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

2 They are said redeemed, secundum apparentiam, in respect of outward appearance. So all the Jews were called the elect people of God; yet Paul saith expressly; That with many of them God was not well pleased, and they were destroyed, 1 Cor. 10.5. Now, Electorum si quisquis perit, fallitur Deus; If any of the elect perish, God is deceived; but God cannot be deceived, Aug. They were then of his Court, they were not of his Counsel; I mean, not of that number which in his eternal Counsel he decreed to save. Inward sincerity is not without external profession, but external profession may be without inward sincerity. If the form of godliness could save, hell should be filled with none but Pagans and Infidels; not a Christian should come thither. But we know that a man may unhallow that blood wherewith he was hallowed; and so deserve sorer punishment, Heb. 10.29. And a wicked spirit rejected, may make his re-entry with seven other worse than himself, Mat. 12.45. And their fire in hell shall be hottest, that re-admit a devil, which the grace of God had once cast forth. As the wicked here say of the elect,¹ That his life is madness, and his end to be without honour: in regard of their estate so outwardly miserable. So the elect judge of the reprobate; We number him among the children of God, and think his lot to be among the Saints: in regard of visible appearance. At last they find him cast like an unprofitable and hypocritical servant into outer darkness.

2 They are said redeemed, secundum apparentiam, in respect of outward appearance. So all the Iewes were called the elect people of God; yet Paul saith expresly; That with many of them God was not well pleased, and they were destroyed, 1 Cor. 10.5. Now, Electorum si quisquis perit, fallitur Deus; If any of the elect perish, God is deceived; but God cannot be deceived, Aug. They were then of his Court, they were not of his Councell; I meane, not of that number which in his eternall Councell he decreed to save. Inward sincerity is not without externall profession, but externall profession may be without inward sincerity. If the forme of godlinesse could save, hell should be filled with none but Pagans and Infidels; not a Christian should come thither. But we know that a man may unhallow that bloud wherewith he was hallowed; and so deserve sorer punishment,