This is the sum and true meaning of the words: These two points were the sum of the former verses which the holy Ghost had delivered with much evidence and strength; and yet lest it should be slighted over by some careless Readers, he doth therefore set it on as he is wont to do the weightiest matters that concern a State: If any man have an ear let him hear: If he have the ear of a Christian, that discerns the voice of Christ the Shepherd of his soul, let him hear it, and mind it well, worthy it is therefore of due and deep attention, and he doth never use the phrase but in matters of singular importance; and it doth imply, That every man hath not an ear to hear, but only those to whom God hath given ears. What shall they hear? They shall hear this, That none of all the devou• Catholics have their names written in the Lambs book of life, but their devout worship in the end will leave them in no better estate then a reprobate state. If they go no further then their Religion, it leads them to the worship of this Catholic Church, but never leads them further then a reprobate condition: But for such, whose names are written in the Lambs book, he excepts them from this generality of worship, they are not of this number: It doth expressly hold forth, That a sincere hearted Christian, an elect Christian brought home to God, and brought to fellowship with Christ, and the fruits of his Election are expressed in his Justification, and Sanctification, he cannot live and dye a Roman Catholic. He may for a time worship the Beast in his ignorance, and do as the rest of the world do, and show no difference between himself and the rest of the world: but when this electing love of God doth shed it self abroad into his heart, it doth make him see the counsel of God more; and it doth ⟨p. 208⟩discover the delusions of the man of Sin, that he cannot, nor dare not worship him: He seeth that God requires more to Salvation, then the subjection unto the injunctions of this Beast of Rome. And this is the point which the Holy Ghost tells you as of so great, and necessary, and due attention and consideration, which none but understanding ears can or will understand, but all the world will run admiring after the Beast.
This is the summe and true meaning of the words: These two points were the sum of the former verses which the holy Ghost had delivered with much evidence and strength; and yet lest it should be slighted over by some carelesse Readers, he doth therefore set it on as he is wont to do the weightiest matters that concern a State: If any man have an eare let him heare: If he have the eare of a Christian, that discernes the voyce of Christ the Shepheard of his soule, let him heare it, and mind it well, worthy it is therefore of due and deep attention, and he doth never use the phrase but in matters of singular importance; and it doth imply, That every man hath not an eare to heare, but only those to whom God hath given eares. What shall they heare? They shall heare this, That none of all the devou• Catholicks have their names written in the Lambs booke of life, but their devout worship in the end will leave them in no better estate then a reprobate state. If they go no further then their Religion, it leads them to the worship of this Catholick Church, but never leads them further then a reprobate condition: But for such, whose names are written in the Lambs booke, hee excepts them from this generality of worship, they are not of this number: It doth expresly hold forth, That a sincere hearted Christian, an elect Christian brought home to God, and brought to fellowship with Christ, and the fruits of his Election are expressed in his Justification, and Sanctification, he cannot live and dye a Roman Catholick. He may for a time worship the Beast in his ignorance, and do as the rest of the world do, and shew no difference between himselfe and the rest of the world: but when this electing love of God doth shed it selfe abroad into his heart, it doth make him see the counsell of God more; and it doth ⟨p. 208⟩discover the delosions of the man of Sinne, that he cannot, nor dare not worship him: He seeth that God requires more to Salvation, then the subjection unto the injunctions of this Beast of Rome. And this is the point which the Holy Ghost tells you as of so great, and necessary, and due attention and censideration, which none but understanding eares can or will understand, but all the world will run admiring after the Beast.
