C.XL4,17 Do.`t!ofPcrfofSts its ufefulnes to promote Gofp.Obedience. 2 54 ttlre beheld out, or may be deduced from this to the contrary, theyare atli- berty from fubmitting their undernandings to them, and may arraigue them as falfeand fuppofìtitionstheir whole divine Authority is unqueftionably caft downe to the ground, and trampled on by the feet of men . (Kai'MU-,a 146 Vejf .re.úaa ) God will take care for the vindication of the honour of his Word. y 2. The oppofition here made by Mr Goodwin, and impofed on his Ad- verfaries, is as bath been (hewed, wretchedly falle, not once fpokcn or owned by them with whom he hath to do, norhaving the lean colourgiven unto it by the Do&rinethey maintaine;yea isdiametrically oppofite thereunto, Themaine ofwhat they teach, andwhich Mr Goodwin hathopppfed in this Treatife, indeavouring to anfwer that eminent place ofthe r john 3.9. with many others produced and argued to that purpofe,' is, that God will accor- ding to the tenor of theCovenant of Grace, fo write his Law in thehearts ofhis, and put his feare in their inward parts, that they !hall never depart from him, foas to become defperately and outragioutly profane,but be pre- ferved fuch to the end, as that the Lordwith the greaten advantage ofGiory to hisinfinite Wifdome, Righteoufnefie, and Holineffe, may irreverfih'v affure the immortall Inheritanceofhis Love and Favour unto them. So that Mr Goodwin's Difcourfe to the end of this *lion, concerning the Conti- nuance ofthe LoveofGod to them that are wicked, with anequall meafure of Favour to them that are Godly, according to thisDo&rine, is vaine, and grofslyfophiflicall,and fuchas he himfelfeknoweth tobe fo. To fay, every one that dóth i.11 good in the fight ofthe Lord, and that he delightetb in him, (that is) he approveth wickedand ungódly men, we know is fufficiently dif- honourable:to him:but yet to fay that he delighteth inhis Church, & People, walked and made Holy in the Blood ofChrin;-notwithnanding their failings, or their being fomtime overtakenwith great firmes, when he pleafeth in an extraordinaryway, for ends belt knowne tohimfelfe, topermit them to fall into them, (which yet he doth feldome and rarely,) is that; which himfelfe affirmeth, & afcribeth to himfelfe in innumerable places ofScripture,(iftheir Authority may paffe unquenioned)to thepraifeofthe Gloryofhis Grace.But it feemeth, ifwe take, any care, that Mr Goodwin may not call the Authority oftheScriptures into queftion,(being fully refolved, that the Do&rine of the Saints Perfeverance isunworthy of a Holy and Righteous God,) we muff giveover all attempts offarther deducing it from them; But yet for thepre- fent, we (hall confider what hehath farther to objed again it. 4. Sett. 34. He father objeðagainn himfelfeandhis D , in the be halfe of that which he doth oppofe in thefe words. It is poffîble, thatyetfome willfarther pbjetl agáinfl the Argument inhand; Vnleffethesaints be affuredoftheperpetuityof their fianding, in théGrace and Favour o fGod,they mu.{l needsbe under fearer offallingaway, andfo ofperifhing; andfeare we know is ofa difcouraging and infeeblingnature; an enemy untofuck atlions, whichmen ofconfidence andcourage are apt toundertake. Air(. What this pbje&ion maketh in this place, Iknow not; it neither afferteth any eminency in the Do&rine by Mr Goodwin oppofed, as to the promotion ofGodlineffe, nor immediately challengeth that, which he doth marntaine ofa contrary tendency, but only intimateth, that the Sts Confolar tion and peace is weakned by unnecefiary fearer , fuch as his opinion is apt to ingenerate in them; But however thus farreI owne it, as to themaine oftheObfervationinhand, that the Do&rine ofthe Apoftacy of Believers, isapt and fuited to cut the Saintsof God, and heirs ofthe Promife fbortof that nrongConfolation, which he is fo abundantlywilling that they fhould receive,
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