The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans: That this is the tenor of Christs Intercession with his Father, for men, let them become as vile as they will, how vile and abominable soever, yet that they may be still precious in his sight, and that he would give them a Crown of Righteousness, M. Goodwin knoweth full well, not to be the Doctrine of them he opposeth; If he shall otherwise affirm, it will be incumbent on him to produce some one Author, that hath wrote about this Doctrine, in what language soever, and so stated it; If he be ignorant, that this is not their Doctrine, he ought not to have engaged into an opposition thereof: if he argue that it is otherwise, this procedure is unworthy of him. That Christ Intercedes for his Saints, that they may be kept from all such sins, as would separate them from the Love and Favour of his Father, for which there is no Remedy provided in the Covenant of Grace, and that their Faith may not fail or perish under such sins, as they may through Temptation fall into, is the Doctrine, which he opposeth, or at least ought to oppose, to make good his undertaking; Now if this be so, then (saith he) is Christ the minister of sin: why so? He sees and foretells, that Peter should deny him thrice, yet he prays, that Peters Faith may not fail under that sin and wickedness: is he therefore a minister of sin? because he Intercedes, that his Saints may not be given up to the power of sin, nor every time they are assaulted, lye conquered by sin, is he therefore a minister of sin? or rather a deliverer from sin? That very thing, which M. Goodwin affirms would make him a minister of sin, he affirms himself to do in the case of Peter; how he will free himself from this charge and imputation, ipse viderit.

Ans: That this is the tenor of Christs Intercession with his Father, for men, let them become as vile as they will, how vile and abominable soever, yet that they may be still precious in his sight, and that he would give them a Crowne of Righteousnesse, M. Goodwin knoweth full well, not to be the Doctrine of them he opposeth; If he shall otherwise affirme, it will be incumbent on him to produce some one Author, that hath wrote about this Doctrine, in what language soever, and so stated it; If he be ignorant, that this is not their Doctrine, he ought not to have ingaged into an opposition thereof: if he argue that it is otherwise, this procedure is unworthy of him. That Christ Intercedes for his Saints, that they may be kept from all such sinnes, as would separate them from the Love and Favour of his Father, for which there is no Remedy provided in the Covenant of Grace, and that their Faith may not faile or perish under such sinnes, as they may through Temptation fall into, is the Doctrine, which he opposeth, or at least ought to oppose, to make good his undertaking; Now if this be so, then (saith he) is Christ the minister of sinne: why so? He sees and foretells, that Peter should deny him thrice, yet he prayes, that Peters Faith may not faile under that sinne and wickednesse: is he therefore a minister of sinne? because he Intercedes, that his Saints may not be given up to the power of sinne, nor every time they are assaulted, lye conquered by sinne, is he therefore a minister of sinne? or rather a deliverer from sinne? That very thing, which M. Goodwin affirmes would make him a minister of sinne, he affirmes himselfe to do in the case of Peter; how he will free himselfe from this charge and imputation, ipse viderit.