To conclude, they which are most miserable of all, those climb a degree higher, that their fall might be more grievous: for they are raised so high by some gift of grace, that they are a little moved with some taste of the heavenly gift 21: so that for the time they seem to have received the seed, and to be planted in the Church of God 22, and also show the way of salvation to others 23. But this is plain, that the spirit of adoption, which we have said to be only proper unto them which are never cast forth 24, but are written in the secret of Gods people 25 is never communicated to them for were they of the elect ⟨p. 41⟩they should remain still with the elect 26 All these therefore (because of necessity, & yet willingly, as they which are under the slavery of sin 27, return to their vomit 28, and fall away from faith 29) are plucked up by the roots, to be cast into the fire 30. I mean, they are forsaken of God 31, who according to his will (the which no man can resist 32, and yet for all that because of their corruption & wickedness 33) hardeneth them 34, maketh their hearts fat, stoppeth their ears, and blindeth them 35: and to bring this to pass, he useth partly their own vile concupiscences, to the which he hath given them up to be ruled, and led by 36: and partly the spirit of lies, who ⟨p. 42⟩keepeth them wrapped in his snares 37, by reason of their corruption, from the which as out of a fountain, issueth a continual flowing river of infidelity, ignorance, and iniquity: whereby it followeth, that having as it were made a ship-wrack of their faith, can by no means escape the day which is appointed for their destruction, that God may be glorified in their just condemnation.
To conclude, they which are most miserable of all, those climbe a degree higher, that their fall might bee more grieuous: for they are raised so high by some gift of grace, that they are a little mooued with some taste of the heauenly gift 21: so that for the time they seeme to haue receiued the seed, and to be planted in the Church of God 22, and also shew the way of saluation to others 23. But this is plaine, that the spirit of adoption, which we haue said to be onely proper vnto them which are neuer cast forth 24, but are written in the secret of Gods people 25 is neuer cōmunicated to thē for were they of the elect ⟨p. 41⟩they should remaine stil with the elect 26 All these therefore (because of necessitie, & yet willingly, as they vvhich are vnder the slauerie of sin 27, return to their vomit 28, and fall away from faith 29) are plucked vp by the roots, to be cast into the fire 30. I meane, they are forsaken of God 31, who according to his will (the which no man can resist 32, and yet for all that because of their corruption & wickednesse 33) hardeneth thē 34, maketh their hearts fatte, stoppeth their eares, and blindeth them 35: and to bring this to passe, he vseth partly their owne vile cōcupiscences, to the which he hath giuen them vp to be ruled, and led by 36: and partly the spirit of lyes, who ⟨p. 42⟩keepeth them wrapt in his snares 37, by reason of their corruption, from the which as out of a fountaine, issueth a continuall flowing riuer of infidelitie, ignorance, and iniquitie: whereby it followeth, that hauing as it vvere made a shippe-wrack of their faith, can by no meanes escape the day which is appointed for their destruction, that God may bee glorified in their iust condemnation.
