CH A P. 3 5. F:1 t-77 the Cori on of yufiification continued. t. ; Obligations unto Holinefs , and alfo Advantages & Helps thereunto a They are his wormanship created in Chrift jefus unto Good Works , which sod hath before ordained, that they should walk in them 1'sphef. 2: io. 2. Mr. Baxter tels u Co:afefr. p. i o? . that it is his firong opinion , ¿T that be it confident of it , that no j.uflified perfon shall ever lofe his jiijih fication ; that God bath promifed to can fethem perfevere. This State then is not to be compared with other Stares , which are lofable & changeable among men nor can we with fuch freedome (peak of Conditions of not lofeing that , which is fully fecured from all lofeing ; as we may (peak of the Conditions of keeping Not- lofeing that , which may be & oft is loft. We can not then fpeak of the State of Jutlification, as we do of Marriage betwixt man & woman : here there may be & are i ndeed Conditions required of each pa: t , in order to the keeping up ofthe Relation & they may be called Conditions of not lo- feing that Relation or Privilege : But as to junification, which is not fo lofe- able to fpeak of Conditions of not lofeing it , may occasion pprehen- fions in the mindes of men of its being lofable. It were faiFer then , in my apprehenlion , to enquire how or what way is this State & Relation conti- nued ? or what is required on our part , in order thereunto? then to enquire? what are the Cotidirions of Not - lofeing this State ? 3. Seing Mr. Baxter granteth Confeff. p.109. that no new fin deflroyeth their State of Jul ification , nor maketh them ceafe to be God's reconciled Children , feing they are {till united unto Chrift, and'have his Spirit , and have Faith & Repentance , ( at lean as to the habit ) & ( pag. x2.9. ) That the habite of Faith & Repentance, which is ever in them, qualifieth therm for prefent Remitlion of ordinary fins of infirmity , at leaft : And it is un- deniable, that the Lord's Spirit preferveth them from filch fins as are inconti- nent with a State of Juftification , or that make an intercilion'in that State. confequently in their Adoption & Union with Chrift : feing , I fay , all this is granted , to what purpofe is Inch a queftion as this here moved and_ flared, anent the Conditions of Not - lofeing this ftate? 4. The terme Condition here is taken in the fame fenfe, that it was under- flood in , when the quellion was about the Condition of our firlt entry. into the State of Juffi fication : and fo they muti take it here for a proper legal an- tecedent Potcftative condition : for if by condition here were meaned no mo- re than a mere Confequent Evangelick Condition : the queflion only would: be. What is the Lord's Way , Methode & Manner, how & by which he. preferveth his own, in that State of Juftification? But, according to their acceptation of the word condition, the queftion really coineth tothis,What^ that is, which beleevers betake themfelves unto, & which they can, may =,. 8^ should plead with God upon, for the continuance of their (late , that is ,. of their Reconciliation unto, & Acceptance with God , of the Pardon of their fins, & Right to glory ? 5. The queftion is nor, what is the Condition , or what is required on our part for keeping the fenfe & evidence of our juftification in our owns Confciences ° many things may be ufeful herein ,. that yet cannot be called Conditions of. the Continuance,. or Not lofeing of Iu(nification; Burthe. Eec 3 Ott
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