The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

This Mr Goodwin frames as an Objection to himself,¹ in the pursuit of the vindication of the Argument under consideration; Sect. 23.

This Mr Goodwin frames as an Objection to himselfe,¹ in the pursuit of the vindication of the Argument under consideration; Sect. 23.

1. 1§. 36.

Others plead that there's no reason to conceive that true Believers, though they perpetrate the works of the flesh, should be excluded from the Kingdom of heaven upon this account; because when they sin in this kind, they sin out of Infirmity, and not out of malice.

Others plead that there's no reason to conceive that true Believers, though they perpetrate the workes of the flesh, should be excluded from the Kingdome of heaven upon this account; because when they sinne in this kind, they sinne out of Infirmity, and not out of malice.

Ans. I was not to choose what Objections M. Goodwin should answer, nor had the framing of them, which he chose to deal withal: and therefore must be contented with them, as he is pleased to afford them to us; Only if I may be allowed to speak in this case, and I know I have the consent of many concerned in it, I should somewhat otherwise frame this Objection or Answer:being partly persuaded, that M. Goodwin did not find it, but framed it himself, into the shape wherein it here appears. I say then, that the Saints of God sin out of Infirmity only, not maliciously, nor dedita opera in cool blood, nor with their whole hearts, but purely upon the account of the weakness of their graces, being overpowered by the strength of Temptation, and therefore cannot so perpetrate the works of the flesh, and in such a way as must according