The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

But to spare the Reader, I shall give you this man's judgment, together with one of his Followers, who hath had the happiness to clear his Masters mind, above any that have undertaken the maintenance of his Doctrine, in that part now controverted in the Church of Rome; & therein I shall manifest (what I formerly proposed) what Beamings, and Irradiations of this Truth, do yet glide through that gross darkness, which is spread upon the face of the Romish Synagogue (referring what I have further to add on this head, to the account which God assisting I shall ere long give of the present Jansenian Controversies, in my Considerations on Mr. Biddle's Catechisms, a task by authority lately imposed on me.) This is Didacus Alvarez whose 10th Book de Auxiliis treats peculiarly of this Subject of Perseverance. In the entrance of his disputation he lays down the same Principles with the Former, concerning the necessity of the Peculiar Grace of Perseverance to this end that any one may persevere. Disput: 103.

But to spare the Reader, I shall give you this man's judgment, together with one of his Followers, who hath had the happiness to cleare his Masters minde, above any that have undertaken the maintenance of his Doctrine, in that part now controverted in the Church of Rome; & therein I shall manifest (what I formerly proposed) what Beamings, and Irradiations of this Truth, do yet glide through that gross darkness, which is spread upon the face of the Romish Synagogue (referring what I have further to adde on this head, to the account which God assisting I shall ere long give of the present Jansenian Controversies, in my Considerations on Mr. Biddles Catechismes, a taske by authority lately imposed on me.) This is Didacus Alvarez whose 10th Book de Auxiliis treats peculiarly of this Subject of Perseverance. In the entrance of his disputation he layes down the same Principles with the Former, concerning the necessity of the Peculiar Grace of Perseverance to this end that any one may persevere. Disput: 103.

Then Disp: 108 He further manifests, that this gift, or Grace of Perseverance, does not depend on any Conditions in us, or any Cooperation of our wills. His position he lays down in these words: Donum perseverantiae, in ratione Doni perseverantiae, & efficacia illius, nullo modo dependet effectivè ex libera Cooperatione nostri Arbitrii, sed à solo Deo, atque ab efficaci, & absoluto Decreto Voluntatis ejus, qui pro suâ misericordiâ tribuit illud Donum cui vult. In the further proof of this proposition, he manifests by clear Testimonies that the Contrary Doctrine hereunto, was that of the Pelagians, and Semi-pelagians, which Austin opposed in sundry Treatises. And in all the Arguments whereby he further confirms it, he still presses the absurdity of making the Promise of God concerning Perseverance Conditional, and so suspending it on any thing, in and by us to be performed. And indeed all the Acts whereby we persevere, flowing according to him from the Grace of perseverance, it cannot but be absurd to make the Efficient Cause in it's Efficiency, and operation, to depend upon it's own effect: This also is with him Ridiculous, that the Grace of perseverance should be given to any, and he not persevere; or be promised, and yet not given: yet withal he grants in his following Conclusions, that our wills secondarily, and in dependency, do cooperate in our Perseverance.