Propositions

nearer I say, for he was come already unto you (or it may be he never went from you) because to be grieved & humbled with blindness of mind and hardness of heart, to believe certainly the servants of God which bring unto us glad tidings of salvation, and the truth of Gods promises in general; and to long after comfort, using the means of the word, and prayer; the Sacrament of the supper, & the company of Gods children, contrary to hope under hope; yea without any present feeling: all this is a certain argument that Gods spirit is with such, and therefore with you. This estate though it be very grievous, yet it is never dangerous, much less is it fearful, ⟨image 38⟩unless any be so wilful, that they do persevere and continue in desperate refusing of all good means. Unless they persevere I say, for that through the subtle sleights of the spiritual adversary & his forcible power, whereby God suffereth him sometime for a season to winnow them as wheat: they are so bewitched and intoxicated, that they are carried with violent force of temptation to wax weary of it, or to refuse all kind of comfort by fits; yea almost to have no desire at all unto them, yea sometimes even to speak evil of them: but all this is but in temptation, therefore God will be merciful unto them for Christs sake. Thus Job cursed the day of his birth, and wished to be strangled. Jeremiah almost repented that ever he preached in the name of the Lord: both scarcely abstained from blasphemy. David moved with the spirit of ambition, though dutifully admonished, yet wilfully went on in numbering the people. Peter also vain-gloriously presuming of his own strength, being most wisely & effectually premonished of his weakness, even by our Lord Jesus: yet wittingly rusheth as an horse into the battle, and then very cowardly yieldeth and doubly denieth, ⟨image 39⟩yea strengtheneth his sin with a threefold cord, and fasteneth it with banning and cursing; and yet all these obtained mercy bountifully: for why, as Satan had desired to winnow them, so our Saviour Christ prayed for them; that their faith, although it was battered, yet it should not be destroyed; although it were sore oppressed, yet it should not be extinguished. And here be you fully persuaded, that though Luke 22.

neerer I say, for he was come already vnto you (or it may be he never went from you) because to be grieued & humbled with blindnes of minde and hardnes of heart, to beleeue certainly the servāts of God which bring vnto vs glad tydings of salvation, and the truth of Gods promises in generall; and to long after comfort, vsing the meanes of the word, and praier; the Sacrament of the supper, & the company of Gods children, contrary to hope vnder hope; yea without any present feeling: all this is a certaine argument that Gods spirite is with such, and therefore vvith you. This estate though it be very grievous, yet it is never dangerous, much lesse is it fearfull,