A53688:756
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.
1. That which is here promised the Saints,1 is a perpetual preservation of them in that condition wherein they are, both on the part of God, he is round about them, even henceforth & for ever, and on their parts, they shall not be removed; that is, from the state and condition of acceptation with him, wherein they are supposed to be, but abide for ever and continue therein immovable unto the end. It is (I say) a plain Promise of their continuance in that condition, wherein they are, with their safety from thence, and not a Promise of some other good thing, provided that they continue in that condition. Their being compared to Mountains, and their Stability, which consists in their being and Continuing so, will admit no other sense. As Mount Zion abides in its condition, so shall they: and as the Mountains about Jerusalem continue, so doth the Lord his presence unto them.
1. That which is here promised the Saints,1 is a perpetuall preservation of them in that condition wherein they are, both on the part of God, he is round about them, even henceforth & for ever, and on their parts, they shall not be removed; that is, from the state and conditon of acceptation with him, wherein they are supposed to be, but abide for ever and continue therein immoveable unto the end. It is (I say) a plain Promise of their cōtinuance in that condition, wherein they are, with their safety from thence, and not a Promise of some other good thing, provided that they continue in that condition. Their being compared to Mountaines, and their Stability, which consists in their being and Continuing so, will admit no other sence. As Mount Sion abides in its condition, so shall they: aud as the Mountaines about Jerusalem continue, so doth the Lord his presence unto them.
- 1§. 12.
2. That expression which is used v. 2. is weighty and full to this purpose, The Lord is round about his People henceforth and for ever. What can be spoken more fully, more pathetically? Can any expression of men so set forth the truth which we have in hand? The Lord is round about them, not to save them from this or that incursion, but from all: not from one or two evils, but from every one, whereby they are, or may be assaulted. He is with them and round about them, on every side, that no evil shall come nigh them. It is a most full expression of universal preservation, or of Gods keeping his Saints in his Love and Favour, upon all accounts whatsoever. And that not only for a season, but it is, henceforth from his giving this Promise unto their Souls in particular, and their receiving of it in all Generations, according to their appointed times, even for ever.