A53688:1331
The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance
The doctrine of the saints perseverance, explained and confirmed, or, The certain permanency of their 1. acceptation with God & 2. sanctification from God manifested & proved from the 1. eternal principles 2. effectual causes 3. external means thereof ... vindicated in a full answer to the discourse of Mr. John Goodwin against it, in his book entitled Redemption redeemed : with some digressions concerning 1. the immediate effects of the death of Christ ... : with a discourse touching the epistles of Ignatius, the Episcopacy in them asserted, and some animadversions on Dr. H.H. his dissertations on that subject / by John Owen ...The doctrine of the saints perseverance, explained and confirmed, or, The certain permanency of their 1. acceptation with God & 2. sanctification from God manifested & proved from the 1. eternal principles 2. effectuall causes 3. externall meanes thereof ... vindicated in a full answer to the discourse of Mr. John Goodwin against it, in his book entituled Redemption redeemed : with some degressions concerning 1. the immediate effects of the death of Christ ... : with a discourse touching the epistles of Ignatius, the Episcopacy in them asserted, and some animadversions on Dr. H.H. his dissertations on that subject / by John Owen ...
London: printed by Leon. Lichfield, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. By Physical Operation of God on and with the will, we understand only that which is really and effectually so, as different from that which is only Moral, and by way of motive and persuasion; Now this we say is twofold. The first consisting in the Concourse of God as the first cause, and Author of all Beings to the producing of every entity; such as the acts of the wills of men are; & this in such a way, as is not only consistent with the Liberty of the VVill, in all its Acts and Actings whatever; but also, as, is the Foundation of all the Liberty that the will hath in its actings; And in respect of this Influence of God, the effect produced is only Physical or Natural, having such a being as is proper to it; as also tis in respect of the will it self, and its concurrence in operation. The other is that which Mr Goodwin here calls The irresistible force or power of the Spirit: distinguishing the efficacy of the Spirit and Grace of God, in their working in us, to will, and to do, producing those effects, as they are good and Gracious, in reference to their Rise, End, and Rule, whereunto they are related. This then is that which by Mr Goodwin is here asserted; That if there be such an effectual, real working of the Spirit and Grace of God in us, to the producing of any act of the Wills of men, they cannot be Moral. That is, they cannot-have any goodness in them beyond that which is entitative; And so far, are we now arrived. All efficacious ⟨p. 279⟩working of the Spirit of God on us, must be excluded, or all we do, is good for nothing; Away with all Promises, all Prayers, yea the whole Covenant of Grace, they serve for no other end, but to keep us from doing good; Let us hear the Scripture speak a little in this cause; Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed, to Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Jere. 31. 33. & the 32. 39. This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people; Chap. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and their Children after them.