C.X(V. The falaciousGround ofthis Argument of M. G's. 32o their Rationall Soules, wherein are Principles fit to be excited toOperation, by Exhortations and Promifes. 4 Thirdly, all that is indeed Argumentative in this Difcourfe is built on this . 5. Foundation; that a Spirituali Affurance of attaining the end by the ufe of meaner, isdifcouraging and diffwafive to the ufeofthofe meanes; APropo- fition founcouth in it felfe, fo contradi&ory to theexperience ofall theSaints ofGod, fo derogatory to the Glory and Honour ofJefius Chrift himfelfe, (whoin all hisObedience had doubtles an Affuranceofthe endofit all)as a- ny thing that can well fall into the imaginations of the Hearts of men; Might not the Devill have thus replyed upon our Saviour, wheu he tempted him to turneStonesintoBread, & caft himfelfe from apinacle oftheTemple, Sc received Anfwer that man lives not byBread alone but by everywordthat procee- deth out ofthe mouthofGod but alas! thou efus the Sonne oftheLiving God,that artperfwaded thouartfo, and that Godwi11preférve thee, whether thouufit any meaner or no, that thou(halt neverbeftarvedforwant ofBread, nor hurt thyfelfe by anyfall, whatever thou doll,the Angell." having charge that no evill(hall come nigh thee, nor thy foot be hurt agains7 a florae, thou mai.f/ now caft thyfelfe head- longfrom theTemple, tomanifefi thy Affuranceof theLove and Faithfullneffeof Godwith his Promifesto thee; Ifour Saviour thought it fufficient to ftop the mouth oftheDevill, tomanifeft from Scripture, that notwithftanding the Affurance from God that any one hath ofthe end, yet he is to ufethemanes tending thereunto, (anegle&whereof is a finfull tempting ofGod;) we limit not need to goe fartherfor an Anfwer to the fame kind ofObje&ions in the mouthofany Adverfary whatever. 4. 6. His 19th Se&ioncontainethhis fourth Argument, in thefe words; Ifthere be nopuffîbility oftheSaintsfalling awayfinally, then is their Perfeve- ring uncapableofrrewardfromGod. But theirfinall Perfeverance is not uncapable ofrewardfrom God; Ergo, The minor Propof/tion I prefume contains nothing but whatis thefence of thofe who deny the conchs/ion : or how ever it containes nothing butwhat is the exprefféfenceofthe Lord Chrifi ,where he faith; that he that endureth to the end, thefameAallbefaved; Therefore I fuppofe we(hall bee excufed fromfartherproofeofthis, without any prejudice to the taufe in hand. Aszf: I grant, Eternal/Lifemaybe called the Rewardof Perfeverance in the fence that the Scripture ufeth that word, applyed to the matter in hand; It is afterwardneither procuredby (properly and Morally as the deferving caufe) nor proportioned unto theobedience ofthem by whom it is attained; a Re- ward it is, that withal!, is thefree gift ofGod, and an Inheritance purchafed by Jefus Ch rift; aReward of Bountyand not of Iuftice, in refpe&ofthemupon whom it is beftowed,but only offaithfulneffe in reference to the promifeof it. A Reward, bybeing agratious incouragement , as the end of our obedi- ence, not as the procurement or defert ofit; fo wegrant it a RewardofPerfe- verance, though thofe words ofour Saviour, he that endureth to the end, the famefliall bePaved, expreffed aconfequence of things only,and not a connexi- on ofcaufality ofthe one upon the other: ofthe foundation ofthis dfcourfe concerning apoffibility ofdeclining, immediate confederation fhall be had. He proceeds then. 4, 7. The confequenceofthe Major Propoftion, ftandsfirme upon thisfoundation; No all ofthe Creaturewhereunto itis nece(tated, or which it cannot poßibly decline, or but doe, is by any LawofGod, or rule of Iuftice rewardable; therefore if'the Saintsbe nece/jitotedby God to Perfevere finally , fo that he leaves unto themno pofibility ofdecliningfinally,theirfinall Perfeveranceis not according to anyLaw ofGod, or man, nor indeedto any principles of Reafon or Equity, capableof re- ward; no whit more thannf/lens merely natural/are: Nay of the two, therefeems to
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