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THe meanes already declared before, are certain & infallible, to assure all true Christians, that God hath adopted thē to himself in Iesus Christ, to be of the number of his childrē
and heires of eternall life, and so to settle their mindes with great comfort and confidence of liuing happily for euer. But there are two sorts of temptations, which before all others, are a meanes to shake this confidence. The one, which proceedeth from our selues, either for want of well applying in our hearts and minds the exterior testimonies which God pre∣senteth and giueth vnto vs of our adoption, to be members of his Church, for by a feeling of the want (as we thinke) of interior and spirituall marks, by reason of the small quantitie and weaknesse which is in vs of those diuine graces. The other temptation proceedeth from another cause, and specially consisteth in common and long afflictions, which ordi∣narily assaile vs in this life. Now as there is nothing of greater importance then the saluati∣on of our soules; so there is nothing which more grieuously troubleth and afflicteth weake consciences, desirous of life eternall, then doubting and fearing not to be children of God, and of the number of the blessed. For from thence proceedeth sadnesse and anguish of mind, which none can compreh end, but those onely, that haue had experience thereof.