CM.* 2 5.Do t.of Sts Perfev -its ufefulnel[e topromote Gofpell-Obedience. 26o ,fiery, nofilch matter ofdifficulty, untofuchmenandthat when the areovercome andfall intofinne, it isthrough a meere voluntary negleti; and thus we fèe all Ming, unpartially weighed, anddebated to andfro,that the Doélrine which fup- pofeth;àpoffibility ofthe Saints declining, -is the Doîrine which isaccording. to Godlineffe, and the corrivallof it an enemy thereto. Anf . We havehere an Afertion,an Inference, anda Conclufion; The A1er- tion is, that there is no fuch aptnef e andproneneffé tofinne inBelievers, as is in- timated; and that becaufe there is fach affrongpropenfity in them to Righteouf- neffe, which that they have is proved from fundryplaces ofScripture; That ís,becaufe the Spiritis in Believers,theflefh is not in them. Becaufe theyhave a new man in them,they have not an old; becaufe they have aprinciple ofLife, . theyhave not abodyofdeath.That is,where theSpirit luffethagainfl theflefh,the flefh lufteth not againft theSpirit.We thought theDotrine ofPaul,Rom.7,Gal 5 and in innumetable other places, with theexperience offall the Saints in the World had laine againft this pieceof Sophifiry. It is true, theirpropenfion unto Righteoufnefieraigneth in them, but it is as true, their propenfion unto finne, rebelleth in thetn.Though the Land beconquered for Chrift, yet the Canaanite, will dwell in it & ifthe Saints leaveofbut oneday, theworke of Itilling,crucifyingand mortifying, they will quicklyfinde an aLtuall rebellion in them, not eafie tobe fupprefled:They have indeed a propenfion toHoli- nefl'e ruling in them,but alto a propenfion unto finne.dwelling in them,,%'that when they would do good evenis prefént with them, andthe goodthey would do, they cannot; But when Mr Goodwin can prove this confequence, that Saints have firong inclinations to Righteoufneflè, therefore they have not fo to finne, for my part I willforbeare forever difputing withhim ; Ifhecan beat us, not only from Scripture, but all our Spiritual( fence and experience, doubtleffe it is to no purpofe to contend any longer with him ; Hence then p.24 2. Heinferreth,thattoabffainefromfnning,thatis,finningcuffomarily,& againft confcience, fo as to endanger the Joffe ofthe Favour of God, isno filch great maftesy, nofuch matter ofdifficulty tofuchmen. Thisabftaining from filch finnes,(on the onehand) is the whole courfe ofour Gofpell Obedience, which it feemeth however it be compared to running in a race, firivingfor mafleríes, called refilling unto blood, wrfflingwith principallities and powers, requiring for its carrying on the exceeding greatneféof the power ofGod, with fuitable help in timeofneedfrom. f efur Chriff, who is fenfible of the weight of it, as no fmali matter, knowing what it is toferve God in Temptations, yet is it indeed but a trifling thing, a matter of no great diffi(silty men Watch, Pray, Contend, Fight, Wreftle withGod, and Satan, doth the Lordput forthhis Power, and theLord Jefus Chrift continually intercede for theprefervation 'oftheSaints , Ad quidperditio hsc ? to what end is all this toile-and labour, about a thingoflittleor no weight? Egregiam vero Jan- dem ( We know indeed, theYoke ofCbrift is ea() and his Commandement not grievous, that we can doe all things through him that inableth us, but tomake Gofpell obedience, fo flight a thing, that it is no great maffery, or matter of no great commendation, to holdout in it tothe end , this we were to learn 'till now, and are as yetflawofheart to receive it. 5 TheConclufion is: ió, Pean, vicimus: all things impartially weighed, the cafe is ours, andGodlineffe exceedingly promoted by. the Doblrine ofthe poffibility of the Saints defeliion omp tSo ,rill. <)and thecorrivallofit an enemy to it: toprove which not one word in the Argument hath been fpoken, nor, to free the o- ther froma charge ofa dire& contrary importance, onewordto thepurpofe; and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=