Doarine ofSaintsPerf.fuited to their Confolation. C:Xft. nature andCaufes ofit, the meanesofits prefervation; The oppofitions that lye againftït: and by all theConfiderations ofit, tohave manifefted; That it isutterly impof{ible tokeep it alive one moment in theheart of a Believer, without the contribution of fupportment. it receives from the Do&rine in hand. And that thofe who refuteto receive it, as ufually delivered, indeed have none, nor canhave anydropofit, but what is instilled into them, from, and by the power andefficacy, which Cecretly in and upon their hearts that truth hath, which in wordsthey oppofe : all their peace and comfort , being indeed abfolutely proportioned, to that which theDoctrineoftheSaints per- feverance tends to confirm; and tonothing elle. But this Difcourfe grow- ing under my hands beyond all thought or expe&ation, I {hall nOwonly keep dole to the removal' ofthe Exceptions made againft it, and haften to a dole. I muft not leave this Argument; without taking noticeof the Medium, whereby M. Goodwin fuppofeth himfelfetohave confirmed the truth of the affumption, laid downe at the entrance, or tohavemanifefted the good com- plexion (as he phrafes ít) ofthat nurse he bath provided for the Confolation of theSaints ( aNurfe withbreath offlint, and a heart ofIron, bath , this Cru- ell manprovided for them; aNurfe whom God will never admit intohis fa- mily, nor everexpofe his childrens lives, to any filch Wolfe, or Tygre , as will certainly starve them, ifnot devourethem Rather a curft, yea an accurfed fiep-dame, than a Nurfe; who when the childrenaske for bread, givesthem a {tone; andwhen they begge for fith, gives them a Scorpion: A falle and trea- 'cherous hireling, doingnot the leaft fervice for God, but labouring toftirre up strife inhis Family, to let his poore children, and their heavenly Father at variance, filling them, with hard thoughts ofhim, As one that takes little or no care forthem, And difcouraging them in that obedience, whichhe requir- eth at their hands, continuallybelying their Father to them, and that in refe- rence to the most defireable Excellencies of his Faithfulneffe, Truth, Mercy, and Grace; never fpeaking one good or comfortable word to them all their dales, nor once urging them to doe their duty, But with-holding a rodde, yea Scorpions over their backs; And cafting the eternall flamesof Hell into their faces; this is that fanguine, indeed trulyfpirituallybloudy Complexion of this newNurfe,which isoffered tobereceived in the roome of thatfadMelan- choly piece, of the PerfeveranceoftheSaints. Thus then he proceeds The Confolation of true Believers, depends upon theirobedience, their obedi- ence is fartheredby this Dotlrine , and therefore their confolation alfo. Avf. What are the fprings oftrue fpirituall heavenly, Confolation, the con- folation which God is willingBelievers should receive; whence it ffowes; the meanes ofits continuance and increafe,how remote it is from a foie depen- dency onour ownObedience, bath been in part beforedeclared; But yet if the next Affertion canbe made good, (viz.) That the Dottrineof the Saints Apofiat), hath a tendency inflitutedofGod, to the promotion of their Obedience and Holineffe, I {hall not contend about the other, concerning the iffuing of theirconfolation from thence. All that really isoffered in the behalfe of Apo Italy, as to its ferviceableneffe in thiskind is, that it isfuited, to ingenerate in Believers,a feareofHell, whichwill put them upon all wayes of mortifying the flesh, and the fruits ofit, which otherwife would bring them thereunto: And is this indeed the great mifteryoftheGofpell?Is this Chrifts way ofdea- lingwithhis Saints ? Or is it not afalling fromGrace, to returne agame unto theLaw? Thofeofwhom alonewe fpealt,who are concerned in thisbutines areall ofthem taken intothe Glorious liberty oftheSonnes ofGod, areevery Ccc2 one 4.
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