The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

But what Vipers, Snakes, and Adders, do such men suppose the Saints of God to be, that their new nature, their Heavenly Principles (for what the flesh in them, is prone unto, we now consider not,) should conclude, that it is good to sin, that Grace may abound; that, because God Loves them with an Everlasting Love, therefore they will hate him with a perpetual hatred: that, because he will assuredly give them Grace to serve him with reverence & Go•ly fear, therefore they will despise him, and trample on all his Goodness; because he will never forsake them, that they will no more abide with him: What is in the inner man, what is in the new Creature, what is in the nature of any Grace, wherewith they are endowed, that is apt, or inclinable to make such hellish Conclusions? If we hear of any such thing among the Sons of men, if we see a Child, or a servant resolving to be profligate, wicked, stubborn, prodigal, because his Father, or Master is kind, loving, and will not disinherit him, or put him away; we look upon him as a monster in nature, and think that it would be good service to the interest of mankind to take him off from the face of earth; And yet such monsters are all the Saints of God supposed to be, who, if their Father once give them the least Assurance of the Continuance of his Love, they presently resolve to do him all the dishonour, despite, and mischief they can: I appeal to all the experience of all the Saints in the world, wheth••, if any such thought at any time arise in them, that they may continue in sin, because Grace hath abounded, that they may live in all filth, and folly, because God hath promised never to forsake them, not turn away his Love from them, they do not look upon it, as an hellish abuse of the Love of God, which they labour to crucify, no less, then any other work of the flesh whatsoever; Presuppose indeed the Saints of God to be Dogs and swine, wholly sensual and unregenerate, that is, no Saints, and our Doctrine to be such, that God will Love them, and save them continuing in that state, wherein they are, and you make a bed for Iniquity to stretch it self upon;

But what Vipers, Snakes, and Adders, do such men suppose the Saints of God to be, that their new nature, their Heavenly Principles (for what the flesh in them, is prone unto, we now consider not,) should conclude, that it is good to sinne, that Grace may abound; that, because God Loves them with an Everlasting Love, therefore they will hate him with a perpetuall hatred: that, because he will assuredly give them Grace to serve him with reverence & Goly fear, therefore they will despise him, and trample on all his Goodnesse; because he will never forsake them, that they will no more abide with him: What is in the inner man, what is in the new Creature, what is in the nature of any Grace, wherewith they are indowed, that is apt, or inclinable to make such hellish Conclusions? If we heare of any such thing among the Sonnes of men, if we see a Child, or a servant resolving to be profligate, wicked, stubborne, prodigall, because his Father, or Master is kind, loving, and will not disinherit him, or put him away; we looke upon him as a monster in nature, and think that it would be good service to the interest of mankind to take him off from the face of earth; And yet such monsters are all the Saints of God supposed to be, who, if their Father once give them the least Assurance of the Continuance of his Love, they presently resolve to doe him all the dishonour, despite, and mischeife they can: I appeale to all the experience of all the Saints in the world, wheth, if any such thought at any time arise in them, that they may continue in sinne, because Grace hath abounded, that they may live in all filth, and folly, because God hath promised never to forsake them, not turne away his Love from them, they doe not looke upon it, as an hellish abuse of the Love of God, which they labour to crucifie, no lesse, then any other worke of the flesh whatsoever; Presuppose indeed the Saints of God to be Dogges and swine, wholly sensuall and unregenerate, that is, no Saints, and our Doctrine to be such, that God will Love them, and save them continuing in that state, wherein they are, and you make a bed for Iniquity to stretch it selfe upon;