lohn;. 9. Argued. C.-4 V. there is a finne not untodeath, we know that whofoever is borne of God, 367 finneth not, but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himrelfe, and that wickedone ítouchethhim not.That expreflion v.18. Sinethnot,flándeth inoppofition to the finne mentioned v.r 7. Sinne unto death: th. e i afi unto context death; but that is borne ofGod finneth not unto death;, s the Expofition of thewords, given in aparrallell'place,,affordethusthefence in- fifted on. Three reafonsare tendred by Mr Goodwin againíl this expofition,andmany 6 more (faith he) are at hand, which it feemes he is- willing to (pare for another §. 3 feafon. Ofthofe that he is pleafed to ufe, I have already confidered that which isofthe chiefefl importance, beingtaken from-the fcopeofthe place. It bath been already declared, not only that the fence: by him urged, is not fuitable to the intendment of the Holy Ghoß,and that M.G. is not a little mi- [taken in his Analyf s ofthe Chapter, but that theexpofition infiffed on by us, is from thence inforced. r., His other reafons are, Firfl, That the Grammar or letter of the Phrafe breathethnot the leafs aireoffucb, afence. Alf That theExpreffion is synecclochicall was before affirmed,what it im- portethunder the power ofthat figure,is theGrammatical!fenceofthe words. To the Grammaticali regularity and fignification ofthem, loth their figura- tiveneffe belong:let thewords bereflrained, as the figure requireth ,and the fence is moll próper,as was fignifyed. 2. But Secondly, faith he, The Phrafe ofcommittingfinne,is no where in the Scripture found infuch afence, as to finnewith finali impenitency or tofinne to death. Anf. The contrary bath been denionfirated. Thefame phrafe neceffari- ly importeth no ¡effe. v. 8. of this Chapter, and an equivalent expreffion be- yond all contradi&ion intendingthe fame , Chap: 5. r7, i 8. Befides a Phrafe maybe fo circumflantiated, As to be in one, onlyplace, reflrained to a fence, which it dothnot elfewhere neceffarilyimport. So thatnotwithflanding thefe Exceptions, theExpofitionofthewords is cleare, as before given in. And yet this is all M. G. produceth as hisground, and foundation,whereon to (land in denying the propofition, he that is borneof Godfinneth not, that is, fallethnot under the power of raigning finne, finneth not to death as the Childrenof the wicked one, which I (hall leaveunder that confideration wherewith it is educed from the fcopeof theText, and the paralell placeofChap. 5. x6, r 7. The truth is there is not much need to contend about this expreffion, M. G. granting that the intendment ofit is,that filch as are borne ofGod do not walke ordinarily & cuflomarily in any wayes ofknownfinSe&:28.Whicb(as he faith)is the import of that Phrafe n,,av dµaendv, (thecontrary whereof might yet be eafilyevinced)he maketh no tradeor occupation of finning, that is, hedot h not (inne in an inconfiiflency ofcommunion with God, in the Covenantofhis Grace. Now in this fence hegranteth this Propofition, he that is borne ofGod finnethnot, i. e. ordinarily orcujlomarily, that is fo asnot to be acceptedofGod: that is, no Believerfinneth atfuck a rate asnot tobe accepted with God:Adde, now hereunto the ground& reafon ofthisAf}ertion,viz. His being borne of God,&the abidingof the feed in him, &we have obtained all that we defire to evince from this place. Becaufefuch an one is borneof God, (which is a reafonwhich holdethgood to Eternity being an a& irrevocably pail) and becaufethe feedabideth in him, he cannot finne ordinarily or cuflomarily: which kind offinning alone (as is fitppofed) caneje& the abiding feeds that is, he finneth not beyond the rate offines of infirmity, nor in any filch wayas thould renderhim uncapable of communion or acceptancewith God.
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