Of Perfeverance. 2p who is not fure that he goeth further, yea that he is not quite in another "flete, than any man that ever fell away : which it is not poffble that "many, if any one at allfhould be. a. In that it alloweth no man to be `Ó fure of his f efiification and Adoption, tillhe havefo much Grace, as that i0 no Temptation, haw great foever, would turnhim from Chrifl if he Were "tried by it. B. Wherein is theuncomfortablenefs ofthefe ? A. L " I have knownmy felffome fall to Socinianifm, Arrianifm, yet "Infidelity, denying Chrili, or his Godhead, (which is his chief Effence) " and the scriptures, (and thereforefure had no faving Grace then, and "diedfo) whohadforoyears lived in aseminent Piety, Humility, diligence " in all religions Duties, charity to others, neglell of the World, and patient "fufferingfor their Religion oft times, asalmofi any men that ever I knew. " And that they didnot diffemble, not only their con.flancy, fullring and " whole converfation(hewed, but my own intimacy withthem affBred me, by "which Iknew the very thoughtsof their hearts. Someof themwere not of "judgments clear andfirong enough to d f ern the fallacies of Deceivers : "Others ofthem werenaturally toohafly injudging 5 Andfamewere carried "away by theadvantages of theconfiant companyof extraordinary able and "infnuating seducers. But divers of them, even after they apo(latized, i0 didcontinuefomuchfiriéinef of lifeandcharity to allmen, án religiouf= " nefs in their Theifm, and Infidel way, and negleel of the World, as con- " vinced me, thatit was more the infufficiency of theirjudgments, than the i° bypocrife oftheir hearts, which was thecaufe of their Apoflacy. Nov by " the Calvinifls Doarine, none oftheymen wereever in a (late ofGrace : "And of theffriilefl Profeff'ors round about us, there is not one of many "hundreds thatgoeth fofar as theydid. And all thefe mull beleft uncertain "of their jullification, till theyare certainthat theywent beyond them all ? "yea and certain that they areunjuflified, while they are certain that they " camefhort of any one of them. B. The cafe that you defcribe I have known, and it is fad : But we know not theheartsof other men : Theremight be more fin and hypo crifie in them thanwe know of. A. " Though God only be the fearcherof hearts, yet long intimacy and " near experience may make usfo confident offame mens thoughts, as that " Iconfefs to you, you will never change my mind, ifyou pleadagainfl fo. "great experience. I know theirjudgments were infufficient. But I will " never believe that their hearts werefalfe, as towhat they knew. B. God hathmadehis Word, and not othermens hearts, the rule for us to judge our felvesby. A, " But ifyou think that his Word tells us that we are thechildren of " the Devil, till wego beyond any that everfell away, we mull lookboth to " that Word, andtofuch Apoflates. B. The truth is, affurance of Juflification and Salvation is not eafily nor commonlyattained : And it is not Opinions alone that will procure it : And while we have that fin and weaknefs, which is the caufe of doubts, which Opinion foever we hold, we (hall find occafion for our doubtings : But let us hear your fecond part of the Accufation. A. H. " Theyhold that if any manfall away, by what temptation foever, " it is becaufe hewas neverfincere : And confequently that he is not fineere, " that wouldfall away by the flroneefi temptation that potibly may affault "him. so that every poor weak Chrfian, whole Infantflrength is not " proportioned to the greatefi temptations, mull needstake himfel f to beflill "but an Hypocrite.
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