Arguments toprose the cerhilut:e ofourperfeuerance. 677 end he loued them. And therefore all the faithfull mayafire themfelues that theyfhal be faued,andbeing once allured of Godsloue, theymaywith the Apo(lle be vndoubtedlie per- fwaded,that nothing in the world (hall bee able to feparate them from the loueofGodwhich isinChrifl Iefits our Lord. But againfl this it may beobieeled,that the finnes ofthe faithfull doe prouoke the, Lord vnto anger,and mooue him §.Se%7, to call themoffinhis iufl difpleafure, and towithdraw from An oblation themhis Wonted loue and fauour : and therefore feeing fin againfl thefor- feparateth them from Gods loue, it may alfoplunge them v e °nan' intocondemnation. To which I anfwere, that indeede the Î finnes of the faithfull doe in themfelues deferue theeuerla- fling wrath ofGod and eternall death, if theywere not ta- ken away by Chri(l, who bath by his precious bloodfhed fatisfied his fathers iu(lice; and that euen now they fooffend by their finnes their gracious father, that theyhad neede to renew.their faith and repentance, before they can haue any fenfible aflurance that they are reconciled vnto him, and re- ceiued intohis loue and fauour. It is molt true that God is difpleafedwith the flumes ofhis children, according to that Efa.64.5. Behold thouartangrre, forweehaue finned But this anger dothnot exclude them out ofhis loue, feeing it is not Efa.64.5.' the anger oían enemie butof a gracious father, who is not H°VGodis angrie with their perlons to deflroy thetn,but with their fins 3á tvvirhhis to council andfauethem. As therefore children,with their children. faults prouoke their parents to anger, and mooue them to turne their fatherly finiles intobitterfrownes,and the fruites of their loue into theeffe &s ofhatred in outward Phew, as namely feuere countenances,fharpe reproofes, and rigorous chaflifements; and in refpea ofthefe outward fignes and ef- feátsoftheiranger they are vfitallie Paid to be out of fauour and in their fathers difpleafure, howfoeuer in truth at the fame time they intirely loue them, andvie all this holefotne feueritie not becaufe they hate, but becaufe they would re- forme them: SoGods children when by their finnes they do offend him andprouoke hisanger againll them, ire laid to be out ofhis fauour, not that Goddoth euer change his fa- therly affeó ion,or purpofeth vtterlie toreie& them,hutbe- Xx 3 caufe
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