1 2 Titn.2.tç. ExplainedandVindicated. CA pill. 4:40. This then, beyond all colourableException, is the intendment ofthe A pq pofde in the words under confederation; Though many Profefiors fall away, yet you,that aretrue Believers , be not {haken in your confidence , for God bath laidthe foundationofyour prefervation in his.Eternall Prarpofe, whereby you are defigned toLife and Salvation, and by the fruitswhereof, you are difcriminated from the beft ofthem, that fallaway: onlycontinue in theufe ofmeanes, let every oneofyee depart from iniquity, and keepe up to that uni verr llHolinefe, whereunto alto ye are appointed and chofen. And this is the whole ofwhat we defile Demonftration of: neither will leffein any meafüre, anfwer the Objeelioit, or remove the Scruple, at firft propofed. But it feems, we ateall this while befìdes the intendment of the Apoftle, 4.4°. whole Refolution ofthe objeílìonmentioned, is quite ofanother nature, then what we have hitherto infifte'd on'; which Mr Goodwin thus reprefents: pag. 359. Cap. 14. Se&. 14. To this Objeílionor scruple,the Apoftle(in the words now inhand) Anfpereth, tothis eff'ell; that notwith anding thefalling awayofmen, who ever, or howma- nyfoever theybe,yet the Glorious Gofpell, andTruth ofGodtherein, {randy andal- waies bath hood,firme and,fiedfafl; Which Gofpellbath the matter andfobffance ófthislaying in it, as afeale for the eflablifbment ofthofe, who'are upright in the fight ofGod, viz. The Lord knoweth, that is, takesfpeciall noticeof,approoveth .tnd delighteth in thofe that are his, thatis, who trulyBelieve in him, loveand fervehim : yea and farther bath this Item,tending to the ame ends Let every one that calleth upon the name ofChrifl, that is,makes profeJ tonofhisname, departfrom iniquity:fo that in thisAnfwer to the Scruple mentioned, the Apoflle intimateth by way of fatis- faction, thatthe rea/on, why menfall awayfrom theFaith, it partly becaufe they dee not confider, what worthy refpects God beareth to thofe, who cleave to him in Faith, andLove: partly alfo becaufe they degenerate into loofe andfnfull courfes, contrary to the Law impofedby the Gofpell, and confequently, that there is nofuch danger oftheirfallingaway, who(hall duly confider theone, andobferve the other, inferting the(lability ofthe Truth ofGod, in the Gofpell, by the way ofAntidote againft thefearer ofthofe, that might poJfiblyfufpect it, becaufeo f the defections ofothersfrom it:he Bothbut tread in his ownfootfeps,elfe where in this veryChap- ter, ifwe Believe not, yet heabideth faith.full_ andcannot deny himfelfe. Anf, Ifthat neceffrty were not voluntarily chofen, which inforceth men to wreft andpervert theWordofGod, not only to Miflaken, but ftrange , un- couth, and inconfiftent fences, their fo doing might perhaps feemenot to be altogether without colour and pretext : but when they willingly imbrace thofepaths, which will undoubtedly lead them into theBriers, and contrary toabundance ofLight, and Evidence of Truth imbrace thofeperfwafions, which neceflitate them tofuch courfes, I know not what Cloake they have Ieft for their deviations. An Exampleof thiswe have before us in the words recited: Afence is violently pinned upon the Apoftleswords, not only alien, forraigne tothe (cope ofthe place, and Genuine fignification of the words themfelves, but wholv unfuited for any ferviceableneffe to the end,for whichthe Author of thisGloIfe himfelfe, confeffeth thefe Expreffions ofthe Apoftle, to beproduced, and ufed. The fummeofMr GoodwinExpofitionofthis place,is this. TheFoundation ofGod, is theGofpell or theDo&rine of it: its (landing, orHanding fare, the certaine truth ofthe Gofpell: the Seale mentioned, is the fitbftance or mat- ter ofthat faying, Godknowes who are his, conteined in the Gofpell; and the Anfwer to the Obje&ionor fcruple, lyes in this, that the reafon why men fall from the Gofpell, (which neither is, nor was the fcruple, nor was it fo propofed
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=