ObieElions takenfrom tetïmonies ofScripture, a fifered. 695 him; whereby he implieth that yethe Was not depriuedofit. Yea but Dauid(will forne fay)fheweth by this fpeech that he might lofe Gods1 fpirit, otherwife hee would not haue prayedvntoGod, not to take it from him. I anfwere, that this rather proueth that he couldnotbe depriuedofit,feeing heprayeth in faith andfull affurance tobe heard,and to haue hisrequef} granted, according to that, i.Ioh.5.I415. Se_ 'John 5. q. -condly, as the Lord hathpurpofed to continue his grace and holy fpirit unto his children, fo hee .bath ordained, that they fhould vfe themeanes wherby theymay retaine them, ene ofthechiefefi whereofis effe6uall prayer;and therefore whenwe viethismeanesofprayer,it doth notproue that we are indanger to lofe them,but ratheraffureth vs that we Thal perfeuere in them, feeing the meanes and the end forwhich wevfe thé,are ioyned together inGods purpofe and counfel. The thirdplaceobie&ed,isEfa. i .2 i . How is thefaithfull Eras citiebecomean harlot?itVetsfullofiudgement,andirstice lodged therein, butnow they are murtherers, &c. I anfwere, there is no flrength in this argument:for he dothnot fay, that thofe that are faithfull may fall away and become harlots;but hee fpeaketh ofthewhole citiewhichwas in times pall inhabi- tedwith the faithfull, but now it was degenerate,and ido- laters fupplied their places:'fo that hee fpeaketh not ofthe fame perfons,but ofdiuers men in the fain place, as appea- reth plainlyby the wordsfollowing; It wasfull ofisedgement, and suffice lodged therein. Secondlie, he doth not fay, that thofe who were indued with true faith were fallenaway, but generallyofall profefforsoffaith, and Gods true religion, amongawhich were more hypocrites then true beleeuers butas for the true beleeuers and profeffors they were refer- uedbyGod in this great apofiafie, as hee fheweth, verf.9. -Laftlie,though thefaithfull had thus fallen,yet this prooueth notthat their defeóionwas finall, and they vtterly reieaed, feeing the Lord inuiteth themto turne vnto him by true re- pentance, andoffereth them mercie and forgiuenes,verf.r8. The fourth placeobie 9cedis Ezech.18.26. When a r;ghte- 4,Set`/.7. cus man turneth awayfrom his righteouf eff"e, and committeth Ezecb.18.z6. Y y . iniquitie,
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