` The fallacious Ground ofthis Argument of M: G's. All itsdominion, as bath been (hewed, and very much of itsflrength is loft in Believers; this is the intendment ofthe Apoftles difcourfe Roma 6. concerning the crucifyingof finne, by the death ofChrift. The power, ftrength, vigour; and efficacy ofit, is fo far abated, weakned, mortified, that it cannot fo effe- îtually impel! unto fin, as it doth when 'tis in perfe& life and ftrength. But you'] fay then, IfLu(t be thus weakned in Believers , more than in e- , thers, how comes it to paffe, that they do at any timefall into fuch great,and hainous fumes, as fometimes they doe , and have done ? Will not this argue them, to be evenworfe than unregenerate perlons, feeing they fall into finne upon eafier termes, and with leee violence ofimpulfe from Indwelling finne than they ? Anf. Firft, The examples ofBelievers falling into great firmes, are rare, and fuch as by nomeanes are to be accommodated to their flare., in their ordinary walking with God; 'tis true there are examples of fuch falls recor- ded in the Scripture, that they might lye as brags to all generations, tocau- tionmenof theirdanger, when the wavesofTemptation arife, to thewwhat isin man, in the belt of men, to keepe all the Saints of God humble , felfe- empty, and in a continual] dependance on him, in whom are all their fprings, from whom areall theirfupplies; but as they aremoftly all Old-Teflament ex- amples, beforegraceforgrace was given out by Jefus Chrift, fo they are by no meanes farther to be urged, nor are , but only to thew that it is poffible that God can keep alive the root, when the treeis cut downe to theground; and caufeit to buddeagaineby the fent ofthe waterofhis Spirit, flowing towards it. Secondly, That Believers fall not into great firmes at any time , by the meere . ftrength oflndwelling finne, unleffe it be in conju.n&ion with fome vio- lent outward Temptation, exceedingly fiirprizing them, either by weakning all wayesand nneanes, whereby theprinciple ofGrace fhould exert it felfe, as in the cafe ofPeter,orby fudden heightning oftheircorruption,by Tomeover- powring obje&s, attendedwith all circumftances ofPrevalency, not without Codswith-holding his fpeciall grace in an eminent manner, for ends heft known to himfelfe, as in thecafe ofDavid: Hence 'tis, that even in fuch fins, we fay, they finne out ofinfirmity, that is, notout of propenfe deliberation, as to finne, not out ofmalice, not out ofLove to, or delight in finne; but meere- ly through want of ftrength , whenoverborne by the power of Tempta-, tions. This Mr Goodwin frames asanObje&ion to himfelfe , in the purfuitof the vindicationofthe Argument underconfederation; sett.z3. others pleadthat there's no reafon to conceive that true Believers, though they perpetrate the workesoftheflefh, fhould be excludedfrom the Kingdomeof hea- ven upon thisaccount; becaufe when theyfinne in this kind, theyfinneout ofInfir- mity, andnot outofmalice. Anf- I wasnot to choofe what Obje&ions M. Goodwin fhould anfwer , nor had the framingofthem, which hechofe to deale withal]: and therefore muft becontentedwith them, ashe is pleafed to afford them to us ; Only ifl may be allowedto fpeake in this cafe, and I knowI havetheconfent Ofmany con- cern'd in it, I fhould fomewhatotherwifeframe this Objetiion or Anfwer:be- ing partly perfwaded,that M. Goodwindid not find it, but framed it himfelfe, into the fhape wherein it here appears. I fay then, that the Saintsof-God fin out ofinfirmity only, not malitioufly, nor dedita opera in coole blond, nor with their wholehearts, but purely upon the account of theweakeneffe of their graces,.beingoverpowred by the ftrengthofTemptation, and therefore cannot foperpetrate the workes oftheflefh, and in fuch away as mutt accor- Y y ding 345 it 35. 4.36
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