These are dreadful degrees and steps of this horrible distemper, and enough to make all flesh tremble.
Let us see next whence this cometh. The causes hereof we may reduce to three heads:
First. The holy Lord hath a holy hand in this, and hath noble ends and designs before him in this matter; as,
1. The Lord may think good to order matters thus, that he may magnify his power and grace, in rescuing such as were returned to the very brink of hell, and seemed to many to be lost and irrecoverably gone.
2. That in punishing them thus, for giving way to the first motions of unbelief, he might warn all to guard against such an evil, and not to foster and give way to groundless complaints, nor entertain objections, moved against their condition by the devil.
3. To warn all to walk circumspectly, and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, not knowing what may befall them ere they die.
4. To teach all to walk humbly, not knowing what advantage Satan may get of them eve all be done; and to see their daily need of Christ to strengthen their faith, and to keep their grips of him fast.
5. So the Lord may think good to dispense so with some, that he may give a full proof of his wonderfully great patience and long-suffering in bearing with such, and that so long.
6. As also to demonstrate his sovereignty, in measuring out his dispensations to his own, as he seeth will most glorify himself.
Next, Satan hath an active hand in this; for,