The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. The Reason insisted on by the Apostle, is neither from the word [seed] nor from the word [abideth] nor from the nature of the seed simply considered, nor from its permanency and continuance [the seed abideth;] So that it is no exception to the intendment of the Apostle, to assert the abiding of the seed, not to be a sufficient cause of the Proposition, because its abiding or permanency is not a cause of present not sinning, for it is not asserted that it is. His present not sinning in whom it is, is from God, his being borne of God by the seeds, his continuance and estate of not sinning, (both which are intended) is from the abiding of the seed. The whole condition of The Person, that He sinneth not, neither can sin, (which te•mes regard his continued estate) is from the whole Proposition, The seed of God abideth in him. Separate the permanency of the seed, which is asserted in the consideration of it, and it respects only, and solely, the continuance of the effect which is produced by it as seed, or of the estate wherein any one is placed, by being borne of God. All that Mr Goodwin hath to offer in this case, is, that the abiding of the seed, is so asserted to be the Reason of that part of the Proposition He commits not sin, as not to ⟨p. 375⟩be the cause [Greek or Hebrew] (he cannot sin.) When the abiding of the seed, singly considered is not used as any reason at all of the first, nor in the proposition as it lieth, the seed abideth any otherwise, but as it is the cause of the latter, (he cannot sin).

2. The Reason insisted on by the Apostle, is neither from the word [seed] nor from the word [abideth] nor from the nature of the seed simply conside•ed, nor from its permanency and continuance [the seed abideth;] So that it is no exception to the intendment of the Apostle, to assert the abiding of the seed, not to be a sufficient cause of the Proposition, because its abiding or permanencie is not a cause of present not sinning, for it is not asserted that it is. His present not sinning in whom it is, is from God, his being borne of God by the seeds, his continuance and estate of not sinning, (both which are intended) is from the abiding of the seed. The whole condition of The Person, that He sinneth not, neither can sinne, (which te•mes regard his continued estate) is from the whole Proposition, The seed of God abideth in him. Separate the permanency of the seed, which is asserted in the consideration of it, and it respects only, and solely, the continuance of the effect which is produced by it as seed, or of the estate wherein any one is placed, by being borne of God. All that Mr Goodwin hath to offer in this case, is, that the abiding of the seed, is so asserted to be the Reason of that part of the Proposition He commits not sinne, as not to