724 / 772
698
ObicElions
take,n
fro
tateffimoniej
of
Scripture,cmfwered.
firfl,to the propofition,
that
our Sauiour
Chrifl doth not
fay
that
thofe
who
arc indued with true charitie,may
haue
it
ex.
tinguifhed,as
the
phrafe to
waxe cold may feeme
to prooue;
but
hee faith,
that
the
loue
of
many fhall
bee
cold,
that
is,they
(hall
be deflitute
ofthis
grace
ofloue,and
that
which
they
haue
not
they cannot
lofe.
Secondlie,I anfwere to
the
affumption,
that it
is
falfe, and
receiueth
no
confirmation
from
this
place
;
for
our
Sauiour faith
not,the
true
charitie
of
the
elecq
fhall be
cold,but that the charitie
of
many,that is,
the
loue
of
hypocrites
to
the Gofpell,
whereof
they once
made
outward
profeflion,which
was
grounded
vpon
carnali
and worldly
refpeóìs,(hould
be
cold when they
law itperfe-
cuted,
and when they were feduced by
the
falle
Prophets.
And
of
fuch he
fpeaketh,
vent,
to.
where he faith
that
many
fhould
be offended,when they
fhould
fee
the
grieuous per
-
fecution which fhould bee railed againfl
the
Gofpell, and
fhould betray one another: which
cannot
be vnderflood
of
the faithfull,but
of
hypocrites,
who
made
profeffionofthe
truth
for worldly
refpecgs;which
failing,their
profeflìon
and
loue towards the
truth
alfo
failed.Laflly,
though
this
fhould
be
vnderflood
ofthe
eleó
},
and
that
it
fhould bee
thus
read
that
their
loue should
waxe
cold,yet
this
prooueth
not that
their
loue
fhould be quite extinguifhed
and
perifh,but onlie
that through
the
iniquitie of-the
times
it
fhould languifh
and
decreafe.
But
they further
obie6,
that it
is
Paid
in
the
verfe
following, that
he
who
indureth
to the
end
fhall
be
faced;
by
which,fay they,is implied
that
force fhall
not
indure
to
the end,
and therefore
fhall
be
condemned.
I
ánfwere,firft,
that
all
this being
rightlie
vnderflood
may
bee
granted;
for
our
Sauiour here fpeaketh
not
ofperfeuerance in
the
fans.+.
-fying graces
ofhis
fpirit,
-but
of
continuing
and induring in
the
profeílìon
ofhis
Gofpell,
notwithflanding
the great
per
-
fecutions which fhould
be railed
againfl the
profefl'ors
there.
of which hypocrites, who loue the world
better
then Gods
truth
fhould
not
doe,
and
therefore fhould bee
condemned.
Secondly
I.
anfwere,
that though
this
were to be vnderflood
ofperfeuerance
in grace.
it
mnaketh
nothing
againfl
it
:for
our
Sauiour
faith
not
that_fome
of
the
Elea
(hall
not
perfeuere,
-but