An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

And thus I say that those things, which the holy Ghost pronounced to be impossible, remain impossible. And therefore it is not only a hard and a difficile thing that the elect of God, who follow the lamb where ever he goeth, be so deceived that finally they perish, but also it is impossible: and that because the true pastor conducteth them, leadeth them forth to the wholesome pastures, and waters of lief, illuminateth them by the presence of his light: and finally doth sanctify and confirm them in his eternal verity by the power of his holy Spirit

And thus I say that those thinges, which the holie Gost pronounced to be impossible, remain impossible. And therefor it is not onely ahard and a difficile thing that the elect of God, who follow the lambe where euer he goeth, be so deceaued that finally they perishe, but also it is impossible: and that becaus the true pastor cōducteth them, leadeth them furth to the holsom pastures, and waters of lief, illuminateth thē by ye presence of his light: and finally doth sanctifie and confirme thē in his eternall veritie by ye power of his holie Spirit

Upon those words of the Apostle I fear lest that your senses be corrupted from the simplicity,¹ which is in Christ even as the serpent deceived Eva, ye labour to prove that the elect shall be deceived for she, say you was the elect of God, and yet she was deceived. In few words I answer that because she was the elect of God, she remained not in that error. we do not deny, but that the simple sheep do sometimes err, and go astray from ⟨p. 286⟩their pastor, that they hear to their great danger the howling of wolves, & do credit, and receive lies for verity, yea & further that sometimes with knowledge, they commit iniquity. But that they are permitted in the same finally, and without redemption to perish, that we constantly deny. for impossible it is that the lively members shall lack participation with the head. Impossible it is that Christs death shall lack his effect, which is the life of those that of his father are committed to his charge, of whom impossible it is, that any shall perish. for the number of our brethren must be complete, nether yet doth it hereof follow, that exhortations & admonitions be superfluous, & vain. for they are the means which the wisdom of God knoweth to be most necessary to stir up our dull senses, which always be ready to lie in a certain security, And therefore the words of our master spoken to his disciples and the admonition of Paul to the Churches in his days doth much profit, comfort, and confirm us: for by the same we are so armed against offences and slanders, which daily do chance, that albeit we see that from amongest our selves arise such as bring in damnable sects. which lead many to perdition, yet we do not therefore detest nor abhor Christs simple verity but being provoked by that fall & dejection of others, with great solicitude and care, we call for the assistance of gods holy spirit in those most miserable and most wicked days.