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By a comparison is shewed in what the errour of false Christians doth consist, and what true Christians do.
THis is certain, that all of us would judge and hold them for very sots and fools, who finding themselves banished from a kingdome by their demerits, and there being presented un∣to them on their Kings behalf a Patent sub∣scribed with his name, and sealed with his seal, by which he pardons them, and enables them to return unto the kingdome; and they taking
the Patent, and acknowledging the Kings hand in it, and the Kings seal, should not care at all to come unto the kingdome; but set themselves to examine, whether the seal with which that Patent was sealed, were of gold or of brasse; and occupying themselves in adoring and ador∣ning it, themselves alwayes abiding in ex∣ile, and deprived of the kingdome, and de∣prived of the Kings grace, procuring by other means, and by other wayes to have that which the King had freely and liberally given unto them by that Patent of his, which they had read and acknowledged, and which they adore and observe with reverence, doing in it and with it, that which is of no importance to them, to that purpose for which the King sent it unto them. For that which belonged to them to do, if so be they were wise, were in receiving and acknowledging the Patent, to come unto the kingdome, and to accept the Kings grace, and af∣terwards to obserue and well keep that his Pa∣tent in testimony of their pardon, and thereby should they know from the Kings hand, and from his seal whatever concerned them to know
By this comparison I understand what a man ought to do, presently after he comes to the knowledge of the Evangelicall preaching, which is like unto a Patent, by which God freely and liberally pardons all those misdo∣ings, by reason whereof we remain in exile
and out of his kingdome, and he doth enable us to return, and to enter into it, and to recover his favour, and together with it his image and simi∣litude. And I understand also how great, and wherein the errour, the sottishnes, & the folly of men doth consist, who reading the Gospel, ap∣proving it & holding it for true, and yet not re∣lying upon that which it promiseth, nor entring into the kingdome of God, nor making peace with God, do occupy themselves in examining and discussing curious matters of God, and of Christ, such as appertain not to them, and are not profitable unto them; and do occupy them∣selves in serving God and Christ, in those things which are not required of them, nor are acce∣ptable unto him, and by which they do perad∣venture more procure the wrath of God against themselves. In this errour I understand it, all men come, who govern themselves in Gods af∣fairs with humane wisdome, not knowing God, nor knowing Jesus Christ our Lord.