A53688:1415
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.
4. It is that which the Lord Christ intended to remove and take away from his, by his death, Heb. 2. 15. He dyed that he might deliver them, who for fear of death were in bondage all their days.
4. It is that which the Lord Christ intended to remove and take away from his, by his death, Heb. 2. 15. He dyed that he might deliver them, who for feare of death were in bondage all their dayes.
This fear then I say, which is neither Promise of the Covenant, nor fruit of the Spirit, nor product of saving Faith, will scarce upon strict inquiry be found to be any great furtherer of the Saints Obedience; what use the Lord is pleased to make of this dread and terror in the hearts of any of his, for the hedging up their ways from folly, and staving them off from any Actual evil when through the strength of Temptation they do begin to cast off the Law of Life and Love whereby they are governed, is not in the least prejudiced by any thing asserted in the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance; Toward some who though they are persuaded of the Perseverance of the Saints Indefinitely, yet have no persuasion, or at least no prevailing cheering Assurance that themselves are Saints (which Mr Goodwin thinks to be the condition of far the greatest part of Believers) it hath its full power & extent, its whole efficacy depending on the Apprehensions of the mind wherein it is. Towards the residue, who upon abiding grounds and sure foundations have obtained a comfortable, Spiritual persuasion of their own Interest in the Promises of God, That the consideration of Hell and Judgement as the due debt of sin and necessary vindication of the Glory of God hath also its Effects and influence, as far as God is pleased to exercise them therewith, acquainting them continually with his Terror, and filling them with an abhorrency of those ways which in and of themselves, tend to so dismal an end and issue, hath been declared.
This feare then I say, which is neither Promise of the Covenant, nor fruit of the Spirit, nor product of saving Faith, will scarce upon strict inquiry be found to be any great furtherer of the Saints Obedience; what use the Lord is pleased to make of this dread and terrour in the hearts of any of his, for the hedging up their wayes from folly, and staving them off from any Actuall evill when through the strength of Temptation they do begin to cast off the Law of Life and Love whereby they are governed, is not in the least prejudiced by any thing asserted in the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance; Toward some who though they are perswaded of the Perseverance of the Saints Indefinitely, yet have no perswasion, or at least no prevailing chearing Assurance that themselves are Saints (which Mr Goodwin thinkes to be the condition of far the greatest part of Believers) it hath its full power & extent, its whole efficacy depending on the Apprehensions of the minde wherein it is. Towards the residue, who upon abiding grounds and sure foundations have obtained a comfortable, Spirituall perswasion of their owne Interest in the Promises of God, That the consideration of Hell and Judgement as the due debt of sinne and necessary vindication of the Glory of God hath also its Effects and influence, as farre as God is pleased to exercise them therewith, acquainting them continually with his Terrour, and filling them with an abhorrency of those wayes which in and of themselves, tend to so dismall an end and issue, hath beendeclared.