C. XII.'F 17, Total', St final', defectionof Sts in what fence impoffible. 270 rail principlesofall operations flowing from them; aconceit as groffe and ridiculous, as certainelydefinitive toall the efficacyofthe GraceofGod. All the rett of thisse Jion asfarre as it concernesus is only an affirming this way, and that, that an Afluranceof theEnd to be obtainedby the ufe of meanes, renders thofe meanesaltogether .ufeleffe; which when he proves, the Con- troverfymay be nearer to an iffue, than otherwife he hath any R.eafon to hope that tis or will be, to his advantage. 0.16. Se&,¢.Leaving the father confirmationofhis Argument he enters upon the removeallofaplea infiftedon, to the Juftification of the Do&rine oppofed and vindicationofit from the crime wherewith here by him tis charged: thishe tellsyou is,that the Exhortations,Comminations,and Promifes,fpoken of, are means appointed of God for the accomplifbing and effe&ingof the Perfeveranceof the Saints, which hehath made limply and Abfolutely ne- ceffaryby his decree. This (he faith,) hath neither any Logical!, nor Theolo- gical'virtue in it, °for the ptirpofe for which tis produced: but is a.notion irrelative to thebufineffe the accommodation whereofitpretends. Anf. It may be fo, fuffer you to frame the Obje&ion, and whowill doubt of your Abilityesof giving an Anfwer; But : who (I pray ) faiesthat God byhis Decree, hath made the Perfeveranceof the.Saints fimplyand Ab- folutelyneceffary; that tis certaine in refpe& ofthe event, from the Decree ofGod, we grant; and dowe thereby overthrough themeanes whereby tis tobe accompltthed . Yea, weeflabliJh them; We are ofthe mind that God bath purpofed, and thereupon. Promifed, the Accomplifhment of many things, (as thefellingofJofeph into Egypt, the bringing of the Childrenof 'Ifraelfrom thence, and the like) which yet were tobe carryed on to their Accomplifhment, and brought about through innumerable contingences, by the free rational!, deliberative a&ings ofmen; Ifby(imply andAbfolutely neceffary, you intend that the thingDecreed is tobe wrought ofmen, limply and Abfolutely neceffarilyby their operations, as to the manner ofthem, we (amplyandAbfolutely deny any fuch Decree; Ifby- thofe exprefiionsyou im- properly intend only the certainty of theEvent, or Accomplifhment ofthe thing decreedwith refpe& tothe meonesappointed and fitted thereunto, we fay this ettablifbeth thofe meanes, neither have they the nature ofmeanes toan End from any Reafon what ever, but as fo appointedofGod thereun- to: But heproceeds inthe proofe:ofhis former A(Iertion,and faies 6:17. Firfi that the Exhortations whereby theSaints are exhorted to Perfeverance, areno meanes by which the Promifes`ofPerfeverancemade,as our Adverfariesfup- pofe to them are Acton;pl-Jhedor efeûed, is thus clearely evinced; What%never is a meanes for the bringingofany thing to paffe, ought not to containe any thing in et, Repugnant or Contraryunto that which is intended to be brought to paffeby it, for meones ought to befubora'inate to their ends, not rep signant; Sut theScripture Exhortations untoperfeverance, containe that which is repugnant to the Promi- fes ofPerfeverance iffuppofed fuck as our Adverfaries fuppofe them to be, there- fore they can byno meanes efeea thofe Promifes; the Minor is evident by the light ofthis eonfideration;fuchExhortations as thefe to the Saints, tithe heed leaf!at any time there bean evil1heart of unbeliefe in you, lee ou be hardened through the deceitfi~lnefe offinne; leafs youfallfromGrace, leaf/youreceive theGrace of God in vaine, lea fyou fall fromyour ownefledfafne j/e; in their naiveandpro- per tendency import a danger, andferve to raife a flare in men, leaf! the danger imported,fhouldcome upon them; whereas fuch Promfes as theft made unto the fameperi ons, and that not conditionally as is fuppored, that therefhallneverbe an h-artofnnbeliefeinyou, that they (hall neverbe hardened through the deceit- ful:ffé offinne,that theyflsallnever fallaway from the Grace ofGod, exclude all danger
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