Reprobation asserted, or, The doctrine of eternal election & reprobation promiscuously handled in eleven…

3. As Reprobation hindereth not either of these two ways, so neither ⟨p. 23⟩is it from this simple Act that Satan is permitted either to tempt them, that they might be tried, or that they might be over-thrown.

1. It is not by this Act that Satan is permitted to tempt them that they might be tried; because then the Son of God himself must be reached by this Reprobation; he being tempted by the Devil as much, if not more then any: Yea, and then must every one of the Elect be under Eternal Reprobation; for they also, and that after their Conversion, are greatly assaulted by him: Many are the troubles of the Righteous, &c. Mat. 4.1, 2. Mark 1.12. Heb. 2.17. & 4.15.

2. Neither is it from the Act of Reprobation that sin hath entered the World, no more then from Election; because those under the Power of Election did not only fall at first, but do still generally as foully, before Conversion, as the Reprobate himself. Whereas, if either the Temptation, or the Fall, were by virtue of Reprobation, then the Reprobates, and they only, should have been tempted, and have fallen. The Temptation then, and the Fall, doth come from other means, and so the hindrance of the Reprobate, than from Eternal Reprobation. For the Temptation, the Fall and Hindrance being universal, but the Act of Reprobation particular, the hindrance must needs come from such a Cause as taketh hold on all men, which indeed is the Fall; the Cause of which, was neither Election nor Reprobation, but mans voluntary listening to the Tempter.