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THey, who are not elect (al∣though they thus far proceed) yet they never attaine unto the state of adoption and justification: and therefore by the Apostasie of these men, the Apostasie of the Saints is very erroneously concluded.
ALthough they, who are not elect, being brought up & cherished in the Churches bosome, are in their minds, will, and affecti∣ons disposed by the aforesaid preparatives ten∣ding
in some sort to justification, yet are they not thereupon placed in the state of justifica∣tion or adoption. For they still retain through∣ly setled in their hearts the strings and roots of their leud desires, to which they give them∣selves over, still they remaine wedded to the love of earthly things, and the hardnesse lurk∣ing in the secret corners of their hearts is not taken away: so that either persecution or ten∣tation arising, they retire from grace, and be∣ing either intangled with the love of pleasures, and enticements of the flesh, or caried away with some other vicious affections, at length they shew that they are lovers of themselves, and lovers of pleasures, rather then lovers of God, and that they enjoy nothing lesse then God, howsoever they may flatter themselves, but indeed that they would make use of God,* 1.1 that they may enjoy the world, as S. Augustine speakes. Whence it is manifest that they never really and truly attaine that change and renovation of the minde and affections, which accompa∣nieth justification, nay nor that which doth immediately prepare and dispose unto justifi∣cation. For they never seriously repent, they
are never affected with hearty sorrow, for this cause, they have offended God by sinning, nor doe they come to any humble contrition of heart, nor conceive a firme resolution not to offend any more; unto them is not given repentance unto life, which is mentioned, Acts 10.18. nor that godly sorrow which worketh re∣pentance to salvation never to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7.10. they are not poore in spirit, for theirs is the kingdome of God,* 1.2 Mat. 5.13. To this purpose is that of Saint Augustine, who speaking of the reprobate, saith, God bringeth none of them to that wholesome and spirituall repentance, by which a man is reconciled to God in Christ. Adde also that such doe never feele in themselves an earnest desire of reconciliation: They doe not hunger and thirst after righteousnesse. For such shall be filled, Matth. 5.6. And to them shall be given of the fountaine of living water, which shall be in them a well of water springing up to eternall life. Iohn 4.14. Also they doe neither denie themselves, nor seriously bid defiance to their owne lusts, nor doe they once feele in their hearts any such accounting of all things but losse that they may winne Christ, as the Apostle did, Phil. 3.8. And to conclude,
they never attaine to that unfained lively faith which justifieth a sinner, and worketh through love, 2 Tim. 1.5. For this faith is the peculiar of the Elect, and is not afforded to the not elected.
Furthermore, that onely the Elect are justi∣fied, it is plaine by that golden chaine of the Apostle, Rom. 8.30. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called them he also justified.* 1.3 Those onely, and no other, as out of S. Augustine we have shewne at the first Article.
Againe the same Saint Augustine,* 1.4 God doth not forgive the sinnes of all men, but of those whom he foreknew and predestinated.
It is plaine also out of the Scriptures, that they, who are not elect, never come unto the estate of adoption; For first the estate of adop∣tion [ 1] is grounded upon predestination;* 1.5 Who hath predestinated us, unto the adoption of Children by Christ Iesus.
Secondly, the state of adoption, as also the [ 2] right and priviledge of sons is not obtained, but by a lively faith; For as many as received him, to thē he gave power, that is, aright & priviledge that they should be the Sons of God,* 1.6 to wit, to such as beleeve in his name. Also, ye are all the sonnes
of God by faith in Christ Iesus.* 1.7 But this faith is proper to the Elect as was before declared.
3 All that are adopted for sonnes are rege∣nerated, and that by the incorruptible seed,* 1.8 by the word of the living God.* 1.9 Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sinne, because his seed remaineth in him.
* 1.104 Those adopted sons are also heires, heires of God, and coheires with Christ, and doe receive the earnest of their inheritance. But they who are not elect are never regenerated by this incor∣ruptible seed, neither have they the seed of God remaining in them, neither are they as∣signed to be heires with Christ. Hence is that of Saint Augustine.* 1.11 They were not in the number of sonnes, no not when they were in the faith of sonnes. Againe, As they were not the true Disci∣ples of Christ, so neither were they the true Sonnes of God, yea even when they seemed to be and were so called.* 1.12 And Saint Ambrose: What, can God the Father make void those gifts he hath bestowed, and banish those from the grace of his fatherly affecti∣on whom he hath made his sons by adoption?
* 1.13Gabriel Biel saith, It is plaine that those whom God foresaw are not his adopted sonnes because they
are not preordained by the will of God unto everla∣sting inheritance.
Apostacy is onely of those, who never rea∣ched home to true justification, and to the state of adoption. But as for those, who are the chosen sonnes of God, and endued with true sanctitie, their perseverance is certaine and undoubted, as we shall shew afterwards. Either therefore the Apostasie of the true sons of God ought to have beene proved by evi∣dent places of Scripture, or else that offensive name and title, of the Apostasie of the Saints, should have beene forborne.
De Civit. Dei Lib. 15.
Contra Iulian. lib. 5. cap 3.
De praedest. Sanct. cap. 17.
Cont. advers. leg. & prophet. lib. 2. cap. 11.
Ephes. 1.5.
Iohn 1▪12▪
Gal. 3.27.
1 Pet. 1.23.
1 Iohn 3.9.
Rom. 8.17. Gal. 4.7.
De corr. & grat. cap. 9.
De Iacob. cap. 6.
C. 3. Distinct. 10. q. 1▪ art. 1.