able to liue for his righteousnesse, in the day that he sinneth, &c. And therefore as the sinner hath no cause to goe on in his sinne, despairing of pardon, so the righteous hath no reason to desist in his righteousnesse, presuming of reward, for that which he hath done already. The fift meanes is, to consi∣der, that if wee perseuere not in the profession and practice of true godli∣nesse, all our former labour will not onely be spent in vaine, but also to our great losse, seeing we shall be in farre worse case after our apostasie, then we were before we made any profession of Religion. For Satan hauing bin once beaten out of possession, vpon his returne taketh surer hold; & as our Sauiour speakes, One euil spirit taketh with him seuen other worse then himselfe, and reenter and dwell there: & the last state of that man is worse then the first. So the Apostle Peter telleth vs, that it had bin better for apostates not to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse, then after they haue knowne it, to turne from it, like the Dog to his vomit, and the Sow being washed, to her wallowing in the mire. The sixth meanes is, to haue alwayes in our remembrance the fearefull pu∣nishments which are inflicted vpon Apostates, both in this life and the life to come. For the backslider in heart shall bee filled with his owne wayes; and a good man, who perseuereth in his integrity, shall be satisfied from himselfe. More especially, he that forsaketh God and the wayes of his Commande∣ments, the Lord will forsake him, & giue him ouer vnto himselfe, to go on in his owne sinfull courses to his euerlasting perdition and destruction, ac∣cording to that of Dauid to his sonne Salomon; If thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for euer. And that of Azariah to Asa; The Lord is with you, while you be with him, and if yee seeke him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, hee will forsake you. So the Lord threatneth to stretch out his hand, and to cut off them that were turned backe from him, and those who had not sought him, nor inquired after him. In the life to come Apostates shall be depriued of heauenly happinesse, for he only that indureth to the end, shall be saued. And he that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh backe, shall not be thought fit for the Kingdome of God. Yea, they shall not only lose these hea∣uenly ioyes, but also haue their portion in hellish torments; For they that sinne willingly, after they haue receiued the knowledge of the truth, and perseuere in their sinnes without repentance, there remaineth vnto them no more sacri∣fice for sinnes; but a fearefull looking for of iudgement, and fiery indignation which shall deuoure the aduersaries, as the Apostle speaketh.