A Golden Chain

Thus it appeareth, how far a reprobate may proceed in religion: the consideration of this point I direct unto two sorts of men. Carnal gospellers, and Papists. Carnal gospellers are such among us, as know the word, but obey it not; or such, as bearing a profession neither know it, nor obey it. And the best of these come short of reprobates in two points. 1. In faith, they come short of the devil most of them. The devil believeth and trembleth: but they contrariwise living in their sins, believe and hope. How comes this to pass? The devil knoweth the Gospel, and the points of it: and withal he believeth the terrible threatenings of the law, and therefore trembleth. Drowsy Protestants believe the Gospel as the devil doth; though he conceives the points of it better then they do: as for the law and the threatenings thereof, they do not believe them: and that makes them even when they live in their sins to hope and presume of mercy. Therefore the devil believes more of Gods word then they do. Secondly, they come short of wicked men in outward obedience. The young man not yet converted to Christ, when he was bidden to keep the commandments of the second Table, answered,¹ that he had kept them from his youth: and therefore our Saviour Christ looked upon him, and loved him: although this external obedience was not sufficient: for Christ telleth him that one thing is wanting unto him. And in another place he saith, except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now the careless Gospeller is far from performing this; in so much that commonly he makes an open practise of sin one way or other.

Thus it appeareth, how farre a reprobate may proceed in religion: the consideration of this point I direct vnto two sorts of men. Carnall gospellers, and Papists. Carnall gospellers are such among vs, as know the word, but obey it not; or such, as bearing a profession neither know it, nor obey it. And the best of these come short of reprobates in two points. 1. In faith, they come short of the deuill most of them. The deuill beleeueth and trembleth: but they contrariwise liuing in their sinnes, beleeue and hope. How comes this to passe? The deuill knoweth the Gospel, and the points of it: and withall he beleeueth the terrible threatnings of the law, and therefore trembleth. Drowsie Protestants beleeue the Gospel as the deuill doth; though he conceiues the points of it better then they doe: as for the law and the threatnings thereof, they doe not beleeue them: and that makes them euen when they liue in their sinnes to hope and presume of mercie. Therefore the deuill beleeues more of Gods word then they doe. Secondly, they come short of wicked men in outward obedience. The young man not yet conuerted to Christ, when he was bidden to keepe the commaundements of the second Table, answered,