Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

And as I deny not but that it may be possible,¹ and is too clear by woeful experience, that the best may be snared with the sins of others; so yet, I say, that when they fall, it appeareth plainly, that it was the subtle malice of the devil, watching his opportunity so narrowly, that he deceived them, rather then that they were given over like wicked men; to lie therein, and to add sin to sin without combat and conflict, as though they had made a league §Bwith sin, and were without God in the world, as the other be. And the rather I say this, because when they have been awaked,² and come to themselves again, they are so strangely amazed at their offence,³ and so tremble to think what they have done, and can have no peace within themselves until they return: and that after they have got out, they are made more wary and vigilant against the like another time: the which of the wicked cannot be said,⁴ in any of their repentings, till God change their hearts in deed, although in sudden, and rash fear they may be flighted, till it vanish away again like smoke, and so come to nothing.

And as I deny not but that it may be possible,¹ and is too cleere by wofull experience, that the best may be snared with the sinnes of others; so yet, I say, that when they fall, it appeareth plainelie, that it was the subtill malice of the diuell, watching his opportunitie so narrowlie, that he deceiued them, rather then that they were giuen ouer like wicked men; to lie therein, and to adde sinne to sinne without combat and conflict, as though they had made a league §Bwith sinne, and were without God in the world, as the other be. And the rather I say this, because when they haue been awaked,² and come to themselues againe, they are so strangely amased at their offence,