that they fall not from him, Psal. 37. 24. and that none shall plucke his Sheepe (the faithfull) out of his handes, Iohn 10. 28. They shall neuer perish but haue life euer∣lasting, Ioh. 3, 16. That he will not tempt aboue strength 1 Cor. 10, 13. Of which promises it followeth, that God beeing faithfull and constant, the beleeuers cannot by their owne folly and vnheedfulnesse quite loose (no not for a moment) their election & faith; for then the temp∣tation should exceed their strength, & they were pluckt out of the Shepheards hand, and they cease to liue vnto God (Faith which is soules life, being extinct) & so not euerlasting.
Secondly, albeit our corrupt nature is so made, as it would goe backe, and easily of it selfe would fall away, yet the elect being vpheld by the power of God, the be∣leeuers cannot haue a will to reiect their calling, nay their will is confirmed to perseuerance: also faith brin∣geth with it a perswasion, that God being our Father in very deed, will be our God and Sauiour to the death, & for euer. And therefore, though of weakenesse we often take sore fals, yet he will not suffer vs to fall away from him. Lastly, sithence without perseuerance in Fayth to the end, Gods calling cannot truly be saide to be with∣out repentance (for calling and faith bee so knit, as they stand together, or fall together) therefore liuely Faith cannot be lost, no not by our owne default. For none wholly can forsake God, saue such as bee wholly forsa∣ken of God, who hath promised the righteous neuer to faile and forsake them. Iosh. 1. Heb. 13, 5. And to shut vp (because this point hath beene elsewhere largely spo∣ken of,) it is not in vaine that the elect being weake, are commaunded to watch and pray, and be sober, to pre∣serue themselues; to feare with humblenesse of minde, Math. 26. 1 Peter. 4. 1 Iohn 5. Rom. 11. For by these and such exhortations as instruments of grace, they are of the holy Spirit stirred vp to great and continuall fear, to keepe their faith and other graces, and by the mightie