The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

But this repetition of Regeneration (saith he) is not unworthy God, and for men a blessed and happy accommodation; whether it be unworthy God or no, the Scripture, and the nature of the thing will declare. The Accommodation that it seems to afford unto men, being a plain encouragement to sin at the highest rate imaginable, will perhaps not be found so Happy and Blessed unto them. With great noise and clamour, hath a charge been managed against the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance, upon the account of its giving supportment to the thoughts of men, in and under the ways of sin; whether Truth and Righteousness have been regarded in that charge, hath been considered. Doubtless it were a matter of no difficulty, clearly to evince that this Doctrine of the Repetition of Regeneration, is of the very same tendency and import, which is falsely and injuriously charged upon that of the Perseverance of the Saints; The worst that a man thinks he can do by any act of sin, is but to sin himself quite out of the favour of God, into a state of death, and desert of wrath. He can no farther injure his soul, than to cast it into the condition of men by nature; Tell this man, now, whom you suppose to be under the temptation to sin, at least that he hath in him that great fool the flesh which longs for Blessed Accommodations to its self, whilst it makes provision to fulfil its lusts, that if he should so do, this is an ordinary thing for men to do, ⟨p. 356⟩and yet to be renewed again and to have a Second Regeneration; do you not encourage him to venture boldly to satisfy his sinful desires, having such a relief against the worst that his thoughts and fears can suggest to him?

But this repetition of Regeneration (saith he) is not unworthy God, and for men a blessed and happy accommodation; whether it be unworthy God or no, the Scripture, and the nature of the thing will declare. The Accomodation that it seemes to afford unto men, being a plaine incouragement to sinne at the highest rate imaginable, will perhaps not be found so Happy and Blessed unto them. With great noise and clamour, hath a charge been managed against the Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance, upon the account of its giving supportment to the thoughts of men, in and under the wayes of sinne; whether Truth and Righteousnesse have been regarded in that charge, hath been considered. Doubtlesse it were a matter of no difficulty, clearely to evince that this Doctrine of the Repetition of Regeneration, is of the very same tendency and import, which is falsly and injuriously charged upon that of the Perseverance of the Saints; The worst that a man thinks he can do by any act of sin, is but to sin himselfe quite out of the favour of God, into a state of death, and desert of wrath. He can no farther injure his soule, than to cast it into the condition of men by nature; Tell this man, now, whom you suppose to be under the temptation to sinne, at least that he hath in him that great foole the flesh which longs for Blessed Accommodations to its selfe, whilest it makes provision to fulfill its lusts, that if he should so do, this is an ordinary thing for men to do,