A53688:681
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.
4.1 That the Promises concerning Perseverance (as hath been often intimated) are of two sorts. The first, of the Continuance of the Favour of God to us; which respects our Justification. The other, of the continuance of our Obedience unto God; which respects our Sanctification. Let us consider both of them, and begin with the latter.
- 1§. 10.
1. Of them, I say then, they are all Absolute, not one of them Conditional (so as to be suspended, as to their accomplishment, on any Conditions) nor can be; The Truth of God in them, hath not its efficiency and Accomplishment, by establishing the relation that is between one thing and another, or the connection, that is between duty and reward, as it is in Conditional Promises that are purely and merely so: but enforceth the exact fulfilling of the thing promised, and that with respect unto, and for the preservation of the Glory of that Excellency of God, He cannot lye. Let it be considered, what that Condition, or those Conditions be, or may be, on which Promises of this nature should be suspended, and the Truth of the former Assertions will evidently appear: That God hath Promised unto Believers, that they shall for ever abide with him, in the Obedience of the Covenant unto the End, shall afterwards be proved by a cloud of Witnesses. What now is the Condition, whereon this Promise doth depend? It is (says Mr Goodwin) That they perform their duty, that they suffer not themselves to be seduced, nor willingly cast of the yoke of Christ; But what doth this amount unto? Is it not thus much, if they abide with God, (for if they perform their Duty, and not suffer themselves to be seduced, nor willingly depart from God, they abide with him) God hath promised, that they shall abide with him. Upon Condition they abide with him, he hath promised they shall; egregiā verò laudem. Can any thing more ridiculous be invented? If men abide with God, what need they any Promise, that they shall so do? The whole virtue of the Promise depends on that condition & that condition, containeth all that is promised: neither is it possible that any thing can be invented to be supplied as the condition or conditions of these Promises, but it will quickly appear upon consideration, that, how ever it may be differently phrased, yet indeed it is coincident