The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

But Mr Goodwin will not thus give over,¹ he prefers his exceptions to this Testimony in another whole Section: which because the Demonstration of the truth in hand from this place, though here handled by the by, is of great importance, and such as by its single strength, is sufficient utterly to cast to the ground the figment set up in opposition to it, I shall present entirely to the Reader (that our Author may be heard out and nothing omitted that he ⟨p. 392⟩pleads, for the waving of the force of the Argument in hand) that whole Section. Thus then he proceeds.

But Mr Goodwin will not thus give over,¹ he prefers his exceptions to this Testimony in another whole Section: which because the Demonstration of the truth in hand from this place, though here handled by the by, is of great importance, and such as by its single strength, is sufficient utterly to cast to the ground the figment set up in opposition to it, I shall present entirely to the Reader (that our Authour may be heard out and nothing omitted that he ⟨p. 392⟩pleads, for the waving of the force of the Argument in hand) that whole Section. Thus then he proceeds.

1. 1§. 35.

Suppose that these two suppositions be granted to the Inference makers; ¹First, That this phrase [to go out from us] signifies voluntarily to forsake the society and communion of Christians; And Secondly, That this expression [to be of us] signifies true and inward communion with those from whom they went out, yet will not these contributions suffice, for the firm building of the said Inference; The Reason is, Because the Apostle expressly saith; that they would have continued with [us,] not that they would have continued such, as they were, in respect of the Truth or Essence of their Faith; and if the Apostles scope in this place were to prove or affirm, that they who are once true Christians, or Believers, always continue such, then, when he saith they would have continued with us, he must of necessity mean, either that they would have continued Faithful as we continue Faithful, or else that they would have continued always in our society, or in the profession of Christianity: But that neither of these senses are of any tolerable consistency, is evident, by the light of this Consideration, viz. That the Apostle then must have known, that the persons he speaks of, and who went out from them, neither were nor ever had been true Christian Believers, when they went thus from them; Now if he had this knowledge of them, it must be supposed either that he had it by extraordinary Revelation (but this is very improbable, and howsoever cannot be proved;) or else that he gained and obtained it by their departure or going out from them; but that this could be no sufficient Argument or ground, to beget any such knowledge in the Apostle concerning them, is evident from hence, Because it may very easily, and doth very frequently come to pass, That they who are true Christians, do not always continue in the society to which they have joined themselves, no nor yet in the external profession of Christianity it self; yea, our opposers themselves, frequently and without scruple teach, that even true believers themselves, may through Fear, or shame, or extremity of sufferings, be brought to deny Christ, and without any danger of being ship-wracked of their Faith forbear making a profession of the name of Christ afterwards.