The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. First, The examples of Believers falling into great sins, are rare, and such as by no means are to be accommodated to their state, in their ordinary walking with God; 'tis true there are examples of such falls recorded in the Scripture, that they might lye as buoys to all generations, to caution men of their danger, when the waves of Temptation arise, to show what is in man, in the best of men, to keep all the Saints of God humble, self-empty, and in a continual dependence on him, in whom are all their springs, from whom are all their supplies; but as they are mostly all Old-Testament examples, before grace for grace was given out by Jesus Christ, so they are by no means farther to be urged, nor are, but only to show that it is possible that God can keep alive the root, when the tree is cut down to the ground; and cause it to bud again by the sent of the water of his Spirit, flowing towards it.

Ans. First, The examples of Believers falling into great sinnes, are rare, and such as by no meanes are to be accommodated to their state, in their ordinary walking with God; 'tis true there are examples of such falls recorded in the Scripture, that they might lye as bwoys to all generations, to caution men of their danger, when the waves of Temptation arise, to shew what is in man, in the best of men, to keepe all the Saints of God humble, selfe-empty, and in a continuall dependance on him, in whom are all their springs, from whom are all their supplies; but as they are mostly all Old-Testament examples, before grace for grace was given out by Jesus Christ, so they are by no meanes farther to be urged, nor are, but only to shew that it is possible that God can keep alive the root, when the tree is cut downe to the ground; and cause it to budde againe by the sent of the water of his Spirit, flowing towards it.

Secondly, That Believers fall not into great sins at any time, by the mere strength of Indwelling sin, unless it be in conjunction with some violent outward Temptation, exceedingly surprising them, either by weakening all ways and means, whereby the principle of Grace should exert it self, as in the case of Peter, or by sudden heightening of their corruption, by some overpowering objects, attended with all circumstances of Prevalency, not without Gods with-holding his special grace in an eminent manner, for ends best known to himself, as in the case of David: Hence tis, that even in such sins, we say, they sin out of infirmity, that is, not out of propense deliberation, as to sin, not out of malice, not out of Love to, or delight in sin; but merely through want of strength, when overborne by the power of Temptations.