A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The Rhemists in their annotations abuse this place, to prove that a man may quite fall away from grace. Therefore to clear this text, and to confirm our hearts in the truth of Gods word, thi• question must be scanned, Whether a man may quite fall away from grace? Answ. Grace in Scripture is taken two ways: First, for that favour of God whereby he accepteth of some for his children in Christ. This is the first grace and the fountain of all other: and taking grace in this sense, I say, that the signs of grace and the sense thereof in the heart, may be lost: But the f••our of God it self cannot be lost of them that truly believe. When an earthly father is displeased with his child for some notorious crime, he will turn the signs of his favour into signs of displeasure, and show the same partly by words, and partly by stripes: and yet he still continueth his father, and holdeth him for his son, without any purpose to disinherit him: Even so God dealeth with his children; for their sins and corruptions, he will turn away his loving countenance from them, and change the signs of his favour into anger and displeasure; when as yet the good purpose of their adoption is not altered, but remaineth firm for ever: and God is still their father, though an angry father through the provocation of their sins. Secondly, grace in Scripture is taken for the gifts of grace which are bestowed on them that believe in Christ. These gifts of grace be of two sorts, some more principal, of absolute necessity unto salvation, without which none can be saved; as faith, and also hope, and love, which proceed from faith. There be others also less principal, which be very profitable and requisite, yet not absolutely needful unto salvation: As the feeling of Gods favour, alacrity in prayer, & sense of joy and comfort in the holy Ghost. These less principal graces may quite be lost. The principal graces also may be decayed, lessened, and covered, in regard of operation, even in Gods children: but quite extinguished they cannot be, for God upholdeth them by perseverance; where faith, hope, & love are once truly wrought by Gods spirit, they are never wholly or finally taken away, but only in part, and in sense and feeling for a time.

The Rhemists in their annotations abuse this place, to proue that a man may quite fall away from grace. Therefore to cleare this text, and to confirme our hearts in the truth of Gods word, thi• question must be scanned, Whether a man may quite fall away from grace? Answ. Grace in Scripture is taken two wayes: First, for that fauour of God whereby hee accepteth of some for his children in Christ. This is the first grace and the fountaine of all other: and taking grace in this sense, I say, that the signes of grace and the sense thereof in the heart, may be lost: But the four of God it selfe cannot bee lost of them that truly beleeue. When an earthly father is displeased with his child for some notorious crime, hee will turne the signes of his fauour into signes of displeasure, and shew the same partly by words, and partly by stripes: and yet he still continueth his father, and holdeth him for his sonne, without any purpose to disinherit him: Euen so God dealeth with his children; for their sins and corruptions, he will turne away his louing countenance from them, and change the signes of his fauour into anger and displeasure; when as yet the good purpose of their adoption is not altered, but remaineth firme for euer: and God is still their father, though an angrie father through the prouocation of their sinnes. Secondly, grace in Scripture is taken for the gifts of grace which are bestowed on them that beleeue in Christ. These gifts of grace be of two sorts, some more principall, of absolute necessitie vnto saluation, without which none can bee saued; as faith, and also hope, and loue, which proceed from faith. There be others also lesse principall, which be very profitable and requisit, yet not absolutly needfull vnto saluation: As the feeling of Gods fauor, alacritie in prayer, & sense of ioy and comfort in the holy Ghost. These lesse principal graces may quite be lost. The principall graces also may be decayed, lessened, and couered, in regard of operation, euen in Gods children: but quite extinguished they cannot be, for God vpholdeth them by perseuerance; where faith, hope, & loue are once truly wrought by Gods spirit, they are neuer wholly or finally taken away, but onely in part, and in sense and feeling for a time.