The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Ans. That by Gods Faithfulness mentioned in that place of Peter, such a disposition as you afterwards describe, is intended, you had better say, then undertake to prove. It is evident the scope of the Apostle is to exhort the Saints of God in all their trials and afflictions, to commit themselves and their ways, with patience & quietness unto God, upon the account of his power ⟨p. 127⟩to preserve them, as he is the Creator of all, and his constancy in receiving of them, being present with them, abiding with them, as he is Faithful in his word and Promises. Yea and the interpretation, our Author would have fixed on the expression here used, is not only remote from the intendment of the place, turning that into a general good disposition towards all his creatures, which is intimated for the peculiar support of Believers, and that in their distress, but also is in it self, a false, fond, and loose Assertion. There is no Law, nor Relation of Creation, that lays hold on God so far, as to oblige him to the Communication of one drop of his Goodness to any of the creatures, beyond what is given them by their Creation, or to continue that unto them for one moment; All the dispensation of himself unto his creatures flowing from his sovereign good pleasure, doing what he will with his own.

Ans. That by Gods Faithfulnesse mentioned in that place of Peter, such a disposition as you afterwards describe, is intended, you had better say, then undertake to prove. It is evident the scope of the Apostle is to exhort the Saints of God in all their trialls and afflictions, to commit themselves and their waies, with patience & quietnesse unto God, upon the account of his power ⟨p. 127⟩to preserve them, as he is the Creator of all, and his constancy in receiving of them, being present with them, abiding with them, as he is Faithfull in his word and Promises. Yea and the interpretation, our Author would have fixed on the expression here used, is not only remote from the intendment of the place, turning that into a generall good disposition towards all his creatures, which is intimated for the peculiar support of Believers, and that in their distresse, but also is in it selfe, a false, fond, and loose Assertion. There is no Law, nor Relation of Creation, that laies hold on God so farre, as to oblige him to the Communication of one droppe of his Goodnesse to any of the creatures, beyond what is given them by their Creation, or to continue that unto them for one moment; All the dispensation of himselfe unto his creatures flowing from his soveraigne good pleasure, doing what he will with his owne.