loins be girded about and your lights burning: and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord. Luke xii, 35-37.-Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Watch ye therefore and pray always. Luke xxi, 34, 36.-Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist, stedfast in the faith. 1 Peter v, 8, 9.--Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. James iv, 7-He that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John v, 18.-And we desire, that every one of you do shew THE SAME DILIGENCE, to the FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE unto the end. Hebrews vi, 11.

"That God's grace shall never be wanting." Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm xxiii, 6.—For I am persuaded, that ueither death nor life &c. shall separate us from the love of God. Rom. viii, 38.-He which hath begun a good work in you. Phil. i, 6.-Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you. (See Luke xi, 13; Acts v, 32.) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. John xv, 2, 7, 10.-For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Rom. vi, 14.My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor. xii, 9.-Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, [the false teachers,] because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John iv, 4.

"But how a believer may be assured for the time to come, that he himself shall not be wanting to do his duty." &c.] For

1. Man is many times deceived in his present condition.-Thou sayest, I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art WRETCHED and MISERABLE and POOR and BLIND and NAKED. Rev. iii, 17; Gal. vi, 3.

2. Man's heart is deceitful above all things. Jer. xvii, 9; see John xvi, 2.

3. It is God's prerogative to know future contingencies.-Isa. xli, 22, 23.-The righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him. Eccles. ix, 1.

4. A man may resolve well for the present, and be confident [that] he shall stick to such principles and resolutions as he hath once made and espoused; and yet [may fall quite off from them.-Hazael practised afterward what he then abhorred. 2 Kings viii, 13.-Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Matt. xxvi, 33, 35; see Mark xiv, 31.-But he denied before them all, saying, I do not know the man. And again he denied

with an oath. (verses 70, 72.) Then began he to curse and to swear. (verse 74.) And they all forsook him and fled. Mark xiv, 50.-So Hezekiah wrought that which was good, and right, and truth, before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (2 Chron. xxxi, 20, 21.) But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him. For his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. xxxii, 25.-See David's fall, 2 Samuel xi. 5. Hence "Woe to him that is wise in his own eyes!" Isa. v, 21; Rom. xii, 16.

6. Our life is a warfare: (Job vii, 1.) and only death dischargeth us from that service. Rev. xiv, 13.-Happy is the man that feareth always. Prov. xxviii, 14.-For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Prov. xxvii, 1.

7. Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. x, 12; see Rom. xi, 20.-Watch and pray. Matt. xxvi, 41.-Take heed lest at any time, &c. (Luke xxi, 34, 36.) and work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Phil, ii, 13.

WHAT THE REMONSTRANTS HOLD NOT,

TOUCHING

PERSEVERANCE.

REJECTION I.

They HOLD NOT, that "a Believer's Perseverance in faith is an effect of that absolute decree, wherein God is said to have chosen some particular persons, without all respect to any condition of obedience."

THE REASON.

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalm cxxv, 1.-Thou standest by faith. Rom. xi, 20.-Kept through faith unto salvation. 1 Pet. i, 5.-As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. If ye abide in me, &c. John xv, 4, 7-If ye love me, keep my commandments; and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that may abide with you for ever. John xiv, 15, 16.—This is the will of God, even your sanctification.

1 Thess. iv, 3, 4.-I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away. 1 Cor. ix, 27.-If ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom. viii. 13, 16.-But grow in grace. 2 Peter iii, 18.-This is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God (not of necessity) endure grief. 1 Peter ii, 19.-If ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Psalm xv, 5: 2 Peter i, 10.-Take unto you and put on the whole armour of God, &c. Ephes. vi, 10-19.-Give diligence to make your calling and election SURE. 2 Pet. i, 5.-Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. vi, 12.-I pursue hard after IF THAT I may apprehend, &c. Phil. iii, 12.

REJECTION II.

They do utterly DENY, that "true believers cannot sin of deliberation, but only of ignorance or infirmity."

THE REASON.

1. From EXHORTATIONS.-Receive not the grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. vi, 1.-Quench_not the Spirit: 1 Thess. v, 19.Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Ephes. iv, 30.-Cast not away your confidence; if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure iu him. Heb. x, 35, 37, 38.

also

2. From EXPOSTULATIONS and ADMIRATION, &C.-Will ye go away? John vi, 67.-How is the faithful city become an harlot! Isa. i, 21.-Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this;-For my people have committed two evils:-Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me! Jer. ii, 12, 21. 3. He taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself. Matt. xii, 43-45; Luke xi, 24.

4. David's example. He sent messengers for Bathsheba, and lay with her. 2 Sam. xi, 4.-He sends for Uriah to cover the fact, (verse 6.) and tempts him to that purpose. (verse 8.) He made him drunk, (verse 13.) plotted and contrived his death. (verses 14, 15.

REJECTION III.

They do utterly DENY, that "true believers can by no sins fall from the favour of God."

THE REASON.

If thou continue in his goodness; otherwise, thou shalt be cut off. Rom. xi, 22.-The thing that David had done displeased the

Lord. 2 Sam. xi, 27. See xii, 10-12.-And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord. 1 Kings xi, 9. See 1 Chron. xxviii, 9; Canticles v, 2-6.-Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. Isa. lxiv, 5, 7, 9.—All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. For the wickedness of their doings, I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more. Hosea ix, 15, 17.—He said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: So he was their Saviour. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Isa. lxiii, 7—10.-There was wrath upon Hezekiah. 2 Chron. xxxii, 25.-When the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters. Deut. xxxii, 19.-I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev. iii, 16.Thine own wickedness shall correct thee:- -Know therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord. Jer. ii, 19.—But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb. x, 39; see verse 38.

REJECTION IV.

They do utterly DENY, that "every man is bound to believe that HE IS ELECTED, and, consequently, that he cannot fall from that election: or that a thousand sins, yea, the sins of the whole world, cannot make his election void."

THE REASON.

See the places cited for conditional Election, (page 101,) and the Second and Third Affirmatives of this Article, (page 140,) and the Reason of the foregoing Negative. To which add:If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. Rom. viii, 13.—His servants ye are, to whom ye obey. vi, 16.-For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2 Peter ii, 19. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth, as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John xv, 6.—Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works. Rev. ii, 5.— Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, &c. iii, 2.-I would thou wert cold or hot, &c verses 15, 16.-Judas, being one of those whom the Father had GIVEN TO CHRIST, was lost. He had power over all devils; (John xvii, 12.) yet through covetousness he made way for Satan to enter into his heart. (Luke ix, 1.) It seems that he had some title also to ONE of those TWELVE THRONES. (Luke xxii, 3, 4. See Matt.

xxvi, 14, 15.) But he forfeited his interest and never came to sit on it. (Matt. xix, 28.)

REJECTION V.

They do utterly DENY, that "no sins of the faithful, how great and grievous soever they be, are imputed unto them; or that all their sins, present and future, are forgiven them."

THE REASON.

When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned; in his trespass and sin shall he die. Ezek. xviii, 24.-I will visit their iniquity with rods. Psalm lxxxix, 31, 32; 2 Sam. vii, 14. -Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house. 2 Sam. xii, 10.-O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; thy hand is heavy upon me. For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Psalm li, 8, 9, 10; see vi, and xxxviii.—I have somewhat against thee. Rev. ii, 4, 14.For this cause many are weak and sickly amongst you, and many sleep. 1 Cor. xi, 30.-You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos iii, 2.-See the reason of the Third Negative, page 147.

REJECTION VI.

They do utterly DENY, that "true believers falling into deadly heresies and most heinous sins, as adulteries and murders, (for which the Church, according to Christ's institution is forced to testify, that she cannot tolerate them in external communion, and that, unless they repent, they shall have no part in the kingdom of heaven,) cannot, notwithstanding, fall totally and finally from faith."

THE REASON.

If you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. 1 Chron. xxviii, 9.-Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take

On the 17th of Dec. 1618, according to appointment, the cited Remonstrants delivered to the Synod of Dort the remaining Four Articles, and added at the conclusion: "Most reverend Fathers and Brethren, since we