448 / 504
C.
XVI.
i
lohn
z.
I9
Explained
and Vindicated.
392 pleads,for
the
waving
of
the
force
oftho
Argument,
in
hand) that
whole
Se-
ûion. Thus
then he proceeds.
ß.
36.
Suppofe
that
theft
two
fuppofitions
be
granted
to
the Inference
makers;
Firf,
Thatthis phrafe
[to
goe
out
from us]fignifi
es
voluntarily
to
forfake thefociety and
communion
ofChriMans;
And
Secondly,
That this exprejfon
[to
be
of
us]
fiignifies
true
and inward
communion
with
thofe
from
whom they
,vent
ont,
yet will
not thofe
contributions
fiace,
for
the
firme
building
of
the
faid
Inference;.
The
Reafon is,
Becaufe
the
Apo le
expreffely
faith
;that
they would
have continued with
[us,]not
that
theywould-
have
continued
fach,
as
they
were,
in
refpetJ
of
the Truth
or Ejjence
of
their Faith; and
if
the
Apoflles
fcope
in
this
place
were
to
prove or
arme,
that
they
who
are
once
true Chriftians, or Believers, alwaies continuefuch, then,
when
he
faith
they would have
continued with
10,
he
mull
of
necePity
meane, either
that
they would
have continued
Faithfull
as
we
continue Faitbbfull, or
elk
that
they
woulddave
continuedalwaies
in
our
fociety, or
in
the
profeflion
of
Christianity:
But
that
neither
o
f
thefefences are
of
any .tolerable cony
fiency,
is
évident ,by tue
light
of
this
Confederation,
viz.
That the
Apoflle
then
mull have
known, that the
perforas hee
fpeakesof,
and
who
went
one
from
them, neither
were
nor ever
had
been
true Christian
Believers,
when they
went thus
from
them;
Now
if
he
had
this,
knowledge
ofthens,
it
muff
be
fuppofed
either
that
he
had
it
by
extraordinary
Re
-:
velation
(but
this is
very improbable,
and
howfoever cannot
be
proved;
)
or
elfe
that
he
and' obtain'
d
it
by
their
departure or going
out from them;
but
that
this
could
be
no
fuftcient
Argument
orground,
t_o
beget
any
fuch
knowledge
in
the
Apoftle
concerning
them,
is
evident
from
hence
,
Becaufe
it
may very
eafly,
and
doth
very
frequently
come
to
paffe,
That
they who
are
true Christians
doe
not
al-
wales continue
in thefociety
to
which
they
have
joyned
them]
elves,
no
nor
yet
in
the externall
profeßion
of
Chriflianity
it
felfe; yea
,
our
appofers
thensfelves,
fre-
quently
andwit
hout
fcruple teach,
that
even
true believers
themf
lves,may through
Feare, orfname,
or
extremity
offufferinngs,
be
brought
to deny
Chril,
and
without
any danger
of
being fbip
-wraci
t,of
their Faith forbeare
making a
profeflion
of
the name
o
fChri
fÈ
afterwards.
4: 37.
Anf
Firft,
What
is
meant and Intended
bythofe
expreffions
[
went out
from
us,
and
to boo
fus]
hath
been
declared; We
are not to
teach
the
Holy
Ghoft
-to
fpeake;
What
ever conceit
we may
have
of
our own
abilities, when
we dealewith Wormes
of
the Earth,
like
our
felves,
to
his will,
to
his
expref
fions,
we muff valle
and fubmit
;
He
is
pleafed
to
phrafe their continu-
ance in
the
Faith,
their
continuance
with
us,
that
is,
with
the
Saints in
the
fel
-,
lowfhip
and communion
of
theGofpell,
which they
had
with
God
in
Chrift;
The
expreßion
is
cleare and evident to the purpofe
in
hand,
and
there
is
no
contending
againft it.
Secondly,
we
doe
not
fay,
that
'tis
the
dire&
(cope
and intent
of
the
Apoftle
in
this place,
to
prove
that
thofe who are
true
Believers, cannot
fall
away,
and depart
from
the Faith,
which
he afterwards
Both
to the
pnrpofe,
Cap.
3.
9
but
bis
mind
and intendment
was,.
to
manifeft,
that thole
who forfake the
Society,
ofChriftians, and become
Anti- Chrifts,
and feduccrs, were indeed
never
true
Believers;
ufeing
the other
Hypothefis
as
a
medium'
for the confir-
mation
of
this Affertion.
Thirdly,'
By
that
phrafe, they would have
continued
with
us,
the
Apoftle
intends their continuance
in
the
fociety
and
fellowfhip
of
the Faithful]
by
the
profeflion
of
Jefus
Chrift, whom
now
they oppofed,
denying hirn'to
be come
in
the
flefh;
that
is,
they would not have fp
fallen
off, as
they
have
done,
upon.
the
account
of
the
Eftate and
Condition
of
true
Believers,
and
reali
Saints,,
who are
kept
by
the
power
of
God to
falvation.
Fourthly ,
The
Apoftle
did know ,
and
profeffed himfelfe
to
know
,
that
they