The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. The nearer the bottom, the more sower Lees. First, Doth God foretell the coming to pass of things future, upon a probable conjecture, which is here assigned to him? Is that the Intendment of the expression in the Parable, they will reverence my Son? Or was he mistaken in the Event, the thing falling out contrary to his expectation? Or is there any thing in this, or the place mentioned Deut: 17. 12, 13. but only an expression of the duty of men, upon the account of the means offered? Is there any the least intimation of any Intent and purpose of God, as to the Events insisted on? Any Promise of his effectual working for the accomplishing of them? Any Prediction upon the account of his Purpose and Design, which are the foundation of all his Predictions? Or is there any the least correspondency in name, or thing between the places now instanced in, and called in for relief, with that under consideration? This then is the sinew of Mr Goodwins arguing in this place: sometimes when there is means offered men for the performance of a duty, the accomplishment of it is spoken of, as of what ought to have succeeded; and it is the fault of men to whom that duty is prescribed, and these means indulged, if it come not to pass: therefore when God proposeth, and promiseth to work and bring about such, and such a thing, and engageth himself to a real efficiency in it, yet it may come to pass, or it may not, it may be accomplished, or God may fail in his intendment.

Ans. The neerer the bottome, the more sower Lees. First, Doth God foretell the coming to passe of things future, upon a probable conjecture, which is here assigned to him? Is that the Intendment of the expression in the Parable, they will reverence my Son? Or was he mistaken in the Event, the thing falling out contrary to his expectation? Or is there any thing in this, or the place mentioned Deut: 17. 12, 13. but only an expression of the duty of men, upon the account of the meanes offered? Is there any the least intimation of any Intent and purpose of God, as to the Events insisted on? Any Promise of his effectuall working for the accomplishing of them? Any Prediction upon the account of his Purpose and Designe, which are the foundation of all his Predictions? Or is there any the least correspondency in name, or thing between the places now instanced in, and called in for reliefe, with that under consideration? This then is the sinew of Mr Goodwins arguing in this place: sometimes when there is meanes offered men for the performance of a duty, the accomplishment of it is spoken of, as of what ought to have succeeded; and it is the fault of men to whom that duty is prescribed, and these meanes indulged, if it come not to passe: therefore when God proposeth, and promiseth to work and bring about such, and such a thing, and engageth himselfe to a reall efficiency in it, yet it may come to passe, or it may not, it may be accomplished, or God may faile in his intendment.