Apoftafy ofSaints, 'in what fence impofl ble. C.XV/. the Apofiles words, is inconfiftent with that, which was propofed for theoc- cafionof them in the words foregoing; There an Afperfion is faid tobe caft upon theChurches, and focietyes whereof the Apofrle fpeakes, from the de- partureof thefe reducers from them, as though theywere not found inFaith or manners; here an infinuation quite ofan other tendency, is fuggefted, as though thefe perlonsfound continuance in their teachings and fedu&ions, from the fociety and communion which they had had with theApoftles; as though they had pretended to come from them, bycommiflìon, and fo in- ftead of cafring reproach upon them by their departure, didaflùme Au- thority to themfelves, by their havingbeen with them ; But to the thing it felfe I fay, Secondly, Thatthe Apofile is not anfwering anyObjection, but defcribing the Rateand conditionofthe Antichrifis, and feducers, concerning whom, and their fedu&ion, he cautionethBelievers , hath been formerly beyond contradi&ion manifefted and maintained ; That expreffion then [theywent outfromus] is not an Anfwer(byconceffion) to anObjection, but a defcripti- on offeducers by their Apoftacy ; Which words aifo in their regard to the Perlons asbefore by himdefcribed, do manifeft their utterdeclining andfor- faking the Communion ofthe Saints, they fo going from them; as,alfogoing into anoppofition to theDo&trirse of the Gofpell. Thirdly,That theApoftle here infinuates an advantage thefeAntichrifts had to feduce, from their former communion with him, (a thing not in theleafi fuggefred (aswas obferved) in the occafion of the words,_ as laid downe by Mr Goodwinhimfelfe) is proved from the ufeof thewords [they went outfrom us] Ails 15. 24. Whence this undenyable Argument may be educed. Some who went out from theApoJtle,hadrepute and authority in theirpreaching thereby, thefe Antichriliswent out from the Apoflle, therefore they hadrepute andatstbo- rety thereby; youngermen than either Mr Goodwin or my felfe, know well enough what to make ofthisArgument; Betides, though there bean agree- ment in that one Expreffiòn,all theneighbouringparts oftheDefcription,ma- nifeft that in the things themfelves; there and here pointed at, there is no affinity; Thofein the Aids pretended toabide frill in the communionand Faith of the Apoflles, thefe here expreffivelydeparted both from the one and the other, to an oppofition of them both : The former, teemed to have preten- ded a commiffion from the Apofrles, thefe accordingtoMr Goodwin himfelfe did fo farredeclareagainfr them, thatit was a fcandall to fome, fearing that all had not been well among the Apoftles. Fourthly, That which is called an Anfwer by way ofException (as in it lye theexpreffionof it foufed upon the matter, is as much as weurge from thefe words; The import ofthem is faid tobe, they were not of us, though they were with as, yet they werenotInch as we are, didnot walla in that uprightneffeof heart, as we do, they were not nien of thefame principles;andfpirit with we; that is, they were not true, thorough, iincere and found Believers at all, no not whie they converft with the Apofrles. Now evident 'tis that in thofe words, as ismanifeft by the a (fumingofthem againe for the ufe of an inference in- ruing [ for i f theyhad beenofus, they would have continued with us] the Apo- file yeilds a Reafon and Account, how they came to Apoftatize and fall to the oppofitionof the Gofpell from the profeffion wherein they walked; 'twas becaufe they were not men ofthorough and found principles,true Beli- vers: and confequently he fuppofeth, and implyeth, that if they had been fo theywouldnot, theycouldnot have fo Apoftatized: for if they might there had been no weight in the account given, oftheReafonoftheir revolt. Inwhat followes, that thefewords, but they werenot ofus, do not neceffa" E e e 2 rely 395 CO u+0.-nawr-.r". 4. 44a
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=