C A p.I I. g:14,15,t6. Mai:3. 6. Vindicated. 40 it,as certainelytobe fulfilled, as he is Vnchangeable; that (hall infallibly not withftanding all oppofitions and difficulties,bewrought & perfe&ed;now that fuch,andfo Purely bottomed, is the Continuance ofthe LoveofGod unto his Saints,and fo would he have them to expel &c. bath been proved by an indu&ion ofmanyparticular inftances, wherein thofe ingagements from the Immutability ofGod, are fully expreflèd. 14. One of thefe Teftimonies,even that mentioned in the firft.place, Mal. 3.6. from whence this Argument Both arife, is propofed tobe confidered, and anfwered by Mr Goodwin, Cap.ao. Sed.4o,41. Pag. 2o5,206,2o7.A briefe re- movall ofhisExceptions toour inference fr6hence,will leavethe whole to its native vigour,& the truth therein contained toits own ftedfaftnes in thehand and power ofthat Demonftration. Thus then he propofeth that place ofthe Prophet, andour Argumentfrom thence, whereunto he fhapes his Anfwer: For the words ofMal: Iam the Lord, Ichange not; from which it iswont tobe argued, that when God once Loves a perfon, henever ceafeth to love him, becaufe thismull needs argue a changeableneffe in him, in s efpe&í of his Affetlion:and confequently the saints cannotfall awayfinallyfrom his Grace,(fo he.)--- Anf. It is an eafy thing fo to frame the Argument of an Adverfary, as tocon- tribute more to the weakeningof it,in its propofeing then in the Anfxneraf- terwards given there unto; and that it is no ftrange thing with Mr Goodwin, to makeufeof this Advantage in his Difputations in this Booke, isdifcerned, and complayned of by all not ingaged in the fame conteft with himfelfe; that he bathdealt noe othérwifewith us in the place under Confideration, theinfuingObfervations will clearely manifel. ß.l5. (Firft)all the ftrength, that Mr Goodwin will allow to this Argument, ari- feth froma nakedconfiderationofthe Immutability of God,as 'tis an eflènti- all Propertyofhis nature:when our Arguing is from his ingagement tous,by, and on the account of that Property ; that God will doe fuck and fuch a thing, becaufehe is Omnipotent, though he (hall not at all manifeft any pur- pofe ofhis will to lay forth his omnipotency, for the accomplifhment of it, is an inference, all whole ftrength is vaine prefiunption. But when God bath ingaged himfelfe for the Performanceofany thing, thence to conclude to the certaine accomplifhment ofit, from his power,whereby heis able to doe it, is adedu&ion, that Faithwill readilydole withall. So the Apoflle af- fures us ofthe reimplanting ofthe ewes upon this accounts God(faith he) is able to plant them in again , having promifedfo todoe. Rom."r I. 23. There are two confederations, upon which the Vnchangeableneffe of God,hath a more effe&uall influence into the continuanceof his Love-tohis Saints, then the meere obje&ed thought ofit, will lead us to an acquaintance withal!. 4 t6 z. God Propofeth his Immutability to the Faithof theSaints, for their eftablifhment& confolation,in this very cafeofthe liability of his Loveunto them: we dare not draw conclufions in reference toour felves, from any Propertyof God, but onlyupon the account of the Revelation, whichhe bath made thereofunto us, for that end and purpofe: But this being done, we havea fure anchor firmeand ftedfaft,tofix us againft all Mails ofTemp- tation or oppofition whatfoever5 When God propofes his Immutability or Unchangeableneffe, to affure us ofthe continuance ofhis Love unto us, if we might truly aprehend,yea &ought fo todoe, thathis Unchangeableneffe maybe.vreferved,and himfelfevindicated from theleale fhadow ofTurning, though he fhould change his Mind, Thoughts, Love,Purpofes concerning us everydav,what conclufion for confolationcould poffiblyarife from fuch Propofalls ofGods Immutabilityunto us? Yea would it not rather appeare tobe a way fuited to the delufion of poore Soules, that when they (hall think
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