The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. Secondly, if God did thus Purpose and Decree, he was able to bring it about, and accomplish his design by ways agreeable to his Goodness, Wisdom, and Righteousness, or he was not. If he was not, where is his Omnipotency, who is not able to fulfil his Righteous Designs and Purposes, in way, corresponding to that state of Agents & things, which he hath allotted them? How can it be said of him, he will work, and none shall let him? That God engageth his Power, for the Accomplishment of his Purposes was showed before; If he were able to accomplish it, why did he not do it, but suffer himself to be frustrated of his end? Is it suitable to the Sovereign Will and Wisdom of God, eternally to purpose and Decree that, which by means ⟨p. 65⟩agreeable to his Holiness and Goodness, he is able to bring to pass, and yet not to do it, but to fail and come short of his Holy and Gracious intendment.

2. Secondly, if God did thus Purpose and Decree, he was able to bring it about, and accomplish his designe by waies agreeable to his Goodnesse, Wisdome, and Righteousnesse, or he was not. If he was not, where is his Omnipotency, who is not able to fullfill his Righteous Designes and Purposes, in waye, corresponding to that state of Agents & things, which he hath allotted them? How can it be said of him, he will worke, and none shall let him? That God ingageth his Power, for the Accomplishment of his Purposes was shewed before; If he were able to accomplish it, why did he not doe it, but suffer himselfe to be frustrated of his end? Is it suitable to the Soveraigne Will and Wisdome of God, eternally to purpose and Decree that, which by meanes ⟨p. 65⟩agreeable to his Holinesse and Goodnesse, he is able to bring to passe, and yet not to doe it, but to faile and come short of his Holy and Gracious intendment.

3. Thirdly, the Obedience of the House of Eli, on which the Accomplishment of the pretended Decree is suspended, was such, as either they were able of themselves to perform, or they were not? To say they were, is to exclude the necessary Assistance of the Grace of God, which Mr Goodwin hath not in terms declared himself to do, not are we as yet arrived at that height, though a considerable progress hath been made. If they were not able to do it, without the Assistance of the Spirit, and Concurrence of the Grace of God: did the Lord purpose to give them that Assistance, working in them both to will, and to do of his own good pleasure? or did he not? If he did so purpose, why did the not do it? If he did not purpose to do it, to what end did he Decree, that that should come to pass, which he knew could not come to pass, without his doing that, which he was resolved never to do? It is all one, as if a man knew that another were shut up in a prison, from whence it was impossible that any body, but himself, should deliver him; and should Resolve, and Purpose to give the poor prisoner an hundred pound, so that he would come out of prison to him, and resolve withal never to bring him out.