The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Saith he, ¹by the way, this spiritual thirst, which is incident unto the life which is derived from Christ, and the waters given by him unto men, as 'tis enjoyed and possessed by them in this present World, is (according to the purport of our Saviour's own arguing) an Argument, that for the present, and whilst it is obnoxious to such a thirst, it is dissolvable and may fail; for in the latter part of the said passage, he plainly implies, that the eternalness of that life, which springs from the drinking of this water, is the reason or cause, why it is exempt from thirst. Let the whole passage be read and minded, and this will clearly appear: If then the eternality of a life, be the cause or reason, why tis free from the inconveniency of thirst, Evident it is, that such a life, which is not free from thirst, is not, during this weakness or imperfection of it, eternal, or Privileged against dissolution.

Saith he, ¹by the way, this spirituall thirst, which is incident unto the life which is derived from Christ, and the waters given by him unto men, as 'tis enjoyed and possessed by them in this present World, is (according to the purport of our Saviour's own arguing) an Argument, that for the present, and whilest it is obnoxious to such a thirst, it is dissolveable and may faile; for in the latter part of the said passage, he plainly implies, that the eternallnesse of that life, which springs from the drinking of this water, is the reason or cause, why it is exempt from thirst. Let the whole passage be read and minded, and this will clearly appeare: If then the eternality of a life, be the cause or reason, why tis free from the inconveniency of thirst, Evident it is, that such a life, which is not free from thirst, is not, during this weaknesse or imperfection of it, eternall, or Priviledged against dissolution.

1. 1§. 34.

Ans. 1. That we cannot thirst under the enjoyment of the Life promised, proves this life not here to be enjoyed, is proved, because the eternalness of this life, is the cause of its exemption from Thirst; But that the plain contrary is the intendment of the Holy Ghost, I presume is evident to all men. The reason of our preservation to Eternal Life, and being carried on thereunto, is apparently assigned to those supplies of the Spirit, whereby our Thirst is taken away; The taking away of our Thirst, is the certain means of our Eternal Life, not a consequent of the Eternity of it. All the proof of what is here asserted, is, Let the whole passage be read, and minded, in which appeal, I dare acquiesce before the judgement seat of any Believer in the World, whose concernment this is. It is here then supposed, that the Eternity of the Life promised, is the cause of their not thirsting, in whom it is, which is besides the Text; and that they may thirst again (in the sense spoken of) who drink of that water of the Spirit, which Christ gives, which is contrary unto it: and of these two supposals, is this part of this discourse composed.