z Cor. 9,27 Vindicated, the fence ofche word 'A&. CAP. XVII. keeping him by theAngels: andHezechiah neglected not the meanes ofLife, 419 notwithftanding the infallible promifeofLiving fo long,which : he had re- ceived : Paul was carefull in the ufeof meanes, to prevent that which in- himfelfe, it waspoffible for him to runne into, though he had or might have affurance, that through the faithfulneffe and power ofGod, in theufe of thofe meanes,(as an antecedent of the confequent, though not the conditions of the event)he fhouldbepreferved certainely and infallibly from what he was fo in himfelfe apt unto. So that whatever bethe peculiar intendment of the Apofilein this place,taking the termeádöwµo; in the largeftfence poffiblè, and ina fignificancy ofthe greateft compaffe, yet nothing will regularly be inferred thence,to the leaft prejudice of the Doctrine I have undertaken to maintaine. And this may fuffice as tothe utmoít ofwhat Mr GoodwinArgument from 4. al. this place doth reach unto. There is another , and that amore proper fence of theplace, and accommodated to the context and fcope ofthe Apoftle wherewith the Dottrine indeavoured tobe confirmed from hence, hath not the leaft pretenceofcommunication. And this arifeth (as was beforemani- felied) from the fcopeof the place, with the propernative fignificationofthe word á shu &, here tranflared a call -away. The bufineffe that the Apofile hath in hand,-from y.15. ofthe chapter,and whichhepreffes to the end, is a relationof hisown principles, wayes, and deportment in the great workeofthe preaching oftheGofpell tohim com- mitted ; in the laft wordsof the chapter he acquaints us with one efpeciall áyme he had in thecarrying on of that worke , through the whole courfe ofhis employment therein. And is his fuch care, and endeavour after per- fonall mortification, holineffe, and felfe-denyall, that he might no way be lif- ted up, norentangled with the revelations made to him; therein providing inthe midst ofthegreat certainety, andaffurance whichhe had (v. 26.) that he might approve himfelfea workman not needing to be albamed, as not only preaching toothers for their good, but himfelfe alfoaccepted ofGod, . in thedifchargeofthat employment, as one that had dealt uprightly, and faithfully therein.v. 17. he acquaints us with what is the fiate and condition of them thatpreach the Gofpell, their workemay go on, and yet themfelves not be approved in theworke : this helaboured toprevent,walking upright= ly, faithfully, fincetely, zeloufly, humbly in thedifcharge ofhis duty: uí c t átaois xnq qn faith he d ç ä,d`oxv' yiv.(44a, leaft having preached to others he fbould not hinafelfèbe approvedandaccepted in that worke ,and fo loofe the reward mentioned (v.57.)peculiar to them, who walke in the difcharge oftheir duty with a right toote, according to the mind ofGod. The whole context, defigne, and fcope ofthe Apofile, withthe nativefignificationofthe word ádlxstp-,lea- ding us evidently and directly to this interpretation, it is fufficiently cleare, that Mr Goodwin is like to finde little fhelter for his Apoflaf , in this Affertion ofthe Apoftle. And befides, whatever be the importance ofthe word, the Apoftle mentions not any thing but his confcientiousdiligent ufeofthe meanes, for the attaining of an end, which end yet may fully be promifed ofGod tobe fo brought about, and accomplifhed.,/ MrGoodwin tellsus indeed, that the wordcZNY,4 is in 'the writings of the 4.24.. Apoftle, con.flantly tranflatedReprobate, as Ham.t. 28. 2 Cor.i 3, 5, 6, 7. 2 Tim, 3.8. Tit.r.i6. or is expreffedby a word equivalent, asHeb. 6.8. how rightly this is done, in his judgement he tells usnot: that it is fo done, ferves his turne;& he hath no caufe farther to trouble himfelfe about its The truth is, in moft oftheplaces intimated, the word is fo refirained, either from the can fes ofthe thing expreffed, as Rom. i . 28 or the condition-of theperfons of H h h 2 whom
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