Use 2. Consolation. This Doctrine of Perseverance is as Bezoar stone; 'tis a Sovereign Cordial to keep up the Spirits of the Godly from Fainting. There is nothing doth more trouble a Child of God than this, he fears he shall never hold out; these weak Legs of mine will never carry me to Heaven. But Perseverance is an inseparable Fruit of Sanctification, Once in Christ and for ever in Christ. A Believer may fall from some degrees of Grace, but not from the State of Grace. An Israelite could never wholly fell or alienate his Land of Inheritance, Lev. 25.23. A Type of our Heavenly Inheritance which cannot be wholly alienated from us. How despairing is the Arminian Doctrine of falling from Grace? To day a Saint, to morrow a Reprobate; to day a Peter, to morrow a Judas. This must needs cut the Sinews of a Christians endeavour, and be as the boring an hole in the Vessel, to make all the Wine of his Joy run out. Were the Arminian Doctrine true, how could the Apostle say, The Seed of God remains in him, 1 John 3.9. and the anointing of God abides, 1 John 2.27. What comfort were it to have ones name written in the Book of Life, if it might be blotted out again? But be assured for your Comfort, Grace, if true, though never so weak, shall persevere: Though a Christian hath but little Grace to Trade with, yet he need not fear breaking, because God doth not only give him a Stock of Grace, but will keep his Stock for him; Gratia concutitur, non excutitur, Aug. Grace may be shaken with Fears and Doubts, but it cannot be plucked up by the Roots. Fear not falling away; if any thing should hinder the Saints Perseverance, then it must be either Sin or Temptation; but neither of these: 1. Not the Sins of Believers: That which humbles them shall not Damn them, but their Sins are a means to humble them; they gather Grapes of Thorns; from the Thorn of Sin they gather the Grape of Humility. 2. Not Temptation: The Devil lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of a Saints Grace; but this cannot do it. Temptation is a Medicine for Security, the more Satan tempts, the more the Saints Pray. When Paul had the Messenger of Satan to buffet him, 2 Cor. 12.8. For this besought I the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Thus nothing can break off a Believer from Christ, or hinder his Perseverance; let this Wine be given to such as are of an heavy Heart.
Use 2. Consolation. This Doctrin of Perseverance is as Bezar stone; 'tis a Sovereign Cordial to keep up the Spirits of the Godly from Fainting. There is nothing doth more trouble a Child of God than this, he fears he shall never hold out; these weak Legs of mine will never carry me to Heaven. But Perseverance is an inseparable Fruit of Sanctification, Once in Christ and for ever in Christ. A Believer may fall from some degrees of Grace, but not from the State of Grace. An Israelite could never wholly fell or alienate his Land of Inheritance, Lev. 25.23. A Type of our Heavenly Inheritance which cannot be wholly alienated from us. How despairing is the Arminian Doctrin of falling from Grace? To day a Saint, to morrow a Reprobate; to day a Peter, to morrow a Iudas. This must needs cut the Sinews of a Christians endeavour, and be as the boaring an hole in the Vessel, to make all the Wine of his Joy run out. Were the Arminian Doctrin true, how could the Apostle say, The Seed of God remains in him, 1 Iohn 3.9. and the anointing of God abides, 1 Iohn 2.27. What comfort were it to have ones name written in the Book of Life, if it might be blotted out again? But be assured for your Comfort, Grace, if true, though never so weak, shall persevere: Though a Christian hath but little Grace to Trade with, yet he need not fear breaking, because God doth not only give him a Stock of Grace, but will keep his Stock for him; Gratia concutitur, non excutitur, Aug. Grace may be shaken with Fears and Doubts, but it cannot be pluck'd up by the Roots. Fear not falling away; if any thing should hinder the Saints Perseverance, then it must be either Sin or Temptation; but neither of these: 1. Not the Sins of Believers: That which humbles them shall not Damn them, but their Sins are a means to humble them; they gather Grapes of Thorns; from the Thorn of Sin they gather the Grape of Humility. 2. Not Temptation: The Devil lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of a Saints Grace; but this cannot do it. Temptation is a Medicine for Security, the more Satan tempts, the more the Saints Pray. When Paul had the Messenger of Satan to buffet him, 2 Cor. 12.8. For this besought I the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Thus nothing can break off a Believer from Christ, or hinder his Perseverance; let this Wine be given to such as are of an heavy Heart.
