Dead-PerCof Sts its u(efulnes to promoteCohen Obedience. C.XJ.ß: to. propofall ofit foran eafy removal'. Thus then he proceedeth.Topretendthat the weaknefe oftheflefh in the bell ifSaints eonfdered, and their aptneffe to goe a ray, they mull needs lye undermany troublefome andtormenting fearer ofperi- mng, unleffe they haveforce promifè or of trance fromGod to fzepport them, not- withfianding any. de`clinings orgoings affray incident unto them,yet they (ballnot loofe hisfavour, or perifh, is topretend nothing but what bath been throtrghly aní- fweredalready, efpecially inCap, r Anf. Before I canadmit this plea tobe put in,in our behalfe, I {hail crave 'eave a little to rectify, and point it more tharply againft the Doctrine it aim- eth tooppofe. I fay then, z. .It isnot the weakneffe of the flefh ; or the feeblene(feand difability of our naturali man toat in, or goe through with great duties and trialls , but the ftrength and wilfulnefeof the flefh , (i.e.) of the corrupted man even in the belt ofSaints, continually provoking; and reducing them with fometitnes an infuperable efficacy, leading them captive, and working in them-continu- ally, with a thoufand baits, andwiles, (as hathbeen inpart difcovered) la- bouring to turne them afide fromGod; That fills the Saints ofGod with tor- menting, perplexing feares ofperifhing ; and muff needs doe fo, if they have no promifeofGod for their prefervation; Befides all this ftrength and wil- fulneffeofthe flefh, they are expofedto the Affaults Of other molt dreadful' Adverfaries, wreftling with Principalities and Powers in heavenly places,jand contending with theWorld, as it lieth under the curfe all their daies; To re- ferre all the oppofitionsthat Believers meet withall, in the courfeof their a- bedience, and which may fill them with fears that they(hall one day perifh, ifnot fupported by an Almighty hand, and kept by the power ofGod through Faithunto Salvation, unto the weakneflèof the flefh , which, in the place where the expreflion is ufed, plainly pointed' at the difability ofthenatural' man to abide in, and goe through with great duties and trialls,is.a.moftvaine and empty contemplation. Thofe who have to doewith God, in the matter ofGofpeil obedience, and knowwhat iris indeed to fervehim under tempta- tions, can tell you another manner ofRory : and among them M. Goodwin could doe fo to the purpofe; when his thoughts were not prejudiced, 6y any byafing opinions that muff be leaned unto. 2. We do not fay that theSaints ofGod in the condition nìentioned,fland inneedofany Promife ofGod,that notwithlhanding any declinings,or goings affray incident unto them, they (hall not loofe his favour or perilh , but that they fhall have fuch a prefenceof hisfpirit , and fufficiency ofhis grace with tiì ^a distahties, that they (hall never, notwithftanding all the oppofitions and difficulties theymeet withall; utterly faile in their Faith, nor be prevai= led againft, to depart wickedly andutterly from God. And now I fee not but that fuppofing that it is neceffary, that the Saintsbe delivered from trou- blefome perplexing fearesofperifhing, and that God hath made provifìonfor that end and purpofe, which that he bath, feemes to begranted by our Au- thor, I cannotfeebut that this Plea, flrikethat the very heartof Apoflafy of Saints, thoughnot very fitly brought in, in this place, in reference to theAt- guments that occafioned it; but our Author, knowinghis faculty to lye more in . evadingwhat isobjected againft him, than in ,urging Arguments for his own opinion, doth everywhere, uponthefirfr propofall ofany Argument,di- vert to other confiderattons, and to theanfwering of Objetions , though perhaps not at all to the Plea in hand , norany way occafioned by it. But what faith he now, in defence ofhis dearlybeloved, thus,attempted, tovin- dicate it from this fore imputation of robbing and défpoiling the Saints of God oftheir Peace, and . Affurance purchafed for them at no leffe rate L I than 257
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=