A53688:315
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.
A serious consideration of the opposition made unto our Perseverance, by this one Enemy, which hath so much ability, and is so restless in its warfare, never quiet conquering nor conquered, which can be kept out of none of our Counsels, excluded from none of our actings, is abundantly sufficient to evince, that it is not want, or weakness of Enemies, which putteth Believers out of danger of falling away.
A serious consideration of the opposition made unto our Perseverance, by this one Enemy, which hath so much ability, and is so restlesse in its warfare, never quiet conquering nor conquered, which can be kept out of none of our Councells, excluded from none of our actings, is abundantly sufficient to evince, that it is not want, or weaknesse of Enemies, which putteth Believers out of danger of falling away.
But all this perhaps will be granted: Enemies they have enough,1 and those much more diligent and powerful every one of them, then all we have spoken of that now described, amounteth unto: but the means of Preservation, which God affords the Saints, is that which puts them almost out of Gunshot, and gives them that Golden security mentioned, which cometh not (in administering consolation) one steppe behind that which ariseth from the Doctrine of absolute Perseverance; Let then this be a little considered, and perhaps it will allay this whole contest. Is it then, that such is the Grace that is bestowed upon them, in respect of the Principle whence it is bestowed, (the eternal Love of God) and the way whereby it is for them procured (the Bloodshedding and Intercession of Christ) with the nature of it, (being the seed of God, which abideth and withereth not) and that such seems to be the nature of infused Habits, that they are not removed, but by the power, and immediate hand of him, by whom they are bestowed? Is it from hence, that their Assurance and security doth arise? Alas, all this is but a fiction: there is no Faith that is the fruit of Election, Christ purchased it not for any, by his Death: Infused Habits are not: the Grace that perisheth, and that, that abideth are the same: these things are but pretences. Is it then, that God hath purposed from Eternity, to continue Constant in his Love towards them, never to Leave them nor Forsake them? Nay but of all things Imaginable, this is the greatest Abomination, which if the Scriptures did any where Affirm, it were sufficient to make a rational considering man, to Question their Authority.