The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

Contrariwise, this Doctrine serveth not to throw any man into despair: for none is so wicked nor sinneth so grievously, to whom God offereth not Grace, if with an unfeigned heart he seek it. And if thou say it is impossible to seek, where the Lord hath once rejected: yet thou must remember that Gods counsels are known unto himself, and he hath not communicated the secrecies of Reprobation so plentifully, as he hath of his ⟨p. 299⟩Election; considering that there is no certain note of Reprobation, either to a mans self or others, save only That one sin against the Holy Ghost, which layeth hold but upon a few. And the reason is plain and manifest: for he that to day is obstinate and froward, an enemy to God and to all goodness, tomorrow may be altered: and so long as this life continueth, so long there is a space left for Repentance: many are called at the eleventh hour, at the winding and shutting up of the day, in the last act of their life. And so was the ^mThief upon the Cross. And our ⁿSaviour telleth us, that Publicans and Harlots, vile and despised persons, oftentimes enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, before many that carry a fairer show: Thou oughtest therefore, using the means, and setting still at the feet of Christ, to esteem God faithful, that when he offereth thee grace, he meaneth it for thy good; and that howsoever now thou feel no working of it, yet the moments of time are in his hands, who calleth how and when he will, and still to have comfort, and never to despair.

Contrariwise, this Doctrine serueth not to throw any man into despayre: for none is so wicked nor sinneth so grieuously, to whom God offereth not Grace, if with an vnfayned heart he seeke it. And if thou say it is impossible to seeke, where the Lord hath once reiected: yet thou must remember that Gods counsels are knowne vnto himselfe, and he hath not communicated the secrecies of Reprobation so plentifully, as hee hath of his ⟨p. 299⟩Election; considering that there is no certaine note of Reprobation, either to a mans selfe or others, saue onely That one sinne against the Holy Ghost, which layeth hold but vpon a few. And the reason is plaine and manifest: for he that to day is obstinate and froward, an enemie to God and to all goodnesse, tomorrow may bee altered: and so long as this life continueth, so long there is a space left for Repentance: many are called at the eleuenth houre, at the winding and shutting vp of the day, in the last act of their life. And so was the