The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

It is true,¹ such Dispensations of God, as are morally declarative of what God approves, of what he rejects, not engagements of any particular intendment, design, or purpose of his Will, or such as are merely outward Acts of his Power, may in great variety be subservient to the accomplishment of his Purpose, & may undergo (the first, in respect of the Object; the latter, of the Works themselves) many alterations, without prejudice to the Immutability of God. The first in themselves, are everlastingly unchangeable; God always approves the Obedience of his Creatures, according to that Light and knowledge, which he is pleased to communicate unto them: and alway condemns, disallows their Rebellions; yet the same Persons may do sometimes what he approves, and sometimes what he condemns, without the least shadow of change in God. Whilst they thus change, his Purposes concerning them, and what he will do to them, and for them, are unchangeable, as is his Law concerning Good and Evil. For the latter, take an instance in the case of Pharaoh; God purposeth the destruction of Pharaoh, and suites his Dispensations in great variety, and with many changes, for the bringing about, and accomplishing of that his unchangeable Purpose; he Plagues him, and Frees him, he Frees him, and Plagues him again: all these things do not in the least prove any alteration in God, being all various effects of his Power, suited to the accomplishment of an unchangeable Purpose. So in respect of Persons, whom he intends to bring, (through Christ,) infallibly to himself, how various are his Dispensations both Temporal and Spiritual? He Afflicts them, and Relieves them, sends them Light and Darkness, Strength and Weakness, Forsakes and Appears to them again, without the least alteration in his thoughts, and purposes towards them: all these things, by his infinite Wisdom, working together for their good.

It is true,¹ such Dispensations of God, as are morally declarative of what God approves, of what he rejects, not ingagements of any particular intēdment, designe, or purpose of his Will, or such as are meerely outward Acts of his Power, may in great variety be subservient to the accomplishment of his Purpose, & may undergoe (the first, in respect of the Object; the latter, of the Works themselves) many alterations, without prejudice to the Immutability of God. The first in themselves, are everlastingly unchangeable; God alwaies approves the Obedience of his Creatures, according to that Light and knowledge, which he is pleased to communicate unto them: and alway condemnes, disallowes their Rebellions; yet the same Persons may doe sometimes what he approves, and sometimes what he condemnes, without the least shadow of change in God. Whilest they thus change, his Purposes concerning them, and what he will doe to them, and for them, are unchangeable, as is his Law concerning Good and Evill. For the latter, take an instance in the case of Pharaoh; God purposeth the destruction of Pharaoh, and suites his Dispensations in great variety, and with many changes, for the bringing about, and accomplishing of that his unchangeable Purpose; he Plagues him, and Frees him, he Frees him, and Plagues him againe: all these things doe not in the least proove any alteration in God, being all various effects of his Power, suited to the accomplishment of an unchangeable Purpose. So in respect of Persons, whom he intends to bring, (through Christ,) infallibly to himselfe, how various are his Dispensations both Temporall and Spirituall? He Afflicts them, and Relieves them, sends them Light and Darkenesse, Strength and Weakenesse, Forsakes and Appears to them againe, without the least alteration in his thoughts, and purposes towards them: all these things, by his infinite Wisdome, working together for their good.