CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. Consider That of those who plead for an Apostasy of the godly, there is a distinction to be made, Some go further then others, some hold one way and not ⟨p. 355⟩another; As first, Some hold that though men be Elected to Salvation, yet they may perish because their Elect on is not absolute but conditional, supposing their perseverance, and thus the Arminians, but some Papists and the Lutherans they hold that no Elect man can ever perish, for then God might be frustrated in his Counsels, which were absurd to think; Others they say, That men may have true grace for the present, but yet not Elected; They do not make true Faith proper to the Elect only, but say, many besides such have for the present true lively grace now with them; The Elect man he cannot fall from his grace but the other may; The Learned V•ssius doth at large endeavour to make this the Opinion of Austin, as we told you; Though some deny it, and bring places that seem to evince the contrary, whose Opinion soever it be, it cannot be justified by the Scripture. Lastly, Others hold, that a Godly man though Elected may for the present totally lose all his grace, and not so much as any Sparks remain, but then they say he will not always abide thus, he shall at last recover, So that he shall not finally perish; Now we cannot join with any of these Opinions, but affirm the truly godly, though never so weak, yet shall certainly be preserved to happiness, so that though he may fall grievously, yet the Spirit of God doth not wholly and finally forsake him.

4. Consider That of those who pleade for an Apostasie of the godly, there is a destinction to be made, Some go further then others, some hold one way and not ⟨p. 355⟩another; As first, Some hold that though men be Elected to Salvation, yet they may perish because their Elect on is not absolute but conditionall, supposing their perseverance, and thus the Arminians, but some Papists and the Lutherans they hold that no Elect man can ever perish, for then God might be frustrated in his Councels, which were absurd to think; Others they say, That men may have true grace for the present, but yet not Elected; They do not make true Faith proper to the Elect only, but say, many besides such have for the present true lively grace now with them; The Elect man he cannot fall from his grace but the other may; The Learned Vssius doth at large endeavour to make this the Opnion of Austin, as we told you; Though some deny it, and bring places that seem to evince the contrary, whose Opinion soever it be, it cannot be justified by the Scripture. Lastly, Others hold, that a Godly man though Elected may for the present totally lose all his grace, and not so much as any Sparks remain, but then they say he will not alwaies abide thus, he shall at last recover, So that he shall not finally perish; Now we cannot joyn with any of these Opinions, but affirm the truly godly, though never so weak, yet shall certainly be preserved to happinesse, so that though he may fall grievously, yet the Spirit of God doth not wholly and finally forsake him.