A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Thus we have considered this precious Jewell of faith, and how we have obtained it: by no worthiness of our own, but by lot: that is, the free gift and disposition of God; who gives it, or denies it, according to his own good pleasure. If he have given thee this lot of believing, the thanks be to him: if thou draw a blank and doest not obtain it, yet he hath done thee no wrong: who shall command that independent proprietary to give away his own? That have obtained it: here is matter of correction, of direction. First, this corrects the errors of two sorts:

Thus we have considered this precious Iewell of faith, and how we have obtained it: by no worthinesse of our owne, but by lot: that is, the free gift and disposion of God; who gives it, or denies it, according to his owne good pleasure. If he have given thee this lot of beleeving, the thanks be to him: if thou draw a blanke and doest not obtaine it, yet he hath done thee no wrong: who shall command that ind•pendent proprietary to give away his owne? That have obtained it: here is matter of correction, of direction. First, this corrects the errors of two sorts:

1. Such as have not obtained faith; who think that they may believe when they list: respecting only Dei facultatem & facilitatem, the sufficiency and indulgency of GOD: not regarding the obduration of their own hearts, and their indisposition to receive it. Recipitur quicquid ad modum recipientis: whatsoever is received, is received according to the measure and capableness of the thing which receives. Stones and sand will not be leavened, but meal. There is matter in the rock to build a house of; not form and proportion till it be hewed out. Those five foolish Virgins, Mat. 25. thought they might get oil at their pleasure: but because their lamps were out, themselves could not be let in. Many think wheresoever they lost their faith, they shall find it on their death-bed. But Nemo sibi promittat, quod non promisit Evangelium: let no man promise himself that, which the Gospel doth not promise him. If they cannot find it in the Church, they will hardly find it in the chamber: if the ordinary means to beget faith have not wrought it, how shall it be taken when it is not offered? But saith Augustine, Fides in potestate est; faith is in a mans power: but that Father never meant that an infidel can believe when he list, but when God gives him that list, mans will is not compelled. As he adds, Cùm vult quisque credit: when a mans will is to believe, he does believe: but whence hath he that will? the finger of GOD moves his will. Fides est voluntaria certitudo absentium, saith another: faith is a voluntary persuasion of absent things?