llo ;t. of Sc' Pert: not contrary to the Councells ofthe Holy Gh.C.XVI. Ifthe;Saintsbe'innopoi ìbilily ofbeing finally overcomeby sedan, or ofMif- 381" carrying in the great and molt important bufineffè of theirSalvation by hisfnares andfubtilties,all that operoufnefe, and diligence of the Holy G%oft, in thofe late 4' T mentionedAddrefements of his unto them , inorder to theirfinall conquefl over Satan, will befound of very light confquence , of little concernement to them: yea if thefaid Addrefements of the Holy Ghofl, becompared, withthe State and Condition ofthe Saints, as thefaidDoarine of Perfeverance reprefenteth and af- firmeth it to be, the utter" ufelefiieffe, and impertinencyofthem, will much more evidently appeare. Anf. What poflibility or not pof ability the Saints are in, offinall Apofta- fy fromGod, what affurance themfelves have, may have , or have not, con- cerning their Perfeverance, with what is the life ofAdmonitions andExhorta- tions to them in that condition, hath been alreadydeclared; for the prefent, Ifhall only adde; That let their finall Apoftafy, in refpe&ofthe Event,bene- ver fo impoffible, yet in the Efate and condition wherein they are , andfrom the things which they are exercifedabout, with the Principles on which they proceed, and thewayes whereby they areled on, confiderationsenough,may be railed to fetforth thofe Exhortations, Admonitions, and Encouragements, appointed by the HolyGhoft, tobe iafed and infiledon, in the Adminiftrati- on ofthe Word, imthe Beauty and fplendor of infinite Wifdome, Love, and Kindneffe. ThegloryofGod being fo eminently concerned, as it is, in the Obedience, and fruitfulneffe ofthe Saints ; the honour ofthe LordJefus in this World, with the advancement, and propagationofthe Gofpell, in like manner relating there unto; Their ownpeace lying fo much, as it doth upon their clofe walking with God, the fpirit being fo grievedby their falling into finne, ashe is, God fodifhonoured , and tbemfelves expofed to fuch fearful defertions, darkneffe, trouble, forrow, and difquietments as they are, upon their being overcome by the temptations of Satan, and prevailed upon to turne afide into waies and finnes , fhort of totali Apoftafy , and it being the purpofe ofthe Lord, to lead them on in obedience, in wayes fuitable to that nature, hecreated themwithall, and that Newnaturewherewith he hath en- dued them,( both apt to- be wrought upon by Motives; Exhortations, and Perfwafions) without any fuck fuppofall, as that offinall Apofrafy ; There is a fufficient bottome andfoundation ofexalting the motives and admonitions infifted on, to thepoffeffion ofthat Glory,ofWifdome,andGoodneffe which is their due. But M. Goodwin having borrowed another Pageant from the iteenonfirants, had agreat mind to thew it to the World, in its Engliíh dreffe, and thereforeintroduces theHoly Ghoft, thus fpeaking in the Admonitions above pointed at. suppofe we then the Holy-Ghoflfhouldfpeake thus unto the Saints, oh yee that . 4. 8; trulyBelieve, whoby vertueofthepromifes of that God thatcannot lye ,° arefully perfwaded andpofefl thatye(hallbekept by God, by his irrefiflible Grace, in true Faith untill Deaths fo that though Satan fhouldfet all his -wittsonworks, and by all hisftratagems,fnas e , and cunning devices,feektodeflroy you, yea though he fhouldenticeyou awayfromGod, by the allurements ofthe World, and entangle youwith them againe,yea andfbouldcaufe youto runneand ruff headlongagainfl the Light ofyour.ownConfciences, into all manner ofhorrid yet Jimaall his attemptsandafaultsuponyou in everykind be invain,&you(hall be in never the more danger, orpo bility ofperil/ling: Vistoyou (Zfay) attend and confider how fore anddangerous a coonefi you are like to be ingagedin,foryou are towreflle not againfi Flefh andBloud, but again.fi Principalities andPowers, the governors ofthis World, andfpirituall wickednefes, againfi that oldSerpent the Divell, the great red Dragonwho was a martherer from the beginning; andwho Jill! goesa- Ccc3 bout
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