If they had been of us, that is, of our fellowship which is with the Father, they would have continued for ever with us, Psal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which shall never be moved; God gives a man true fellowship with him by trusting in him, and such stand as a mountain, or rock, that cannot be removed, an the cause of it is, because God in a special manner protects them; Gods protection stands as an hill about him, so that none can climb over God to come at them, 1 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God standeth sure, &c. the foundation, some take it for election, some for their faith, such a man doth set to his seal that the Lord is true.

If they had been of us, that is, of our fellowship which is with the Father, they would have continued for ever with us, Psal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which shall never be moved; God gives a man true fellowship with him by trusting in him, and such stand as a mountain, or rock, that cannot be removed, an the cause of it is, because God in a special manner protects them; Gods protection stands as an hill about him, so that none can climbe over God to come at them, 1 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God standeth sure, &c. the foundation, some take it for election, some for their faith, such a man doth set to his seal that the Lord is true.

Q. How comes it to pass that they always thus keep communion with Christ, and his members?

Q. How comes it to passe that they always thus keep communion with Christ, and his members?

A. 1. They keep fellowship with Christ, from the nature of that Covenant which Christ makes with all Believers, it is opposed to a Covenant that may be broken, Jer. 31.31. to 35. so that this Covenant cannot be broken, where he opposeth this new Covenant to the first Covenant made with Adam, which he brake, but this cannot be broken, for what should break it but sin, but God will write his Law in their hearts, &c. and they shall not depart from him.

Obj. Is it possible that any Covenant should be without condition? Is it not the nature of a Covenant, to have a condition on both parts?

A. It sometimes requires none, as Gen. 9. to 17. the Covenant God made with Noah, he made a Covenant never again to destroy the whole World by a flood, and yet there is no condition expressed on mans part, but all the world knows, that whatsoever the lives of men be, be their sins never so great, even as the sins of the Land, yet God will keep this Covenant with them, and not destroy the World by waters any more; now this Covenant of Grace is likened to the Covenant he made with Noah, that as that Covenant was without all conditions, so the Covenant of Grace that God makes with us, is absolute without condition, so that he will remember us with everlasting mercy, Isa. 54.8, 9, 10. so that whosoever have made a Covenant with God to cleave to him in Christ, he will never cast them off, no more than he will drown the world.

2 Though he do require a condition, yet it […] such as he himself will perform, so that I shall never forfeit his Covenant, Jer. 32.40. God will never depart from them, I but we may depart from him; no, God will put his fear in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, so that though God requires faith, and repentance, and obedience, yet he gives it to us, or else we have Christ as a Surety, that hath fulfilled all righteousness for us, Heb. 7.22. if therefore I, or my Surety pay, as he hath done here, no breach of Covenant can be made on our part, because Christ hath fulfilled all righteousness; so that though we be unfaithful and disobedient, yet Christ hath undertook for us.

2 Though he do require a condition, yet it 〈…〉 such as he himself will perform, so that I shall never forfeit his Covenant, Jer. 32.40. God will never depart from them, I but we may depart from him; no, God will put his fear in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, so that though God requires faith, and repentance, and obedience, yet he gives it to us, or else we have Christ as a Surety, that hath fulfilled all righteousnesse for us, Heb. 7.22. if therefore I, or my Surety pay, as he hath done here, no breach of Covenant can be made on our part, because Christ hath fulfilled all righteousnesse; so that though we be unfaithful and disobedient, yet Christ hath undertook for us.

2 From the Spiritual vigour, and efficacy of that Grace which the Lord gives to every true member of the Church, that Spirit which knits us to Christ and his Members, 1 Pet. 1.23. is an immortal seed, it is that spring which springs up unto everlasting life, Joh. 4.14.

Obj. True, if we drink, but we may cease drinking, and so thirst?

A. But then it should not differ from Jacobs Well, for as long as we drink of that we shall not thirst, but this is opposed to that, Heb. 10.39. he opposeth [Greek or Hebrew], so that whosoever draws back from Christ had never true faith.

A. But then it should not differ from Jacobs Well, for as long as we drink of that we shall not thirst, but this is opposed to that, Heb. 10.39. he opposeth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, so that whosoever draws back from Christ had never true faith.

Nay, this grace is expressed, as overcoming all the enemies of Salvation, Satan, the World, and the Flesh, 1 Joh. 1.4. 1 Joh. 5.4. Rom. 6.14. Sin, that is, your corruption, shall not reign in you, it may be remanent, but not regnant, it may Tyrannize over us, and lead us Captive, but it shall not carry us willingly, but it is a captivity to us very grievous and hard, and we strive to get loose from it, it may [Greek or Hebrew] but not [Greek or Hebrew] now if sin have once dominion over grace it should be superior, which cannot be.

Nay, this grace is exprest, as overcoming all the enemies of Salvation, Sathan, the World, and the Flesh, 1 Joh. 1.4. 1 Joh. 5.4. Rom. 6.14. Sin, that is, your corruption, shall not reign in you, it may be remanent, but not regnant, it may Tyranize over us, and lead us Captive, but it shall not carry us willingly, but it is a captivity to us very grievous and hard, and we strive to get loose from it, it may 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 but not 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 now if sin have once dominion over grace it should be superiour, which cannot be.

2 As they never depart from Christ, so they never depart from the Fellowship of the Church.

Q. What may be the ground of it?

A. 1. From the sweetness of that grace, life, and power they have felt in the society of the Saints, sweeter than which they shall not find in any other company, or in a solitary condition, that sweetness which they have found in Christ, and his Ordinances, and his Members, will make them cleave close to them, and not depart from them, Joh. 6.66, 67. Whither shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life? where can we mend our selves, this is the House of God, and the Gate of Heaven, so that they intend to dwell here for ever, Psal. 84.1, 2, 3, 4. & 8, 9, 10. they find such sweetness and fullness in Gods House, that they had rather to be Door-keepers in Gods House, than to dwell in the Courts of Princes without, Heb. 11.26, 27. he that hath once seen Gods face in his Church, he regards not the wrath of men, and for the pleasure of the World, he accounts the very reproaches of the people of God to be sweeter, and if they be better and sweeter, what are the consolations and Promises, and Hopes of Gods people, the true Church of Christ that have found conjugal society with Christ, what should move them to turn aside to other companions, Cant. 1.6, 7, 8. therefore up to Jerusalem, and rest there, there you may find me, Psal. 16.3. My delight is in the Saints.

A. 1. From the sweetnesse of that grace, life, and power they have felt in the society of the Saints, sweeter than which they shall not find in any other company, or in a solitary condition, that sweetnesse which they have found in Christ, and his Ordinances, and his Members, will make them cleave close to them, and not depart from them, Joh. 6.66, 67. Whither shall we goe, thou hast the words of eternal life? where can we mend our selves, this is the House of God, and the Gate of Heaven, so that they intend to dwell here for ever, Psal. 84.1, 2, 3, 4. & 8, 9, 10. they find such sweetness and fulnesse in Gods House, that they had rather to be Door-keepers in Gods House, than to dwell in the Courts of Princes without,

Q. If Christians cannot fall off, what needs there so many exhortations and threatenings to back-sliders? 1 Cor. 5.1, 2. 1 Cor. 10. Rom. 8.13.

Q. If Christians cannot fall off, what needs there so many exhortations and threatnings to back-sliders? 1 Cor. 5.1, 2. 1 Cor. 10. Rom. 8.13.

A. These are not Arguments of Apostasy, but means of perseverance, they are as means to keep us from Apostasy, for he that hath appointed the end, hath appointed the means.

A. These are not Arguments of Apostacy, but means of perseverance, they are as means to keep us from Apostacy, for he that hath appointed the end, hath appointed the means.