it be towards a more generall defection, yet it is never univerſall, from the generall purpoſe of well-doing, into a generall courſe of evill.
For the regenerate man doth never ſo ſinne, as the unregenerate man doth, although for matter their ſinnes may be all alike, yea, ſometime thoſe of the regenerate, greater. There isDifferēce betweene the ſinning of the regenerate and unregenerate. great difference in their ſinnes, and manner of ſinning.
1. Regenerate men may ſinne of ignorance, but they are not o2 Pet. 3. 5willingly and wilfully ignorant, as are the unregenerate in ſome things or other.
2. Regenerate men may commit, not onelyonly the common ſinnes of infirmitie; into which, by reaſon of the remains of the luſts of the fleſh, they fall often, ſuch as raſh anger, diſcontent, doubts, feares, dulneſſe, and deadneſſe of heart in ſpirituall exerciſes and inward evill thoughts and motions of all ſorts; but they may alſo commit groſſe ſinnes, ſuch as are an open and direct breach of GODS Commandements; yet thoſe are done againſt their generall purpoſe, as David did, for pPſal. 39. 1hee had ſaid hee would looke to his wayes; and hee had qPſal. 116 106determined to keepe Gods righteous iudgements. Yea, many times they are doneagainſt their particular purpoſes, as *Mat. 26. 35Peters denyall of his Maſter. They are not uſually plotted, or thought on before, but ſGal. 6. 1fallen into by occaſion, … 2 Sam. 11. 2or are haled and enforced therunto by the violent corruption of the affections, or ſenſuall appetites. Moreover, they doe not make a trade and cuſtome of ſinne: Theſe kindes of ſinnes doe not paſſe them any long time unobſerved: but are ſeene, bewailed, confeſſed to GOD, and prayed againſt; and are b…rthenous and irkeſome to them, making them to thinke worſe of themſelves, and to become baſe in their own eyes becauſe of them. But it is directly otherwiſe, uſually, with the tGen. 27. 4. Micah 2…unregenerate in all theſe particulars.
3. The regenerate may not onelyonly commit ſinnes groſſe for matter, but preſumptuous for manner, namely, they may commit them not onelyonly againſt knowledge, but with a premeditated de…eration and determination of will, as David did in the a2 Sam. 11 8 unto 2….murther of Ur…a…. But itis ſeldome, that a childe of GOD doth commit preſumptuous ſinnes: His generall determination and bPſ. 19. 13Prayer is againſt them. It is with much ſtrife, & reluctation of will, and with little delight, and content, in compariſon. He never ſinnes preſumptuouſly, but when he is drawne thereunto, or forced thereupon by ſome over-ſtrong corruption and violent temptation for the time, as David was, being over-eagerly bent to hide his ſinne, and to ſave his credit: For c2 Sam 11 8, 9, 1, 11, 12.if he could by any means have gotten Vriah home to his wife, hee would never have cauſed him to be ſl…ine. And although preſumptuous ſinnes caſt him into a deadneſſe & benummedneſſe of heart and ſpirit, in which he may …e for a time dPſ. 32 3, 4ſpeechleſſe, and pr…yerleſſe, as it was with David; yet he feeleth that all is not well with him, untill he have againe made his peace with God▪ And when he hath the miniſtery of GODS powerfull word, to make him plainly ſee his ſinne, then he will e… Sam 12 13. Pſa. 51.humble himſelfe & reforme it. The unregenerate nothing ſo.
4. Laſtly, a regenerate man may fall one degree further, namely, He may ſo looſe his firſt love, that he may (though I cannot ſay fall into utter Apoſtacy) yet decline from good, very far, even to a coldneſſe and remiſſeneſſe in good duties, even in the exerciſes of Religion, if not to an utter omiſſion for a time. The life and vigor of his graces may ſuffer ſenſible Eclipſes, and decay. f2 Chro 15 17Aſa, a good King, yet went apace this way, as appeareth by his g2 Chr. 16 10, 12impriſoning the good Prophet, and in oppreſſing the people in his latter dayes, and in truſting to the Phyſicians, and not ſeeking to God to be cured of his diſeaſe. And k2 Sam. 12 24Salomon the truly beloved of GOD in his youth, went further back, giving himſelfe to all manner of lEccleſ 2.vanities, Neh. 13. 26and in his old age did ſo dote upon his many wives, that he fell to Idolatry, or at leaſt became acceſſory, by building them m1 Kin. 11 3 to 10.Idoll Temples, and accompanying them to Idolatrous ſervices, in ſo much that it is ſaid, they turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of Divid his Father. Yet there is a wide difference betweene theſe backe-ſlidings, and the Apoſta…ies of men unregenerate. For theſe doe not approve nor applaud themſelves in thoſe evil courſes, into which they are back ſlidden when (out of the heat of temptation) they doe thinke of them; neither have the regenerate full content in them, but finde vanity, and vexation in them, as Salomon Eccleſiaſt.did, even in the dayes of his vanitie. They doe not in this their declined eſtate, hate the good generally, which once they loved, but looke backe upon it with approbation; and their heart ſecretly inclineth unto a liking of it, and of them that are, as they once were; ſo that in the midſt of their bad eſtate, they have a mind to returne, but that they are yet ſo hampered, and entangled with the ſnares of ſinne, that they cannot get out. Laſtly, they in Gods good time, by his grace, doe breake forth out of this Eclipſe of grace, by the light whereof they …e their nakedneſſe and folly, and are aſhamed of their backſl…ding and revolting; and they againe aoe their firſt workes. And with much adoe, recover their wonted joyes & comforts, thogh it may be never with that life, luſtre, and beautie, as in former times, and that as a juſt correction of their ſinne, that they may be kept humble, and be made to looke better to their ſtanding all the dayes of their life by it. It is not ſo with hypocriticall profeſſours, who never were truly regenerate; but quite contrary, as you may obſerve in the Apoſtacies of b1 Sam. 28 3▪ 6 7 &c.Saul, and of c2 Chr. 2… 17. 18. to 23.King Ioaſh, and Simon Magus, & others.
Th…ſe differences riſe hence, becauſe that the common graces of the unregenerate are but asGrounds of differences between the fals…f men truly ſanctified, and others. flaſhes of lightning, or as the fading light of Meteors, which blaze but for a while; and are like the water of Lana-fl…nds, which, becauſe they have no ſpring to feede them runne not long, and in time may quite be dryed up.
But the ſaving graces of the regenerate, receive their light, warmth, and life, from the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, therefore can never be totally or finally Eclipſed. And they doe riſe from that Well and dIoh. 4. 14. The condition of the true Chriſtian differs frō that of the for…all Chriſtian, in reſpect of Gods purpoſe and love.Spring of living water which cannot be drawn dry, or…o dammed up, or ſtopt, but that it will runne more, or leſſe, unto eternall life.
As the regenetate man doth not ſinne in ſuch ſort as the unregenerate, with all his heart, ſo neither is hee when he hath ſinned, in the ſame ſtate and condition, which the unregenerate is in. Hee is in the Condition of a Sonne, who notwithſtanding his failings, eIoh. 8. 35abideth in the houſe for ever; but not as the other, who, being no ſonne, but a ſervant, is for his miſdemeanor turned out, and abideth not in the houſe for ever.
Although the regenerate as well as the unregenerate doe draw upon themſelves, by their ſinnes, the ſimple guilt of eternall death, yet this guilt is not accounted, neither doth it redound to the perſon of the truly regenerate, as it doth to the other; becauſe Chriſt Ieſus hath ſo ſatisfied, and doth make fIoh. 17. 9 15. 20interceſſion for his owne, that his death is made effectuall for them, but not for the other. Their Iuſtification and Adoption by Chriſt remaine unaltered, although many benefits flowing from thence, are, for a while, juſtly ſuspended, they remaine children ſtill, though under their Fathers anger; as *2 Sam. 14 24Abſolom remained a ſonne uncaſt off, not diſ-inherited by David, when yet his Father would not let him come into his preſence. This spirituall Leproſie of ſinne, into which Gods Children fall, may cauſe them to bee ſuſpended from the uſe and comfortable poſſeſſion of the Kingdome of God, and from the enjoyment of the privileges thereof, untill they bee cleanſed of their ſinne by renewed faith and repentance. Yet, as the gLev 13. 46 2 Chro. 26 21Leoper in the Law, had ſtill right to his houſe and goods, albeit he was ſhut out of the City for his Leproſie; ſo the truly regenerate never looſe their right to the Kingdome of heaven by their ſinnes. For every true member of Chriſt is knit unto Chriſt by ſuch everlaſting bonds, whether we reſpect the relative union of Chriſt with his members by faith to Iuſtification, which after it isRom 8. 15. 16. 17. 35 once made by the ſpirit of Adoption, admitteth of no breach or alteration by any meanes: o… whether we reſpect the reall union of the Spirit, whence floweth Sanctification, which though it may ſuffer decay, and admitteth of ſome alteration of degrees, being not ſo ſtrong at one time, as at another, yet can never1 Ioh 2. 27 1 Ioh 3. 9 quite be broken off, as hath beene proved; theſe bands, … ſay, are ſo ſtrong, and laſting, that all the powers of ſinne, Satan, and Hell it ſelfe hRom. 8. 33 unto the end.cannot ſever the weakeſt true member from Chriſt, or from his love, o… from Gods love towards him in Chriſt.
This ſtrength of grace, thatWhence it is that a true Convert cannot fall quite from grace. keepeth men from falling totally or finally from CHRIST, doth not depend upon the ſtrength or will of him that ſtandeth, but on the iRom. 9. 11Election, and determination of him that calleth.
And whereas it may bee demanded,Queſt. why a man being at his higheſt degree of holineſſe, that ever he attained, at which time hee had moſt ſtrength, did yet fall backe more than halfe way, may not as well, or rather fall quite away?
I anſwer, It is not in reſpect ofAnſw. the nature of inherent holineſſe in him; for kGen. 1. 2Adam had holineſſe in perfection, yet fell quite from it.1 Gen. 3. There is nothing in the nature of this grace and holineſſe, excepting onelyonly in the root whence it ſpringeth, but that a man may now alſo fall wholly from it. But it is becauſe grace is now ſetled in man upon better termes. For the little ſtrength we receive in regeneration, is (in point of perſeverance) ſtronger then the great ſtrength which the firſt Adam received in his Creation. Adam was perfectly, but changeably holy, Gods children inregeneration are made imperfectly, but mIer. 32. …0unchangeably holy. This ſtability of grace now conſiſteth in this, for that all that by faith, and by the holy Spirit are ingrafted and incorporated into Chriſt the ſecond Adam, have the ſpring and root of their grace founded n2 Cor. 1. 21, 22 Ephe. 1. 4.in him; and not in themſelves, as the firſt Adam had. They are n2 Cor. 1. 21, 22 Ephe. 1. 4.ſtabliſhed with their brethren in Chriſt. Wherefore, all that are actuall members of CHRIST cannot fal from grace altogether; For as oRom. 6. 5 unto 12.Chriſt dyed to ſinne once, and being raiſed from the dead dyeth no more; ſo every true member of Chriſt, having part with him in the firſt reſurrection, dye no more, but live for ever with Chriſt. For all that are once begotten againe unto a lively faith, and hope, by the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, p1 Pet. 1. 3 4, 5are kept, not by their owne power unto Salvation, but by the power of God through faith in Chriſt Ieſus.
Now, that a man effectually called, can never fall wholly, or for ever from ſtate of grace, I in few words reaſon thus. If Gods d2 Tim. 2. 19Counſell, on which mans SalvationReaſons prooving that a man effectually called, can not fall quite away is founded be ſure and unchangeable, and if his eRom. 11. 29calling be without repentance.
If Gods love be unchangeable and altereth not, but fIoh. 13 1whom God once loveth actually, him he loveth to the end.
If gHeb. 7. 2…. 25Chriſts office of Prophet, Prieſt, and King, in his teaching, ſatisfying, and making interceſſion for, and in his governing his people, bee after the order of Heb. 7. 21Melchiſedecke, unchangeable and everlaſting, he everliving to make interceſſion for them: and hIoh. 6. 3… Luk. 22. … Ioh. 17. 1…if his undertaking in all theſe reſpects with his Father, not to loſe any whom he giveth him cannot be fruſtrate.
If the iEph. 1. 13. 14.Seale and earneſt of the Spirit be a conſtant Seale, which cannot be razed; but ſealeth all in whom it dwelleth unto the day of Redemption.
If the k1 Pet. 1. 23, 25Word of truth wherewith the regenerate are begotten, be an immortall ſeed which when once it hath taken a conception, and hath taken roote, doth live for ever.
If God be conſtant and faithfull Ier. 32. 40.in his promiſe, and omnipotent in his power, to make good this his word and promiſe, ſaying, I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turne away from my people and children, to doe them good, but I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me.
Then from all, and from each of theſe propoſitions, I conclude, that a man once indeede a member of Chriſt, and indeede in ſtate of grace, ſhall never totally or finally fall away.
The patrons of the doctrine of falling from grace, when they cannot anſwer the invincible arguments which are brought to prove the certainetie of a mans ſtanding in ſtate of Salvation; they make a loud cry in caſting in certaine popular obiections, ſuch as are very apt to take with ſimple, and unſtable people.
They firſt come with ſuppoſitions, Objections for falling from grace anſweredand aske this and like queſtiona: If David and Peter had dyed in the act of their groſſe ſinnes, whether ſhould they have beene ſaved or no.
I anſwer, we have an Engliſh Proverbe, What if the skye fall? Propoſitions are but weakely grounded on meere ſuppoſitions. I aske them why did they not dye in the act of their ſinne? Well, ſay they had dyed in the act of their ſinne, they could not dye in their impenitency, they in an inſtant might returne to GOD, and relye on CHRIST, or at leaſt, if ſudden death had ſurpriſed them, their generall repentance and faith in Chriſt which they had before their fal ſhould have ſtood them inſtead. For their Iuſtification and Adoption was no whit impayred, though their Sanctification was ſomewhat diminiſhed. But we muſt beleeve Gods promiſe, and the iſſue will be this (though wee cannot alwayes tell how) that lPſ. 73. 24God will ſo guide his Children with his Counſell, that afterward hee will receive them to Glory.
Secondly, they object violently, ſeeming to ſtand much for God and godlineſſe, that this doctrin of not falling wholly from God, and of certaintie of Salvation, after a man is once in ſtate of Grace, is a doctrine of licentiouſneſſe and carnall libertie, cauſing men to be negligent in the uſe of meanes of grace, and careleſſe of their ſtanding; For when they once know they ſhall not be damned, they wil live as they liſt; ſay they.
Firſt, I appeale to ancient and daily experience, both in Miniſters and people. For thoſe who have beene moſt aſſured of Gods favor, and of their ſaluation, have beene and are more frequent in preaching, more diligent in hearing, and have uſed all good means of ſalvation more conſcionably and more conſtantly then thoſe of the other opinion, and have beene moſt holy and moſt ſtrict in their lives. But the doctrin of theſe that teach falling away totally & finally from grace, they being the enhanſers of free will, on which all the fabrick of their building hangeth, is rather a doctrine opening a gap to licentiouſneſſe: For they conceiving that they may convert if they will, cannot but thinke that they are not ſo unwiſe, but that they will, and ſhall convert before they dye, therefore take liberty to live as they liſt in the meane time.
Secondly, the Scriptures, the ingenuitie of ſaving Faith, andRom 6. …. &c. all ſound iudgement doe reaſon quite contrary. For the certaintie of the end doth not hinder, but incite and encourage men, in the uſe of all good meanes which conduce unto that end. Chriſt knew certainely that he ſhould attaine his end of Mediatorſhip, viz. the ſalvation of mens ſoules, and that of the Gentiles, as well as of the Iewes, this was no cauſe, why he might bee ſlacke in the meanes, but God ſaith not withſtanding to our Saviour,mPſal. 2. 8. Aske of me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance. Was there ever any more earneſt in praier, or more longing to finiſh his worke, than our nIoh. 17. 1.bleſſed Saviour, although he was infallibly certaine that hee ſhould ſave and glorifie man, & that God would glorifie him? When oDan. 9. 1.Daniel knew certainely the time of deliverance out of Captivity, he was not hereby carnally ſecure, and ſlacke in the uſe of all good meanes to ſpeed and haſten it; but betaketh himſelfe to faſting & prayers, that Gods people might be delivered. Becauſe God had aſſured David that he would build him an houſe, therefore (ſaith hee) p2 Sam. 7 27.thy ſervant hath found in his heart to pray, viz. that thou wouldſt eſtabliſh it. What child is there that hath any ingenuitie or goodneſſe of nature in him, wil ſleight and neglect to pleaſe his Father, becauſe he hath aſſured him of a large inheritance, or becauſe his inheritance is entayled upon him?
Moreover, the greater certainty any man hath that his ſinnes are pardoned, and that hee (throgh Gods grace) now is, and ſhall abide, in ſtate of Salvation, the more he will apprehend the unſpeakeable love of God to him in him in Chriſt Ieſus, which will cauſe the ſame man to aLuk. 7. 4.love much, which much love of him to Chriſt, wil cauſe him bIoh. …not to live as he liſt, but to keepe the Commandements: and (as the Apoſtle ſaith) even c2 Cor. 5. 14conſtraine him, and will cauſe that his Commandements ſhall not be d1 Ioh. 5. 3grievous, but delight ſome to him.
But doe theſe objecters thinke thus, and doe they inferre this in earneſt? Doe they thinke, that themſelves are or were at any time in ſtate of grace? If yea, I hope they will not ſay, they are or were made more diſſolute and more ſinfull by it; If no, then it is no maruell that they make theſe inferences. For it hath ever beene the manner of ſuch as were without grace, and not indeed in ſtate of grace, to wreſt and pervert the doctrines of grace, making them to be unto them Licences, and qIude 4. Rom. 5. 21.occaſions of wantonneſſe and licentiouſneſſe. As thus. If where ſinne abounded, grace abounded much more; then ſay they, rRom. 6. 1 15Let us ſinne that grace may abound. And if we are not under the Law but under grace, then let us ſinne, becauſe wee are not under the Law, but under grace.
But as any man hath truth of grace, the more he knoweth it, the more hereaſoneth, otherwiſe Ezra having not onelyonly a hope, but was in poſſeſſion of that which God had promiſed; He doth not ſay, now we may live as we li…t, but ſaith, sEzr. 9. 13 14ſhould we againe breake thy Commandements. An honeſt hart maketh the ſame inference from ſpirituall deliverances. The Scripture from abundance of Gods grace, and from the certainty of it, doth reaſon for grace and for obedience, tRom. 6. 2.How ſhall wee that are dead to ſinne, live yet therein. And in another place the Apoſtle Iohn ſaith, We know that we are the Children of God, &c. but what is the inference? Is it we may now ſinne, and live as wee liſt, becauſe wee know that when Chriſt ſhall appeare, we ſhall be like him? No. the holy Apoſtle inferreth this, u1 Ioh. 3. 1, 2, 3.Hee that hath this hope, purgeth himſelfe as he is pure.