G.XII.4 i,;,DoasofPerfpf Sts its ufefulnes topromote Gofp.Obedience. 264 the Dal tine he goeth about to efiablifh, finding that as fomthing heavy worke to lye upon his hand, and not much tobe laid in thecafe, he tnftant- ly turneth about and falleth upon. his Adverfaries, in declaiming againfl whom, he hath a rich and overflowing Veine. There is fcarce any one ofhis Arguments, in the purfuit and improvement whereof,one fourth part ofit, is fpoken to that head, is engaged. a: 6. But wherein istheCommon Doelrine of Perfeverance guilty of this great crime ? It teacheth, thatHe that believethfluff befaved, and he that believeth not, fiat!be damned. It teacheth,that God hath allottedequall punifhments to equall Tranfgreffions,and appointed equal! Rewards to equal! wayes of0- bedience. That.theWagesofeveryfinne is death, and that every (inner muff dye, unlefl'e it be thofe, concerningwhom God himfelfe faith, Deliver them, Job. 33.24. I havefounda Ranfome: that he isa like difpleafedwith finne in whomfoever it is;and that in a peculiar, and eminent manner , when it is found in his owne. Indeed ifthis be to impute Acceptationof Perfons to God, to fay, that he hash Mercyon whom he will have Mercy, andwhom he will, he.hardeneth,.that he is tender to his owne, as a Father to his only child that ferveth him, and will recover them (being faithfull in his Promifes) from their finnes, and heale their backeflidings, though he fuffer others to lye wallowing in their re- bellions, and pollutions all their dayes; that he will not give pardon to any firmer, butupon Faith and Repentance, but will give Faith and Repentance to tholewhom he hath chofen, and given untoJefus Chrifi, to be laved. If this (Ifay) beacceptance ofPerfOns, our DQ&rine owneth the imputation of afcribing it to God, and glorieth in it : we being afcertained that God taketh all . this to himfelfe, clearely , and plentifully in the Word` of Truth. 4. 7. The fumme ofwhat our Author gives in , to make good his charge upon thecommonDollrine ofrer everance is, That it affrmeth , that though Saints andBelievers fall into the fame f r.nes o fAdultery andIdolatry, and the like, with other men,yet theyare not, dealt withallas other men, but continued in the Love and Favour ofGod. Towave the confederation of the falfe impofitions (by the way) on the Doetrine oppofed(as it isthat it teacheth the Saints to fall into, and tocontinue in them to the figniócancyof that exprefiìon (neverfo long) under Abominations) and to joyne Iffueupon the whole, of thematter, I fay, t. That in andwith thisDo&rine, -and in perfe&Harmony , and Con- Rom.1,3¢. fiflency therewith, wemaintaine, that the judgement ofGod is the fame, inre- fpe&of every finne, in whomfoever it is, and that he that Mil it,onthatàc- count, is worthy ofdeath; and 2. That thefentenceof the Law,isthe fame towards all, curling everyone Deus. 27.25. that continueth not in all thingswritten.in the Book thereof, to doe them. 3. That in, and under theGofpell, wherein a remedy is provided in refe- rence to the rigour and feverityof both the former Apprehénfions, yet the judge ofall, dealeth with all men equally, according to the tenorofit, He that Behevetb,(hallbeSaved, andhe that Believeth not, fiat!bedamned; Men in the, fame condition', thanhave thefame recompence ofreward: But you will fay, Doe notthe fameTones, put men into the fame condition, and deferve the fame punifhment inone as in another? Anf. t. They doe deferve the fame punifhment:God is equally provoked, and had not Chrift anfwered for the finnes ofBelievers, they could not,they Ihould not have efcaped thewrath due to them. 2. That the fame finnes doe not argue menalwaies under the Gofpell, to be in thefame Condition, as (ball be afterwardsfully manifefled, for (t.)They doe not find them in the fame
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=