C. XV. The fallacious groundofthis Argument ofMG"s. 346 ding to the tenour ofthe Covenant wherein they walke with God, not only deferve reje&ion and damnation, but alfo be Abfolutely and Indifpenfably exclufive ofthem, from the Kingdomeof God. What Mr Goodwin bath drawne forth to take off, in any meafure, the Truth of thisAffertion,íhall be confidered. He (ayesthen, .7o fay that trueBelievers,or anyothermen doperpetrate tr3e workes oftheflef,, out ofinfirmity,involves a contradiction: For to do theworkesof theflef, plyesthe dominion oftheFlefh in thedoers ofthem, which in finnes of infirmity bathnoplace, the Apofitle clearely intimatesthe nature o f fins ofinfirmity in that to theGalatians, Beloved if any man beovertaken with afault, 0702,nya,1 )be prevented,or taken at unawares,whena mansfoot is taken in thefnareofa tempta_ tion,only through adefell ofth.atfpirituall watchfulnes over hinsfelfe,&his wayer which heought to keepe confiantly,andfo finnethcontrary to the habituall dingframeofhis heart,thisman f nneth out of infirmity, but he that thusfinneth cannot in Scripturephrafe be faid either towalke,or to live according to theFlef, or to do theworkesof the Flefb,or to do theLufls or clefires ofthe Flefh,becaufe none of thefe are anywhere afcribedunto, or chargedupon trueBelievers, bat only upon filch perfonswho areenemies unto God,and Childrenofdeath. Anf. This beingthe fnbftance ofall that is fpoken to the bufineffe in - hand, I have tranfcribedit at large, that with its Anfwer it may at once lye under theReaders view, I fay then Firi we give this reafonthat Believers cannot perpetrate the workes ofthe flefh in the fence contended about, becaufe they finneout ofinfirmity, anddo not fay that they fo perpetrate the workes ofthe flefh ',but of infirmity. But ifby perpetrating the workesofthe flefh,you intend only the bringing forth at a- ny time, or underanyTemptation whatfoever, any fruitsof theflefh, inch as every finne is, thatthis maynot be done out ofinfirmity, or that itinvolves a contradi&ion to fay fo, is indeed not toknow what you fay, to contradi& your fell; and todeny that therebe any finnes of infirmityat all, which that thereareyou granted in thewords foregoing, and defcribe the nature ofit in thewords following. Theydoubtleflè in whom the Flefh alwayes luffeth againft the Spirit arefometimes lead a way and inticed by their owne Luíts, fo as to bring forth the fruitsofit. Secondly, If to do theworkes oftheflefb, imports with you, as indeedin it felfeit loth, the predominancyand dominion ofthe flefh in them that doe the workes thereof we wholly deny that Believers can fo do the workes of the flefh, as uponother Reafons, fopartly becaufe theyfinne out Of infirmity, which fufficientlyargues that the Flefh bath not the dominion inthem, for then they Should not through Infirmity be captivated to it, but Should-will- ingly yeild up their members, as infirm/rents Ofunrighteoufnefeuntofinne. Thirdly, The defcription you give ofa finneof infirmity fromGal 6. t. Is that alone which weacknowledge maybefall Believers, though it hath forne- times befallen them in greater finnes, It is evident from hence, that a finne becometh afinne of infirmity; not from the nature of it, but from the man- ner of mens falling into it. Thegreateft a&uall finne, may be a finne of in- firmity, and the lean,afinne of Prefumption. It is poffible a Believer may beovertaken, or ratherfurprifad, with any finne, fo he be overtakenorfur ri- fed. A furprifall into finne through the power ofTemptation, fubtilty ofSa- -;: than, ftrengthofindewlling finne, contrary to the habitual! Banding frame of the heart, (not alwayes neither through a'defe&ofwatcbfullnefej is-all that wegrant aBeliever may belyable to: and fo upon Mr Goodwins confef- lion he fins onlyout ofinfirmity, filch fins being not exclufiveof the Love and Favour of God. And therefore Fourthly
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