A30241:1668
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.
Fifthly, Observe, That as without Gods special custody, we would certainly be undone; So the godly when sinning do deserve Gods eternal forsaking of them. The ground of their indissoluble union with God, is not any good in them, but Gods mere grace: They do often and often deserve, that God should withdraw all favour from them, as he did from the apostate Angels; so that it's a calumny of those who oppose the Saints perseverance, that we teach, the godly man, though he give way to all licentiousness and impiety, yet may be assured that God will never leave him, and he shall be saved; for though we are to say more to this, yet for the present we affirm, That a godly man is so far from having any such absolute certainty in a way of sin, that he is to conclude the contrary; if he do thus and thus rebel against God, and not cleave to him. God will at last wholly forsake him.
Fifthly, Observe, That as without Gods special custody, we would certainly be undone; So the godly when sinning do deserve Gods eternal forsaking of them. The ground of their indissoluble union with God, is not any good in them, but Gods meer grace: They do often and often deserve, that God should withdraw all favour from them, as he did from the apostate Angels; so that it's a calumny of those who oppose the Saints perseverance, that we teach, the godly man, though he give way to all licentiousnesse and impiety, yet may be assured that God will never leave him, and he shall be saved; for though we are to say more to this, yet for the present we affirm, That a godly man is so far from having any such absolute certainty in a way of sinne, that he is to conclude the contrary; if he do thus and thus rebell against God, and not cleave to him. God will at last wholly forsake him.
Now these things do especially provoke God to leave his people, though not totally, yet gradually, and that both in respect of grace and consolations.