that betwixt the husband and the wife Eph. 5.23 the Believer is espoused to Jesus Christ by Faith we give our consent to him when we say with heart and mouth as the Spouse Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his It is the duty of the husband to use his utmost endeavours for protecting his wife from perishing David took no rest until he had rescued his wives out of the hands of his and their enemies 1 Sam. 30. But our Lord and husband Iesus Christ surpasseth all men both in affection and power for the protecting of his Spouse Therefore one espoused into him cannot fall away finally for the relation is perpetual he is a Lord and husband for ever of his Spouse To wit the Church of Believers Obj. Obj. Although this or that person once espoused to Christ may fall away finally yet Christ hath a Spouse still to wit other Believers who persevere Answ Answ The Spouse of Christ is made up of so many individual persons and if those one after another may perish then were it possible that the whole might perish for the whole subsists and is preserved in the particulars and so it were possible that the Lord Jesus Christ might be a King without Subjects a Shepheard without a flock a Head without a body and a Husband without a Spouse Obj. Obj. It is true so long as a soul remains espoused to Christ it cannot perish but when men divorce themselves from Christ by unducifulness and impudent lewdness in sinning they are no more his Spouse Answ Answ 1 1. A soul once espoused to him is never divorced from him It is true in that great day there will be a separation of hypocrites who gave their names but not their hearts to him Then will the Lord say to them depart from me It will not be a divorce but a nulling of their counterfeit communion with Christ Then will he declare there was never a consummate marriage betwixt him and them No union nor communion in the Spirit Then will our Lord disclaim them before man and Angel saying I never knew you Math. 7.23 he never knew them so that he approved them for his own people But a soul receiving Christ by Faith and once united to him will never be separate from him Rom. 8.35 Whosh all separate us from the love of Christ c. 2. Our Lord and Husband keepeth the heart of his Spouse in a dutiful affection to himself If a husband were able to restrain the affection of his wife from strange lovers he doubtless would and should do it that in so doing he might prevent all cause of divorce but our Lord hath promised in the Covenant of Grace to over-aw our hearts by his fear that we turn not away in our hearts from him after strange lovers Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 3. It is true the sins and gross failings of regenerate men do for a time interrupt a communion in the sense and comfort of our Lords love and of their own peace and joy Then their Lord and husband frowns upon them withdraws the light and comfort of his countenance as an husband greatly displeased with his wife doth estrange himself for a time from her So the Lord hides his face for a time from them yet their sins do not turn off his heart from them Psal 89.32 33. I will visit their transgression with the rod nevertheless my loving kindness will I not take utterly from him yea he invites them to repent and notwithstanding their soul miscariages he promiseth to receive them Ier. 3.1 Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers yet return to me again saith the Lord. The fourth Reason is taken from the efficacy of Christs Prayer and the gracious acceptance it had alwayes with God Reas 4 The efficacy of Christs Prayer in the behalf of Believers Those for whom our Lord did pray that they might persevere to the end such do certainly persevere because the Father heareth him alwayes Iohn 11.42 But our Lord prayed for perseverance to Believers Iohn 17.15 I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world For this he prayed not only in the behalf of the Apostles but also for all who should believe in his Name Ioh. 17.20 The fifth Reason is taken from that inviolable conjunction of the links in that golden chain of salvation Reason 5 The links of the chain of salvation inviolable Rom. 8.30 Whom he called he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified from hence we have this reason Those whom God will glorifie in heaven do certainly persevere to the end such as are once justified will be glorified for the Apostle to declare the certainty hereof expresseth it in the time past saying he hath gloriâ—ed as the like expression of a thing certain is found 1 Ioh. 3.14 We have passed from death to life because we love the brethren The sixth Reason is grounded on the Believers victory over the world he that overcometh the world Reas 6 falleth not away from the state of Grace because he could not fall away except he were overcome by temptations in the world But a regenerate man overcometh the world Rom. 8.37 1 Ioh. 5.4 It is a ridiculous exception to say the regenerate man is not overcome of the world so long as he is a Believer for that were asmuch as to say whosoever is born of God is not overcome of the world so long as he is not overcome which were a Tautologie If a Believer could become an Unbeliever by the prevalent temptations of Sathan from the world then should he be overcome of the world contrary to that assertion of the Apostle 1 Ioh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith It is true Tertullian as Tertullian saith the renewed man is subject to many infalls of temptations from the world and to daily out-fall from indwelling corruption yet in the end the Believer in the strength of our Lords Grace doth prevail Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us The seventh and last Reason is taken from that inseparable connexion betwixt adoption Reas 7 Adoption and the inheritance inseperable and the heavenly inheritance Those who are designed heirs of eternal life do persevere in Grace to the end But so it is that regenerate men being adopted Sons to God are designed heirs of eternal life Rom. 8.17 Gal. 4.17 If a Son then an heir of God through Christ Obj. Obj. It is true say some so long as they remain Sons they have a right to the inheritance but they may fall from the estate of Adoption and so be disinherited Answ 1. That one who is once a Son may afterward fall from the estate of Adoption Answ 1 is expresly contrary to that of our Lord Ioh. 8.35 The Son abideth in the house for ever But if he
these we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Faith in Christ made them strong and couragious and not to succumb to the temptation for fear of death by constant suffering to the death they were more then conquerors Sometimes by their sufferings they have even conquered the hearts of Persecutors to the love of the truth Pauls sufferings were active on the hearts of some of Caesars houshold Phil. 1.13 Tertullian Tertullian In his Apologetick for the Christians saith that the more exquisite and cruell the torments were against Christians in regard of their courage and constancy it proves the greater allurement to beholders for embracing the Christian faith yea though they have not conquered the hearts of their enemies yet they overcame their consciences by the force of truth and strength in suffering and rendred them self-condemned The truth of this Doctrine doth also appear from these Reasons Reasons 1. From the mysticall Vnion between Christ and Beleevers As the members of his body have influence of life from him their head in the beginning of Sanctification So in the course of it they have influence of strength and vigour for doing duties as the ointment was first poured on Aarons head and from thence ran down to the skirts of his garments So together with the other graces of the Spirit the gift of strength was in a large measure given to Christ the head of his Church and Of his Fulnesse we receive grace for grace Of him we get not only the life of grace together with a renewed power and strength for doing but also we receive strength in doing Not only he giveth an ability for walking in his wayes but strengthens us in the act it self of obeying his will Ezek. 11.19 20. I will put a new spirit within you and I will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes Not only in the Covenant of grace is promised ability and power to do but also actual strength in doing and exercising that power Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes for doing acts of moral fortitude and valour there is not only required courage of spirit and resolution to stand against difficulties and peril but also actual courage and strength in the encountring with the same without this men of couragious spirits succumb in conflicts Psal 76.5 The stout-hearted are spoyled they have slept their sleep and none of the men of might have found their hands much more in our wrastlings not only against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places Ephes 6.12 is required both Christian ability and courage of spirit and also actual strength from Christ our head that we may in the evil day stand firm in the faith This strength is derived to all the members of his mystical body from Christ their head by his Spirit the union is by the spirit which is the bond proceeding from Christ toward us and worketh faith whereby his members are united to him 1 Cor. 6.19 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit In like manner our Communion with Christ and his strength is by the Spirit who communicates strength to us Ephes 3.16 Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man 2. The truth of this doctrine is evident from Christs inhabitation in beleevers by his spirit Joh. 6.56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him The Spirit of Christ dwelleth in the beleevers heart as his sanctuary wherein he is worshipped and found and the beleever dwelleth in him as his souls delight and rest now it is certain that the Spirit of Christ will defend and protect the soul where he dwelleth that though the beleever be oft times molested with temptations yet is he many times preserved from the bondage and power of the temptation The Angels that lodged with Lot Gen. 19. defended him against the violence of those vile men of Sodom so it is the Angel of the Covenant Jesus Christ who defends by his strength the beleever against the sore and violent temptations from his own corruption and the world It is the Spirit of Christ that strengthens beleevers to stand firm in the love and profession of the truth against crafty or violent seducers 1 Joh. 4.4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater that is mightier is he that is in you then he that is in the world 3. It is evident from that interest and propriety Christ hath to beleevers as his redeemed ones purchased by the price of his blood he will by his strength desend his own subjects It is the honour of a mighty King and Lord to help and defend his subjects from their enemies thus God is glorified in his power and strength when he upholds his weak and afflicted servants in a day of trial Isa 25.3 4. Therefore shall the strong people glorifie thee the City of the terrible nations shall fear thee for thou hast been a strength to the poor a strength to the needy in his distresse when the blast of the terrible ones is as astorm against the wall the skilfullnesse of the builder and the strength of the wall is best seen when the house stands firm against a great storm so the glory of the Lord in strengthening his weak children is most conspicuous in a tempestuous time From this ground of right and property the Lord encourageth his people against fears and troubles Isa 41.14 Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel Isa 43.1 Fear not O Israel for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine upon this ground it is that beleevers run to God in time of trouble for comfort and strength Psal 119.94 I am thine save me Dan. 9.18 Behold our desolations and the City that is called by thy name Lastly It is evident from our interest also in Christ the beleever is espoused to him as an husband 2 Cor. 11.2 As the wife hath interest and communion in her husbands goods so have we in the gifts of our Lord and husband Jesus Christ he is made of God unto us wisdom and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Elkanah a kind husband comforted and encouraged Hannah in the day of her great trouble and reproach 1 Sam. 1.8 so the Lord Jesus comforteth and encourageth beleevers in a time of trouble David by power and strength rescued his wives that were carried away by his enemies 1 Sam. 30.18 So our Lord and husband recovereth beleevers out of the snare of temptation by renewing in them the acts of repentance and strengthening them to break asunder the cords of iniquity thus he recovered Peter with a look of power piercing into his heart he rescueth also
his oppressed servants out of the hands of oppressors Isa 54.4 5. Fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed for thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his Name Qu. Means by which the Spirit strengthens It is true the Spirit of Christ is the worker of our strength both for doing and also in doing but by what means doth the Spirit strengthen us to withstand outward and inward temptations Ans 1. By strengthening our faith in the Promises the stronger our faith is we have the more strength and courage to stand against temptations It was a great trial for Abraham to forsake his own Countrey and kinsfolks and to go he knew not whither yet being strong in the faith he overcame the temptations of many difficulties and discouragements faith to the promise of a better inheritance strengthened his heart against all difficulties Heb. 11.8 The offering up of his sonne Isaac was a great trial many temptations had he from flesh and blood to the contrary yet his faith to the promise strengthened him against them for he beleeved that God was able to raise up his sonne Isaac from the dead Heb. 11.17.19 As in the natural body strength is conveyed from the head to the several members by the nerves so strength is derived from Christ our head to all his members by faith 2. The Lord strengthens us against temptations by putting his fear in our hearts It is said 2 Chron 23.19 Jehojadah set porters at the gates of the house of the Lord that none who was unclean should enter so the fear of God is a strong porter to hold out temptations from forcing our will It restrains from secret sinnes How can I do this said Joseph and sinne against God from wronging our neigbour though no creature should know it Lev. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear thy God It strengthens to resist temptations though no creature would or durst controll us Nohemiah was a governour of great power and authority and might without controlment have been chargeable to the people as the former governours had been but so did not he because of the fear of God Neh. 5.15 Ob. But fear weakens the heart and how can the heart be strengthened by it Ans It is true a faithlesse fear weakens the heart in an hour of temptation so that it yeelds Pilat's fear to displease Caesar made him a weak Judge in yeelding to the importunate cries of a misled multitude and for fear of man to condemn the innocent Sonne of God but the godly and awfull fear of God strengthens the spirit of a man that he stands out against the temptation of humane and worldly fear Exod. 1.17 The midwives feared God and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them 3. The Lord strengthens us by the sense of his love in our hearts and by our love to himself 2 Tim. 1.7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear but the spirit of power of love and of a sound minde The spirit of power and of love stablisheth the heart against temptations The sense of the love of Christ in carrying our sorrowes on the Crosse is a cordial to strengthen our hearts against the bitternesse of the cup of affliction Shall not we taste of the cup whereof our Lord drank the drugg to the bottom the sense of his love in suffering for us strengthens our hearts cheerfully to suffer what is his good will the Lord strengthens us against temptations and difficulties by kindling in our hearts love to himself Jacob's love to Rachel strengthened and encouraged him against the heat of the day and cold of the night so our love to Christ will strengthen us against all temptations and discouragements his love covereth the multitude of our infirmities and therefore many waters should not quench our love to him 4. The Lord strengthens the members of his mystical body by a lively hope and assurance of victory in and over all temptations and enemies Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the Serpent as our Lord did this in his own person so by his Spirit he doth it in his members Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Assured hope of victory is a powerfull mean to strengthen the heart in the day of conflict hope is the Anchor that stablisheth our hearts amidst all the waves of afflictions against outward temptations in the world from cruel oppressors Jer. 31.16 17. Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded saith the Lord and they shall come again from the land of the enemies and there is hope in thine end saith the Lord that thy children shall come again to their own border hope strengthens the heart in time of fainting under present great troubles 2 Cor. 4.17 18. and it strengthens the heart against the inward disquietnesse of spirit Psal 43.5 Why art thou disquieted within me O my soul hope in God for I shall yet praise him This Doctrine serveth for Admonition to the children of God Vse 1 Depend not on thine own strengtht in the prrformance of any duty Seeing all our strength for doing and suffering cometh from Jesus Christ our head Go never to any commanded duty or against any temptation in the confidence of thy own strength It is not enough thou hast an ability given thee of God for acting but thou must also have actuall strength in the acting Though the seeds of grace be sown in the heart at our regeneration yet the fruits are not brought forth for Gods glory and our comfort until the Lord blow upon the seed-bed planted by his own hand Can. 4.16 Blow upon my Garden saith the Spouse that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat of his pleasant fruits as fire under the ashes giveth out no light until it be blown upon so grace received doth not exert it self in any gracious act except the Lord blow on it In all thy encounters with temptations do as David did in his going out against Goliah 1 Sam. 17.45 I come against thee in the Name of the Lord It was Peters fault that he was confident in his own strength that though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended said he Mat. 26.33 but in the hour of temptation his own strength failed him Mat. 26.74 Obj. Three causes why the children of God succumb in one temptation and stand in another What maketh the strength of Gods children to abate in the hour of temptation that at one time they resist great temptations and at another time they succumb to lesser temptations Peter at the voice of a silly Damosell denieth his Lord but at another time before the Councill of Priests and Rulers confesseth him notwithstanding all their threatnings Act. 4. Answ
There be three Causes specially of this abatement 1. A too deep sense of the evil feared in the creature or a vehement desire of the apparent good in the creature Excesse of fear benums and oppresseth the spirits of men that it is not active to withstand the temptation but becomes dull and passive to close with the temptation Abrahams fear weakened his strength of spirit and made him dissemble twice in the court of Egypt and Gerar Davids fear weakened his courage and made him dissemble and counterfeit himself mad before Achish King of Gath 1 Sam. 23.13 And the vehement desire of good in the creature doth so exhaust the spirit that it becomes weak to resist the temptations Rachels vehement desire after posterity exposed her to the temptations of discontentment with her own husband and of envy at her sisters condition 2. Vain confidence of our own wit and dexterity to use and manage grace received provokes God to suspend his assisting grace and the supply of his Spirit for strengthening us in the act as is evident in Peters weaknesse and yeelding to the temptation in the denial of his Lord. 3. Neglect of the means makes our strength to abate Praier is a speciall means whereby we implore strength from God in an hour of temptation Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed and when he let down his hands Amalek prevailed Exo. 17.11 So when we become negligent of praier our corruption prevails and we succumb to the temptation Neglect of praier is the obstructing of our intelligence and correspondence with heaven from whence only cometh our help in the hour of temptation For our adversary the devil takes the opportunity to assail us when he perceives there is no entercourse between us and the Captain of our salvation by praier from us and by supply of the spirit from him Neglect of hearing and reading the Word makes our strength to abate The Word is the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6. and the man who hath no care to hide Gods Word in his heart is like a naked Souldier without his weapons exposed to the fury and violence of every temptation The Word of God is both the seed of the new life and the milk whereby it is entertained 1 Pet. 2.1 2. when the children of God become negligent of hearing and reading the Word of God they fall into a consumption of their spiritual vigour and strength like young children growing weak and pining away by their abstinence from the breast It serveth for a ground of Exhortation Vse 2 Seeing all our strength lieth in our head the Lord Jesus Go to Christ for strength in new duties an new temptations Let us he stirred up to go to him for renewed strength in new duties and in new temptations and that upon these motives 1. Because it is not in mans power to direct his steps in his bodily motion Jer. 10.23 farre lesse in his spiritual course toward heaven which requires a more speciall help and therefore with the Apostle 2 Thes 2.17 we should pray that the Lord would stablish us in every good word and work 2. There is a necessity of a new supply of strength for every new act because our understandings wax dimme and therefore have need of a new touch of that eye-salve spoken of Rev. 3.17 as prospective glasses are wiped whenever of new we make use of them So when ever we go to hear or reade the Word we have great need that the dimnesse cast up by our foul affections may be wiped away and to pray with David Psa 119.27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts Our will and affections though sometime in former duties they be bended and fixed yet like the paces of a clock in a short time they runne out and therefore in new duties we have need of renewed strength to get our stragling affections retired bended upward and set on God and our duty Obj. Means to be used to obtain new strength What means shall we use for attaining strength in an hour of temptation Ans 1. Be humble under the sense of thy own weaknesse for God giveth this grace of strength to the humble when a man is proud of his own strength the Lord in justice deserts him and then both himself and others sees how weak the bottom is whereon he stands 2. Be not so much affected with the sense either of temptation or of thy own weaknesse as with faith into the strength of Christ By faith we draw strength from Christ Faith in the Invisible God did strengthen Moses to overcome his temptation from present and visible fears Hebr. 11.27 Faith in Christ and hope of the rich recompence of reward strengthened Moses to bear the reproach of Christ Heb. 11.26 3. Praier is a speciall means to obtain strength from God Psa 138.3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul the Lord gave unto him a return of his praier by putting strength and courage in his soul to stand in the hour of temptation 2 Cor. 12.9 Paul praied again and again God heard him and perfected his strength in his weaknesse Go to God for strength in the beginning of a Temptation When Peter began to sink then he began to cry unto the Lord The Disciples in the lake did not awake our Lord before the Ship was full of waves Delay to run to God for strength in the beginning of a temptation makes it stronger and us weaker Here is ground of comfort and encouragement to a beleever trembling under the sense of his own weaknesse Vse 3 Comforts against our wickednesse the strength of temptations and under the fear of strong and violent temptations Comfort thy self with these following considerations 1. Consider thy Lord and head Jesus Christ hath an infinite strength As he is of the same infinite essence with the Father so he is of infinite strength with the Father Jesus Christ our Lord is called the Almighty Rev. 1.8 15.3 Out of this infinite strength thy Lord is able to furnish thee in a time of triall with proportionable strength against all the assaults of the devil on all hands As thy adversary renews his force so thy Lord can and will renew strength 2 Corinth 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though cur outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Though affections may weaken the outward man yet the inner man groweth in strength from day to day by a continued influence from Christ his head As our Lord is of an infinite so of an everlasting strength He is Jehovah our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 and In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Isa 26.4 his strength is not as Sampsons which departed for a time but as he liveth
shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life if Grace received could be lost and dried up wholly like the winter brook in drought of Summer then should it not spring up unto everlasting life But as it is observed in aquaeducts the water will ascend so high as the place is from whence at first it did descend even so this water of life saving Grace as it descends from heaven it carries the soul a long to heaven for it springeth up saith our Lord unto everlasting life This truth is also evident from Ioh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no waies cast out by coming to Christ is meaned our believing in him as is evident by comparing verses 64 65. Therefore a true Believer in Christ is never cast out from him but doth persevere unto the end Obj. Obj. It is true say some Christ casteth him not out but he may steal away his own heart by Apostacie from Christ and so cast out himself To this I answer first Answ 1 if the Shepheard of Israel and great Bishop of our souls did sleep or slumber his sheep might steal away wander and perish in their errors but he is vigilant over all his flock he is not like that Keeper 1 King 20.39 While he was busie here and there he lost tho man committed unto his keeping The Shepheard of Israel slumbers not his eyes are alwayes upon every one of his flock The crector of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary Isa 40.28 he leads them in great compassion and wisdom Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carrie them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young he pittyeth us in our infirmities and will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able 1 Cor. 10.13 Though the great Shepheard of our souls in his wisdom suffer his little flock to wander in an hour of darkness to humble them with a sight of their own sillyness and weakness who hath neither wit nor strength to keep themselves yet he hath a watchful eye over them in their wanderings he looked upon Peter with an eye of Pitty and Power to bring him again by repentance after he had departed by a foul denyal he suffers not his own sheep to wander out of the sight of his mercy he sendeth out after them the Spirit of conviction and contrition he makes their barking conscience like the Shepheards Dog to pursue and turn them from their wanderings 2. Moreover if any of the slock of Christ could so stealaway that they should perish in their sins and errors Then Christ himself should cast them out which is contrary to his gracious and faithful Promise for such a disserting of them to go on and perish in their errors were a casting of them out of his care and Protection but our gracious Lord saith Him that cometh to me I will in no wayes cast out neither directly nor indirectly by suffering them to run on in the way of perdition Reasons from Scriptural Truths Reasons do also confirm the truth of this Doctrine 1. From the certainty and stability of election 1. The stability of Election Math. 24.24 There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of the Lord standeth sure It is not possible for those he hath elected in his unchangeable purpose to fall away totally and finally but so it is that a sound Believer is elected of God Iohn 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me all whom the Father elected to Glory and giveth to the Mediator that by the Merit of his death they may be brought unto the possession of that decreed glory all such sometime are made believers in Christ so likewise all who come to Christ and believe in him are given of the Father and elected There is a reciprocation betwixt election and believing as betwixt the cause and necessary effect Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed To expound this place of a natural disposition and inclination for eternal life is Pelagianism and a violating of the text of such misinterpreters I say as Augustin contra Adimant S. Augustin if they do it out of ignorance there is nothing more blind and if they do it out of knowledge there is nothing more wicked 2. 2. Gods Power Reason is taken from the power of God Those who are kept by the power of God cannot be lost for there cannot be a greater power to pull them out of the hand of infinite and Almighty power but so it is that Believers are kept by the power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 They are kept by the Father Ioh. 10.29 By the Son Ioh. 10.28 And by the holy Ghost dwelling in them and keeping the house where he is lodged Rom. 8.11 all the three blessed persons have one common care to preserve Believers 3. 3. The Mystical Union with Christ Reason is taken from the mystical Vnion of a Believer with Christ Those who are once in Christ cannot perish but do persevere in Grace to the end Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus but believers are in Christ and Christ is in them he dwelleth in their hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 he is the Saviour of his Mystical body Eph. 5.24 A strong man will not suffer any of his members to be taken from him and our Lord is the stronger one Luc. 11.22 Obj. Obj. But if a member of the natural body through its own corruption doth rott a man willingly suffereth it to be cut off from the body so a man though once a member of Christs Mystical body may through his own prevalent corruption be cut off from Christ and perish for ever Answ There is no question Answ but even the renewed mans inbred and indwelling corruption if not restrained and overpowered by the Grace of God might carrie him far away from Christ but if any man could hinder that corruption to grow and prevail in his body or if he could restore a corrupt and defective member would he be so unnatural to the members of his own body as to suffer them to perish but so it is that our head the Lord Iesus Christ is able not only with mercie and strength of Grace to prevent the decayings of his Mystical members but also by the Grace of Repentance to restore them when their falls do disjoynt and dislocate them not from the body but from a lively and vigorous motion in the way of common duties with other believers that stand firm thus he restored David and Peter after their failings the corruption of such Members is not desperare and incurable The Union of a Believer with Christ is compared to