The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

The first Genuine piece that presents it self unto us, on the Roll of Antiquity, is that Epistle of Clemen's, which in the name of the Church of Rome, he wrote to the divided Church of Corinth, which being abundantly testified to of old, to the great contentment of the christian world, was published, here at Oxford some few years since; A writing full of ancient simplicity, humility, & Zeal. As to our present business much I confess cannot be pleaded from hence, beyond a negative impeachment, of that great and false clamour which our Adversary have raised, of the consent of the primitive Christians with them in their by paths, and and ways of error. It is true, treating of a Subject diverse from any of those heads of Religion about which our contests are, it is not to be expected that he should any where plainly, directly, & evidently deliver his judgment unto them. This therefore I shall only say, that in that whole Epistle, there is not one word, iota, or syllable that gives countenance to the tenet of our adversaries, in the matter of the Saints perseverance: but that on the contrary, there are sundry expressions, asserting such a foundation of the Doctrine we maintain, as will with good strength infer the Truth of it. Pag. 4. Setting forth the virtues of the Corinthians before they fell into the schism that occasioned his Epistle, he minds them that: [Greek or Hebrew]. That God hath a certain number of Elect to be saved, and for whose salvation by his Mercy the Church is to contend with him, is a principle wholly inconsistent with those, on which the doctrine of the Saints Apostasy is bottomed. Corresponding hereunto is that passage of his concerning the will of God, p. 12: [Greek or Hebrew] [Greek or Hebrew]. A mere consideration of this passage causeth me to recall what but now was spoken, as though the Testimony given to the Truth, in this Epistle, was not so clear as might be desired. The words now repeated, contain the very Thesis contended for. It is the beloved of God (or his Chosen) whom he will have made partakers of saving Repentance; & hereunto he establisheth them (for with that word is the defect in the sentence to be supplied) by, or with the Almighty will:

The first Genuine piece that presents it selfe unto us, on the Roll of Antiquity, is that Epistle of Clemen's, which in the name of the Church of Rome, he wrote to the divided Church of Corinth, which being abundantly testified to of old, to the great contentment of the christian world, was published, here at Oxford some few yeares since; A writing full of antient simplicity, humility, & Zeal. As to our present business much I confesse cannot be pleaded from hence, beyond a negative impeachment, of that great and false clamour which our Adversarie have raised, of the consent of the primitive Christians with them in their by paths, and and waies of errour. It is true, treating of a Subject diverse from any of those heads of Religion about which our contests are, it is not to be expected that he should any where plainly, directly, & evidenty deliver his judgment unto them. This therfore I shall only say, that in that whole Epistle, there is not one word, iota, or sillable that gives countenance to the tenent of our adversaries, in the matter of the Saints perseverance: but that on the contrary, there are sundry expressions, asserting such a foundation of the Doctrine we maintain, as will with good strength inferre the Truth of it. Pag. 4. Setting forth the virtues of the Corinthiaus before they fell into the schisme that occasioned his Epistle, he minds them that: . That God hath a certain number of Elect to be saved, and for whose salvation by his Mercy the Church is to contend with him, is a principle wholy inconsistent with those, on which the doctrine of the Saints Apostacy is bottom'd. Corresponding hereunto is that passage of his concerning the will of God, p. 12: . A mere consideration of this passage causeth me to recal what but now was spoken, as though the Testimonie given to the Truth, in this Epistle, was not so cleare as might be desired. The words now repeated, containe the very Thesis contended for. It is the beloved of God (or his Chosen) whom he will have made partakers of saving Repentance; & hereunto he establisheth them (for with that word is the defect in the sentence to be supplyed) by, or with the Almighty will: