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The Apostle John setteth down an other note of it, saying, That they that are thus borne again, cannot sin: that is, they cannot make an occupation of sin, they cannot fall flat away by sin: and why? Even because the the seed of God abideth in them, even that seed, wherewith they were begotten to a lively hope of life, even that seed doth abide, and will abide unto the end. Who so is begotten again by this seed, and hath this seed, abiding in him, the spirit hath wrought that in him, which shall not be taken from him: and therefore our Saviour Christ saith, The word that I speak, is spirit and life: And in an other place he saith, that none shall take his sheep from him, for the father is mightier then all; and therefore in another place he saith, That it is impossible that the elect should be seduced. Thus then we see the ⟨p. 158⟩question is answered: namely, that there is an inferior working which may be lost; and a more effectual working of the spirit which can never be taken away from them that have it: And this must not seem strange to us, neither must we be offended that the Lord should take some, and leave others: or that he should begin in some, and not bring his work to perfection: For so he dealeth with other things in the world. Some corn is sown and never riseth: some springeth, and yet shortly withereth: some groweth up to an ear, and yet then is stricken or blasted: and other some (at his good pleasure) doth come to a timely ripeness. In like manner, some trees are planted and never take root: some take root but yet not blossom, some blossoms, and yet never bring forth fruit: & other some through his goodness do bring forth fruit in good season. If the Lord deal so with the plant and herb of the field, why may he not deal so with us, the sons of men? If we cannot conceive the reason of this, we must hold our peace: for all the works of GOD are done in righteousness, and all our knowledge is unperfect; therefore we must herein rather accuse our selves of ignorance, then the Lord of unrighteousness: nay, we our selves do deal in like sort with those things which are under ⟨p. 159⟩our hands. In Colleges, Fellows are first chosen to be probationers; and if they be then approved, they be made full Fellows, otherwise they are not.

The Apostle Iohn setteth downe an other note of it, saying, That they that are thus borne againe, cannot sinne: that is, they cannot make an occupation of sin, they cnnot fall flat away by sinne: and why? Euen because the the seede of God abideth in them, euen that seede, wherewith they were begotten to a liuely hope of life, euen that seede doth abide, and will abide vnto the ende. Who so is begotten again by this seed, and hath this seede, abiding in him, the spirite hath wrought that in him, which shall not be taken from him: and therefore our Sauiour Christ saith, The worde that I speake, is spirite and life: And in an other place he saith, that none shall take his sheepe from him, for the father is mightier then all; and therfore in another place he saith, That it is impossible that the elect should be seduced. Thus then we see the