The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

1. (First) that to Know is sometimes taken in Scripture for to Approve, ¹may be granted: But that the word here used must therefore signify to Preapprove, is an assertion, which I dare not pretend to so much foreknowledge as to think that any one besides himself will approve. Mr Goodwin (I doubt not) knows full well that Prepositions in Greek Compositions do often restrain simple verbs formerly at liberty for other uses, to one precise signification. The word [Greek or Hebrew] in its constant sense in other Authors is praescio or predecerno; [Greek or Hebrew] it self for to determine or decree: so is scisco among the Latins, the ancient word,² to know. So he in Plautus, Rogitationes plurimas propter vos populus scivit, ³quas vos rogatas rumpitis. And no thing more frequent in Cicero Quae scisceret plebs, aut quae populus juberet &c. and againe Quod multa perniciosè, multa pestiferè sciscuntur in populis: and,⁴ Plancus primus legem scivit de Publicanis: ⁵In like manner is [Greek or Hebrew] frequently used [Greek or Hebrew] they determined not to do that thing:⁶ [Greek or Hebrew], says he in Lucian. He hath determined unrighteous things against me. Hence [Greek or Hebrew] is often taken for a Decree, or an established purpose as Budaeus manifesteth out of Plutarch: In Scripture, the word is sundry times used, and still in the senses before mentioned: sometimes for a simple fore-knowledge; so Paul uses it, of the Jews, who knew him before his Conversion: Act. 26. 5. [Greek or Hebrew], it relates not to what they fore-knew, but what they knew before, or in former days. And as the simple verb (as was showed) is often taken, for Decerno, statuo, to decree, order, or determine, so with this composition it seems most to be restrained to that sense. 1 Pet. 1. 20