Use 1 This 1. informs us that possible it is for men (yea too ordinary) to fall from grace: the Text supposeth it, and in another place, Heb. 12.15. the Apostle Items us to look diligently lest any fall from the grace of God, the Angels did so at first, and Adam soon after, and that which was Morbus Angelicus then, is Morbus Anglicus now. The Lord may complain of us, as justly as ever he did of Israel, My people are bent to backsliding from me, Hos. 11.7. and Isaiah 1.5. Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more: and Jer. 8.5. Why is this people slidden back by perpetual backslidings? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. This is, and of late hath been the case and Epidemical Disease of England. It is no new thing to see the sons of fallen man to fall, and fall away. Saul, Joash, Amaziah, Judas, Demas, Alexander fell away of old. Of all Israel that came out of Egypt with Moses and Aaron only two, Caleb and Joshua followed God fully, Numb. 14.24. Of the four grounds in the Parable only one held out. Many of John Baptists hearers left him and fell away, Joh. 5.35. Many of Christs hearers and disciples, Joh. 6.65. Many of Peters, 2 Pet. 2.20. Many of Pauls, 2 Tim. 1.15. and 1 Tim. 5.15. Many of John the Evangelists hearers, 1 Joh. 2.19. They went out from us, because they they were not of us, for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us. But none of these were ever sincere Christians and sound at the heart.
Ʋse 1 This 1. informs us that possible it is for men (yea too ordinary) to fall from grace: the Text supposeth it, and in another place, Heb. 12.15. the Apostle Items us to look diligently lest any fall from the grace of God, the Angels did so at first, and Adam soon after, and that which was Morbus Angelicus then, is Morbus Anglicus now. The Lord may complain of us, as justly as ever he did of Israel, My people are bent to backesliding from me, Hos. 11.7. and Esay 1.5. Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more: and Jer. 8.5. Why is this people slidden back by perpetual backeslidings? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. This is, and of late hath been the case and Epidemical Disease of England. It is no new thing to see the sons of fallen man to fall, and fall away. Saul, Joash, Amaziah, Judas, Demas, Alexander fell away of old. Of all Israel that came out of Egypt with Moses and Aaron only two, Caleb and Joshua followed God fully, Numb. 14.24. Of the four grounds in the Parable only one held out. Many of John Baptists hearers left him and fell away, Joh. 5.35. Many of Christs hearers and disciples, Joh. 6.65. Many of Peters, 2 Pet. 2.20. Many of Pauls, 2 Tim. 1.15. and 1 Tim. 5.15. Many of John the Evangelists hearers, 1 Joh. 2.19. They went out from us, because they they were not of us, for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us. But none of these were ever sincere Christians and sound at the heart.
