I Mn;.,. Argued. the words in other places are let out, and fuppofitions madeoftaking them this way, or that way : but in what fencethe fcope of thematter treated on, the moil ufuall known common acceptations,call for their vfe, in this place, nothing is fpoken: neither is any cleave Anfwer once,attempted to be given to thewords ofthe Text, fpeaking out, andhome , to the conclufion we in- tend:or to theArgument thencededuced.What I can gather up from seFI.3 t, and forwards ; that may obflru& the thoughts ofany , in .clotng with the Interpretationgiven, I (hall confider, and remove out ofthe way. t. Then, he giveth you thisInterpretation ofthefe words f neth not, or cannotfinne : Every one that hathbeen borne ofGod(finneth not) i. e. Whofoever bath by the Word andSpirit ofGodbeen madepartakerofthe Divine nature, fo as to referable God in theframe andconflitution ofhis heart antifoule, dotti. not underfuch a frame, or change ofheart as thismake a trade or pra liceof finning, or walkinginany courfe ofinordinateneffë in theworld. Tea (faith he) in the latter Propafition everyfilchperfon dothnot only orfimply refrainefinning infilch afence, but he cannotfin;(i. e.) ,He hath a firong andpotent dif position in him which carryeth him an other way, for he hath a firong Antipathy or averfeneffe ofheart andfouls againft all finne; efpeciallyallfach kindoffinning. Anf. z. What is meant by beingborne ofGod, thereat' whereby any come fo to be, the Vniverfalityof the exprefhonrequiring a neceflary caufeof its verity , with the like attendenciesof the Propofition have been before de- clared. 2. What M. Goodwin intendeth by fuchaframe and conflitutionoffpirit and foule, as may refembleGod, withhis denial! of the befìowingonus from God avitali principle ofGrace, wherein the Renovation in us, of his image should confifl,hath in part alto been already difcovered,& will yet farther be fo,in our confiderationofhis rare notion ofRegeneration,& its confifling in a mans returnall to the innocent andharmeleffc of ate , wherein hewas borne. 3. That(finneth not) is finneth not that finne, or fo finneth , not as to break his Relation to God as a child, bathbeen already alfo manife'fled , and the Reader isnot to be burthened with Repetition. q In the interpretation givenof the latter phrafe he cannotfinne, I can- not £Q finne,againflthe light oftheText, as to joyne with M. Goodwin in it: It is not the Antipathieofhis heart to finne , but the courfe of his walking with God, inrefpe&offinne, that theApontetreateth.on, His internal! prin- cipaling againft finne, he bath,from beingborne ofGod, and the abiding ofhis feedin him, ofwhich this, that hecannotfinne, is afferted as the effe&. He can- notfinne, that is, he cannot fo finne, upon the account ofhisbeing borne of God. (Thence indeedhebath not only apotent difpafition another way, and Antipathieto evil!, buta vital!;principle, with an everlafling enmity: and re- pugnancy to, andincontinency with any fuch fin or tinning as is intimated,) and that hecannot finne, is the confequent and effe& thereof, and is fo affir- med tobe by the Holy Ghoft. Nextly, M. Goodwingiveth you theReafonof this Affertion ufedby theA- poflle, why fuchanone, as ofwhom he fpeaketh,finneth not,andcannotfinne. Now the Reafonfaith theApofile, why filch a perfoncommitteth not finne in the fence explained, is becaufe hisfeed, the feed o fGod, bywhom,,of which , he was borneofhim,remaineth in him, (i.e.) is, or bath an a/luall andprefent being;or reftdence inhim: and that in this place it doth notfignify any perpetual) abiding, or any abiding inrelation to thefuture,is evident: becaufe theabidingofthe feed her (Oakenof, ii given as theReafon, wh he that is borne of God, clothnot com- mit finne, (i.e. )clothnotfrequentlywalks tir in.anny courfeof l nown,fm e' nowno- thing inrefpeef ofany future permanency, orcontinuance of being, can fee .looked Pbb3 upon 373
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