M. G's notion ofGods Faithfulneffe weighed & rejeded. GA P. V.4: e4y to preferve them, as he is the Creator ofall, and his con(tancy in receiving of them, being prefent with them, abiding with them , as he is Faithfutl in his word and Promifes. Yea and the interpretation, our Author would have fix- ed on the expreffion hereufed , is not only remote from the intendment of the place, turning that into agenerali good difpofiticn towards all his crea- tures, which is intimated for the peculiar fupport of Believers , and that in their difirefe, but allo is in it felfe, a falle, fond, and boat, Affertion. There is no Law, nor RelationofCreation, that laieshold onGod fo farre, as to ob- lige him to theCommunicationof onedropper of his Goodneffe toany of the creatures, beyond what is given them by their Creation, or to continue that unto theta for one moment; All the difpen£ation ofhimfelfe unto his crea- tures flowing from his foveraigne good pleafiire, doing what hewill with his owne. 2. He dothvery faintly, whenhe hath made the fartheft fieppe in confi- dent afferting that he daresventure-upon , (it may be , and it is moll 1i4ly) fuppofe that the Faithfulneffe of God in thefe places under confederation, may be taken in fuch a fenceas that before defcrtbed. But, r. This is nofenceat all oftheFaithfulneffe ofGod, neither is theword e- verufed inScripture to fignify any Inch thing in God,-or man, nor canwith any tollerable fencebe applied toany fuch thing;, neither would there be any Analogy between that which inGod we call Faithfulneffe, and that vertue in man, which is fo termed:.nor is the Faithfulnefe of God here mentioned upon anyfuch account, as will endure this defcription, being infifted on only to affurethe Saintsof the ftedfafrneffe , and unalterableneffeof God in the performance ofhisPromifes made to them: neither is the obligationof God, to continuehis Love and Favour, with Grace, and meanes of it to Believers, founded upon fuch a difpofation as is imagined ; but in the free purpofe of his will, which he purpofed in.efe«Chrifi before the worldwas : fo that there is not the leaft appearance oftruth, or foundneefre of Reafon, or any thing that is defireable, in this attempt to corrupt the Word ofGod. 2. Then, the FaithfulnefseofGodin the Scriptures inhand befpeakes his truth and ftability in the performance of his Promifes, madeof eftablifhing Believersto the end, keeping them fromevil/ not fuffering any temptation to befall them, bat making withall a way to efcape: in all which God affures them he will prevent all fuch carelefnef£e, and negligence in them , as is in- confftent with theirEftablifhment, which he will certainly accomplifh. And . thus is our Major Propofition with its fupplies oflight, and flrength, freed from 'fuck exceptions,as M.Goodwinfuppofes it liable unto. Forthe Affumption, I (hall not much trouble my felfe with that ridiculous fence (called a fober andOrthodox explication) whichMr Goodwin ispleafed to put upon it, to allow it topaffecurrant. in this fence (faith he) it is mofi true, that Godhath promifed hat allBelievers (ball Perfevere, i.e. that all true Be- lieversformally confidered, i.e. asfuch., and abiding filch, pallperfevere : viz: in his Grace and Favour; But this heprefiienes is not oarre>,ce. Ch: II. See: 2. pag.226. And well he may prefuiné it : for what ever his greatefr skill may enablehim unto, we canmake no fence of it, but this :.God bath promifed Believers (hall Perfevere, in cafe they Perfevere: which is to usupon themat- terno fenceat all. ToPerfevere inGods Grace and Favour,is to continue in Faith and Obedience; which ifmen doe, God bath folemnely promifed,and fworne that they f uall fodoe. Certainly there is an Orthodoxfence in Gods Promifes, that is not nonfence. Belt granted then, that this is not our fence, not fo much becaufe not ours, as becaufenot fence, what is our meaning in this Propofition? It is(faith Mr Goodwin) that Godwillfopreferve Believers,that none I27 0. 15.
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