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If a man (being childless) do take unto him some friends child, to make him heir of all his goods, he will keep him upon liking; if his manners be honest, he shall be preferred, yea it may be, set over all his house, and yet afterward for some fault be quit cast off. Some other man taketh an other child for the same end, and maketh him his heir indeed: Therefore we must think it righteous in the Lord to deal thus with us, seeing we are in his hand: and we must not be offended, though he call some, and do not enlighten them: and although he enlighten some, and do not continue them, and do of his great mercy continue some even unto the end: let us rather see what use we must make of this doctrine. First, we must take heed that we never quench any grace, or gift that GOD bestoweth upon us. Secondly, we must still labour to have greater measure of gifts: for the wicked may come to have some small gifts, and such as may be quite taken away from them. Lastly it doth put a plain difference between the Godly, and the Godless, between them that ⟨p. 160⟩bear a show of holiness, and them that are indeed the holy ones of the Lord: for the one endureth but for a time, and the other lasteth for ever. Now if we require a further trial, whereby we may know whether we have received that spirit which lasteth but for a time, or that which will abide for ever with us: then let us mark these rules, which put a plain difference between them. First we must mark that enlightening and insight we have in to the word of God, Certain it is, that both the godly and wicked are enlightened, but the enlightening of the godly is one, and the insight of the wicked is an other: for that knowledge and insight which the godly have received, is certain and distinct: and therefore in particular things, they be able to apply the threatening of Gods judgements to the humbling of themselves, and the promises of God to comfort themselves. Again, their knowledge is sufficient to direct them both generally, and in every particular duty. And last of all, it never saileth them, but directeth them unto the end: But the knowledge of the wicked is not so, for it is confused, general, and uncertain. And therefore though they have a general knowledge of the threatenings, and of the promises of God, yet can they not make particular use of the same.

If a man (beeing childlesse) do take vnto him some friendes childe, to make him heire of all his goods, he will keepe him vppon liking; if his manners be honest, he shall be preferred, yea it may be, set ouer all his house, and yet afterward for some fault be quit cast off. Some other man taketh an other childe for the same ende, and maketh him his heire indeed: Therfore we must thinke it righteous in the Lorde to deale thus with vs, seeing we are in his hande: and we must not be offended, though he call some, and doe not inlighten them: and although hee inlighten some, and do not continue them, and doe of his greate mercy continue some euen vnto the ende: let vs rather see what vse we must make of this doctrine. First, we must take heede that wee neuer quench any grace, or gift that GOD bestoweth vppon vs. Secondlye, wee must still laboure to haue greater measure of giftes: for the wicked may come to haue some small giftes, and such as may bee quite taken away from them. Lastly it doth put a playné difference betweene the Godly, and the Godlesse, beweene them that