A53688:520
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.
He that shall give a Condition, on which this everlasting Love of God should be suspended, and according to the influence whereof, upon it, it should go forth in Kindness, or be interrupted; may be allowed to boast of his discovery.
He that shall give a Condition, on which this everlasting Love of God should be suspended, and according to the influence whereof, upon it, it should goe forth in Kindnesse, or be interrupted; may be allowed to boast of his discovery.
That of the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 19.1 is important to the business in hand. Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. Some persons of eminency and note in the Church, yea Stars (it seems) of a considerable magnitude in the visible Firmament thereof, having fallen away from the Truth and faith of the Gospel, and drawn many after them into ways of destruction, a great Offence and Scandal ⟨p. 77⟩among Believers thereon (as in such cases it will fall out) ensued; & withal a Temptation of a not to be despised prevalency, and sad consequence, (which we formerly granted to attend such eminent Apostasy) seems to have laid hold on many weak Saints: they feared, least they also might be overthrown, and after all their labouring, and suffering in the Work of Faith, and Patience of the Saints, come short of the mark of the high calling set before them, considering their own weakness and instability, with that powerful opposition, whereunto (in those days especially) they were exposed; Upon the contemplation of such Apostasies or defections, they were opportune and obnoxious sufficiently to this Temptation. Yea their thoughts upon the Case under consideration, might lead them to fear a more general defection: for seeing it is this with some, why may not this be the Condition of all Believers? and so the whole Church may cease, and come to nothing, notwithstanding all the Promises of building it on a Rock, and of the presence of Christ with it to the end of the World; Nay may not his whole Kingdom on earth on this account, possibly fall to utter ruin, and himself be left a Head without members, a King without Subjects? This by Mr Goodwins own confession, is the Objection, which the Apostle answereth, and removes in, and by the words under Consideration. Cap. 14. pag. 359. 360. Seeing these fall away, are not we likewise in danger of falling away, and so of loosing all that we have done and suffered in our Christian profession. To this Objection or Scruple, the Apostle Answereth in the Words in hand; So he; Thus far then are we agreed. About the sense of the words themselves, and their Accommodation to the removal of the Objection or Scruple mentioned, is our difference. I know not how M.