The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. As he destroys Satan, so he doth his works; For this cause was he manifested, even to destroy the works of the Devil. 1 John 3. 8. He doth not only bind the strong man armed,¹ but also he spoils his Goods. Whatsoever is in men, that follows from that corrupted principle of nature, is reckoned ⟨p. 172⟩to the work of Satan, being the issue of his seduction. Whatsoever his temptations draw men out unto, the Lord Christ came to destroy it all, to make an end of it: and he will not fail of his end, but certainly carry on his undertaking, until he hath utterly destroyed all those works of Satan, in the hearts of all that are his. He redeems us from our vain Conversation. 2 Pet. 1. 18, 19. from the power of our lusts and corruptions, leading us out to a vain Conversation. The Apostle tells us (Rom. 6. 6.) that by his death the old man is crucified, and the body of sin destroyed. The craft of sin, the old man, and the strength of sin, the body of it, or the ruling of Original sin, the old man, and the full fruit of actual sin, in the body of it, is by the death of Christ, crucified and destroyed; and in that whole Chapter, from our participation in the death of Christ, he argues to such an abolition of the Law, and Rule of sin, to such a breaking of the power and strength of it, that it is impossible, that it should any more rule in us, or have dominion over us. Of the way, whereby virtue flows out from the death of Christ, for the killing of sin, I am not now to speak.

2. As he destroyes Sathan, so he doth his workes; For this cause was he manifested, even to destroy the workes of the Divell. 1 John 3. 8. He doth not only binde the strong man armed,¹ but also he spoiles his Goods. Whatsoever is in men, that followes from that corrupted principle of nature, is reckoned ⟨p. 172⟩