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

3. There is an unity in fundamentals or essentials, and an unity in circumstantials or less principals; Now as when God hath promised, and Christ prayed for the sanctification of his people, hereby they are seen to have so much grace as shall certainly bring them to heaven, for though they have not all the degrees of grace, and neither are freed from all sin, yet they have the essence of grace that will certainly bring to eternal glory; Thus it is in unity, although in many things they have not attained to the same mind, to the same judgement, yet they all agree in those things, that are necessary to salvation, and this is called all truth, The Spirit of God shall lead them into all Truth, Joh. 26.13. and they have the unction which teacheth them all things, 1 Joh. 2.20. Hence Mat. 25. it's not possible to deceive the Elect, viz. in fundamental things, such as shall exclude Salvation; It's true, the disciples doubted a while about Christs Resurrection, which was a fundamental Point, but it's one thing to doubt, and another thing heretically to oppose it; The godly then cannot live and die in a fundamental error, no more then in a gross sin unrepented of, because these do necessarily oppose salvation, and this may be a great comfort to the godly under the diversity of Opinions and several subtle ways of those who would bring in damnable Heresies.

3. There is an unity in fundamentals or essentials, and an unity in circumstantials or lesse principals; Now as when God hath promised, and Christ praied for the sanctification of his people, hereby they are seen to have so much grace as shall certainly bring them to heaven, for though they have not all the degrees of grace, and neither are freed from all sin, yet they have the essence of grace that will certainly bring to eternal glory; Thus it is in unity, although in many things they have not attained to the same minde, to the same judgement, yet they all agree in those things, that are necessary to salvation, and this is called all truth, The Spirit of God shall leade them into all Truth, Joh. 26.13. and they have the unction which teacheth them all things, 1 Joh. 2.20. Hence Mat. 25. it's not possible to deceive the Elect, viz. in fundamental things, such as shall exclude Salvation; It's true, the disciples doubted a while about Christs Resurrection, which was a fundamental Point, but it's one thing to doubt, and another thing heretically to oppose it; The godly then cannot live and die in a fundamental errour, no more then in a grosse sin unrepented of, because these do necessarily oppose salvation, and this may be a great comfort to the godly under the diversity of Opinions and several subtle waies of those who would bring in damnable Heresies.