367 / 504
The
eífertgrs
ofthe
Sts
Pert. compared with their
edverfaries. C.XIII.
quotes
out
of any
Author ,
he
hath fpent one
whole Chapter
to
perfwade the
3 r
i
world,that
men
of
as
great,
4biiityes
&
Judgments,as any
in
the world,
/nee
theApoftles
fell
a fleepe,have ufually
expreft themfelves,in
a
direlt contradi.
cion, to
what
they are eminently and notorioufly knowne,
as
their
profeffed
deliberate Judgments,
to
havemaintained.
Secondly,He
farther
informes
us,
how
this
Doctrine
of
the Perfeverance
of
y;
t
t,
theSaints,
came
to
be
fo
generally
entertained by
the Godly,Zealous & Able
Minifters
of
this
Nation,that
when we
fee
how they
fell
into it,theirTeftimo-
ny given thereto,
may
be
of
the
leffe
validity withus.
This
(he
telleth
you)
was the
Permiffion
of
M.
Perkins
his yttágment,to
be
o-
verruled
by
the Texts
of
Scripture
commonly
infified
on
for
the
proofe
ofthis
Do-
úrine,
the great worth
of
the
Perfon commended therefore
the
worth
of
the Opini-
on,
&
he
verily believeth,
as men were
then induced
to receive this Opinion,
fo
to
a relsnquifhment
ofit,
theywantnothing but
the countenance
and
Authorty
of
fom
perfon
of
popular acceptance
to go
before
them;
And the Reafon
he
giveth
"/this
his Faith is,
the Obfervation
of
the Principles
they
ufually
holdforth,efpecially
in
the Applicator,
part
of
their
sermons.
Anf.
What,
and who they were, who are thus reprefented by Mr
Good-
a
tad
win,in
their
receiving and imbracing
of
that
Doftrine,which with
the great
travel!
of
their
Soules all
their
dayes
they Preached and preffed
to,and
upon
others,is knowne
to
a1l.The
Perfons
I named before,(one
of
them
only excep-
ted)
with
all
thofe eminent,
burning,
and
Ihining
Lights, which for fo many
yeareshave
laboured with Renowne and
fuccefl'e,
to
the
aftonifhment
of
the
world
in
the Preaching
of
the
Gofpellin this
Nation, are the men intended.
Doubtleffe
fuch
thoughts have not
in
former
d'ayes
been entertained
of
them,
however the contemplation
of
any mans owne ability may now raifehim
to
contempt
of
them;
M. Perkins
received this
Doarine,
and therefore
all
the
Godly
Minifters
of
this
Nation did
fo
to.
If
any one
of
the
like efteeme
with
him
did
fall
offfrom
it;
(Now
whom they fhould obtaine
to
lead
them,ofe-
quail reputation and acceptance
with him who
bath
in
vaine
attempted
it,
.
I
know
not,)
they would
quickly
follow,(not like
Shepheards butSheep)
in-
to
an oppofition
thereunto; Thofe
who have
not
very
flight
thoughts
of
th
doubtleffe they
that
are
fallen
a
fleep
did not
deferve,
will
fcarcely
fuppofe
that
they entertained
a
Truth
of
fo
great
importance
as
this upon
fo
eafie
tearmes
as
thefe infinuated;
or that
they would have
parted
with
it,
at
fo
cheape
a
rate.
Farther,
why
the
Minifters
of
England fhould
be thought
to
entertaine
this
$1t
Doftrinemeerely
upon
the Authority and countenance
of
Mr
Perkins
given
thereunto,
when
the
univerfality
of
the Teachers
ofali
other
Reformed
Chur-
ches,
of
the
fame confeffion
in
other
things with
them, did
allo embrace
the
fame
Doctrine, and
do
continue
in profeflion
of it
to
this
day,
what
reafon
can beaflìgned?
Had there
been
a
particular inducement
to
the
Minifters
of
England
for
the
receiving
of
it,
which
was
altogether forraigne unto them,
who
as
to our Nation
are forraigners,whence
is
it
that there
should
be
fisch
a
a coincidence
of
their Judgments with them therein
?
Or
why may
not ours
be thought totake it
upon
the
fame account with
them,
upon whole
Judge-
ments &
underflandings the Authority
of
Mr
Perkins
cannot be
fuppofed
to
have
any
influence;IsM.G.the onlyPerfon,who,in thisNation
bath impartially
weighed all things
of
concernement,to the
refuting
or
imbracing
any
matters
orpoftrines
inlieligion
?Have
no
other
in
the
fincertty
of
their hearts
fcearched
the scriptures,&
earneftly begged
the
guidance
of
the
Spirit;according
to that
incouraging Promife left by
their Mafter,that
they
fbouldreceive him fo
doing?
The
good Lord
take
away from
us all
high
thoughts
ofour
felves,
and all
contempt