^C.XII: Efficacyof internall Grace con fiftentwith Thr, from the Word. 292 them v. to. it isupon the account oftheRighteoufnefe of God,in carrying on theworkeoftheir Labour of Love which was begunne in them, andwhich they had fhewen or manifefted,that he had this perfwafion concerning them, which in the infuing verfes, he farther purfues, clearing up the ingagement ofthe iìighteoufneffe ofGod in his Oath, ofwhich elfewhere; Sothat notwith- ftanding any thing attempted to the contrary, evident it is that in carrying on the workeofour Salvation, the Holy Ghoft doth make ufeofPromifès of effe&wall Grace for Perfeverance, and eminent Exhortations to abide with God, in fuch an harmonyand confiftency,as iswell fuited to the things them- felves, and in a courfe which takes San&uary under the fhade ofhiswifdome from all the charges offollyand weakeneffe, which poore weake and foolifh men mayunder their Temptations, and in their darkeneffe rife upagainft it withal'', whether there are expreffePromifes ofPerfeverance in the Scrip- ture, force advantage I hope will be given to thepious Reader to judge, from what bathbeen fpoken, and what by the Lords Affïítance, may be in- lifted on to that purpofe. 4:53. Unto thisdebate about the Exhortations ofthe word we finda Difcourfe of the fame nature & importance fubjoyned about the Threatnings that are therein, which as it isaflerted are renderedufeleffe & ineffe&uall for the end whereunto they areofGod appointed,by that Do&rineofPerfeverance,woi is oppofed; Wefreely acknowledge, That ifany Doctrine whatever, do ener- vvte and render vaine any Ordinance or inftitution of God as to the Ends and purpofeswherereunto itis ofhim appointed, that, that Doetrine is not of God, whole pathes are all plaine and equal', and whole commands do not enterfere one with another; Now that theprinciples ofthe Do&rine ofPer- feverance do deftroy,the efficiency of Threatnings, is attempted tobeproved by an Indu&ion ofobfervations which being the fumme of all that is fpoken to this head, muff be tranfcribedat large, and isas followeth. 4.54. Se&. r 2. Iftheprinciples ofthe Doctrinewe fpeake of, difolve theefficiency of thefaidThreatnings towards theend, for the accomplifhment whereof they are given,then they render themunfavoury,. ufeleffe and vaine; Eat the principlesof thisDoctrine are guiltyofthis offence: Ergo, The tearmeso f theMajor p+'o pi o stion 1 arefufficient witnefes ofthetruth thereof; in order to the proofs ofthe Minor, wefuppofefirfl that the end intended by God infuchThreatnings, which threaten thofe that¡hallApoftatize, with eternall death,is toprevent Apoftacy in thesaints, & to worke or caufe them toperfevere; 2. That this is one of theprinciples ofthe commonDoctrine ofPerfeverance,God hathabfoluteypromfedtnall Perfeverance unto the Saints; and this another, God will certainly, infruffrably,& infallibly workethis Perfeverance in the Saints. Theft two thingsonlyfuppofed, the lightof the truth efthefeldMinor propofition breales forthfrom between them with much evidenceand power: For Fir.ft ifthefail Threatnings be intended byGod for the prevention ofthe ApoftacyoftheSaints, andconfequently to effect theirPer- feverance the wayandmanner wherein this end intendedby Godis tobe effectedby them, mnft needsbe by their ingenerating orrailinga Fears; or Apprehenfion in thesaintsofEternal/Death;it being thenative property ofFeare,mixedwith hope to awaken andprovoke men to the ufe offuch meaner which are propertoprevent the dangerorevilfeared; thereisno otherway imaginable 'how or whereby the Threatnings wefpeake ofhould operate towards the Perfeverance ofthe Saintsfor thepreventtng oftheir Apoftacy, but that mentioned, viz. by Working in thema feare ordreadofthe evill threatned. Therefore Secondly evident it is thatfxch Promifes made, andmade known unto the Saints by which they are made anca- peableofany fuchFeare,are abfol4tely deftruttive ofthe efficiency, which is proper to thefaidthreatnings,to exhibit towards the prevention of,4poftacy in the Saints, or
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