368 / 504
C.
XiII.
Affertors
of
StsPerf.
compared
with
their
Adverfaries.
312
contempt
of
them
that
profeffe
theFeare
of
the Lord,with
whom we have
to
do.
For
the Reafon
of
Mr
Goodwin's
Faith
in this
thing, concerning the
rea
din
effe
of
the Godly
Minifters
of
this Nation, to
Apo
flatize from
the
Do
Trine
of
the Saints Perfeverance,
namely, their manifefting
themfelves
to
be
poffeff-
ed
of
many Principles
ofa
contrary
tendency
unto it,
in
the applicatory.parts
of
their
Sermons
;
the
vanity
of
it bath
been long
fince
difcovered
5
fo
that
there
is
no
farther
need
to
lay
open the
unreafonableneffe thereof.
4.14
M.
Goodwin
miftrufting
his
ability
to
perfwade
men,that the
Perlons
of
whom
hehath
difcourfed were
not cleare
in
their
Judgments,
as
to
an
oppo-
fition
to
that
Do
&rive which
he pófitively
owneth,and
zealoufly contendeth
for,
and knowing
that
it cannot be denyed
but that
they were men
of
emi-
nency for
Godlineffe, and
dole
walking
in
Communion with God
all
their
dayes: Yet he excepteth
as his
1aft refuge, That
it
cannot
be
manifefled,
that
this
opinion
had
the leafl
influence
in
their
pious converfation,which is
wholly
to
be
afcribed
to
other
commendable Principles
that
they embraced.
This
indeed
may
be
Paid
of
any
part of
theDoc`
trine
whatfoever
that
they received,
&fome
of
them fuffered
for. Atheifts may
fay
it
,
of
the
whole
profeffion
ofChrifi-
anity,&
afcribe
the
goodnes
of
the
lives
of
the belt
of
them
that
profeffe
it,to
force
other
principles
common
to
them with
the refidue
of
mankind,& not at
all
to
any
ofthofe
whereby they are dif}ingunifhed,as
fuch.
This
they
pro-
feffed
to
have
a
powerfull
Efficacy
to prevaile with them for
that
exa&neffe
in walking with
God,
which by
his
Grace they attained unto.
And why
they
thould not be believed herein,
as
farreasany
men
whatever; bearing the
like
Teftimony
to
any
Do&rine
whatever,
I
know not.
Betides
the intendment
of
this inftance
of
the
Perlons and their
Piety
who formerly
Believed,
and
fpake
forth
this
Do&rine,was,tomanifeft
by
an eminent
experiment,that there
war
not
in
it,nor
is
any tendency
to
a
contrary
frame
unto.Piety
& .Holines,which
it
is
injurioufly charged withall;
&
if
by
the
confederation thereof;
we
do not
obtaine
that
it
bath
a
proper and
dire& ferviceableneffe
to
the promotion
of
Godlineffe,yet at
leaft
we
have
a
convincing
demonftration that
it
is
no way
obflruetive
to
it.
4.15
Nextly,
Se
&.26.
Mr
Gòodwin
entreth
upon
his
defenfative
to
the
charge
againft
his
Do
&rine,
whole Foundation
is
laid in
the unworthineffe
of
its Au-
thors
in this
Nation before it
fell
upon
his
hand.
Thefe
he
confeffeth
to
be
the
war/I
of
our
late Behops,withfuch as
Romanized,er tyrannized
among them,with
their
clergie
creatures& favorites,Perfons
many
of
the
o
f
faperflition,loofnes
QÌ
much profanenes.
Ofthe
Apologie
(hoped for
the
clearing
of
the Do
&rine
he
maintaineth from aparticipation with
them
in
their unworthineffe, there
are
three
parts. In
the
s.
whereof,he
denieth,that
thisDollrine did
any way induce
them
to
the loofenefe
that
was
found
upon
them:
In the
other
two,giveth
as
many
teafons
of
their
receiving
of
it,and
cleaving
to it.
As
for
the
firft
part,
I (hall
willingly
aflent to
him
that the
Holineffe
or un-
holineffe
of
Profeffors
:
is
not to becharged
on
the
Religion they protege
(I
meane appearing
Holineffe in
the
profeffion
of it,)
unleffe
there be
an
evi-
dence
of
a
connexion
betwixt their
principles&
pra
&ifes;which iwthis
cafe,to
us &
our
apprehenfion
of
them who charge
this
Do
&tine with
the
mifcarria-
ges
of
thofe
men,there
is;At
leale
we may infift on
this,that there
is
a
fuitable-
neífe in
the
wholesyfleme
of
the Doetrine, whereofthe
Apoflacy
of
the Saints
is
an
eminent parcell,to
that
frame
of
Spirit which
is
in
men
of look
and
fuperflitious wayes, enemies
of
the Grace
of
God and power
of
Godlineffe.
Neither
can
there
any
other
reafon be
tollerably
afíigned
or alledged,
for
the
embracement
of
thatDodrine,by
thofe Perlons formerly mentioned,but
only
their
ignorance of,& envy
to the
great
Mifkeryes
of
the
Gofpell,theCovenant
of