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

Some understand by this Purging, true Regeneration: in this Exposition the Romanists are confident and peremptory. But so taken, it is mistaken: for if he were regenerate, he could never forget it. Upon this collection they build, that a man may fall away from grace, and that without distinction, even totally and finally. Here they cry Vicimus, we have conquered; the Calvinians are confuted, confounded: but this trumpet might be blown with a straw. Their Logic is too hasty; they force their conclusion to ride post. As in their Indulgences and Pardons they move men to presumption: so in this they drive them to desperation; any way serves their turns to deceive. If this their position were true, they must needs be false, Joh. 13.1. Whom he loves, he loves to the end: and ⟨p. 195⟩that Rom. 8.38. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ: And Heb. 13.8. then were Jesus Christ not the Same, yesterday; and to day, and for ever. But the Spirit of Adoption is an everlasting Spirit: and Gods mercy, like his Majesty, endures for ever: and the gifts of grace are without repentance: God will never retract them, for he is no changeling. I the Lord change not. Man is unconstant,¹ riches are unconstant, honour is inconstant, friends are inconstant, a wife is inconstant, the world is inconstant: only Ego Jehovah non mutor; I the Lord change not. He doth not to day love dearly, and to morrow hate deadly; but whom he blesseth,^e shall be blessed. CHRIST will not quench the smoking flax, but inflame the least spark of grace. Fides concussa, non excussa: the light may be eclipsed, not extinguished. But they object, Matth. 18.32. I forgave thee all the debt: yet vers. 34. he cast him into prison, till he should pay all that was due unto him: The debt remitted, is again required. I answer, that the scope of that parable is to show, that God will no otherwise forgive us, then we forgive others. For certainly if a man be once acquitted, he can never for that debt be damned. Gods covenant depends not on our obedience, but our obedience depends on Gods covenant. We are not therefore loved, because we are holy: but we are therefore holy, because we are loved. If this purging had been absolute Regeneration, it could never be forgotten: for all the promises of God are Yea and Amen in Jesus Christ.