The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

The next thing undertaken by Mr Goodwin, ¹is to vindicate the forementioned Glosses from such oppositions, as arise against them from the Context, and words themselves, with the design of the Holy Ghost therein: These things doth He find his Exposition obnoxious unto. The exposition which He pretends to give no strength unto, but what is foreign on all Considerations whatsoever of words and things, to the place it self: This, it seems, is to prophesy according to the Analogy of Faith.²

The next thing undertaken by Mr Goodwin, ¹is to vindicate the forementioned Glosses from such oppositions, as arise against them from the Context, and words themselves, with the designe of the Holy Ghost therein: These things doth He find his Exposition obnoxious unto. The exposition which He pretends to give no strength unto, but what is forraigne on all Considerations whatsoever of words and things, to the place it selfe: This, it seemes, is to prophesy according to the Analogie of Faith.²

1. 1§. 29.
2. 2Rom. 12: 6.

First then Sect. 44. To the Objection, that those who are Called are also Justified, and shall be Glorified, according to the Tenor of the series of the Acts of the Grace of God here laid down, he Answereth, That where either the one, or the other of these Assertions, be so or no, it must be Judged of by other Scriptures; Certain it is by what hath bin argued concerning the frequent usage of the Scripture in point of Expression, that it cannot be concluded or determined by the Scripture in hand. The Sum of this Answer amounts to thus much: Although the sense opposed be clear in the Letter, and Expression of this place of Scripture, in the Grammatical sense, and use of the words; though it flows from the whole Context, and Answers (alone) the design, and scope of the place, which gives not the least Countenance to the interposing of any such Conditionals, as are framed, to force it to speak contrary to what ([Greek or Hebrew]) it holds forth: yet the mind of God in the words, is not from these things to be concluded on; but other significations and senses, not of any word here used, not from the laying down of the same Doctrine in other places with the Analogy of the Faith thereof, not from the proposing of any design suitable to this here expressed, but places of Scripture agreeing with this, neither in Name, nor Thing, Expression, nor Design, Word, nor Matter, must be found out in the sense and meaning of this place, and be from them concluded, and our interpretation of this place accordingly regulated. Nobis non licet &c. neither hath M. Goodwin then produced any place of Scripture, nor can he parallel to this so much as in expression, though treating of any other subject or matter, that will endure to have any such sense tied to it, as that which he violently imposeth on this place of the Apostle. And of the Sense, and Mind of God in this place, may not safely be received and closed withal, from the proper and ordinary signification of the word (which is always attended unto without the least dispute, unless the subject matter of any place, with the Context enforces to the sense left usual and natural) with the clear design and scope of the