The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

To our Argument then before mentioned,¹ proving an equal indissolveablenesse in all the links of the Chain of Divine Graces, drawn forth and insisted on, from the equal dependence of the design & Purpose of God on the mutual dependence of each of them on the other, for the fulfilling of that Purpose of his, and obtaining the End, which he professes himself to intend: this is the sum of Mr Goodwins Answer, If I can invent a series of Decrees, and a Concatenation of Divine Acts, though indeed there be no such thing, neither can I give any colour to it without laying down, and taking for granted many false and absurd supposals; and though it be not of the same nature with that here proposed by the Apostle, nor any where held out in the Scripture for any such End & Purpose as this is; neither can I assign any absolute determinate end in this Series of mine, whose Accomplishment God engages himself to bring about; (as the Case stands in the place of Scripture under Consideration) then it is meet and equitable, that laying aside all enforcements from the Text, Context, Nature of God, the thing treated on, all compelling us to close with another sense and Interpretation, that we regulate the mind of the Holy Ghost herein, to the Rule, proportion, and Analogy of the case as formerly proposed. This being the sum of that, which Mr Goodwin calls his Answer, made naked I presume to its shame, valeat quantum valere potest.

To our Argument then before mentioned,¹ prooving an equall indissolveablenesse in all the linkes of the Chaine of Divine Graces, drawne forth and insisted on, from the equall dependance of the designe & Purpose of God on the mutuall dependance of each of them on the other, for the fullfillng of that Purpose of his, and obtaining the End, which he professes himselfe to intend: this is the summe of Mr Goodwins Answer, If I can invent a series of Decrees, and a Concatenation of Divine Acts, though indeed there be no such thing, neither can I give any colour to it without laying downe, and taking for granted many false and absurd supposalls; and though it be not of the same nature with that here proposed by the Apostle, nor any where held out in the Scripture for any such End & Purpose as this is; neither can I assigne any absolute determinate end in this Series of mine, whose Accomplshment God ingages himselfe to bring about; (as the Case stands in the place of Scripture under Consideration) then it is meet and equitable, that laying aside all inforcements from the Text, Context, Nature of God, the thing treated on, all compelling us to close with another sence and Interpretation, that we regulate the minde of the Holy Ghost herein, to the Rule, proportion, and Analogie of the case as formerly proposed. This being the summe of that, which Mr Goodwin calls his Answer, made naked I presume to its shame, valeat quantum valere potest.