C. XV. t lohn3.9, Argued. 376 silent with the;apeofthe Apofile, which is to exhort Chrillians unto righteous. neffeandLove ofthe brethren, now it is contrary to common fence itsfelfi, tofig- nify unto thofe whomweperfwade to any duty, any filch thing, which importsan abfolute certainty, or necef)ity oftheir doingit, whether they take care, or oftany Measlesfor the doingofitor no: and a cleare cafe it is,that the certainty ofa per- petual) remaining ofthefeedofGod, in thofe that are borne of him, importeth a like certainty oftheirperpetual) performance of that duty, whereunto they are ex- horted. .Ant: If this be all it might have been fpared. The Argument confifteth of twoparts. s. Anafperfion ofthe infinite wifdomeofGod,with a procedure contrary to all Reafon, and common fence. 2. A beggingofthe thing in queftion, betwixt its Author, and its Adberfaries. That there is any thing at all in the Text, even according toour Interpretation ofit , that importeth an abfolute neceJfïty ofmens doing any thing, whether they take care to ufe the meanes ofdoing it or no, theReader mutt judge. Theabiding of theSeed, is thatwe fay, which fhall effeetualiy caufe them , in whom it is , to ufe the meanes ofnot finning, that eventually they may not doefo and that acer- taintyofthe ufe ofmeanes, is imported, is no Argument to prove, that their neceffity of Perfevering is proved, whether they ufe meanes yea or no. To take care, toufemeanes, is amongfi the meanes appointed to be tiled; and this they (hall doe, upon the account ofthe abidingfeed. That indeed which is oppofed, is, that God cannot promife to worke effectually in us by the ore ofmeanes, for the accomplifhmentofan appointed end, but that withal! ren- dreth ufeleffe and vaine, all his exhortations to us to ufe thofe meanes. This is M. Goodwin Argument from theplace it felfe , to inforce that improper Acceptation ofthe word remaineth in us. 4.72. What remaineth ofM. Goodwin long difcourfe upon this Text of Scrip- ture, is but a fencing with himfelfe, and railingofobjeaionc, and Anfwering them, fuitably to his owne principles y wherein weare not in the leaftcon- cerned. There is not any thing , from the beginning to the end of it ; that tendeth to impeach our Interpretation ofthe place , or impede the progreffe ofour Argument, but only a flourifh fet upon his own Expofition, which if he weredefired to give in briefely, and in termes ofa plaine downeright fig- nificancy, I am verilyperfwaded, he would be hardly put to it, to let us know what his mind, and conceptionsofthis place ofScripture are. But of this hub- je&, and in Anfwer to his Fifth Argument, with this Chapter, this is the iffue. Mitt4)46 qÁ C::n gmt..: At Allia w.m c.a ... C A P. XVI- 4 A.A. ""S.t2aAt2 t. M.G's feaventh Argument about the tendency of the Dottrine ofthe Saints Apnfiafvas to their confolation propofed. a. Confidered: what that dottrineoffereth for the confolation of Saints, offered: the impoffibilityof its affording the leali true confolation manifefled. 3.The in- fluence of the Dottrineof the Saints Perfeverance into their eonfolation. 4. The medium whereby M.G. confirmes his Argument examined: what kind of Nutfefor the Peace and con- folation ofthe Saints, the Dottrine of Apoffafyis, whether their obediencebefarthercdbyit: what are the castles and fprings oftrue conlolation. 5..M.G. EightArgument proposedto con- fideration. 6. Anfwer thereunto: theminor tropofitïonconfidered: the Holy Ghobt nor afraid of the Saints mifcarriages. 7. The confirmation of his Minor Propofition propo- fed and confidered. 8. The Difcourfe afhgned to the Holy Gholt by fM.G. according to our principles: 9. Confidered: ro. Exceptions againft it, theEirfì: II. TheSecond. r a. The Third. 13. The Fourth. tg. The Fifth. 15. TheSixth. '16. The Seavenrh. 17.The foundation
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