The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. Whether prejudiced men will grant it or no, it is clearly proved, if the words of Christ themselves may be taken for proof, that he Intercedes for his Saints, that their Faith may not fail, and that, notwithstanding the interposition of any such sins, as they can or may (suppositis supponendis, amongst which is his Intercession) fall into; So he tells Peter upon the prediction of his dreadful fall, that nevertheless he had prayed for him, that his Faith should not fail; That they may fall into such sins, and continue in such, as are inconsistent with their Acceptation with God, according to the terms and tenor of the new Covenant, is that, which we have been disproving all this while; and which our Author ought not, as he doth in all his Reasonings, to suppose; In the not failing or dying of their Faith, in their preservation therein, is included their deliverance from the perpetration of the sins intimated, or at least from such a manner of committing any sin, as should utterly separate them from God. It is the continuance of a living Faith, that Christ prays for; and where that is, there will be works of new Obedience: and there will be the work of that Faith, in purifying the Heart, and mortifying of the sins supposed. Farther, the way here prescribed and limited to the Lord Jesus, how he shall intercede for his, and for what, viz. not for actual Perseverance, and continuance in the Faith, to be wrought in them by the exceeding greatness of the power of God, but for means to enable them to preserve themselves, we are persuaded he walks not in; And that much upon this account, that the way, whereby God begins and carries on Believers, in the way of Faith and Obedience, is not by such a supply of means, as leaves them to themselves to work and effect the things, for which they are so supplied; but he himself works in them to will and to do of his own good pleasure, fulfilling in them all the good pleasure of his Goodness, and the work of Faith with power, giving them all their sufficiency, and preserving them by his power, through Faith unto salvation;

Ans. Whether prejudiced men will grant it or no, it is clearly proved, if the words of Christ themselves may be taken for proofe, that he Intercedes for his Saints, that their Faith may not faile, and that, notwithstanding the interposition of any such sinnes, as they can or may (suppositis supponendis, amongst which is his Intercession) fall into; So he tells Peter upon the prediction of his dreadfull fall, that neverthelesse he had prayed for him, that his Faith should not faile; That they may fall into such sinnes, and continue in such, as are inconsistent with their Acceptation with God, according to the termes and tenor of the new Covenant, is that, which we have been disproving all this while; and which our Author ought not, as he doth in all his Reasonings, to suppose; In the not failing or dying of their Faith, in their preservation therein, is included their deliverance from the perpetration of the sinnes intimated, or at least from such a manner of committing any sinne, as should utterly separate them from God. It is the continuance of a living Faith, that Christ prayes for; and where that is, there will be workes of new Obedience: and there will be the work of that Faith, in purifying the Heart, and mortifying of the sinnes supposed. Farther, the way here prescribed and limited to the Lord Jesus, how he shall intercede for his, and for what, viz. not for actuall Perseverance, and continuance in the Faith, to be wrought in them by the exceeding greatnesse of the power of God, but for meanes to inable them to preserve themselves, we are perswaded he walkes not in; And that much upon this account, that the way, whereby God begins and carries on Believers, in the way of Faith and Obedience, is not by such a supply of meanes, as leaves them to themselves to work and effect the things, for which they are so supplied; but he himselfe workes in them to will and to doe of his own good pleasure, fulfilling in them all the good pleasure of his Goodnesse, and the worke of Faith with power, giving them all their sufficiency, and preserving them by his power, through Faith unto salvation;