C.XV. The fallacious Ground,ofthis Argument of M. G's. '342 wrath to menupon the committing ofrnne, ifby unbeliefe they are expofeci ante- cedently to that wrath, is toqueftion the wifdome ofhim with whom, (what ever becomeofus poorewormes) he cannot contend. He bath told us, that all men by nature areChildrenofwrath and uncleane, fo Bare as nottobe able to enter into the Kingdome o fHeaven, unleffe.they bewafhed and borne again and yet we hopewithout the leaft deficiency inwifdome, hath farther revea- led hiswrath frcm Heaven, againít the enfuing ungodlineffe that iscommitted by thefeChildrenofwrath tobe executed in tribulation and anguifh againft every foule that fodoth,evill: not to detaine the Reader,what hathbeen faid, and^fhall farther be argued concerning the difference that is between Belie- vers and unbelievers in their finning, with that alto which bath been fpoken ofthe concerpement ofBelievers, in rhefe and the like paffagesof Scripture, fufficientlyarguing that no fuch inference as is made for theconfirmation of the Afümptionof theArgument under confideration according to.Mr Good- wins thoughts and apprehenfions ofit, can poffibly be drawne out from them. 4.3t. Sep. 22. is a pretty pageant, and bytheReaders favour I (hall Phew it hint once more. Ifit be objeEted that true Believers have a Nonlife- fromGod that they Jhall never bofe their Faith. I anfwer, firfi that this hathoft beenfaid, but neverfo witch as onceproved.secondly upon examinationofthofescriptures where., infuch PromifesofGodare pretended to refide, or to be found, wefinde nofuch thing in them, wefind indeedmany.Pomifes oftheir Perfeverance, but allof them Conditional, andfuck whofePerformance in refpeli ofàttuall andcompleate Per feveranee, isfufpended upon the diligent and carefull" ufe of meaner by men to perfevere.. And la ly to affirme that true Believers can by no cámmiffion offrnne or finnes what oever, howfrequentlyfoever reiterated, how long continued ire foever, evermakefhrpwracke oftheir Faith or fall awayfrom the GraceandFa- vour of Godfo as toperifh, what is it but to provoke theflefh to an outragioufize /é infinning, andto encourage that which remains of the old man in th. em to be- ffirre itfelfe in all wayes.o unrighteoufneffe3 anddoubtlefe the bringing ofthat Dolfrine bath been the cafiingofa faace upon the World, andbath caufedmany, whofe feetGod bathguidedinto wayes ofpeace, to adventurerofarce intodefpe- ratenefe offinning, that through thejog fudgemeut of God their hearts never ferved them to retorne. . Anf. Firft, The foundation ofthis whole difcourfe, is a fuppofall ofpro- miles ofpreferving believers in their Faith , upon the ridiculous fuppofiticn after mentioned, to beaffected by the Doftrineof the Saints perfeverance and thedefenders ofit , which Mr Goodwin knows fulwell to be far other - wife. Secondly, It bath fufficientlybeen proved, that Believers havea pro/nil-4 yea manypromifes,.tobekept by thepower 9fGod,'from all,and any Inch frnne, or any fuch circumftance offrnne, or continuance in finite, as is wholly incon- fiftent withBelieving, and that therefore they (hall 'be preferved in Be-. lieving. Thirdly, Upon our calling the examinationofthe proofes of this affertion o an account, we havefound them tobe made up, of triviall exceptions, and fophiflicallfuppofitions, confident beggings, and cravings ofthe things under conteft and debate, ( all the endeavours toprove the promifes of Perfeve- rance tobe conditionall, having alto involved in them, an abfolute contradi- lion to the-Truth, andto themfelves) no way fufficient to evince, that the prom ifes and work ofGods grace, are fufpendedppon anyconditions in men whatfoever. And
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