The souls vocation or effectual calling to Christ. By T.HThe soules vocation or effectual calling to Christ. By T.H

Secondly, it reproveth and marvellously condemneth that great sin of presumption, a sin more frequent, and if possible may be, more dangerous; the presumption of carnal hypocrites that bolster up themselves with marvellous boldness in their course; I beseech you observe it, it is true here, as they said, Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands: despair hath slain his thousands, but presumption his ten thousands: that men may swear, and lye, and cousin, and break all commands, and yet hope to be saved, yet they hope grace will save them; they resist grace, yet hope Jesus Christ will show mercy unto them, they oppose Christ, this ⟨p. 124⟩is that which, I say, hath slain many thousand souls amongst us, and they are few that have not split at this rock; therefore, I say, this serveth to reprove the baseness, the vileness of such Hypocrites that boast themselves, and compare their hopes with the hopes of the Saints: it is true, say they, I cannot walk so freely, I cannot repeat a Sermon, I want those parts that they have, I walk not so curiously, yet I hope to be saved as well as they: this is that which hath slain many thousands of souls that now are roaring in hell, and they may thank presumption for it. Now this hope is not the hope of the Saints; the hope of the Saints is a grounded hope, but these hopes merely hang upon some idle pleas and foolish pretences, and some carnal reasons: but I tell you they will fall, and their hopes will sink, and they into the bottomless pit before they be aware: it is the command and counsel of Peter, That every man should be ready to give a reason of his faith and hope that is in him; therefore let us see the reasons that carry you, the arguments that persuade you to these groundless and foolish hopes; you hope to be saved, and you hope to go to heaven, and you hope to see the face of God with comfort: let us see the ground for these hopes of yours, good hope hath good reasons, grounded hope grounded reasons; you say, you hope to be saved, and have no reason for it; it is a foolish hope, an unreasonable hope, the grounds therefore of Hypocrites are mainly five:

Secondly, it reproveth and marvellously condemneth that great sinne of presumption, a sinne more frequent, and if possible may be, more dangerous; the presumption of carnall hypocrites that boulster up themselves with marvellous boldnesse in their course; I beseech you observe it, it is true here, as they said, Saul hath slaine his thousands, but David his ten thousands: despaire hath slaine his thousands, but presumption his ten thousands: that men may sweare, and lye, and cousen, and breake all commands, and yet hope to be saved, yet they hope grace will save them; they resist grace, yet hope Jesus Christ will shew mercie unto them, they oppose Christ, this