The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

But saith he 'Tis one thing to affirm that God worketh in man as to will, so to do, i. e. to enable men to do or put in execution what they first will, or to assist in the doing or executing it self, another to Promise or work infallibly, and without ⟨p. 291⟩all possibility of frustration in men, Perseverance; There is little or no affinity between these: But how and in what sense God is said to be [Greek or Hebrew], working in men both to will and to do of his good pleasure, we shall have occasion to open more at large in the latter part of this Work.

But saith he 'Tis one thing to affirme that God worketh in man as to will, so to do, i. e. to enable men to do or put in execution what they first will, or to assist in the doing or executing it selfe, another to Promise or worke infallibly, and without ⟨p. 291⟩all possibility of frustration in men, Perseverance; There is little or no affinity between these: But how and in what sence God is said to be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, working in men both to will and to doe of his good pleasure, we shall have occasion to open more at large in the latter part of this Work.

Ans. I dare say, an Indifferent Reader will conclude, that Mr Goodwin was very hard put to it for an Answer, finding him contenting himself with such sorry shifts, and evident pervertings of the words of the Text, as those here mentioned. For first, How come the words to be changed into a working, as to will, so to do, that is, perhaps neither the one nor the other? who taught him to render [Greek or Hebrew], as to will, so to do? But Secondly, the chief of the sport made with the words, consists in the Exposition given of them, as they lye in this new Translation, to work in them as to will, so to do, that is, to do, what they first will, not that he works in them to will, but that he assists them in doing what they first will; but what is now become of the tàm, quàm, above mentioned? how doth he work in them as to will, so to do, if he only assists them in doing, what of themselves without his assistance they first will? Rather than it shall be granted, that God by his grace works effectually on the Wills of men, to the producing of their elicit acts of Believing and Obedience, any course may be warranted for the perverting of the expressions, where such an operation seems to be held out. Perhaps this persuasion also of the efficacy of the grace of God on the wills of men is such, that if it be found in any place of Scripture, to be declared or asserted, it is enough to make wise and considering prudent men to question their Authority. But Thirdly, (saith he) This is not infallibly to work Perseverance. I say, show what else is required to Perseverance, but to will and do, according to the mind of God, which of his own good pleasure, he promiseth effectually to work in Believers, and you say something that may render your reasonings considerable; but it seems we must be kept in abeyance for an answer to this, until his criticism be ready to manifest, how God is said to be [Greek or Hebrew], working in men, perhaps what is never wrought without any such effect as is imagined; What may by him be brought forth to this purpose, time will show; But if he be able to make [Greek or Hebrew], God is working in you to will and to do, forsooth from the Participial expression of the verb, he will manifest more skill in Greek, then he hath hitherto in Divinity, in all his Learned Treatises: