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See then a quite contrary course of the wicked, and those that of sincerity do worship God, See I say how contrarily the graces and gifts of GOD do work in them. And therefore from the consideration hereof, we may well draw a fourth rule, whereby to make trial and examination of our selves: So to conclude this point in a word, when a man by the spirit of GOD hath been enlightened unto a certain and sufficient knowledge of Gods will, when he findeth his affection, chiefly and above all other things set upon GOD, when he findeth a pure and sincere love of God in his heart, not for wages, but for the work of grace, which after an unspeakable manner doth move him thereunto: and when he doth thankfully acknowledge mercies received, ⟨p. 167⟩as he doth carefully attend and wa•te upon the Lord, till he bestow some greater measure of graces upon him; Then may he be undoubtedly persuaded, that he hath found the spirit working in him, in a more effectual manner, and that therefore it shall never be taken from him. But what then? may such men cast off all care? No, for unto them doth saint Paul give this charge That they do not quench the spirit. And not with out cause doth he give them this charge: for though the spirit it self can never be taken utterly from them, yet doubtless, if they wax proud, if they grow secure, if they fall into sin, the graces and gifts of the spirit, may decay and die in them, their clear understanding, their feeling, their affection, and all may be gone, so that in their own judgement, and in the judgment of others, it may seem that they have quite quenched, and put out the spirit. Neither must this seem so strange: for if the image of God, which was more perfectly placed in Adam, then it is now in us, If I say, th•s image might quite be lost and blotted out, as we see it was, then no marvel if the graces of the spirit of God be for a time, as it were dead and drowned in us. And that we may be the less offended herewith, the scriptures do offer unto us such examples of men, as having ⟨p. 198⟩been once effectually called and truly borne again, have yet afterward through some sins, lost the graces of the spirit:

See then a quite contrarye course of the wicked, and those that of sinceritie doe worship God, See I say howe contrarily the graces and giftes of GOD doe worke in them. And therfore from the consideration heereof, we may well draw a fourth rule, wherby to make triall and examination of our selues: So to conclude this poynte in a worde, when a man by the spirite of GOD hath beene inlightned vnto a certaine and sufficient knowledge of Gods will, when he findeth his affection, chiefly and aboue all other things set vppon GOD, when he findeth a pure and sincere loue of God in his heart, not for wages, but for the worke of grace, which after an vnspeakable manner doth moue him thereunto: and when hee doth thankefully acknowledge mercies receiued,