The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

And whether Believers walking after the Spirit, in which frame the Truths of God in the Gospel are savoury and sweet to them,¹ do experience such attendancies of the Doctrine under consideration, as are here intimated; I am persuaded Mr Goodwin will one day find, that he hath not a little grieved the holy Spirit of God, by these reproaches cast upon the work of his Grace. Further, Doth this persuasion assure men that they shall enjoy the Love & Favour of God under the practises of all manner of sin? Or can this be wrested, by any racks or wheels from this Assertion, that none indeed enjoy the love and favour of God, but only they, towards whom it is effectual to turn them from the practises of all manner of sin and wickedness; to translate them from Darkness into marvellous light, and from the power of Satan into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ; whom the Grace that appears unto them, teacheth to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world: whom that Love constrains not to live unto them selves, but unto him that dyed for them? Doth it promise the love and favour of God to dogs turning to their vomit, & swine wallowing in their mire? when the very discriminating difference of it from that Doctrine which advanceth it self into Competition with it, is, that such returning dogs and wallowing Swine did indeed in their best estate and Condition, never truly and properly partake of the Love and favour of God: but notwithstanding their disgorging and washing of themselves, they were dogs and swine still: But to what end should I longer insist on these things? I am fully persuaded, Mr Goodwin himself cannot make room in his understanding to apprehend that this is indeed the true notion of the Doctrine which he doth oppose; Something hath been spoken of it already, and more the Lord assisting, will be discussed in the progress of our Discourse, abundantly sufficient to manifest to the consciences of men, not possest with prejudice against the Truth, that it is quite of another nature, & consistency, of another Complexion and usefulness, then what is here represented;

And whether Believers walking after the Siprit, in which frame the Truthes of God in the Gospell are savory and sweet to them,¹ doe experience such attendancies of the Doctrine under consideration, as are here intimated; I am perswaded Mr Goodwin will one day finde, that he hath not a little grieved the holy Spirit of God, by these reproaches cast upon the worke of his Grace. Further, Doth this perswasion assure men that they shall injoy the Love & Favour of God under the practises of all manner of sinne? Or can this be wrested, by any racks or wheeles from this Assertion, that none indeed injoy the love and favour of God, but only they, towards whom it is effectuall to turne them from the practises of all manner of sinne and wickednesse; to translate them from Darknesse into marvelous light, and from the power of Satan into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ; whom the Grace that appears unto them, teacheth to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world: whom that Love constraines not to live vnto them selves, but unto him that dyed for them? Doth it promise the love and favour of God to doggs turning to their vomit, & swine wallowing in their mire? when the very discriminating difference of it from that Doctrine which advanceth it selfe into Competition with it, is, that such returning doggs and wallowing Swine did indeed in their best estate and Condition, never truly and properly partake of the Love and favour of God: but notwithstanding their disgorging and washing of themselves, they were doggs and swine still: But to what end should I longer insist on these things? I am fully perswaded, Mr Goodwin himselfe cannot make roome in his understanding to apprehend that this is indeed the true notion of the Doctrine which he doth oppose; Something hath been spoken of it already, and more the Lord asslisting, will be discussed in the progresse of our Discourse, abundantly sufficient to manifest to the consciences of men, not possest with prejudice against the Truth, that it is quite of another nature, & consistency, of another Complexion and usefullnesse, then what is here represented;