The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. 1. All this respecteth only one expression in this one place of Scripture, and ariseth not, with the least power, against our Argument taken from many places in Conjunction, explicatory one of an other; It runs also upon the same mistake with the former, taking the exaltation of Believers, upon the Intercession of Christ in their behalf, which holds out the Issue of it, to be expressive of the matter of his Intercession, being only a demonstration of the event of of it; But grant this to be the tenor and effect of Christs Intercession, that Believers may not be separated from his Love: is he heard therein, or is he not? Whatsoever be the issue of the question, our procedure will be facile. But it is said, that it is not the Love, wherewith we love Christ, but that wherewith he loveth us, that we shall not be separated from; take this also for granted, that it is that, & that only: will this advantage your Cause. If we be never separated from that Love that Christ bears us, is it possible we should wholly be separated from that Love, that we bear him? Wherein consists our separation from that Love, that Christ bears us? How is it caused, or may it be procured? Is it not by the loss of our Faith and Love to him? Or at least is it not an inseparable consequence thereof? Or can it possibly come to pass any otherwise, then on that account? If then he Intercedes that we may not be separated from that Love he bears us, and that Love infers the continuance of ours, doth he not withal Intercede, that we may never loose that Love, wherewith we love him, by which we continue in his Love? If the old shift be not at hand for a relief, this young part of the Answer will instantly suffer loss. It is added therefore, he loveth us, as we are Saints and abide in his Love, that is, (for so we must understand it,) whilst we are so; for that he bears any effectual Love to us, to keep us up to Saintship, that is denied; 'tis true, Christ loveth us as Saints, and as abiding in his Commandments; but it is also his Love to keep us, and he intercedeth that we may abide in that Condition, wherein alone it is possible for us so to do: Neither is the Question, whether sin, looseness, profaneness, do not separate between God and men, more or less;

Ans. 1. All this respecteth only one expression in this one place of Scripture, and ariseth not, with the least power, against our Argument taken from many places in Conjunction, explicatory one of an other; It runns also upon the same mistake with the former, taking the exaltation of Believers, upon the Intercession of Christ in their behalfe, which holds out the Issue of it, to be expressive of the matter of his Intercession, being only a demonstration of the event of of it; But grant this to be the tenor and effect of Christs Intercession, that Believers may not be separated from his Love: is he heard therein, or is he not? Whatsoever be the issue of the question, our procedure will be facile. But it is said, that it is not the Love, wherewith we love Christ, but that wherewith he loveth us, that we shall not be separated from; take this also for granted, that it is that, & that only: will this advantage your Cause. If we be never separated from that Love that Christ bears us, is it possible we should wholly be separated from that Love, that we beare him? Wherein consists our separation from that Love, that Christ bears us? How is it caused, or may it be procured? Is it not by the losse of our Faith and Love to him? Or at least is it not an inseparable consequence thereof? Or can it possibly come to passe any otherwise, then on that account? If then he Intercedes that we may not be separated from that Love he bears us, and that Love inferrs the continuance of ours, doth he not withall Intercede, that we may never loose that Love, wherewith we love him, by which we continue in his Love? If the old shift be not at hand for a reliefe, this young part of the Answer will instantly suffer losse. It is added therefore, he loveth us, as we are Saints and abide in his Love, that is, (for so we must understand it,) whilst we are so; for that he beares any effectuall Love to us, to keepe us up to Saintship, that is denyed; 'tis true, Christ loveth us as Saints, and as abiding in his Commandements; but it is also his Love to keepe us, and he intercedeth that we may abide in that Condition, wherein alone it is possible for us so to do: Neither is the Question, whether sinne, loosenesse, profanenesse, do not separate between God and men, more or lesse;