The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

3. As for the Scriptures which were cited to him, touching the love and affection of God the Father, by reason of his Son Jesus Christ, he did avow them; adding, that they belonged only to them, whom Jesus Christ did repute his brethren, and his members; but as for him, he had renounced that love, and willingly rejected brotherly alliance, neither was ignorant in how great tranquillity of mind they might be, who had once embraced the promises of salvation, and did wrest them continually therein. For confirmation whereof, this his sad disaster (said he) was propounded for an example before all mens eyes: that if they were wise they should not hold it light, nor happened by any chance, but to learn by his ruin, how dangerous it is, to fall any thing from that which belongs to the great glory of the Son of God: Adding that it was a slippery, and very dangerous passage, yea most fearful to him that stood not carefully on his Guard. Moreover forasmuch as such evident examples, of the vengeance of Almighty God did seldom appear to the eyes of men, they deserved to be the more carefully regarded. That amongst a great number of Reprobates in the World, his calamity was not singular; but his only punishment and ruin did satisfy God, a just Judge to admonish all others to have a care of themselves. He added withal, that therein he did acknowledge the severity of Gods judgement, who had chosen him to make him a spectacle, rather then any other, and to admonish all by one mans mouth, to abstain from all iniquity; confessing withal, that there was no reproach or punishment, which he had not deserved, by reason of his foul offence. After he had discoursed thus sincerely and gravely of the justice Divine, he said they should not take it strange, this his long speech touching the true reason of the will of God: for that oftentimes God doth wrest out of the mouths of Reprobates, most assured testimonies of his Majesty, his justice, and his fearful vengeance. How strangely doth he plead for Gods justice against himself as a Reprobate? when our Arminians are like to blaspheme that justice of God against Spira, which Spira justifies against himself, using a long discourse upon this sentence, and desirous to show the greatness of Gods judgements.

3. As for the Scriptures which were cited to him, touching the love and affection of God the Father, by reason of his Sonne Jesus Christ, he did avow them; adding, that they belonged only to them, whom Jesus Christ did repute his brethren, and his members; but as for him, he had renounced that love, and willingly rejected brotherly alliance, neither was ignorant in how great tranquillity of mind they might be, who had once embraced the promises of salvation, and did wrest them continually therein. For confirmation whereof, this his sad disaster (said he) was propounded for an example before all mens eyes: that if they were wise they should not hold it light, nor happened by any chance, but to learne by his ruine, how dangerous it is, to fall any thing from that which belongs to the great glory of the Sonne of God: Adding that it was a slippery, and very dangerous passage, yea most fearfull to him that stood not carefully on his Guard. Moreover forasmuch as such evident examples, of the vengeance of Almighty God did seldome appeare to the eyes of men, they deserved to be the more carefully regarded. That amongst a great number of Reprobates in the World, his calamity was not singular; but his only punishment and ruine did satisfy God, a just Judge to admonish all others to have a care of themselves. He added withall, that therein he did acknowledge the severity of Gods judgement, who had chosen him to make him a spectacle, rather then any other, and to admonish all by one mans mouth, to abstaine from all iniquity; confessing withall, that there was no reproach or punishment, which he had not deserved, by reason of his foule offence. After he had discoursed thus sincerely and gravely of the justice Divine, he said they should not take it strange, this his long speech touching the true reason of the will of God: for that oftentimes God doth wrest out of the mouthes of Reprobates, most assured testimonies of his Majesty, his justice, and his fearfull vengeance. How strangely doth he plead for Gods justice against himselfe as a Reprobate? when our Arminians are like to blaspheame that justice of God against Spira, which Spira justifies against himselfe, using a long discourse upon this sentence, and desirous to shew the greatnesse of Gods judgements.