CHAP.I. r 4. 278 z,PCt.a.al.i: Men are Gene, rally too indif. forene in a mat. ter of fuck mo meat andperil, Mata2.tó. cACommentarie vpon the to the filthineffeof theworld, and towaxe weary of weldoing is farre worfe then neuer to haue known to doe well: this is properly called a re- uolt, when men depart from the gracious calling of Chrifl : the relaps we lay is farre more dangerous then the fir(} difafe, and the endeofthe Apollate is faireworfe then his beginning : the deuill chat bath bin once call out, and entertained againe, bringeth feuen fpirits worfe then him- felfe, fo as better were ir for a man neuer to haue knowne the way of truth, then after the knowledgeof it, to depart from the holy comman- dment. Vfe. lfinen were perfwaded of the greatneffe of this fume, it could hot be they could be fo indifferent in fuch a mainematter,fo neerly con - cerningtheirflnall and euerlafling eflate: of whom many receive not the truth at all, others turne away and fall from their firft loue, after they haue once receiued it. Did euer the world abound as at this day with Worldliugs, Libertines, Atheifts, Newters, and Epicures ? and was yet the truth euer more glorious and fhining then at this day ? Was there e- uer fuch coldnes, loofenes, deadnes, heauines, drowfnes , and earthli- nes, in profeffors? and iftbat added tò the equine of Pauls reproofe of the Galatians reuolt, that Chrifl was defèribedplainely, and crucifiedbefore their eles, Ga1.3.t. may it not muchmore gall vs , among whome not - withfianding the cleare euidenceand brighrneffe of the truth, it is yet refufed of the moll, and flenderly entertained of the belt ? The which what argueth it either in one or other, but that the former would herein hold their wont, which hath beene generally ro change, and turne their religion with the times, as though the truth to faluation were not the fame, but variable and alterable as the times are; and that the latter haue in no. fmall meafure turned themfelues from that truth,in the which they haueformerly found much more fweetnes then now theydo:& that delu ion bath poffeffedboth ; the one-in whole, the other in great part ? Obiell. Bur it is not thus with vs, we come to heare the truth, and loue it, and hope to hold it .vnto the ende ? e/Infw. Yet this detrac'lethnot from that truth laid downe : For'r. how many will not grant the Go- fpel their prefence, their bodies, their cares? no man will gainefay but that thefe are turnedaway; or ifany fhould, the pitfull ignorance, and the fruits of it, would conuince ir. 2. Howmany be there which heare, and yet in their iudgements entertaine not thetruth ? and thefe are thus farre worfe then the Iewes themfelues, whocould acknowledge that Chrifl taught themayofGodtruely. Men will not beleeue that the way to heauen is fo firaight, as weout of the word of God defcribe it; >aor that God is fo rigoroufly iuft, as to call away thole that meane well: nor fo flraite laced,as toexaóì the forfeit of euery offence : neither that can be
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