C.XII. g í9,2o, Oftheproper ufe ofExhortations toObedience 272 5. The greateft incontinencythat,canbe imagined between Exhortations and Promifes, as by us explained, is no more than this that in one placeGod promifeth that untous, as his Grace, which in an otherhe requires ofus, as our duty, betweenwhich two, who ever feignes an Oppofition, he doth his endeavourto fet the Covenant ofGrace, as to us propofed and declared, at variance with it felfe. 4 9; The whole enfuing Difcourfeunto Seat. r2. drawing deepe upon another Controverfy (viz. the manner ofthe OperationofGrace) and being for the Arta synodal. moft part borrowed from what is delivered on that head in the Arminian writings,might bepact over,as not ofany neceffaryconfideration in this place. What we affigne to the Exhortations ofthe Word and their continency with whatever elfewe teach ofthe Saints Perfeverance being already heard, this Argument is at its properiffue. But the talke undertaken is not tobe waved or avoided, I {hall therefore proceed to the difcuflion of it. Thus then he goes on, if(faith he)filch Exhortationsat wefpeake of, be a meaner to effect thePer- feverance, which our Adverfaryesfuppofe to be Promifedin the Saints, thenmail the AEI ofPerfeverance in the Saints, neceffarily depend upon them;foas that it cannot; nor will not be effeffeclwithout them, i.e. without the Saints fukmitting themfelves to Them. Butperfevering upon thefe tearmes clearely fuppofeth a po /bi- lity o f non-perfevering, for what,foever dependeth upon amutable condition, and which pofribly may notbeperformed, may be alfo pofsible never to come to pale. Anf. a. Exhortations are improperlyPaid tobe a meanes tolea Perfe- verance: We fay onlythat they are meanes to ftirre up, quicken and increafe thofeGraces inthe exercife whereof, theSàints according to Purpofe and Promife ofGod do perfevere. 2. The Perfeverance ofthe Saints doth confift in the abiding and con- tinuance ofthofe Graces in them, which thofe Exhortations do fo ftirre up, bz further or increafe. And in that regard, there is a connexion between the Perfeverance ofthe Saints, and the Exhortations mentioned: yea a depen- dance ofthe one on the other. But this dependance arifeth not fromthe na- ture of the things themfelves, whence fuch a Certainty as is afferted would not arife, but from the purpofe and Appointment ofGodthat they fhould be effeetuall to that end: And therefore 3. A Perfeveranceon thefe termes fuppofeth a poffiblity of non-perfe- vermg, if you regard only the natureof the things themfelves, and fet elide all Confiderationofthe Purpofe, and Promifes ofGod concerning theend, which is tobegge the thingin hand; yea the Promife Of God extends it felfe, to the certaine Accomplifhment, ofthe Saints fubmif lion to thofeexhortati- ons;So that theend aimed at doth not dependon a mutable condition (If I underftand anything ofthat Exprefíion, fo unfuited to the bufineffe in hand) the performance of the condition(or the yeilding offilch Obedience as is re- quired to the effence oftheSaintsPerfeverance,)being certaine allo from the Promifes ofGod. 20 . His fift Seelion is as followeth, Ifit bePaid, that thefaidExhortationsare meanes ofthe Saintsperfevering in this refpecl, becaufe God by his Spirit, irre- f (libly andinfrafirably drawer and perfwades theSaints to obey thefe Exhortati- on,, as meanerof theirperfevering: I Anfwer, It cannot beproved that God doth draw, orperfwade his Saints upon anyfilch tearmes to obey thefe E.xhortations'', Nayfrequent experiencefheweth, andour Adverfaries Dotlrrne frequently menti- oned, exprefelygranteth that the Saints many times arefo forefrom obeying thefe Exhortations, that they wall e fora longtime, infull oppofition to them, as in
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