Confi(lency ofProm.of Perf&Exhortaticns to theufe ofineanes.C.XU. cafe theyfballnot take heed, or elfe their takingheed would beno meaner at leaf 289 nonecefary meanerof their [landing; -Andfarther it fuppofeth älfoa poffibility at leaf[ of their`non-taking heed, or that they might poffìbly not take heedhereof otherwife the caveat or admonitionhad been in vaine; men haveno needofbeing admonifb't todo that which theyare under nopofïbility to omit; Ifthen theflan- ding orperfeveringofthe Saints depends upon their taking heed leafy theyfall, and their taking heed in this kind befach a thing which they maypoffibly omit, evident it is that there is a pofibility oftheir nonperfevering. Anf. This [aft diviuion ofthe tenth Seítion labours toevince that in the 4.5o. firft ofthe places above mentioned, viz. 1 cor. io. 12,13. There is not a pro- mifeofPerfeverance, in Conjun&ion with Exhortations unto the ufeof meaner untothat end. Thewords are, Wherefore let him that flandeth take heedleaf/ he fall, There bath no temptation taken you butfuch as is common to man but God itFaithfull who will not fuffer you to be temptedabove whatyou are able but will with the temptation altomakea way to efcape,thatyou may be able to beare it. But Firft,'tisnot in the leaft meafure Neceffary, or can beupon any account whatever requiredofus, that wefhould produce Texts ofScripture in an immediate dependanceand coherence in the fameplace,contáimng both the Promifes and Exhortations mentioned; they being for the moft part propofed upon moft different accounts,and for immediately different ends andpurpo- fes; the one (namely) as in the Revelation ofthem, refpeâingof our Confola- tion, the other our obedience; Nor can theyever the morebedenyed tobee in a Conjunílionand confiftency,thoughthey were not tobe foundbut inclip, ferentIplaces ofScripture,(which that they are,(efpeciallyas to that çafe which is Queftioned) bathbeen abundantly declared) than if they were ftill com- bined in the fame Coherence and connexion ofwords. But yet Secondly,[ fay there is in the place forenamed a moft patheticall Exhortati, onto the ufeof the meanerwhereby we may perfevere,& a molt infallible Pro» mife, that we (hall fo perfevere, and not byany Temptation whatever, bee utterly caft downe or feparated from God in Chrift; The firft in v. 12. Wherefore let him that thinker he flandeth take heed leall hefall: and v. 14. Wherefore mydearely belovedfeefrom Idolatry; the latter in v. 13. There bath no temptation takenyou &c. Firft that there is an Exhortation to the ufeof meaner for Perfeverance, isnot.denyed by our Author, but granted with an attempt to improve it for the furtheranceofhis ownedefigne:That there is a PromiCealfo of Perfeverance is no leffeevident; the divertonandturning a- way ofanyBeliever fromGod mutt be by temptation; Temptations areof various forts, both in refpe&oftheìr immediate Rife, Natureand Efficiency; What ever. (whence euer it proceed) turnes from God, more or leffe, in part or inwhole, as isimagined, is temptation; Now theApoftle-here ingag- eth theFaithfulneffe of God in the prefervationofBelievers from the power of 'temptations, foas it fhall not prevaileagainft them to the endsbeforeJ'pe- cifaed; God(faith he) is Faithfull; And there is no need ofhis mentioning that property ofGod, which is his immutable conftancy in the performance ofhis Promifes, but only toafftne Believers that he will preferve them as he hath fpoken;the thing promifed by theApoftle in the name ofGod,is(notonly that the Sts may be :able tobear temptations that (hall befall the, ßáQ o aaasg Sc, d`.,4,e4 4 veye v having quite another importance than what is here in- timated in the expreflion may beable,in Caprtall letters)that he will not fuffer, anyTemptation to come upon them,that [hall be above that ftrength (8e per- valent againft it) wdh he will communicate to them:& for thofe wch dobefall them he will makewayfor their efcapin,¢,that with,& by theftrength, received P p they
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