A30241:1664
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 65: Of the Perseverance of the Saints. The Question stated.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. In respect of the acts and exercise of grace. These are interrupted, the streams do not run. They seem to be a barren wilderness, rivers of living water do not flow out of their belly; God finds as in that Church, Revel. 2. Their works are not filled up or perfect: Hence God promiseth, Ezek. 36.17. not only to give the habitual principles of grace, but the actual exercise of them, when the just is said to live by his faith, that denoteth a continued acting, yet many times these actings of faith and other graces are intermitted. The pulse beateth slowly, if at all.
1. In respect of the acts and exercise of grace. These are interrupted, the streams do not runne. They seem to be a barren wildernesse, rivers of living water do not flow out of their belly; God findes as in that Church, Revel. 2. Their works are not filled up or perfect: Hence God promiseth, Ezek. 36.17. not only to give the habitual principles of grace, but the actual exercise of them, when the just is said to live by his faith, that denoteth a continued acting, yet many times these actings of faith and other graces are intermitted. The pulse beateth slowly, if at all.
2. Not only the actings of faith are interrupted, but the contrary actings of sin are put forth, in stead of faith they break out into unbelief; in stead of fervency and heavenly-mindedness they are dull and earthly; so that now, not the house of David, but of Saul doth overcome; Now grace is dormant, and sin is awakened and lively; yea they commit foul and enormous sins, such as the light of nature would palpably condemn, as we see it in David, with what contrivances and devises did he accomplish his adultery and murder, adding one grievous sin to another, and no doubt would have gone further, had not the Lord stopped him in his way: Not that these gross vices did totally drive away the Spirit of God, and eradicate all the principles and seed of grace within, for then how could David immediately upon Nathan's reproof, have so melted and ingenuously confessed his sin, but for the while, the root only of grace was under the ground, there appeared no fruit; or as a man that is mad hath a principle of reason, though for the present, the use of it is violently hindered: or as Eutiches, who fell from the window (