The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. That which is given for the confirmation of their Faith, and on set purpose to add continuance to it, as this is, cannot depend on the condition of the continuance of their Faith. The Holy Ghost seals them to the day of Redemption, confirming and establishing thereby an infallible continuance, of their Faith, but it seems upon condition of their continuance in the Faith. Cui finny? Of what hitherto is said this is the sum. If they who are sealed Apostatize into sin and wickedness, they shall not be saved, notwithstanding that they have been sealed: and this must pass for an answer to our Argument proving that they cannot so apostatise, because they are Sealed, on purpose to preserve and secure them from that Condition: Men need not go far to seek for Answers to any Argument, if such as these, (pure beggings of the thing in Question and argued) will suffice.

2. That which is given for the confirmation of their Faith, and on set purpose to adde continuance to it, as this is, cannot depend on the condition of the continuance of their Faith. The Holy Ghost seales them to the day of Redemption, confirming and establishing thereby an infallible continuance, of their Faith, but it seemes upon condition of their continuance in the Faith. Cui fini? Of what hitherto is said this is the summe. If they who are sealed Apostatize into sinne and wickednesse, they shall not be saved, notwithstanding that they have been sealed: and this must passe for an answer to our Argument proving that they cannot so apostatise, because they are Sealed, on purpose to preserve and secure them from that Condition: Men need not goe farre to seeke for Answers to any Argument, if such as these, (pure beggings of the thing in Question and argued) will suffice.

3. Neither doth the beginning or first impression of the sealing depend upon their Faith, any otherwise, but as Believers are the subject of it, which is not to have any kind of dependence upon it, either as to its nature or use. Neither doth that place of the Apostle Fph. 1. 13. (After the Believed ye were sealed,) prove any such thing, unless this general axiom be first established, that all things which in order of nature, are before, and after, have the Connection of Cause, and effect, or at least of Condition, and Event between them; It proves indeed that their Believing is in order of nature, antecedent to their sealing, respecting the use of it here mentioned; but this proves not at all, that Faith is the condition of sealing: the bestowing of Faith, and the grant of this seal to establish it, being both acts depending merely, solely, & distinctly, on the free Grace of God in Christ; Though Faith in order of nature, go before Hope, yet is no Hope bestowed on men on the condition of Believing. The truth is, both Faith & Sealing, & all other spiritual Mercies, as to the Goodwill of God bestowing them, are at once granted us in Jesus Christ: but as to our reception of them, & the actual instating of our souls in the enjoyment of them, or rather as to the exerting of themselves in us, they have that order which either the nature of the things themselves requires, or the sovereign Will of God, hath allotted to them; neither doth sealing bespeak any Grace in us, but a peculiar improvement of the Grace bestowed on us. So that