Do.` . ofPer ". afcribes not toGod acceptanceof Perfons. C. X/1.4:8,9. fame flate: Tome are in a fiateof' Death andfinne, others of Lifeand Grace,be- 265 ing tranflated from the one to the other , having a Title to the Promifeof Mercy in Chrift. (2.) And chiefly, as there is a twofold juflification, ofthe Perfon, and of theFact, and the one , may be without the other,fo there is a twofold condemnationor dif-approbation, ofthe Fall, and ofthePerfon 5 As to the particular dif -approbation ofGod, in refpe&ofany finfnll Ac`t, it is the fame in reference unto all Perfons , Believers and Unbelievers: As to their Perfons,there are in the Gofpell, other ingredients to the judgement of them, betide particular Fans, or A&s, in anfwer to theLaw, or the rule of Righte- oufneffe, vic. Faith and Repentance, which alter thecafe of the Perfon, even before the judgement feat ofGod: To fuppofe theSaints to fall into thefame firmes with other men, in the famemanner, and to continue in them, without Faith and Repentance , is tohegge the thing in Queflion. Suppofethem to have (what we affirme God hath promifed) thofeconditionsof Evangelical' mercie, and M. Goodwinhimfelfe , will grant it no acceptance ofPerfons, to dealeotherwife with them, then with others, whohave committed like fiunes with them, in whom thofe conditions are not wrought or found ; that is, he that Believethiball beSaved, he that Believerhnot 'hall be Damned. This is all we fay in this thing: but ofthe differencebetweenBelievers and unbelievers in their fining , we (hall fpeake afterwards at large , to the full removal' of this and another Obje&ion. For the prefent this (hall fuffice , though 'Belie- ,vers fall, or may fall into the famefinnes with other men, yet theyfall not in- to them, in thefame mannerwith them, and they have a reliefe provided , to prevent the deadly malignityof finne, which thofe who believenot , have no interefl in, no right unto. Mr Goodwins fecond Argument is, that whichof all others in this cafe , hee ss: 8. feemeth to laymofa weight upon: and which he purfueth at large in 57 Pa- ges, and as many Se&ions, treating in it concerning the Minifiryofthe Gofpell, and the ufefulneffe of the Exhortations, Threatnings, and Promifes thereof. For an entrance into the confiderationofit, I mull needs fay Non venit ex pharetrisiliafagitta tuffs. Forbefides that M. Goodwin bath taker( very little paines in the improvement ofit (confidering how it was provided to hishand by the Remonfirants at theSynod ofDort, and that which he bath done farther, confifling in a meereufelefle andneedleffe fluffingof it , with fundry Notions taken out oftheir firfl Argunient and fifth (Demodo converfionis) oftheman- ner of the Spirits operation in and upon the Soule, in its firfl converfion to God) it was the oldFongofthe Pelagianand Semi- Pelagian, in their dealing with Auüine,Fukjentius,Hilarius,Profper, by them at large confuted, renewed by Caliallio, andErafmus, againfl Luther, after it had been lifted and reje&ed bythemore learnedSchoolemen in former ages: What ever it be, and how e- ver it is now come to hand, being taught tofpeake our Language, and that in theheft fashion, the confiderationof it muff not be declined. And thus it is propófed. If thecommonDolirine ofPerfeverance, rendreth Min f ryofthe Gofpel , fo 4. 9' faire asit concerneth t%e Perfeverance ofthe Saints, valise, impertinent, andvoid, then is it not aDollrine >of God, but ofmen, and confequently , that which oppo- feth it is, the truth: But certaine it is, that the PaidDoctrine, is ofthis uns an tendency and import; Ergo. The firfl part ofthe confequent of the Naive is granted. The WorkoftheMinifiry, beingfor the ediftcationofthe bodyo fChri/l, and the perfectingoftheSaints, (Ephef.4.12,r3:) that whichfruflrateth the End whereuntoofaria himfelfe it is defigned , can be no Truth ofhis. Of the farther inference, That the Doctrine whichoppofeth'it, or is fet up in oppo- fition to it, is the Truth, morewill be fpoken afterwards. For the prefent I can- M in not
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=