can haue any benefit or aduantage by them but when once the condition on our parts is in truth performed by God who workes it for vs then the promises and the things promised are our owne for euer without any further condition This we may see in these three seuerall promises of God Hee that repenteth hee that beleeueth hee that receiueth Iesus Christ shall be saued and shall not come into condemnation Marke 16 16. Iohn 1 12. cap. 3 17 18. cap. 5 24. Acts 2 37 38 39. cap. 3 19. and cap. 16. 30 31. Here it is true that these promises being conditionall and requiring something on our parts before wee shall inioy them wee by the assistance and helpe of God must first truly repent beleiue and receiue Iesus Christ before we shall be saued and freed from condemnation but when we haue once truly repented belieued and receiued Iesus Christ then we are saued and freed from condemnation for euer Now in these three generall promises I would haue you to obserue these two things which make much for my present purpose First that these three promises are the originall charters and assurances that giue vs interest right and title vnto heauen and eternall life and that all these other promises which belong vnto vs after we haue truly belieued repented and receiued Iesus Christ giue vs no new interest right and title to heauen and eternall life but onely serue for to confirme and strengthen that interest right and title to which wee had in them before by these three generall promises that so wee may inioy them with greater comfort and assurance I cannot better expresse it then by this similitude A man hath lands demised to him by a fine or by a deed indented and inrolled or some such originall conuaiance these very originall deedes without any other assurance doe giue him a full perfect and absolute right and interest in those lands Suppose now that after this deuise the party that sold those lands should make a generall release or confirmation of those lands vnto the party to whom they were deuised this release or confirmation giues him no new right or interest in these lands but onely serues to strengthen and confirme the old which was sure and safe enough before So it is heare these three originall promises when once wee doe truly beleiue repent and receiue Christ Iesus they are the originall charters that giue vs a full sure and perfect interest right and title to heauen and eternall life and all these other promises which God makes vnto vs either for himselfe or vs when once we are within the couenant and state of grace serue onely to strengthen and confirme our ancient interest right and title vnto heauen which was sure and safe before they giue vs no new interest right and title to it So that if a man doe but once truly beleiue repent and receiue Christ Iesus this makes him sure of heauen and eternall life though hee had no other promises to assure him but these Secondly obserue that saluation heauen and eternall life in these three radicall and originall promises are suspended onely and depend meerely vpon the performance of the conditions themselues and not vpon the perpetuall and continuall performance of them God doth not say if ye beleiue and beleiue for euer if yee repent and repent for euer if yee receiue Iesus Christ and receiue him for euer yee shall bee saued and haue euerlasting life no there is no such matter in the promises but if wee truly beleiue if we doe truly repent and receiue Christ Jesus in the sinceritie of our hearts though it be but once wee shall be saued and haue euerlasting life because that hee that doth truly beleiue truly repent and receiue Christ Iesus but once doth belieue repent and receiue Christ Iesus for euer he is passed from death to life for euer and shall not come into condemnation Iohn 5 24. Rom 8 1 2. and Marke 16. 16. Suppose a man should promise another an hundred pounds vpon condition that hee should marry his daughter or publikely recant those iniuries which he had done vnto him if there he doth marry his daughter but once or recant those iniuries in publike but once though hee doe not reitterate them hee shail haue the hundred pound because hee hath performed the condition So when as God doth promise vs saluation heauen and eternall life if we belieue râ—…pent and receiue Christ Iesus in sinceritie and in truth if once wee doe but truly beleiue repent and receiue Christ Iesus wee shall certainly be saued and haue heauen and euerlasting life because the condition on which these are suspended is performed I would aske but this question of any of our Antagonists whether any man may not safely make this argument with himselfe Euery one that doth truly belieue repent and receiue Christ Iesus shall be saued and haue euerlasting life But I my selfe do truly belieue repent and receiue Christ Iesus therefore I shall bee saued and haue euerlasting life If this be not a good argument then what benefit comfort or assurance can any Christian take from these or any other promises of the Gospell what claime interest or title can he lay to saluation heauen or eternall life or to what end doe these promises serue If it be a good argument as I thinke none can deny it then certainly heauen saluation and eternall life depend onely vpon the faith and repentance of men and their receiuing of Iesus Christ without any necessary relation to any inclusiue condition if they perseuere withall for he that doth but once truly beleiue repent and receiue Christ Iesus doth beleiue repent and receiue Christ for euer Certainly as Christ himselfe by dying vnto sinne but once is become the authour of eternall saluation to all truly penitent and beleiuing sinners and being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him Rom 6 9 10. Hebr 5 9. cap. 7 27. and cap 9 25 28. So he that is but once truly regenerated and aliue to God through Iesus Christ our Lord dieth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him but he shall liue for euer vnto God and shall not come into condemnation Rom 6 7 to 12 Iohn 5 24. Rom 8 2. 1 Iohn 3 9 14. and Hebr 10 2. how then can he euer finally or â—…otally fall from grace Let all the deuils in hell or men in earth lay their heades together they shall neuer with all their wit and sophistrie delude or ouerthrow this plaine and pregnant truth Againe there are a second sort of promises which are proper peculiar only to those which are in truth regenerated and within the couenant and state of grace of which sort the greater part of all the promises which I haue formerly cited are which promises I haue proued giue them no new interest right or title vnto heauen and eternall life but onely serue to ratifie and confirme that
such men which are regenerated ingrafted into Christ in outward shew but not in truth which are not within the verge and compasse of our question and not of such as were in truth regenerated and inserted into Christ. Or else if they are intended of true regenerate men they will not reach so farre as to proue that euer these did either finally or totally fall from grace notwithstanding all their wrestings and collections because the expresse words of the Scripture say the contrary and so they come not home vnto the point in question But all such as fall away from grace are onely such as neuer had any true and sauing grace and such as were neuer truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ. Therefore all those Scriptures and examples which our Antagonists produce against vs make nothing to the purpose These two generall assertions which are able for to satisfie and cleare all future obiections being thus praemised I come now to giue a particular answere to all those particular arguments which may bee obiected against mee either from Scripture or from reason The first argument which may bee obiected against this conclusion is drawen from Ezech 18 24 26. and Ezech 33 12 13 18. where the words are these If the righteous turneth away from this righteousnesse and committeth iniquitie and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall he liue all his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespasse that he hath trespassed and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall hee dye When I say to the righteous that he shall surely liue if hee trust to his owne righteousnesse and commit iniquity all his righteousnesse shall not bee remembred but for his iniquity that hee hath committed hee shall dye for it From which texts of Scripture this argument is framed Righteous men may turne away from their righteousnesse and commit iniquitie and doe ac̄cording to all the abominations that the wicked doe and they may dye in their sinnes as appeares by this text Therefore they may fall finally or totally from grace I answere that the Antecedent is false and is not warranted by the place that is alleaged For first of all the righteous man which the Prophet speakes of in these places is not such a one as is justified by the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ being ingrasted into him by faith but such a one which is justified meerely by his owne righteousnesse as your Popish merit mongers seeke to be which is euident by the expresse words of the text For these words If he trust to his owne righteousnesse if hee turne away from his righteousnesse all his righteousnesse that hee hath done shall not bee remembred the righteousnesse of the righteous shall not deliuer him in the day of his transgression neither shall hee bee able to liue for his righteousnesse in the day that he sinneth proue that the Prophet speakes onely of Legall and not of Euangelicall righteousnesse and his words are in effect no more but this Hee that seekes to be justified by his owne righteousnesse or by the workes of the law if he commit but one sinne in all his life this doth disanull his legall justification and makes him liable to eternall death For whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Iam. 2. 10. and cursed is he that continueth not in all the words of this Law to do them Deut. 27 26. So that all the argument which this text affords you is but this Hee that seekes to bee justified by the Law and by his owne righteousnesse if he commits but one sinne doth loose his justification and make himselfe liable to damnation Therefore regenerate men who are justified onely by faith in Christ may fall from the state of grace how well this argument followes and how well it makes for your purpose let all men judge Now for farther proofe that this righteous man and this righteousnesse here mentioned is onely meant of such a man that is legally righteous and of legall righteousnesse I shall manifest it to bee so by these three reasons The first is taken from Ezech 18 4 20. where the words are the soule that sinneth it shall dye this is true onely in respect of the strictnesse of the Law but not in respect of the clemencie of the Gospell for then none should be saued therefore the righteousnesse here intended must onely bee a legall and not an euangelicall righteousnesse for in the Gospell and in respect of euangelicall righteousnesse the soule that sinneth may not dye The second reason is taken from Ezech 18. ver 5. to 9. ver 14 to 18. wherethe words are these If a man be iust and doe that which is lawfull and right and hath not eaten vpon the mountaines c. hath walked in my statutes and kept my iudgements to deale truly hee is iust he shall surely liue saith the Lord God which words cannot bee intended of the righteousnesse of faith which is wrought by Christ alone but onely of the righteousnesse of workes which is wrought by men themselues wherefore this righteousnesse here mentioned is onely a legall and not an euangelicall righteousnesse Thirdly the Scriptures say expresly that a true regenerate man who is justified by faith in Christ can neuer sinne vnto death because he is borne of God and his seede remaineth in him 1 Iohn 3 9. that he keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not 1 Iohn 5 18. that hee shall be had in euerlasting remembrance Psa 112◅6 and that hee shall neuer perish nor yet dye the death Iohn 10 28. cap 11 25 26. And therefore this righteous man here mentioned which may sinne vnto death which may bee quite forgotten and not remembred and which may dye and perish in his sinnes must needes bee one that is legally righteous or righteous onely in the eyes of men and not such a one as is regenerated and justified by Iesus Christ and so this place of Scripture makes nothing for your purpose Secondly admit that this place were meant of a true regenerate man and such a one as is justified by faith yet it proues not any thing at all against me for two reasons First because the whole scope and meaning of the place is not to proue the Apostacie of the Saints but onely for to cleare Gods justice and that in these two particulars First that he will neuer punish any man for the sinens of other men of which they are not guilty that he will neuer punish a righteous son for the sins of a wicked father the soule that sinneth it shall dye no other the sonne shall not beare the iniquity of the father neither shall the father beare the iniquity of the sonne the righteousnesse of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickednesse of the wicked shall be vpon him Ezech 18 4 20. This is the maine scope of
the righteous neuer fall from grace yet God hath his end because his law and justice is declared by this place Lastly this commination is made generally to all as well to the elect of God as to any others now you your selues doe grant that those whom God himselfe hath elected to saluation ex praeuisa fide can neuer fall from grace and therefore this commination being made to them as well as to any others can neuer imply a fall from grace for then it should imply that the elect of God should fall from grace as well as others which is impossible by your owne confessions And thus much in answer to this first obiection Other answeres there are which are giuen to this place As first that this righteous man and righteousnesse here mentioned is only meant of hypocrites who haue onely an outward shew of righteousnes and seeme to be righteous in the sight of men and not of men that are truly righteous nor of true righteousnesse nor of such ai were habitually righteous but onely such as were actually righteous hauing onely the acts of righteousnesse but not the habit Others answer that those which are here meant are such as are truly righteous but yet the departing from righteousnesse here mentioned is onely intended of the acts but not of the habits of righteousnesse and grace and that by death in this place is onely meant a temporall death but not an eternall which temporall death being the punishment of sinne may bee common to the righteous and the wicked and is inflicted vpon righteous men oft times as a punishment for some sinne of theirs as we may see in the examples of Iosiah and Hezechiah 2 Chron 35 22. and Isay 38 1. but neuer the eternall death But these answers are lesse probable and come not so home as the others doe Wherefore I will passe them ouer and proceed to the second argument The second argument that may be made against me is taken from that of Paul 1 Cor 9 27. I keep vnder my body bring it into subiection least that by any meanes when I haue preached vnto others I my selfe should be a cast away From whence this argument is framed Paul who was a true regenerate man might become a reprobate or cast away Therefore such as are truly regenerated may fall from grace For answer to this argument I shall first of all denie the Anticedent For if you take a reprobate or cast-away in this place as opposite to one that is elected as you doe then the proposition is false and is not warranted by the text For hee that is elected to saluation can neuer become a reprobate in this sense because the foundation of the Lord abideth sure and his purpose according to election shall stand fast for euer 2 Tim 2 19. and Rom. 9. 11. Now that Paul did not feare to become a reprobate in this sense it is euident by these insuing reasons First because that Paul was alwaies sure and certaine of his saluation He was alwaies fully perswaded that neither tribulation distresse persecution famine nakednesse perill nor sword that neither death nor life nor Angells nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature should be able to seperate him from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus his Lord. Hee was alwaies sure that whether he should liue or dye hee should liue and dye vnto the Lord and that when euer his earthly house of this tabernakle were dissolued hee should haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the highest heauens hee was confident of his saluation and this his confidence made him willing to bee dissolued that so hee might bee present with the Lord. Hee knew whom hee had beleiued and that hee would surely keepe that which hee had committed to him against that day Whence hee doth boldly auouch this of himselfe The Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euill worke and will preserue mee to his beauenly kingdome And therefore a little before his death he triumphs ouer hell and death in this comfortable confident and triumphant speech I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith henceforth is laide vp for mee a crowne of righteousnesse which God the righous iudge shall giue mee at that day Paul therefore could neuer feare that euer hee should become such a reprobate and cast-away as you intend because hee was so sure and so absolutely confidenr of his saluation Secondly Paul was sure that he could neuer fall away from the state of grace and become a reprobate in your sense because he knew that hee was praedestinated and elected to eternall life and therefore could not but be justified sanctified glorified for euer with God in heauen Paul knew very well that none of the elect of God could perish and hee also knew that himselfe was elected to saluation as we may see by Acts 9 15. Rom 1 1. cap. 8 30 33 35. cap. 9. 11. cap. 11. 7. 2 Cor. 1 21. cap. 5. 1. to 10. Gal. 1. 1. Ephes. 1. 3 4 5. 2 Tim 1. 13 14 16. 2 Tim. 1. 2 12. and Tit. 1. 1. Therefore hee could neuer feare to become such a reprobate as should bee damned and cast for euer into hell or such a reprobate as you inted and so the Antecedent is vntrue in the sense that you propound it If then you will take a reprobate and a cast-away for such a one as is blame worthy such a one as deserues reproose which is the genuine and proper sense of the word in this place then it makes nothing for your purpose For I grant that a regenerate man may deserue reproofe and blame for some miscariages or sins which he doth commit but yet if followes not therevpon that therefore he may fall from grace Paul he did indeauour to liue according to his doctrine least his auditours should haue just cause for to reproue him if he had done any thing in his practise which might crosse this doctrine for which hee should deserue reproofe yet it followes not that therefore he might fall away from the state of grace Wherefore if you take a reprobate or cast-away in the strictersense for one that is bound ouer to eternall condemnation then your Anticedent is false if in a more milde and larger sense for one that deserues reproofe then the Anticedent is true but the argument is false and followes not Secondly admit that Paul in this place doth vse this word reprobate or cast-away in the stricter sence for one that is vtterly forsaken of God and bound ouer to eternall condemnation then the argument followes not For Pauls meaning then is no more but this As God hath ordained that his Saints should perseuere so hee hath ordained the meanes by which they should perseuere as fasting prayer mortification and the like Now I vse
the Scriptures and if thou wilt but weigh them with a iudicious and impartiall eye thou shalt finde them so disioynted so incongruous so indigestlie so idle and absurd so full of inconsequies and grosse Nonsequiturs so palpably miscollected and incongruously wrested and extorted from the places which are cited for to warrant them that thou canst not choose but wonder at the injudiciousnesse and weaknesse of such as doe produce them For mine owne part I wonder how any that make a vaunt or shew of judgement wit or learning can be so strangely besotted and so much ouer-seene as to build a point of faith and doctrine vpon such slender and injuditious collections and grounds as these and to oppose a manifest and vndeniable truth with these weake childish absurd incongruous injudicious and ridiculous arguments and collections which children and schoole-boyes would blush to vrge Certainly if it were not that some of this sect haue a name of learning wit and judgement in the world I should thinke them very illiterate and simple very childish sottish and injudicious to produce such strange collections arguments and conceits as these against so euident and cleere a truth But what shall I say God himselfe hath besoâ—…ted them with these vaine delusions hee hath giuen them ouer to a reprobate and iniuditious sence to beleeue those lies and fancies of their owne because they would not receiue the loue of the truth and submit their wills and judgements to his word and hence it is that they are not ashamed to broach these vaine conceites these false collections and injuditious if not absurd and ridiculous arguments which they themselues would scoffe at deride and vtterly disclaime if they were in their right sences and had not their faces steeled with impudencie and boldnesse I mention this but as an Item on the by I now proceed to the insuing arguments The twentyfourth argument which may be produced against mee is that which is the very ground the very head roote and fountaine of this damnable and pernitious Error of the finall and totall Apostacie of the Saints and it is onely this A true regenerate Saint of God may commit a grosse and vnknowne sinne and dye before hee hath particularly repented of it Therefore he may fall away both finally and totally from the state of grace For answer to this grand and vnanswerable objection as our Antagonists repute it I shall deny the argument for the inconsequencie of it Now that this argument followes not it is euident by these insuing reasons First because it requires a particular and actuall repentance after euery knowen and grosse sinne that a true member of Christ commits as absolutely necessary to saluation which if I should admit it would necessarily follow that no man could bee saued First because that there is no man whatsoeuer that can particularly repent of all those particular and mortall sins which he hath committed from time to time Secondly because the most righteous men in the world doe no doubt commit some actuall and deadly sin or other in thought word and deed betweene the last minute instant of their death and their last actuall repentance of which sins they haue no time and space particularly to repent if therefore an actuall repentance were absolutely required after euery particular act of sinne that a child of God commitâ—… it would bee then impossible for any to bee saued a desperate and dismall consequent which would make the very stoutest of our Antagonists to quake and tremble if it were admitted to bee true as they pretend it for to bee Secondly this argument followes not because it would either bring in that Popish distinction of veniall and mortall sinnes when à s the least sinnes that any man can commit as idle words and thoughts are mortall and deadly in their owne proper nature as appeares by Deut. 27. 26. Ier. 17 9. Ezech. 18. 20. Math. 5. 28. cap. 12. 37 38. Acts 8. 22. Gal. 3. 10. and Ephes. 5. 3 7. Or else it would make euery sinne yea the very least sinne that a regenerate man commits to seuer and cut him off from Christ and to cast him downe from the state of grace For if any mortall sinne whatsoeuer may cut a man off from Christ and cast him downe from the state of grace as you affirme it may why then should not euery sinne doe it as well as any sinne Euery sin is alike mortall in it felfe and in its owne nature and therefore euery sinne as well ac any sinne should cut a man off from Christ and cast him downe from the state of grace That which makes any sinne to cut a man off from Christ is onely this that it is a mortall sinne now euery sinne is a like mortall in its owne essence and nature therefore euery sinne should cut a man off from Christ as well as any sinne where there is the same cause there must needes be the same effect Now you your selues doe grant that euery sinne which a Saint of God commits doth not seuer and cut him off from Christ and if it were not so in were impossible for any to be ingrafted into Christ or to be saued for before he could repent him of one sinne he would still commit another which would hinder his inscition into Christ and his inuesting into the state of grace his sinnes would come so fast and thicke vpon him that hee could neuer be ingrafted into Christ againe and so he could not be saued If therefore any deadly sinne that a Saint commits doth not seuer him from Christ and cast him downe from the state of grace then no sinne at all can doe it because all sinnes are alike mortall in their owne nature and so your argument doth not follow Thirdly this argument followes not because it would make the sinnes of regenerate men vtterly to abolish and roote out that immortall seede of grace which is planted in their hearts make them liable to eternall condemnation which cannot be For Saint Iohn doth certifie vs in expresse words in the 1 Iohn 3. 9. that whosoeuer is borne of God doth not commit sinne for his feede remaineth in him neither can bee sinne bâ—…cause bee is borne of God that is hee cannot sin vnto death or to extirpate that seede of grace which is within him The seed of grace is an incorruptible and immortall seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. therefore no sinnes which the Saints of God commit can suffocate or quite extinguish it True it is that the sinnes of Gods children may crosse hinder and in part suppresse the acts and fruites the increase and growth of grace for a time but yet they cannot quell nor quite extirpate that habit and seed of grace which is within them they cannot make them not to bee the sons of God the members of Christ or the elect of God and therefore the argument followes not Fourthly the argument followes not because it would make repentance to be
can neuer sinne so farre as to put them selues into the state of death and damnation or to cast themselues wholly from the state of grace because the eternall guilt and punishment of their sinnes is not imputed to them but it is alwayes done away and vtterly abolished in Iesus Christ who is their Aduocate their Mediator their satisfaction and attonement Those to whom the eternall guilt of sinne is not imputed it is certaine that no sins of theirs which they doe commit can wholly cast them downe from the state of grace and life into the state of death and damnation because that no man can bee in the state of death and damnation but where the eternall guilt and punishment of his sinnes may be imputed to him But to all such who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ the eternall guilt of sinne is not imputed no not then when as they lie in any actuall and knowne sin without particular repentance for it because they are still in Christ their Mediator their Aduocate their surety and the full and perfect satisfaction propitiation and attonement for all their sinnes which reason is fully warranted and proued by Psal. 32. 1 2. Rom. 5. 8 9 10. cap. 8. 1. 2. 33. 34. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Col. 2. 13 14. 1 Iohn 2. 12. and cap. 3. 6 9. Therefore it is certaine that no sinneâ—… of theirs which they doe commit can euer cast â—…hem downe wholly from the state of grace and life into the state of death and damnation no not for that time when as they lie in any grosse and knowne sinne without any actuall and particular repentance for it The Saints of God when as they are once justified by faith in Christ and purged from their sinnes by his most 〈◊〉 blood they haue no more 〈◊〉 of sinnes Hebr. 10. 2. that is their sinnes are not imputed to them they are then justified and sanctified not for one day one yeare or two but for euer Christ by once offering of himselfe vpon the Crosse hath perfected for euer those that are sanctified Hebr. 10. 14. The justification and sanctification of the Saints extend not onely vnto some but to all the parts particles of their whole liues they are neuer reiterated and repeated For as there is but one naturall birth one faith one baptisme one death and passion of Iesus Christ which cannot be multiplied or reiterated so there is but one spirituall regeneration one inward baptisme of the spirit one death to sinne one justification and sanctification in the Saints when they are once justified sanctified regenerated and reconciled vnto God in Christ they are justified sanctisied regenerated and reconciled vnto God for euer God as he is but one and single in his owne essence so he is but one and single in his workes he desires not to reiterate and to doe things twice hee made the world but once he redeemed the world but once he will destroy the world but once hee giues life and being to all his creatures but once all creatures they are borne but once and they die but once God neuer delights in superfluities or changes hee will doe nothing in vaine and hee neuer repents him of his actions and therefore he doth things but once he makes his works perfect at the first Deut. 3 2. 4 Whatsoeuer he doth it shall be for euer nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it Eccles. 3. 14. And therefore those who are but once justified sanctified and reconciled vnto God in Christ those who are but once truly and thorowly ingrafted into Christ who of God is made vnto them righteousnesse wisedome iustification sanctification and redemption they are justified sanctified and reconciled vnto God in Christ for euer all their iniquities are quite forgiuen all their sinnes are couered and so vtterly abolished in the death of Christ that they shall be no more remembred nor yet imputed to them Psal. â—…2 2 2. Ier. 31. 34. and Hebr. 8. 12. therefore no sinnes that euer they doe commit can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus their Lord or cast them downe from the state of grace and justification into the state of death and damnation And here you must obserue a difference betweene Legall justification and Euangelicall justification Legall justification or justification by workes and merits it may be vtterly lost and abolished by some actuall sinne as is euident by Ezech. 18. 24. For hee that keepes the whole law and yet offends in one point is guiltie of all and cursed is hee that confirmeth not all the words of the law to doe them Iam. 2. 10. and Deut. 27. 26. It is not so with Euangelicall justification or justification only by faith in Christ for this justification where once it is in truth is neuer abrogated disanulled or broken off by any sinnes which those who doe injoy it doe commit This free gift it is of many offences vnto iustification Rom. 5. 18. and the blood of Christ it cleanseth them not from some sorts of sinne only but from all sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7. Christ by once offering vp of himselfe hath fully satisfied for all the sinnes of all his Saints therefore all the sinnes that euer they commit are vtterly abolished and done away in him they are not imputed to them they are not put vpon their score The justification of the Saints by Christ it is of meere grace and fauour through the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to them and not of any workes merit or disert of theirs Christ therefore hauing fully satisfied for all their sins both past present and to come and God hauing accepted this his satisfaction for them in full recompence for all their sinnes when as these Saints of God doe sinne against him at any time the eternall guilt and punishment of these their sins is vtterly abolished and done away in Christ their Aduocate and Surety and not imputed to them for if it were imputed to them and not to Christ it were vtt erly impossible for them to expiate it or to satisfie Gods justice for it by all the prayers and teares which they could make or shed or by any other act of theirs and therefore these sinnes of theirs especially since they are sinnes of infirmitie and incogitancie and not of wilfulnesse obstinacie malice or presumption can neuer depriue and spoile them of the state of grace and iustification nor yet put them into the state of death and damnation no not for that Interim and interuenient time which comes betweene their sinnes and their repentance for them Seuenthly the true regenerate Saints of God they are the true and liuing members of Iesus Christ they are bone of his bone flesh of his flesh and spirit of his Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 15. 17. and Ephes. 5. 28. to 37. they are the house the temple and the habitation of God and of his Spirit Ephes. 2. 22. 1
that hee can suffer any of his deare adopted and best beloued sons in Christ to fall and perish for want of supportation and defence that he who hath redeemed them by the rich and pretious blood of Iesus Christ his onely Senne when as they were his mortall and his vtter enemies will not preseruâ—… and keepe them from falling from him now they are his dearest deare as deare vnto them as the very apple of his eye Deut. 32. 10. Zech. 2. 8 certainly that gratious God of infinite and boundlesse mercy who will not suffer so much as one â—…aire of the heads of any of his Saints to perish Luke 21. 16. will not nor cannot out of the riches of his great and glorious mercy suffer the least and meanest of his true and faithfull Saints who are his only and his cheifest iewels for to perish nor yet finally nor totally to fall from him let all the rabble of Papists Arminians and the rest of our Antagonists say what they can or will to the contrary The sixth thing in God which may assure vs of the finall and totall perseuerance of the Saints is the infinite justice of God from whence I frame this sixth argument Those who are in that happy estate of grace which God in his justice will not nor can not suffer them vtterly to loose or fall from it s altogether impossible for them either finally or totally to fall from grace But all such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith are in such an happy estate of grace as God in his justice will not nor cannot suffer them vtterly to loose and fall from therefore they can neither finally nor totally fall from grace The Maior can not be denyed beeause then God should be vn iust the Minor onely needes a proofe Now that all those who are truly regenerated which are once the true members of Iesus Christ are in that happy estate of grace which God in his justice will not nor can not suffer them to fall from it is most euident for Iesus Christ hath purcâ—…sed eternall redemption and saluation for the 〈◊〉 with his pretious bloud hee hath satisfied his Fathers wrath for them vnto the fill being made a curse for them that they might be made sonnes of God the heires of heauen and the righteousnesse of God through him 2 Cor 5 19. 21. Rom 7 6. cap 8 2 Col 2 14. Gal 4 5. cap 2 20. Heb 9 12. cap 10 12 14. 1 Pet 1 18 19. Christ hath payed a full satisfactory price vnto hiâ—… Father for all such as are his members hee hath purchased them of his Father hee hath purchased grace heauen happinesse saluation euerlasting life and all things that may further and preserue them in their state of grace and glory and God his Father hath accepted his price at his hands as a sufficient full and perfect satisfaction yea he hath promised to preserue them in the â—…tate of grace to keepe them from falling and perishing to giue them that inheritance which Christ hath purchased for them and to make good vnto the vtmost euery thing that Christ hath merited and procured of him for their eternall good so that God is now in his justice bound for to preserue them in the state of grace continually and to make good vnto them what euer his Son Christ Iesus hath purchased of him for them wherefore this is certaine and it cannot be denyed that all those who are once truly regenerated and made the members of Iesus Christ through faith can neither finally nor totally fall from grace because God in his justice will not nor can not suffer them to fall from their estate of grace What can be well replyed to this argument I cannot as yet sâ—…rmise If you say that though Christ hath purchased grace heauen and eternall life for all his true and faithfull members yet he hath not purchased perseuerance and the meanes for to obtaine them I answere first that this is false and quite repugnant to the Scriptures which assure vs that God in Christ hath giuen them not onely life and godlinesse but all things that appertaine vnto them too 2 Pet 1 3. that as he hath 〈◊〉 them Iesus Christ so 〈◊〉 hath together with him freely giuen them all things else Rom 8 32. God hath giuen them his word to instruct them his Sacraments to feede and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit to 〈◊〉 comfort and direct them to preserue them from falling he himselfe is alwaies present with them holding them vp with his hand carrying them in his armâ—…s and helping them on in the way to heaâ—…en he that giues them grace heauen and eter nall life doth giue them perseuerance too he puts his feare into their bearts that they shall not depart from him Ier 32 40. wherefore this is but a false surmise Secondly if Christ should haue onely purchased grace heauen and â—…ternall life for them and not giuen them perseuerance with all and the meanes for to obtaine the things so purchased his death and purchase had bin in vaine for alas they of themselues are able to doe nothing without his ayde and assistance it is he that must worke all in them and for them Isai 26 12. Ieh 3 27. cap 6 44 65. Rom 2 29. Gal 2 20. Phil 2 13. 1 Cor 3 7. cap. 4. 7. cap 15 10. and 2 Cor 3 5. if Christ had not purchased the meanes for to obtaine saluation and eternall life as well as the things themselues if he had not purchased the perpetuity and perseuerance of his Saints in grace as well as grace it selfe his death had bin in vaine and to no purpose Wheâ—…efore this surâ—…ise is idle and so the argument remaines vnanswerable The seuenth argument to proue my present assertion is taken from the honour of God Those who are in such an estate of true and sauing grace as it will not stand with Gods honour and glory that euer they should loose it or fall off from it those who are in such an estate of grace as God in his honour cannot but preserue them in it it s altogether impossibile that they should euer finâ—…lly or totally fall from that estate But all those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ are in such an estate of true and sauing grace as it will not stand with Gods honour and glory that euer they should loose it or fall off from it they are in such an estate of grace as God in his honour can not but preserue them in it therefore it s altogether impossible that they should either finally or totally fall from this estate The Maior can not but be true because that God is alwayes so iealous of his honour and his glory that hee will by no meanes loose them when as it lyeth in his power to preserue them as we may see by those expresse 〈◊〉 and examples of holy Scripture
translated and taken out of the world being made men of another world those who are translated from death to life and shall not come into condemnation it is impossible for them either totally or finally to fall from grace But all those who are once tâ—…uly râ—…generated and ingrafted into Christ they haue ouercome the world 1 Ioh. 4. 4. Yee are of God little children and haue ouercome them because greater is hee that is in you then hee that is in the world cap. 5. 4 5. Whosoeuer is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the world euen our faith Christ hath ouercome the world for them Io. 16. 33. And God hee giueth them victory through the Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 57. They are quite translated and taken out of the World They are redeemed from the earth and from this present euill world and made men of another world their hearts and soules their thoughts their affections desires and conuersationâ—… are in heaueâ—… Io. 15 19. cap. 17. 11. 16. Reu 14. 3. 4. Phil. 3. 20. They are translated from death to life and shall not come into condemnation Io. 5. 24. Verily verily I say vnto you hee that heareth my word aâ—…d belâ—…eueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is past from death vnto life Rom. 8. 1. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Col. 1. 13. who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs into the Kingdome of his deare Soâ—…ne and 1 Io. 3. 14. Wee know that wee haue passed from death vnto life because wee loue the brethren Therefore it is impossible for them either finally or totally to fall from grace Sixtly those who are partakers of the first resurrection those who are dead to sinne those who haue put off the old man called vs with an holy calling Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy hee saued vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Yea they are saued to the vttermost Heb. 7. 25. they are saued in the Lord with an euerlasting saluation they shall not bee ashamed nor confounded world without end Isai. 45. 17. they are passed from death to life and shall not come into condemnation Iohn 5. 24 And they haue euerlasting life in present possession hee that beleeueth on me he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hâ—…h euerlasting life Christ doth not say he shall haue it but hee hath euerlasting life Iohn 3. 16. 18. 36. ca. 5. 24. c. 6. 27. 39 49 47 50 51 54 57 58. Christ hath giuen euerlasting life to all those that are his sheepe Iohn 10. 28. Euery true beleeuer hee hath the Sonne of God dwelling in him and therefore he cannot choose but haue euerlasting life Hee that hath the Son hath euerlasting life within him 1 Iohn 5. 11 12 13. Yea this is life eternall to know God to bee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom he hath sent Iohn 17. 3. and 1 Iohn 5. 13. 20. Therefore it is impossible for them to fall finally or totally from grace This is an argument which in my iudgement cannot be answered or euaded Ninthly all those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ are called iustified and sanctified they are made the members of Iesus Christ and they are made Kings and Priests for euer vnto God the Father which yeelds vnto vs this ninth argument Those that are once truly called iustified and sanctified those that are once become the true and liuing members of Iesus Christ and are made Kings and Priests for euer vnto God the Father it is impossible for them to fall finally or totally from grace For first those that are called effectually by God they are called to saluation and to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Iesus Christ 2 Thes. 2. 13 14. They are called vnto Gods kingdome and glory 1 Thes. 2. 12. They are called to lay hold of eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 12. therefore they cannot fall from grace for then they should loose the end of their calling Secondly all those that are iustified they are freed from condemnation and they are iustified only to this end and purpose thâ—…t they might not bee condemned Rom. 8. 1. 33. 34. and Iohn 5. 24. Therefore they cannot fall from grace for then they should loose the benefit and fruite of their iustification Thirdly all those who are sanctified they are therefore sanctified that they might bee glorified and saued Rom. 8. 30. 2 Thes. 2. 13. Tit. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 5. Fourthly all such as are the true and liuing members of Iesus Christ Christ giâ—…es vnto them eternall life Iohn 10. 28. and 1 Ioh. 5. 11 12 13. Though they were dead before yet they shall liue in him and when they doe liue once in him they shall so liue that they shall neuer die death shall haue no more dominion and power ouer them John 11. 25 26. and Rom. 6. 9 10 11. Christ Iesus who is the head will neuer suffer any of his liuing true and faithfull members for to perish he will keepe them and preserue them so that none of them shall be euer lost or broken or cut off from him Psal. 34. 20. and Iohn 17. 12. Where Christ himselfe is there they shall alwayes be they in him and hee in them Iohn 17. 23 24. Fiftly all such as are Kings and Priests vnto God for euer they cannot fall finally nor totally from grace for then they should cease to be Kings and Priests and could not be such for euer But all those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ they are truly called iustified and sanctified Rom. 8. 29 30 1 Cor. 6. 11. Ephes. 1. 18. cap. 5. 26. 27 2 Thess. 2. 13. Christ Iesus is made vnto them of God righteousnesse iustification sanctification and redemption 1 Cor 1. 30. They are the true and liuing members of Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 30. Wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Christ is the Vine they are the branches Iohn 15. 5. Hee is the head and body they are the members 1 Cor. 6. 15. Ephes. 4 16. and Col. 2. 19. And they are made Kings and Priests for euer vnto God the Father to offer vp spirituall sacrifices vnto â—…im 1 Pet. 2. 5. Reu. 15. 6. and cap. 5. 10. Therefore it is impossible for them to fall finally or totally from grace Tenthly the true regenerate Saints of God they haue their names written in heauen and in the Booke of liâ—…e which doth suggest vnto vs this tenth Argument They whose names are written in heauen and ingrauen in the Booke of life it is impossible for them to fall quite away from grace First because that God himselfe hath promised that hee will neuer blot out the names of those who are
know that wee were once ingrafted truly into Christ and therefore it is impossible for vs to bee broken off from him wee were once inuested into the state of Grace from which wee cannot fall and therefore we are now in Christ wee are in the sure state of grace and shall continue in it all our dayes This would be able to ward off all these fierce assaults of Satan that they should neuer hurt them this would comfort and beare vp their soules and keepe them from sinking in despaire this would make men for to die with ioy and comfort and to lie downe and rest in peace For then they might say with Paul Wee haue finished our course wee haue fought a good fight and wee haue kept the faith henceforth there is laid vp for vs a crowne of glory Whereas now they cannot die with ioy with comfort and assurance and lie downe in peace because they are not sure of their perseuerance they are not sure of their state of grace it may be that they are alreadie fallen from their state of Grace for ought they know if not they may fall from it ere they die yea in the very last gappe and minute of their liues they may commit such sinnes as may cut them off from Christ for euer because they cannot liue for to repent of them before their death and so despâ—…iring or at least doubting of their owne saluation the diuell being aptest then for to assault them with desperate and auxious thoughts and feares when as they are neerest to their ends and least able to resist his fierce assaults they lie downe in terrour and rest in woe and griefe Alas what comfort could a godly and a Christian life which otherwise would comfort and reioyce the soule beyond expression bring any man at his death if this were true that hee might after all fall finally or totally from grace if all the workes and holy duties which hee had done or wrought in all his life might vtterly be lost and be remembred of the Lord no more If hee might loose the wages and reward of all his paines at last Certainly if faithfull Christians and holy men who are the only happy men on earth and haue the only cause for to reioyce and ioy continually might either finally or totally fall from grace they should of all men bee most wretched and miserable they should be stripped of all true comforts here and be driuen to despaire at the last day Away then with this Doctrine of a finall or totall fall from grace which sauoureth of nothing but of meere despaire God grant that those who doe maintaine it in their health may neuer feele the smart and terrour of it in their temptations sicknesses or deaths But you may perchance obiect that though regenerate men may fall totally from grace and so may bee discouraged and perplexed for the present yet they may comfort and sustaine their hearts and soules with this that God in his mercy may raise them vp againe and may in some good measure assure their soules that because God hath bestowed grace vpon them heretofore therefore he will be the more ready and willing to restore it to them againe and to impart it to them the second time To this I answere that you are much mistaken in this point and it is nothing so For their hauing of Grace bestowed on them heretofore doth rather argue that God will therefore bestow grace on them no more because they did not keepe it at the first God seldome or neuer giues those grace the second time who haue not kept it at the first Gods graces they are alwayes pretious hee will neuer cast them before such dogges and swine as haue lost and trampled them vnder foote before This is euident by all those places of Scripture which our Antagonists doe principally object against vs. For Ezech. 18. 24. When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousnesse and committeth iniquitie and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall bee liue Marke the comfort which you talke of no all the righteousnesse which hee hath done shall bee no more remembred God will not so much as once respect it in his trespasse that hee hath trespassed and in his sinne that hee hath sinned in them shall hee die So Hebr. 6. 4 5 6. It is impossible for them who were once inlightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come if they fall once away to renew themselues againe vnto repentance seeing that they crucifie againâ—… vnto themselues the Sonne of God and put him to open shame Marke the words it is impossible for such as fall totally from grace to be renewed againe vnto repentance they cannot bee ingrafted into Christ the second time Where then is the truth or comfort of your answer So Heb. 10. 26. 27. If wâ—… sinne wilfully after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaines no more sacrifice for sinnes but a certaine fearefull looking for of iudgement and fiery indignation to deuoure those that doe Apostatize from Grace These and such like Scriptures which are objected against vs for to proue a totall or a finall fall from true and sauing grace serue only to satisfie this objection to terrifie the hearts and daunt the soules of all such men as shall once fall from grace and to exclude them for euer from Gods mercy and from rising vp againe So that the possession and inioyment of grace before if it be once lost serues only for to proue that those which had it shall neuer haue it nor injoy it any more and not that God will therefore bee more ready and willing to bestow it on them againe And so the due consideration of all these Scriptures and this position of a totall or a finall fall from grace would driue men vnto finall desperation You therefore that maintaine this desperate and terrible doctrine of the finall or totall Apostacy of the Saints beware lest that you quench the smoaking flax and breake the bruised reede which Christ himselfe would neuer doe Beware lest you afflict and wound to desperation the tender and the broken heart the troubled conscience and the soft and tender soule which God himselfe commands you for to heale to comfort cherish and binde vp with the comfortable assurance of his immutable constant and perpetuall loue to them in Christ and with the impossibility of a finall or totall fall from grace If the pressing of this doctrine driue any to despaire as it cannot choose but doe vnlesse they are perswaded by Gods Spirit to the contrary their bloud and soules shall be required at your hands that presse it and Christ himselfe who is that good and great Shepheard of his sheepe which wil not suffer any of his sheepe to perish will
frame this accusation and in ditement against you at the day of Iudgement as he did against the shepheards of Israel Ezech. 34. 4. The diseased haue yee not strengthened â—…either haue you healed that which was sicke neither haue you bound vp that which was broken neither haue you brought againe that which was driuen away but with force and crueltie haue you ruled them and then your doome and judgment will be terrible and dismall as this your Doctrine is Fifthly This doctrine of a finall or totall fall from grace it makes no difference at all beeweene the godly and the wicked in this present life If the true regenerate Saints of God might either finally or totally fall from grace what difference should there be betweene impenitent and wicked men and them what priuiledge or aduantage had they more then they They haue no more assurance of Gods loue and fauour no more assurance of heauen and eternall life no more aduantage or benefit by the death of Christ then they there were then no difference at all in their estates but onely for the present they had but a meere possibilitie of heauen and eternall life they could not absolutely say we shall be saued but onely wee may be saued and so may euery wicked man that liues vpon the earth All that the Saints of God should then haue it should depend meerely vpon incertainties and future contingences they should be no more sure of saluation then wicked men True it is that that for the present they should haue a greater probabilitie and likelihood of heauen and saluation then wicked men because they are for the present in the state of grace but yet they were no neerer vnto heauen and eternall saluation then they for these wicked men might become Gods children afterwards continue so when as they themselues might fall from grace and perish in their sinnes those that are the children of Satan might be the Saints and sonnes of God when as they themselues may bee the sonnes of Beâ—…ial and vessels fitted for destruction Wherefore seeing that this doctrine of falling from grace puts no sound and sure difference betweene the wicked and the godly in this present life and giues the one no greater and no surer priuiledges then the other hath when as the Scripture makes as great a difference betweene them as is betweene sheepe and goates wheate and tares gold and drosse happinesse and misery it must needes be false and opposite to the truth and cannot be admitted Lastly if the true regenerate Saints of God might fall finally from grace it would breede a doubt and scruple in mens mindes whether there are any that are saued or at least whether God hath alwaies had a true Church on earth For if one regenerate man may fall from grace then a second and a third may to and so euery regenerate man in particular and so all regenetate men and then there should bee none that should bee saued then there might be a time when all men might be fallen from grace and so a time when as there was no Church of God on earth Wee all know that the very best of all Gods Saints and children are apt and ready to fall into sinne and that in many things they offend all which things by your assertion may cut them of from Christ and cast them headlong from the state of grace wherefore for ought that any man knowes there is not any one of Gods Saints and children but may bee fallen quite away from the state of grace before his death and so may dye and perish in his sinnes and therefote if this position were once admitted it would breede a doubt in men where euer there were any saued or whether God hath alwaies had a Chruch on earth which would be a dangerous consequent and would much eclipse the riches of Gods mercy the merits of Christs death and passion the glory and perpetuity of his kingdome and make men carelesse of religion Thirdly this Doctrine of a finall or totall Apostacie from the state of grace would produce many dangerous consequencies in respect of grace it selfe and so cannot be admitted First it would cause men to vilifie and vnderualue grace it would cause them for to slight and disrespect it and not to set that price vpon it as they should For if true and sauing grace might bee lost againe who then would estimate or value it who would forsake the riches the honours and the pleasures of the world to seeke it and imbrace it ' which should be then as permanent sure and stable as grace it selfe That which makes men for to prise estimate grace aboue all things else is this that it is a perpetuall stable and permanent possession which will neuer decay that is is not subiect vnto time and chance as all sublunary and worldly things are that it is such an heauenly treasure as cannot be lost nor taken from vs. Therefore Christ when as hee would incite and stirre vs vp to seeke after grace doth commend grace vnto vs as a permanent and euerlasting good which neuer fades nor yet decaies putting it by way of antithesis and opposition to all worldly things which are but momentary and fading hence are these his exhortations Iohn 6. 27. Labour not for the â—…eate that perisheth but for that which indâ—…reth vnto euâ—…rlasting life Lay not vp for your selues treasures vpon earth where 〈◊〉 and rust doth corrupt and where theeâ—…es breaks through and â—…teale but lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theâ—…es doe not breake through nor â—…eale Math 6 19. 20. Whosoeuer shall drinke of this water shall thirst againe but whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giue him shall neuer thirst but the water that I shall giue him shall bee in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Ioh. 4. 13 14. That which doth most of all commend and set forth grace that which makes it amiable and louely and giues it an excâ—…llencie aboue all earthly things is this that it is a permanent possession an euerlasting treasure which cannot be loâ—…t If it were notso men could not prise it aboue earthly thing This Doctrine therefore of falling from the state of grace it takes away the very excellency of grace and so it would cause men for to vilifie and vnderualue it and to preferre the base and transitorie things of the world before it which would bee a dangerous consequence Secondly this assertion it would ouerthrow and vtterly disanull the very nature and essence of true sauing grace For grace as I haue proued at large before is of a permanent constant perpetuall immortall growing and increasing nature it cannot perrish or decay where once it is in truth begun This Doctrine of a totall or finall fall from grace it makes grace to be but a transitory and fading thing in ouerthrowes this nature and essence of true
comfort from them that feele the wrath of God and that this Error is euidently confuted by these words Being justified by faith wee haue peace with God Also therefore is righteousnesse of faith that it might be sure Therefore it aduiseth vs to lay hold on this sweet comfort that the Sonne of God is the keeper of his Church as he saith Iohn 10. No man shall take my sheepe out of my hands Hee doth protect vs and also by his holy Spirit doth confirme our mindes to true opinions as hee doth begin eternall life so doth hee kindle in our hearts good motions faith the loue of God true inuocation hope chastitie and other vertues Through the Sonne of God wee are deliuered from eternall death and translated into eternall life as hee saith I giue vnto them eternall life and hee that hath the Sonne hath life And let hope be firme and sure as Peter saith hope perfectly that is looke for eternall life not with doubtfull opinion The famous Augustane confession confirmed and ratified by all the Protestant Princes States and Churches of Germany Anno Dom. 1530. in the 3. Article concurreth with vs for saith the Article Christ doth sanctifie all those that beleeue on him by sending the holy Ghost into their hearts who doth gouerne comfort and quicken them and defend them against the diuell and the force of sinne If against the Diuell and the force of sinne then nothing can cast them downe from the state of grace If you object that the 12. Article of this famous Confession doth condemne the Anabaptists who deny that such who are once iustified can loose the holy Ghost and therefore by the voyce of this confession those who are once justified may fall from grace I answer that the Protestant Diuines in Germany who were at the making of this Article and those who haue liued since did neuer expound or intend it in this sense that a man once iustified might fall away from grace either totally or finally but they condemned this Tenet of the Anabaptists in that sense as they defended it For this was the opinion of the Anabaptists That when once a man was regenerated and had obtained the holy Ghost and was made a true beleeuer that sin could not hurt him and therefore they would tell men that if they did beleeue let them doe what they would or commit what sinne they would it could not hurt them for faith would blot out all those sinnes which was the Error of the Valentinians as Irenaeus hath recorded it Now in this sense only doth this confession condemne the Anabaptists and in no other and so did the Lutherans before them as you may reade in Articulis Smalcandicis Article 3. composed by Luther himselfe which you shall finde in Lutherana Concordia pag. 310. Now the reason yeelded by the Lutherans why they condemne this Error of the Anabaptists in their third Article will fully proue that the true regenerate Saints of God can neuer fall from grace Forsay they the Saints of God doe alwayes grieue and repent for their sinnes groaning vnder the burthen of them and they alwayes striue against them Theresore those that voluntary rush into sinne whether it be adultery murther or blasphemie must needes shake off faith and the holy Ghost and faith and the holy Ghost must needes depart from them For the holy Ghost doth nener suffer sinne to reigne to get strength or to obtaine the victory and to be perfected but hee doth represse and curbe it that so it might not doe the thing it would But if it doth what it would certainly the holy Ghost and faith are lost neither are they present For so saith Iohn hee that is borne of God doth not sinne neither can hee sinne So that both the Augustane Confession and the Article of Smalcard are both for me and not against me being rightly vnderstood The Augustane Confession composed by the Argentine Church and confirmed by their Senate Anno dom 1539. concurreth with vs For these are the words of their 7. Article This sole and only mediator hath taken away our sins and reconciled vs to his Father hee hath impetrated the holy Ghost for all those whom his Father hath giuen him and which heare his voyce This regeneration together with all Christs merits the holy Ghost doth inspire into the hearts of all the faithfull and preserue them in them to the end All these Confessions of the Protestants in Germanie and else-where are expresse for me let Mr. Mountague now shew mee any to the contrarie But you will tell mee now that Mr. Mountague records it That all the Protestants of Germanie haue concluded against mee and consented to the Church of Rome in the Diot of Ratisbon Vpon those grounds and reasons which he there mentions True it is that Mr. Mountague hath so recorded it but his records are so false in euery thing that he must haue a strong faith that will beleeue them without examination of the truth of them For my owne part I haue read the disputation of Ralisbon set out by Bucer himselfe Anno dom 1548. and I can finde no such thing as Mr. Mountague relates in it For first this question of a totall finall fall from grace was not so much as controuerted there neither are there any of those Scriptures grounds and Fathers which Mr. Mountague hath recorded in his Gagge or in his Appeale only that place of Phil. 2. 12. and of St. Augustine de Ciuit Dei lib. 11. cap. 12. excepted so much as mentioned in all that disputation and these two quotations are cited by Steuen Bishop of Winchester who did oppose the Protestants in that Disputation and not by Bucer and the other Protestants there present How then could the Protestants of Germanie yeeld to that position in this Diot which was not drawne into question there Indeed the question of the certainty of saluation was there controuerted and discussed and by the vnanimous consent of all the Protestants resolued and determined against Maluenda Billickius and the Bishop of Winchester who did oppose it and in the resolution and determination of this Controuersie if you will beleeue learned Zanchius in his Confession to the Senate of Argentine in this our point De perseuerantia sanctorum or the Disputation of Ratisbone it selfe our very assertion though it were not there particularly controuerted was yet de claro resolued for vs in this famous Diot in the name of all the Protestants in Germanie For in the Disputation of Ratisbon or Ralisbon pag. 41. Respons ad Replic 14. This is the expresse Resolution of all the Protestants in that Diot That true faith and a sinne that wastes the conscience are incompatible and that hee which liues by a true iustifying faith can neuer sticke in such a sinne So pag. 243. to 251. they proceed to proue this assertion and conclusion For say they those who haue this iustifying
who now injoy it and haue it in possession learne more and more to prise and value it and to be more and more affected joyed and delighted with it It is the onely and chiefest treasure of your soules it is the only thing that makes you truly blessed and that for euer let God then and all men see how much you value it by counting all things losse yea drosse and dunge and worse then nothing in respect of it Secondly if those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith can neither finally nor totally fall from grace then this may serue to comfort and reioyce the hearts and soules of all such men as are thus truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ. You that can but truly say that you are regenerated and made new creatures that you are ingrafted into Iesus Christ in synceritie and truth yea you who haue but the least sparke and attome of true and sauing grace began within you and planted in your hearts what cause haue you sor to reioyce and sing for ioy You haue such an heauenly treasure such a firme setled and sure estate of grace within your soules as nothing shall be able to depriue you of it let all the diuels in hell or men on earth combine and plot together to depriue and spoyle you of it they are not able to effect it The least sparke 〈◊〉 that seed of true and sauing grace which is within you is of such a diuine permanent and immortall nature that all the flouds of prosperitie all the waters of aduersitie all the stormes of temptation all the malice of of men or diuells cannot vtterly extinguish or put it out againe What then should euer daunt your hearts or cause you for to feare What is there that should make you sad or heauy or interrupt your ioy If once you haue but the true seed of grace within you be it neuer so little neuer so small it is a sure pledge and earnest of heauen it giues you actuall possession and seison of eternall life it keepes you so that you can neuer perish If once you haue the smallest dram of true and sauing grace you need not feare afflictions or temptations you need not feare the very King of terrors hell and death you need not feare the most that men or diuells can doe to you they cannot seuer you from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus your Lord nor yet disturbe you from the state of Grace Wherefore you my brethren who finde and feele this seed and habit of true and sauing grace within your soules reflect on what you haue and see that matchlesse happinesse the which you now inioy banish all anxious sad and dolorous feares and doubts that cause your hands your hearts and soules to droope and take your fill of ioy and comfort reioyce in the Lord alwayes and againe I say reioyce and let not any thing depriue and spoyle you of that ioy and comfort which is due vnto you This is the fault of most but specially of young and tender-hearted Christians that they dote too much vpon their sinnes and that they doe not so much prise their state of grace nor take that ioy and comfort in it as they should they are apt to bee discouraged and deiected apt to suspect and to grow jealous of their state of grace vpon all occasions as if that they might lose it and bee depriued of it and this makes them â—…o dull so heauie so dead and lumpish in Gods seruice Wherefore now at last endeuour for to know your happinesse and the worth and nature of your state of grace It is a state of joy and comfort it is such an estate as you can neuer lose or fall from hee that hath the life of grace but once began within him can die no more the second death shall haue no power oâ—…er him Establish then and settle this vndoubted truth and ingraue it in your hearts and soules That those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith can neither finally nor totally fall from grace and this will strengthen and support this will comfort and reioyce your soules in all temptations and afflictions whatsoeuer in all extremities and times of need Wee haue all great cause as the times are now to stablish ground and settle this truth within our soules wee see what feares and dangers what crosses and afflictions what iudgements and calamities are like to come vpon vs wee see what miserable and wofull times are likely to befall vs if then we haue this truth ingrauen in our soules that the grace we haue within vs is of an incorruptible and immortall nature that it cannot be lost or perish O how will this establish settle comfort and reioyce our soules and strengthen and inable vs to vndergoe asflictions with patience ioy and comfort This will make vs for to feare no euill Though the earth beo moued and the mountaines carried into the midest of the Sea though carnall and wicked men shall be so amazed and affrighted with the miseries and afflictions that shall befall them that they shall call to the rockes and mountaines for to fall vpon them and couer them and bee euen at their witts ends for very feare yet such as haue this state of grace within them shall not feare but they shall euen reioyce and sing in the middest of all their troubles and afflictions and lift vp their heads and hearts with ioy and comfort because the day of their redemption draweth neere Wherefore beloued brethren if you would fill your soules with ioy and comfort and arme your selues against the euill day be sure for to ground and roote this comfortable sweet and heauenly meditation in your hearts that come what will you can neuer finally nor totally fall from Grace nor yet be seuered and cut off from Christ and this will comfort strengthen and reioyce your soules in times of need and beare them vp in all extremities And thus adieu FINIS Errata PAge 3. line 36. for the reade these p. 4 l. 1. for degrees the degrees p. 5. l. 34. for haue raise p. 49. l. 31. for this his p. 51. l. 27. for title to title p. 59. l. 19. for one only only p. 61. l. 7. for anithesis antithâ—…sis p. 62. l. 15. for sons sound p. 70. l. 31. for those these p. 73. l. 23. for will his will performe his p. 77 l. 10. for keepe them keepe l. 20. for himselse him p. 83 l. 12. for that it that he p. 86. l. 7 for man may may p. 91. l. 34. for that it p. 96. l 3. for how true how p. 104. l. 19. for receiued recorded p. 105. l. 8. for these those p. 116. l. 2. for but yet yet p. 125. l. 15. for hath haue p. 127. l. 31. for those these p. 128. l 7. for so sealed so firmely