A53688:1719
The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance
The doctrine of the saints perseverance, explained and confirmed, or, The certain permanency of their 1. acceptation with God & 2. sanctification from God manifested & proved from the 1. eternal principles 2. effectual causes 3. external means thereof ... vindicated in a full answer to the discourse of Mr. John Goodwin against it, in his book entitled Redemption redeemed : with some digressions concerning 1. the immediate effects of the death of Christ ... : with a discourse touching the epistles of Ignatius, the Episcopacy in them asserted, and some animadversions on Dr. H.H. his dissertations on that subject / by John Owen ...The doctrine of the saints perseverance, explained and confirmed, or, The certain permanency of their 1. acceptation with God & 2. sanctification from God manifested & proved from the 1. eternal principles 2. effectuall causes 3. externall meanes thereof ... vindicated in a full answer to the discourse of Mr. John Goodwin against it, in his book entituled Redemption redeemed : with some degressions concerning 1. the immediate effects of the death of Christ ... : with a discourse touching the epistles of Ignatius, the Episcopacy in them asserted, and some animadversions on Dr. H.H. his dissertations on that subject / by John Owen ...
London: printed by Leon. Lichfield, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
According to the import of the word, the seed of God remaineth in Believers; now that remaining of the seed, is the cause of their not sinning that sin, or in that manner, as the Apostle here denieth them to be liable to sin. For that is the Reason he giveth why they cannot sin, even because the seed of God remaineth in them. Mr Goodwin granteth, that this seed remaineth in Believers always, unless they sin by a total defection from God. Of not sinning the sin of total de•ection from God, the remaining or abiding of this seed is the cause. Whilst that abideth, they cannot sin, that sin, for it is an unquestionable cause & uncontrollable of their not so doing. This seed therefore must be utterly lost, and taken away, before any such sin can be committed. Now if the seed cannot be lost, without the commission of the sin which cannot be committed till it be lost, neither can the seed be lost, nor the sin be committed. The same thing cannot be before, and after its self, He that cannot go such a journey, unless he have such a horse, & cannot have such a horse unless he go such a journey, is like to stay at home. In what sense the words [cannot sin] are to be taken, was before declared. That there are sins innumerable, whereinto men may fall notwithstanding this seed, is confessed. Under them all, this seed abideth; so it would not do under that which we cannot sin, because it abideth; but because it abideth, that sin cannot be committed.
According to the import of the word, the seed of God remaineth in Believers; now that remaining of the seed, is the cause of their not sinning that sinne, or in that manner, as the Apostle here denyeth them to be liable to sinne. For that is the Reason he giveth why they cannot sinne, even because the seed of God remaineth in them. Mr Goodwin granteth, that this seed remaineth in Believers alwayes, unlesse they sinne by a totall defection from God. Of not sinning the sinne of totall de•ection from God, the remaining or abiding of this seed is the cause. Whilst that abideth, they cannot sinne, that sin, for it is an unquestionable cause & uncontrouleable of their not so doing. This seed therefore must be utterly lost, and taken away, before any such sinne can be committed. Now if the seed cannot be lost, without the commission of the sinne which cannot be committed till it be lost, neither can the seed be lost, nor the sin becommited. The same thing cannot be before, and after its selfe, He that cannot go sucha journey, unlesse he have such a horse, & cannot have such a horse unlesse he go such a journey, is like to stay at home. In what sence the words [cannot sin] are to be taken, was before declared. That there are sins innumerable, whereinto men may fall notwithstanding this seed, is confessed. Under them all, this seed abideth; so it would not do under that which we cannot sin, because it abideth; but because it abideth, that sin cannot be committed.