A53688:328
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.
1. First the Considerations mentioned, of Evil to be avoided, and Good to be attained, (I mean that which may put men upon Creating those strong inclinations: For such considerations may be without any such Consequence as in her that cried video meliora proboque deteriora sequor) are either Issues and products of mens own natural faculties, and deduced out of the power of them, so that, as men, they may put themselves upon them at any time; or they are Fruits of the Spirit of his Grace, who worketh in us to will and to do of his own good Pleasure. 1If they be the latter, I ask, seeing all Grace is of Promise, whether hath God promised to give and continue this Grace of self-consideration unto Believers or no? If he hath, whether absolutely, or conditionally? If absolutely, then he hath promised absolutely to continue some Grace in them, which is all we desire. If Conditionally, then would I know what that Condition is, on which God hath promised that Believers shall so consider things mentioned? And of the Condition which shall be expressed, it may farther be enquired, whether it be any Grace of God, or only a mere Act of the Rational Creature as such, without any immediate Inworking of the Will and Deed by God? Whatsoever is answered, the Question will not go to Rest, until it be granted that, either it is a Grace Absolutely promised of God, which is all we desire, or a pure Act of the Creature contra-distinct thereunto, which Answers the first inquiry: Let it then be granted, that the Considerations intimated are no other, but such as a Rational man, who is enlightened to an assent to the Truth of God, may so exert and exercise, as he pleaseth; then is here a Foundation laid▪ of all the Ground of Perseverance that is allowed the Saints, in their own endeavours, as men without the Assistance of any Grace of God;
1. First the Considerations mentioned, of Evill to be avoided, and Good to be attained, (I meane that which may put men upon Creating those strong inclinations: For such considerations may be without any such Consequence as in her that cryed video meliora proboque deteriora sequor) are either Issues and products of mens owne naturall faculties, and deduced out of the power of them, so that, as men, they may put themselves upon them at any time; or they are Fruits of the Spirit of his Grace, who worketh in us to will and to doe of his owne good Pleasure.