The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Nay suppose that that natural corruption, that flesh and blood that is in Believers, be apt to make such a conclusion as this; Because God will certainly abide with us for ever, therefore let us walk carelessly, and do him all the despite we can, these Promises being not made for the use and exalting of the flesh, but being given to be mixed with Faith, which is carefully to watch against all abusing or corrupting of that Love and Mercy, which is held out unto it, flesh and blood can have no advantage given unto it thereby, as shall afterward be more fully and clearly ⟨p. 146⟩demonstrated. The Question is then, what conclusion Faith doth, will, and ought to make of these Promises of God, and not what abuse the flesh will make of them. Let then the meanest and weakest Faith in all the World, that is true and saving, speak for it self, whether there be any thing in the nature of it, that is apt to make such conclusions as these: My God and Father in Jesus Christ, hath graciously promised in his infinite Love and Goodness to me, through him in whom he is well pleased, that he will be my God, and guide for ever, that he will never forsake me, nor take his Kindness from me to eternity: And he hath done this, although that he saw and knew, that I would deal foolishly, and treacherously, that I would stand in need of all his Goodness, Patience, and Mercy to spare me, and heal me, promising also to keep me from such a wicked departure from him, as should for ever alienate my soul from him; therefore come on, let me continue in sin, let me doc him all the dishonour and despite that I can: this is all the sense that I have of his infinite Love, this is all the impression that it leaveth upon me, that I need not love him again, but study to be as vile and as abominable in his sight, as can possibly be imagined: certainly there is not any smoking flax, or any oruised reed, there is not a soul in the World, whom God in Christ hath once shined upon or dropped the least dram of Grace into his heart, but will look on such a conclusion as this, as a blast of the bottomless pit, a detestable dart of Satan, which it is as proper for Faith to quench, as any other Abomination whatever.

Nay suppose that that naturall corruption, that flesh and bloud that is in Believers, be apt to make such a conclusion as this; Because God will certainly abide with us for ever, therefore let us walke carelesly, and doe him all the despight we can, these Promises being not made for the use and exalting of the flesh, but being given to be mixed with Faith, which is carefully to watch against all abusing or corrupting of that Love and Mercy, which is held out unto it, flesh and bloud can have no advantage given unto it thereby, as shall afterward be more fully and clearly