The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. To let pass M. Goodwins Proverb, with its Application, (it being very facile to return it to its Author, there being nothing in the World by him proposed, to induce us to such an estimation of his associates, in the work of teaching the Doctrine of the Saints Apostasy, and their labours therein, or any other undertaking of theirs, as he labours to beget, in gilding over their Worth and Writings, but only his own judgment, & an overweening of their Geese for Swans,) Let us see what is offered by him to evince the Experience Asserted, not to be so unquestionable as is pretended. He offers First, his own Affirmation, That if an estimate may be made of mens Worth and Holiness by their writings, Those who oppose the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance, will be found in the promotion of Holiness, and the practice of it, to out go their Adversaries. Their writings, he tells us, breath forth a spirit of holiness, such as he cannot find in the writings of others; But first, for this you have only M. Goodwins naked single Testimony: And that, opposed to the common experience of the people of God; What weight this is like to bear with men, the event will show. It is a hard thing for one man upon his bare word, to undertake to persuade a multitude, that what their eyes see, and their ears hear, is not so; M. Goodwin had need have Pythagorean Disciples for the embracing of these dictates of his; The experience of Thousands, is placed to confirm the observation insisted on: saith M. Goodwin, It is not so, they are in my judgement all deceived. But,

Ans. To let passe M. Goodwins Proverb, with its Applycation, (it being very facile to returne it to its Author, there being nothing in the World by him proposed, to induce us to such an estimation of his associates, in the work of teaching the Doctrine of the Saints Apostasy, and their labours therein, or any other undertaking of theirs, as he labours to beget, in guilding over their Worth and Writings, but only his own judgment, & an overweening of their Geese for Swans,) Let us see what is offered by him to evince the Experience Asserted, not to be so unquestionable as is pretended. He offers First, his own Affirmation, That if an estimate may be made of mens Worth and Holinesse by their writings, Those who oppose the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance, will be found in the promotion of Holinesse, and the practice of it, to out goe their Adversaries. Their writings, he tells us, breath forth a spirit of holinesse, such as he cannot find in the writings of others; But first, for this you have only M. Goodwins naked single Testimony: And that, opposed to the common experience of the people of God; What weight this is like to beare with men, the event will shew. It is a hard thing for one man upon his bare word, to undertake to perswade a multitude, that what their eyes see, and their eares heare, is not so; M. Goodwin had need have Pythagorean Disciples for the imbracing of these dictates of his; The experience of Thousands, is placed to confirme the observation insisted on: saith M. Goodwin, It is not so, they are in my judgement all deceived. But,