Reason 1. Because we are never led into temptation without our owne fault, and consequently without the neglect of this duty.
2. We are never led into temptation, unlesse we have first tempted God, by forsaking those meanes, whereby we might be upheld and preserved.
3. God can and will defend those that flye unto him, and that seeke him in his wayes. Hither tend those frequent promises, such as are Psalms 15. the last words, and Psalms 16.8.
Doctrine 6. The more we are freed from the fals of sinne, the more are we assured of our calling and election.
This is gathered from the opposition, which is made betwixt the assurance of our calling and our fals.
Reason. The reason is taken from the contrariety; for like as the more the darknesse is dispelled, the more the light increaseth, and on the contrary; so is it in these things.
Doctrine 7. Look what progresse we make in grace and vertue, so much progresse do we make in glory and happinesse.
This is gathered from the connexion of the eleventh verse with the former, the force whereof consists in this, that by adding vertue unto faith, and knowledge unto vertue, we shall adde also something unto that participation, which we have in the kingdome of God: where it is to be observed that the same word is used in this eleventh verse, where he speakes of glory, that was used, verse 5. where he spake of vertue; there it was [♦]ἐπιχορηγήσατε, here ἐπιχορηγηθήσεται.
[♦] “ἐπιχωρηγήσατε” replaced with “ἐπιχορηγήσατε” and
“ἐπιχωρηγηθήσετω” replaced with “ἐπιχορηγηθήσεται”
Reason. The reason is, because as in evill the sinne is never separated from the punishment, but in the sinne it selfe there is the spot or blemish, which is like unto misery; so also in good the obedience and vertue is never separated from the reward. For it hath alwayes joyned with it that consolation which pertaines to the reward of happinesse.