The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. If there be a necessity to smite this Evasion so often as we shall meet with it, it must be cut into an hundred pieces. For the present I shall only observe two evils it is attended withal. First, it takes no notice that God, who hath undertaken to be a God unto us, hath with the like Truth, Power, ⟨p. 97⟩and Faithfulness undertaken, that we shall abide to be his People. So is his Love in his Covenant expressed by its Efficacy to this end and Purpose. Deut. 50. 6. And the Lord thy God will also Circumcise thy Heart and the Heart of thy Seed, to Love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and with all thy Soul, that thou mayest live. Secondly, it denies the continuance of the Love of God to us, to the End, to be any part of the Blessings, wherewith we are blessed in Jesus Christ: For if it be, it could no more be suspended on any Condition in us, then the Glorification of Believers that abide so to the end.

Ans. If there be a necessity to smite this Evasion so often as we shall meet with it, it must be cut into an hundred pieces. For the present I shall only observe two evills it is attended withall. First, it takes no notice that God, who hath undertaken to be a God unto us, hath with the like Truth, Power, ⟨p. 97⟩and Faithfulnesse undertaken, that we shall abide to be his People. So is his Love in his Covenant expressed by its Efficacy to this end and Purpose. Deut. 50. 6. And the Lord thy God will also Circumcise thy Heart and the Heart of thy Seed, to Love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and with all thy Soule, that thou maist live. Secondly, it denyes the continuance of the Love of God to us, to the End, to be any part of the Blessings, wherewith we are blessed in Jesus Christ: For if it be, it could no more be suspended on any Condition in us, then the Glorification of Believers that abide so to the end.

This then is enwrapped in this Promise of the Covenant unto the Elect, with whom it is Established; God will be a God to them for ever, and that to Bless them with all the Blessings, which he communicates in and by the Lord Jesus Christ the promised seed. The continuance of his Favour to the End, is to us (unquestionably) a Spiritual Blessing; if any one be otherwise minded, I shall not press to share with him in his Apprehension: And if so, it is in Christ, and shall certainly be enjoyed by them, to whom God is a God in Covenant. He that can suppose, that he shall prevail with the Saints of God to believe it will make for their Consolation to apprehend, that there is no engagement in his Covenant assuring them of the continuance of the Favour of God unto them, to the End of their Pilgrimage, hath no reason to doubt or question the Issue of any thing, he shall undertake to persuade men unto. Doubtless he will find it very difficult with them, who in time of Spiritual Straights & pressures, have closed with this engagement of God in the Covenant, & have had experience of its bearing them through all perplexities, and entanglements, when the Waves of temptation were ready to go over their Souls. Certainly David was in another persuasion, when upon a view of all the difficulties he had passed through, and his house was to meet withal, he concludes