CAP. XVII. Inwhat fence it was poffible forNut tobeaReprobate. 4(8 to obtaine fo faire a pafàge , as is prefumed, and fancyed. Though the termeof pofbility in the fuppofition, and may be, in the in- ferente, feeme to be equipollent, yet to render themof the fame fignificancy, as to theArgument in hand, they muff both be ufed in the fame refpe&, but ifa pofíibility ofbeing a reprobate, (that is,one reje&ed of God, by a meto- nymyofthe effe&,) be afcribed to Paulin refpe&ofhimfelfe, and theinfirmity ofhis owrie will as toabiding with God, in which cafe alone there is any appearanceof truth in the Affumption ofthis fuppofition , and the terme of may be,in refpe&ofBelievers falling totally& finally away,refpe&s theevent, & purpofe, decrees or Promife ofGod,concerning it, (in which fence alone, it is any ftep to the purpofe,in hand) I deny the inference, and thereby at the very entrance, give checke, and controule to MrGoodwin's proce- dure : That which is poffible to come to paffe, that termepofible, affe&ing theend, or comming to paffe, muff: be every way, and in all refpe&s poffi- ble : this is the intendment ofthe inference: That which is poffiblein refpe& offomecertainecaufes, or principles, (the termes of pofJìbility affe&ing the thing it felfe,whereof it is fpoken in its next caufes)maybe impoflible onano- ther account;& in this fence only is there any colour oftruth contained in the fuppofition ;fo thatthe Major PropofitionofthisSyllogifine, is laid up and feat- red for doing any fartherfervice in this cafe. 4 2 TheMinot is, But Paul after hisconverfion was in a pojbilityofbecoming a Reprobate or cajt-away, Anf. He was not in refpe&of theevent, upon the account ofthe purpofe and promifesofGod ofhim, and tohim made in Chrift; though any fuch poffibility maybe affirmed of him, in refpe&ofhimfelfe, and his own will, not confirmed inGrace, unto an impoffibilityoffwerving : Now this Propo- f tionhe thus farther attemptsfyllogijticaly toconfirme. That which Paul was veryfollicitous & induftrious to prevent,hewas in apoßi- bility offujfering orbeing made. But Paul was veryfollicitous and indufirious ta. prevent his beingmade acaft-way, as the Scripture in handplainlyavoucheth; he kept underhis body andbrought it infubjeelion;. inorder to prevent hisbecoming a call-away : Ergo, He was in dangerorpoJhility ofbeingmade a caft-away. The reefer/ ofthe confequence in the Major Propofition, is, becaufeno manof under- flandiug will befelicitous toprevent or hinder the coming to paffe offuch a thing, the comming to paffe whereof,he knowerto be impofhie. Anf. Once more, The major is queffioned: Paulmight and ought tola- bour in the ufeofmeanes, for the preventingofthat, which in refpe&ofhim- felfe he might poflibly run into, Godhaving appointed thofe meanes tobe ufed for the prevention of the end feared, and avoided; although in refpe&of forne other preventingcaufe, it was impojfihleheShould fordo He whocow-, plained that in him, that is in hisfief', dwelleth no good, that hehad a law inhis members leading him captive tote Lawalpine, and finase working inhimal manner ofconcupifence, for whole prevention from running out into a courfe of finning, God hath appointed meanestobe tiled, might ufe thofe meanes for that end, notwithftanding that God had immutablyPurpofed, and Faith- fully Promifed,that in the ufeofthofe meanes, he fhould attaine the enday- med at; And the Reafon Mr Goodwingives forthe confirmation of thecon- fequence is noother, but that whichwe have fooften exploded, viz. That amanneednot, ought not toufe meanes for attainingof anyend, though appointed and inftitutedofGod for that end, and purpofe; iffo be the end for which theyare ordained, (hall certainelyand infallibly be compaffed, and accomplifbed by them. OurSaviour Chrift, thought meet mute the ordi- narywayes for the prefervationofhis life, notwithítanding thePromife of keeping
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