The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…

There be some that would have it granted, that Moses and Paul did sin in those wishes; and the concession thereof doth safely end all controversy. I see no prejudice in this answer, for the best Saints living have had their weaknesses. But if you please after all these, to admit also the hearing of my opinion. Mine I call it, because I never read or heard any yet give it: I call it an opinion, because unusquisque abundat sensu suo, and may take which his own judgement best liketh. By this Book I think he means Gods favour: as we usually say, to be in a mans favour, is to be in his books. We speak of one that dissemblingly cozened us, such a man shall never come in my books. For you will not enter that man into your ⟨p. 91⟩book, whom you do not both trust and favour. To be blotted out of Gods book, is to be liable to his displeasure, subiectuall to his judgements. Now I cannot be persuaded, that Moses ever imagined God would eternally destroy Israel: therefore nor did he beg eternal destruction to himself. He wished no more to himself, then he feared to them. But it is expressly set down, ver. 14. that God would not cast away Israel to everlasting perdition. The Lord repented of the evil, which he thought to do unto his people. But thus; Lord, if they must needs undergo thy wrath and severe punishment for their sin, so punish me in the same measure that have not sinned. If thou wilt not favour them, forget to favour me: let me feel thy hand with them. It was not then everlasting damnation, that he either feared to them, or desired to himself: but only the desertion of Gods present love and good pleasure to him, together with subjection to his judgements; whereof they should taste so deeply, as if God had never booked them for his own. This seems to be the true sense by Gods answer; Those that have sinned, I will blot out of my book. The offenders shall smart, they that have sinned shall be punished. So David and other Saints felt grievous impositions, though they never perished, but were ordained to eternal life.

There be some that would haue it granted, that Moses and Paul did sinne in those wishes; and the concession thereof doth safely end all controuersie. I see no preiudice in this answere, for the best Saints liuing haue had their weakenesses. But if you please after all these, to admitte also the hearing of my opinion. Mine I call it, because I neuer read or heard any yet giue it: I call it an opinion, because vnusquisque abundat sensu suo, and may take which his owne iudgement best liketh. By this Booke I thinke he meanes Gods fauour: as we vsually say, to be in a mans fauour, is to be in his bookes. We speake of one that dissemblingly cousoned vs, such a man shall neuer come in my bookes. For you will not enter that man into your