The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

In the verse foregoing, our Saviour renders a reason why the Pharisees notwithstanding all his Preaching to them, and the Miracles he wrought among them, yet believed not, when sundry others, to whom the same dispensation of outward means was afforded, did hear his voice and did yield obedience thereunto; and this he telleth us was, because they were not of his sheep: such as were given him of his Father, and for whom as the good Shepherd he laid down his life, v. 14, 15. upon the close of this discourse, he describeth the present Condition of his Sheep, & their Preservation in that Condition from the power of himself, and his Father engaged there unto. He layeth their abiding ⟨p. 155⟩him as his Sheep, upon the Omnipotence of God, which upon account of the constancy of his Love towards them, he will exercise and exert as need shall be, in their behalf. There are many emphatical expressions both of their continuance in the Obedience of Faith, and of his undertaking for their Preservation therein. The latter I at present only intend. (Saith he) 1. I know them. 2. I give them Eternal Life. 3. They shall never perish. 4. No man shall pluck them out of my hand. 5. My Father is Omnipotent: and hath a Sovereignty over all, and he taketh care of them, and none shall take them out of his hand. It is not easy to cast these words into any other form of arguing, then that wherein they lye, without loosing much of that convincing Evidence that is in them: this you may take for the sum of their influence into the Truth in hand. Those whom Christ so owneth, as to take upon him to give them Eternal Life, and by his Power, and the Power of his Father, to preserve them thereunto, which power shall not, nor possibly can be prevailed against, so that the end aimed at to be accomplished therein, should not be brought about, those shall certainly be kept for ever in the Favour and Love of God, they shall never be turned from him. Such is the case of all Believers: for they are all the Sheep of Christ, they all hear his voice and follow him.

In the verse foregoing, our Saviour renders a reason why the Pharisees notwithstanding all his Preaching to them, and the Miracles he wrought among them, yet believed not, when sundry others, to whom the same dispensation of outward meanes was afforded, did heare his voice and did yeild obedience thereunto; and this he telleth us was, because they were not of his sheepe: such as were given him of his Father, and for whom as the good Shepheard he lay'd downe his life, v. 14, 15. upon the close of this discourse, he describeth the present Condition of his Sheepe, & their Preservation in that Condition from the power of himselfe, and his Father engagedthere unto. He layeth their abiding