A treatise tending unto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of…A treatise tending vnto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of…

LXI.

The cause why a Christian cannot fall away¹ from grace, is this: after that he is sanctified, he receiveth from god another special grace, which may be called Corroboration. For he hath in him not only the sanctifying, but also the strengthening power of Christ. Therefore Paul prayeth for the Ephesians, ⁱthat they may be strengthened in the inner man: for the Colossians, ^kthat they might be strengthened with the glorious power of Christ. And of himself he saith ^lthat he is able to do all things through the power of Christ that strengthen him ^mDavid saith, that God reneweth them that fear him, as the Eagle reneweth her decayed strength. ⁿAnd Job shows worthily that they, which by preaching of the word are reconciled unto God, are restored again and gather new strength, so that their flesh becomes as the flesh of young children. From hence as from a special cause ariseth patience & perseverance unto the end: for when a man is supported by the power of Christ, he may be able to bear many crosses patiently with a con •ented mind⁷ & persevere in bearing of it how long so ever the cross endureth. Thus much of the estate ⟨p. 107⟩