The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

I am not willing to wring this Nose too far least blood should follow; The lives of many Atheists and Pagans are preferred before the lives of many professing Christianity. By Professors of Christianity, Mr Goodwin intendeth those who are so indeed, and seasoned with the Power of the Principles of that Religion, or such only as making an outward profession of it are indeed acted with Principles quite of another nature, which notwithstanding all their Profession rendereth them in the truth of the thing it self, enemies of the cross of Christ, their God being their belly, their glory being in their shame, and their end being destruction, Philip. 3. 18, 19. If the former be intended, as the Assertion is most false, the Gospel only effectually teaching men to deny all ungodliness, and to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world, so it tendeth directly to the highest derogation from the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his glorious Gospel. He that would be throughly acquainted with the notorious untruth of this insinuation, let him a little consult Tertullian, Arnobius, Lactantius, Austin, & others, handling the Lives & Conversations of the best of the Polytheists and Heathens, before & in their days, if he be not contented to take a shorter course, and rest in the Authority of the Apostle, or rather of the Holy Ghost describing them and their conversations to the Life, as they lay under the just hardening Judgements of God Rom. 1. 18. to the end. If the latter sort of men called Christians be intended, the comparison instituted between them and Atheists, is to no purpose; they themselves being disclaimed and disowned by Christ & his Gospel, and reckoned among them with whom they are compared; So that upon the matter this is but the comparing one sort of Atheists, with an other, and giving in a Judgement, that of all, those are worst, whose practises are so, and yet pacify their own Consciences, and deceive the world, with a pretence & flourish of a glorious profession.

I am not willing to wring this Nose too farre least bloud should follow; The lives of many Atheists and Pagans are preferred before the lives of many professing Christianity. By Professors of Christianity, Mr Goodwin intendeth those who are so indeed, and seasoned with the Power of the Principles of that Religion, or such only as making an outward profession of it are indeed acted with Principles quite of another nature, which notwithstanding all their Profession rendreth them in the truth of the thing it selfe, enemies of the crosse of Christ, their God being their belly, their glory being in their shame, and their end being destruction,