212 / 504
C
AP.VI.4-
37,
lahn
a
o.17,
&c. explained and vindicated.
I 56
1.
The
fecurity,
for
which our Saviour
engageth
the Greatne/feofhis
Fathers
poirer
unto his sheepe, is
promifed
unto
them,not in order
to
the
eff
èaing
orprocrs
4.37. ring theirfinal!
Perfeverance, but
rather
by
way
ofreward
to
it.
Anf.
But
what
Tittle
is
there
(I
pray you)
in
the
whole
Context to
inti-
mate
any
fuch
thing
?
What
inuinuation
of
any fuch
Condition
?
They
heare
my
voice,
and
they
follow me,
(that
is)
they believe
in
me,and bring
forth the
fruits
of
their
Believing in
fuitable obedience,
as
thefe words
of
hearing and
foljowing
do
imply. (Saith
our Saviour,) thefe(hall
not
perifh
;the
Power
of
my
Father
{hall
preferve them;
(that
is
)
faith
our
Aut
hor,
in
cafe they perfevere
to the
end,
then
God
will
preferve them:
clearely
our
Saviour
iundertaketh,that
Believers
{hall
not
perifh, and
that
his
Power
and
his
Fathers are
engaged
for that
end,
which
is
all we
affert, or have need to do.
2.
That this Promifeoffafety,made
to
him
Sheepe
by
Chrilf,
cloth
not relate
to
their
fiate
or condition
in
this
prefent world,
but
that
of
the
world
to
come. My
Sheepe
heare
my voice
and
follow me,
in which
words
of
hearing
and
following
him,
he
intimateth
or
includeth their
Perfeverance,
as
appeareth
by
the
words
im-
mediately following.
And
I
give them Eternall Life.
Ant.
This
I
confeflè
is
to the
purpofe
if
it
be
true: but
being
fo
contrary
to
what
bath
been
(I
had almoft
faid Vniverfally)
received, concerning the
mind
of
Chrift in'this place,
we
had need
of
evident concluding Keafons,
to
enforce the
truth
of
this gloffe
or interpretation.
For the prefent
I
than
give
you
foìne few inducements
or
perfwafions, why
it feemeth altogether
unfuitahle
to the
mind
ofour
Bleffed
Saviour,
that
this
ingagement
of
his
Fathers Powe
rand
his
owne,fhould be
{hut
out from taking
any place
in
the
Kingdome
of
Grace.
i.
Obferve
that
there
is
a
great
oppofition
to
he made
againft
the
Saints,
in
that condition,
wherein they are promifed
to
be preferved. This
is
fuppo-
fed
in'thewords
themfelves.
where
is none
Pall
take them
out
of
my
hands:
my
Father
is
great, and
none
fliall
be
able
to
take
them out
of
his hands.
As
if
he
fhould have
laid, It
is
true,
many Enemies they
have,
great
oppofition
will
there be, and
arife againft them
on
all
hands,
but
preferved they
{hall
be in
the
tnidit
of
them all;
-But
now what Enemies,
what
oppofition willthere
be;
and
arife againft
the
Saints in
Heaven?The
Holy
Ghoft telleth us,the lay
Ene-
my
isDeath,
and
that
at the Refurre
&ion
,
that
{hall
be utterly
(wallowed
ìsp
ini
o
viFlory,
that
it
{hall
never lift
up
the head; There they
reft from
their la-
hours who
dye
in
the
Lord.
Yea,
it
is
exceeding ridiculous
to
fuppofe, that
the
Saints
need Affurance
ofthe
engagement
of
the Omnipotency
of
God,for
their
fafeguarding
in
heaven, againft
all
oppofition, when they are
affured
of
nothing
mote, then
that there
they
{hall
not be liable
to the
legit oppofition,
or obftru
&ion,
in
their
enjoyment
ofGod,unto
all eternity.
2.
Our
Saviour here defcribeth
the
prefent condition
of
hisfheep,in
a
way
of
oppofition
to
them
that
are not
hisfseep
:
His
heare
his
voyce
,
the
others
doe not, and
his{hall
be preferved,when the others perifh:
The
Pharifees
be-
lieved
not,
and,
as
he
told
them,they died in their
flanes;
his fheep
heard
him,
and were preferved
in
their
obedience.
It
is
then evidently the deportment
ofChrift towards, and
his
care
of
his {heepe
in this
World,
in a
contra
-
dillin-
¿lion
to them,who
are not his
Iheepe, among whom they live,
that
is
here let
forth.
3.
The
very
Garrrxt of
the
words inforceth this
fence:
They
follow me,and
i
give them
erernaillife,
I
doe
it,
that's the work
I
have
in
hand.
Take
eter-
nal( Life
in the
molt comprehenfive
fence, for
that
which
is
to
be
enjoyed
in
heaven, (though doubtleffe
it
comprizeth
alfo
the'
Life
of
Grace,
which
here
we enjoy. ¡oh:17.3..)
What
is
that
which
our
Saviour
undertaketh to
give
Believers