A53688:46
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 Preface to the Reader.
READER
IF thy enquiry be only after the substance of the Truth in the ensuing Treatise contended for, I desire thee not to stay at all upon this preliminary discourse, but to proceed thither, where it is expressly handled from the Scriptures, without the intermixture of any humane Testimonies, or other less necessary Circumstances, wherein perhaps many of them may not be concerned, whose interest yet lies in the truth it self, and it is precious to their Souls. That which now I intend and aim at, is to give an account to the learned Reader, of some things nearly relating to the doctrine, whose protection (in the strength of him, who gives to his, suitable helps for the works and Employments he calls them to) I have undertaken, and what entertainment it hath formerly found, and received in the Church, and among the Saints of God. For the Accomplishment of this intendment, A brief mention of the Doctrine it self will make way. Whom in this controversy we intend by the name of Saints, and Believers, the Treatise following will abundantly manifest. The word Perseverantia is of most known use in Ecclesiastical writers: Austin hath a book with the inscription of it in it's forehead. The word in the New Testament signifying the same thing is, [Greek or Hebrew]. Of them that followed Paul it is said that he persuaded them, [Greek or Hebrew], Act. 13. 43. That is: to Persevere. [Greek or Hebrew] is of the same import. [Greek or Hebrew]. Math. 10, 23. He that persevereth to the end; The Vulgar Latin renders that word almost constantly by persevero. [Greek or Hebrew] is a word also of the same signification, and which the Scripture useth to express the same thing: [Greek or Hebrew] is, sometimes by a Metathesis expressed [Greek or Hebrew]; Thence is [Greek or Hebrew], valdé: and [Greek or Hebrew], spoken of him who is of a valiant resolved mind. By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, [Greek or Hebrew]. He. 11. 27. As eying the invisible he endured (his trial) with a constant valiant mind. [Greek or Hebrew] from thence is most frequently to persevere.