onely meanes to keepe men from committing sinne should cause them for to sinne with greater boldnesse and security Is it not grace that only that restraines and keepes men backe from sinne Is it not grace and that onely which makes men to detest abhor and vtterly renounce all sinne and dare you then affirme that perseuerance in the state of grace will imbolden and incourage men to rush into all kinde of sinne doubtlesse you are much mistaken and deceiued in affirming it and it is an infallible argument that you are so â—…arre from hauing any truth of grace within you that as yet you know not what this true grace is of which wee now dispute Secondly regenerate men they are dead to sinne they haue crucified the flesh with the 〈◊〉 and lusts thereof and therefore though they cannot sall from grace yet they cannot yet they dare not sinne against the Lord. This is Pauls reason Rom. 61 2. What shall wee say then shall wee continue in sinne that grace may abound God forbid how shall wee that are dead to sinne liue any longer therein the true regenerate Saints of God they are dead to sinne therefore they cannot liue any longer to it they haue put off their coate how then shall they put it on they haue washed their 〈◊〉 how then shall they defile them they are regenerated sanctisied and dead to sinne therefore they cannot therefore they will not runne into it though they cannot fall from grace Thirdly the true regenerate Saints of God they are redeomed from their sinnes that they might no longer liue vnto them but liue vnto the Lord they are now made Kings and Priests vnto God the Father to offer vp spirituall all sacrifices vnto him they are now quite other persons then they were before and therefore they scorne now to stoope to those base and filthy sinnes which might defile their soules and 〈◊〉 their professions they are now the sonnes of God and heires of heauen they are now the vessels and â—…emples of the holy Ghost and they haue vowed to foâ—…sake their sinnes and lusts and to keepe themselues vnspotted from the world and therefore now though they cannot fall from grace yet there is such an holy ingenuity and magnanimitie wrought within them that 〈◊〉 they scorne for to how and yeeld to sin or to sell themselves as slaues and 〈◊〉 to it Fourthly the true regenerate Saints of God they hauethe loue of God which is shed abroade in their hearts by the holy Ghost which loue is preserued and increased in their hearts and soules by the assurance of their constant and finall perseuerance in the state of grace Now this loue of God doth so worke vpon their hearts and soules and so awe and curbe them that they dare not sinne against the Lord for feare of greeuing offending him though God would neuer disinherite them for their sinnes A dutifull and louing fonne that honours and respects his father though he be sure of his fathers loue and fauour to him yet hee dares not to offend him because hee honours and respects him God is an exceeding good gracious and louing Father vnto all his Saints and they are exceeding dutifull and louing vnto him yea they estimate his louing kindnesse better then life it selfe Psal. 63. 3. and therefore though they cannot fall from grace yet they dare not yet they will not sinne against him for feare of greeuing and offending him Fifthly the true regenerate Saints of God they haue the holy Spirit of God within them who doth sway and ouerrule their wills their hearts and soules and will not so much as suffer them to doe the sinne and euill that they would when they haue any euill and sinsull lusts or thoughts arising in their hearts the holy Ghost doth crush and quell them when they are running on to any sinfull actions the holy Ghost doth pull them backe and quite restraine them causing them to walke in his statutes and to keepe his commandements and doe them so that they cannot will or doâ—… the euill that they would as you may reade Ezech. 32. 6. 27. Rom. 7. 25. c. 8. 1 2 13 14. Gal. 5. 16 17 25. 1 Iohn 3 9. and 5. 18. therefore though they cannot fall from grace yet they will not yet they cannot rush more boldly into sinne Sixthly the true regenerate Saints of God though they cannot fall from grace because God will preserue them and cause them for to vse the meanes which should preserue them in the state of grace yet they know that they cannot perseuere but by vsing of the meanes they know that sinne will hinder them much in this their perseuerance and therefore though they cannot fall from grace yet because they must vse the meanes to perseuere in grace they dare not plunge themselues presumptuously into any sinne Seuenthly though the Saints of God can neuer fall from grace yet they dare not to allow themselues in any sinne because they know that euery sinne the which they doe commit it doth wound and pierce the sides of their gracious and louing Sauiour and crucifie him afresh they know that hee is wounded payned and grieued with their sinnes and therefore they dare not to commit them but pray against them as Dauid did Psal. 19. Lord keepe meâ—… from presumptuous â—…nnes When any good Christian is tempted vnto any sinne though the sinne iâ—… selfe could neuer hurt him yet hee reasons thus with himselfe What hath not my blessed Sauiour been crucified already for my sinnes haue I not wounded and grieued him enough already but I must wound and grieue and crucifie him yet once againe O no I will not nay I dare not doe it though I might gaine a thousand worlds I will not shew my selfe such a gracelesse and vnthankfull wretch I will rather die I will rather doe or suffer any thing then sinne against him This is the resolution of euery Christian soule and therefore though he cannot fall from grace yet hee dares not yet he will not sin Lastly to omit all other reasons The true regenerate Saints of God though they cannot fall from grace yet they dare not sinne against the Lord. For though the Lord hath promised neuer to disinherite or cast them off neuer to take away his graces or his euerlasting mercies from them yet if they sin against him he hath threatned and hee will performe it that hee will chastise them with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men that he will visite their iniquitie with rods and their sinne with stripes 2 Sam. 7 14 15. and Psal. 89. 30. to 34. God will chastise them as sonnes though he condemnes them not as enemies and rebells this his fatherly correction and chastisement then is sufficient to keepe them from presumption and to restraine them from rushing into sinne though God neuer disinherits or casts them off And so you see what a false what a
THE PERPETVITIE OF A REGENERATE MANS ESTATE Wherein it is manifestly proued by sundry arguments reasons and authorities That such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a liuely faith can neither finally nor totally fall from grace It is also proued that this hath beene the receiued and resolued Doctrine of all the ancient Fathers of all the Protestant Churches and writers beyond the seas and of the Church of England All the principall arguments that are or may be obiected against it either from Scripture or from reason are here likewise cleared and answered By WILLIAM PRYNNE Gent Lincolniensis PSAL. 125. Verse 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer Fulgentius de Praedestinatione ad Monimum Gratia praeuenis impium vt fiat iustus subsequitur iustum ne fiat impius Praueniselisum vt surgat subsequitur eleuatum necadat LONDON Printed by WILLIAM IONES dwelling in Redcrossestreete 1626. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD GEORGE BY THE Diuine Prouidence Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate of England and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell MOST Reuerend Father in God it hath pleased the dispenser and giuer of all honour and preferment out of his especiall prouidence to aduance your Grace next to our gratious and Dread Soueraigne to the highest place of rule and dignitie in this our Church whereby you are farre ingaged to patronize the truth of God and the established and resolued Doctrines of our English Church Which when I had well considered it moued me to consecrate these first fruites of my studies to your Grace which are nothing else but a iust though weake and meane defence of a principell and ground of that religion which hath beene long established and setled in our Church till some factious and nouellizing spirits if not worse were so bold and impudent of late for to disturbe it The men and meanes by which this truth hath beene disturbed and drawne into question are not vnknowne I suppose vnto your Grace and therefore I neede not to informe against them All that I shall say of them is only this that they are now so potent and so politique that if they are not speedily and carefully preuented by your Grace they are like to quell at least to cloud that glorious truth and Gospell which hath shined so bright so plentifully and comfortablie among vs for so long a season with the dismall the dangerous and pernitious mists of Poperie and Arminianisme Their bookes you know which are fraught with dangerous and hurtfull errors and so much the more dangerous because they are sweetned cloathed and guilded ouer with the name and countenance of the Doctrine of the Church of England are printed and reprinted sold openly and dispersed publikely without controll and the pious wholsome and Christian labours of all such as would confute them by reason of those meanes which they haue made can either finde no license for the presse or if they chance to come vnto the presse by stealth or otherwise they are either quelled and smothered in it before they come vnto their birth or else they are called in and quelled before they can bee published and dispersed for to cleare and vindicate the truth so that by the supportation and propagating of the one and the discountenancing and suppressing of the other that truth of God which wee haue hitherto professed is like to be betrayed Shall these factious scismaticall and hereticall spirits bee so industrous to establish and to vent their Errors and to quell the truth and shall not wee be as diligent and couragious to defend it shall they with all their might and maine plant Poperie and Arminianisme nay Pelagianisme Atheismie in our Church and shall wee sit still with foulded hands with silent tongues and stupified hearts and not labour to withstand them Alas where is our loue where is our zeale to God and to his cause where is our ancient courage for the truth that wee are now so cold and frozen that we are now so much ashamed of that glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ which hath flourished so long among vs and hath made vs a mirror and a spectacle of Gods mercies vnto all the world that now wee dare not or at least wee will not defend and take its part that we dare not to contend and struggle for it but that we suffer it so willingly to bee surprised and betrayed as if wee were more willing to be rid of it then any longer to inioy it Certainly this want of courage for and loue vnto the truth as it is a sure syntome that iniquitie doth abound among vs so it may iustly cause the Lord to bring a famine and scarcitie among vs not of bread only which now is very likely to befall vs but euen of the word of God which is farre worse yea it may prouoke him and that deseruedly to giue vs vp to strong delusions to beleeue lies that we all may be damned because wee would not receiue the loue of the truth that so wee might be saued O therefore let mee now beseech your Grace that as in former times you haue so now you would take heart and courage for the truth You haue many incouragements many inforcements and ingagements for to doe it For your incouragement you haue the Lord of hosts and the almightie King of heauen for to take your part you haue the votes and prayers of all true hearted Christians you haue all the aide and assistance that heauen and earth can yeeld vnto you O feare not then the face or frowne of man whose breath is in his nostrells feare not the power or the malice of any that oppose the truth for wherin are they to be accounted of the Lord of hosts is with you the God of Iacob is your refuge man therefore cannot stand before you For inforcements and incouragements to be zealous and couragious for the truth you haue very many You are called to defend and to support the truth the very nature and qualitie of your function and the very dignitie of that place and person which now you doe sustaine doe euen ingage and binde your Grace to be couragious and zealous for it God hath committed his truth Gospell to your trust and hath giuen it you in charge to propagate and defend it God and our Gratious Soueraigne haue committed the care and custodie of this our Church to your charge and they haue giuen you more ability and power and so more cause for to defend the truth and doctrine that is established and setled in it then to other men and therefore they will require and expect from your Grace to whom so much is committed much more then they can or will from any other O therefore as you tender the glory and honour of the God of heauen the defence of Christ and of his cause and Gospell the
not slumber behold hee that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe the Lord himselfe he is the keeper the Lord is his shade vpon the right hand so that the sunne shall not smite him by day nor the moone by night the Lord shall preserue him from all euill he shall preserue his soule the Lord shall preserue his going out his comming in from this time forth and for euermore Psa 121 2 to the end The Lord will create vpon euery place of mount Sion and vpon the assemblies thereof a cloud and a smoake by â—…day and the shining of a flame of fier by night for vpon all the glory shall be a defence and there shall be Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heate and for a place of refuge and for a couert from storme and from raine Is 4 5 6. Marke here and see how vigilant and carefull the Lord is to defend and keepe his Saints from euill not vpon one place only but vpon euery place of mount Sion and vpon all the assemblies thereof and vpon all the glory shall be a defence not onely by day but by day and night to not onely against some sorts of temptations but against all God will be a couering and a refuge against the heate against the storme and against the raine against all temptations and afflictions whatsoeuer God will keepe euery regenerate man as the apple of his owne eye and couer him vnder his wings Deut 32 10 11 he will be with him to the end of the world Math 28 20 he will not faile him nor forsake him Heb 13 6 the Lord is his sheepheard the Lord preserueth his soule and leadeth him on in the paths of Righteousnesse the Lord is on his right hand to preserue and keepe him that hee should not fall that hee should not wholly wander and stray from him Psa 23 1. to 5. Psal 16 8. Psa 37 28 23 24. Psa 125 1 2. Iohn 10 28 29. Iude 24. Hebr 13 6 7 Esay 25 4. cap 26 3. cap 27 3. cap 43 2 therefore its impossible for him either finally or totally to fall from grace All that here can bee replyed is onely this that as long as men are regenerated and ingrafted into Christ that God doth thus defend and keepe them but when they fall away from God then he doth not preserue them To which I answere that I presse this argument onely to this purpose to proue that the Saints of God when they are once regenerated can neuer fall away from grace because God doth presence and gard them thus with his continuall care and presence and not to proue that God doth sence and guard his Saints the vigilent care and custody of God is that which makes the Saints of God to continue Saints so that they can neuer cease to bee Saints any more and therefore the answere is but a meere begging of the question and noe answere at all to the force and drift of this my argument it is onely a deny all of my conclusion not of my premises and so it is no answere but a shift and cauell If you obiect that all these places are meant of a temporall protection from worldly dangers I answere that the most of them if not all of them are principally if not soly intended and meant of a spirituall protection and not of a temporary of a perpetuall protection from spirituall not from temporall dangers as the places themselues doe fully proue how euer let them be intended of a protection from temporall dangers only which cannot be yet this doth necessarily follow that if God hath so great a care to free his Saints from temporary dangers he will certainly haue as great if not a greater care to protect them from spirituall dangers and so the argument standeth still in force The fourth thing in God which may giue vs full assurancâ—… of the truth of this assertion is his immutable and perpetuall loue to all such as are once truly regenerated and made the true members of Iesus Christ from which this fourth argument doth arise Those whom God himselfe doth loue with an immutable constant and perpetuall loue and those who can by no meanes possible bee euer seuered from this loue of God it s altogether impossible for them either finally or totally to fall from grace But all those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith are such as God himselfe doth loue with an immutable constant and perpetuall loue For whom God doth once loue he loues vnto the end Ioh 13 1 he loues all the true members of Iesus Christ in the same manner as he loueth Christ himselfe and with the same loue that he loueth him Iohn 17 23 24 26 now Gods loue to Iesus Christ is immutable constant and perpetuall therefore must his loue to all his members be so to God he loues them with an euerlasting loue Ier 31 3 he is their louing God and Father from euerlasting to euerlasting Psa 90 1 2 his louing kindnesse indureth for euer and euer vpon them Psa 103 17 his righteousnes shall be foreuer euer and his saluation from geâ—…eration to generation the mountaines may remoue and the hills may fall downe but his mercy shall not depart from them neither shall the couenant of his peace be remoued Esay 51 8 and cap 54 13 Gods loue to them is immutable constant and perpetuall Neither can they by any meanes whatsoeuer bee euer vtterly seuered from this loue of God to them in Christ. It is Pauls expresse challeng Rom 8 35 who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or sword nay saith hee verse 37 31 39 iâ—… all these things we are more then conquerers through him that loued vs for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate not me but vs who are once in Christ and made the Sonnes of God by adoption and grace verse 1 9 14 15 17 29 30 from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord so that they may boldly say with Dauid Ps 26 1 the Lord is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraide God hee loues all such who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith with an immutable constant perpetuall loue they themselues can neuer be vtterly seuered from this loue of God wherefore it is impossible for them either totally or finally to fall from grace Our subtle Sophisters haue nothing here to answer but their crambemillies coctum that God doth loue all such as are truly regenerated ingrafted into Christ with an immutable constant and perpetuall loue as long
chuse but heare and grant it to Secondly they alwaies pray for this their perseuerance in the name of Christ and therefore God cannot but heare and grant it Iohn 14 13 14. cap 15. 16. 22. 1 Iohn 3 22. and cap. 5 14 15. Thirdly It is a prayer according to the will of God therefore God cannot but heare and grant it 1 Iohn 5. 23 14. Fourthly it is a prayer proceeding alwaies from faith and from a sincere and vpright heart it is a prayer that is for the most part accompained with feruency and zeale of heart and spirit and therefore God cannot chuse but grant it alwaies Wherefore seeing that all such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted truly into Christ doe alwaies pray to God for finall and constant perseuerance in grace and holinesse and seeing that God doth alwaies heare and grant those prayers of theirs it followes of necessitie euen in this respect that those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ can neuer finally nor totally fall from grace How vnanswerable this argument is let those that reade it judge The tenth and last thing in God which seales the truth of this position to our soules are those couenants and promises which God hath made that he will keepe his Saints from falling and departing from him In which promises of God wee may obserue these foure things for to establish and settle this truth within our hearts First the multitude and infinite number of these promises Secondly that they are all absolute without any annexed condition Thirdly that God is able to performe them to the vtmost And Fourthâ—…y that all those promises are exceeding true and that God is faithfull in performing them From these couenants and promises of God thus considered I frame this argument Those who haue a great multitude of absolute true and faithfull couenants and promises which shall bee performed to the vtmost which doe either in expresse â—…earmes or at least by way of necessarie consequence assure thâ—…m that they can neuer fall quite away from God and grace can neuer totally nor finally fall from grace But all such as are truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith haue a great multitude of absolute true and faithfull couenants and promises which shall bee performed to the vtmost which doe either in expresse tearmes or by way of necessary consequence assure them that they can neuer fall quite away from God or grace therfore they can neuer finally nor totally fall from grace The Maior proposition cannot be denied the Minor onely is for to be proued In the Minor proposition I shall proue these foure things First that all the true regenerate Saints and members of Iesus Christ haue a great multitude of couenants promises made vnto them by God himselfe which doe either in expresse tearmes or by way of necessary consequence assure thâ—…m that they shall neuer fall quite away from God and grace Secondly that all those promises are absolute without any condition at all on our parts Thirdly that God is able to performe them Fourthly that hee out of his truth and faithfulnesse will performe them to the vtmost For the first of these which is the multitude of these promises it appeares most euidently by these many sweete comforâ—…able and heauenly promises and couenants which are euery where scattered throughout the Scriptures which because they are many in number and different in words though one in substance I will for perspecuity and methods sake reduce them vnto generall heads and recite them in their order The first promise wich I meete with in the Scriptures is that which is expresse and full in point that God will praeserue all his Saints and children that he will put his hand vnder them and support them so that they shall neuer fall vtterly from him nor yet be moued or vtterly cast downe from whence I frame this argument Those whom God himselfe hath promised to preserue and keepe from falling from him those whom God hath promised to support and hold vp with his hand continually and those whom he will neuer suffer to bee moued it is impossible that they should euer finally or totally fall from grace But God himselfe hath promised to all such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ that he will preserue and keepe them from falling quite away from him Psal 37 23 24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way though he fall he shall not be vtterly cast downe for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand and vers 28. 31. The Lord for saketh not his Sainâ—…s they are preserued for 〈◊〉 the law of their God is in their hearts none of their stâ—…ps shall slide Psal. 94. 18. when I said my foot slippeth thy mercy O Lord held me vp Psal. 145. 14. 26. The Lord preserueth all them that loue him bee vpholdeth all them that fall and raiseth vp all those that bee bowed downe Prou. 3. 26. the Lord will be thy confidence and shall keepe thy foot from being taken Esai 26 3. thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee Isai. 40. 11. cap. 46. 3. 10. Hearken vnto me O house of Iacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel which are borne by me from the belly which are carried from the wombe and to that old age I am hee and euen to hoarâ—… haires will I â—…rry you I haue maâ—…e and I will beare euen I will carry and will deliuer you I will carry you in my bosome How then is it possible that euer they should fall away from God So Phil. 4. 7. the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding shall keepe our hearts and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ and 2. Thes. 3. 3. the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you and keepe you from euill God is able to keepe his Saints froâ—… falling Ind. 24. and hee hath promised for to doe it Yâ—…a he hath promised to carry them in his armes to beare them vp and support them with his hands that so they might not fall Psal. 37. 24. Psa. 16 8. Isai. 46 3 4. Psa. 145. 14. Caâ—…t 8. 3. Ioh. 10 28 29. and 1 Pet. 1. 5. Hee hath promised that they shall not bee moued from their state of grace Ps. 15. 5. Psa. 16. 8. Ps. 37. 27. Ps. 55. 22. Ps. 89. 37. Psa. 102. 28. Isai. 33. 20. and Prou. 10. 30. they that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euâ—…r Psal. 125. 1. God hath promised to plant all his Saints vpon their land and that they shall no more be pulled vp from off their land which he hath giuen them that hee will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their owne and moue no more 2 Sam. 7. 10. Amos 9. 15. he hath promised to keepe his Saints from falling to carry them in his armes to
same couenant in effect with his children as he doth here I saith God will giue you an heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and yee shall keepe my iudgments and doe them It is God himselfe and not man that doth cause the issue and euent so in the 1 Iohn 3. 9. Whosoeuer is borne of God doth not commit sinne for his seed remaineth in him neither can he â—…inne because he is borne of God it is the new birth and the seede of grace not mens freewill that doth keepe them from committing sinne and cause them for to perseuere in grace they doe not beare the roote but the roote them Rom. 11. 18. they doe not perserue their graces but their graces doe preserue them from falling from the Lord It is the feare of the Lord that keepes men close to God that causeth them to auoid sin and to depart from euill Psal. 4. 4 Prou 3 7. cap. 8 13. cap. 14. 2 16 26 27. cap. 15. 33. cap. 16. 6. cap 19 23. cap. 28 14. Eccle. 8. 12 13. cap. 12. 13. Psa. 19. 9. and diuers other places are expresse in it that it is thefeare of God which doth preserue vs from sin keep vs from departing froÌ„ the Lord and not we our selues therefore this their glosse that the euent and issue of our perseuerance dependeth on the â—…eedeme of our owne wills and not vpon the Lord and those graces which hee giues vnto vs is but false and quite repugnant to the Scriptures it is God onely that doth worke all our workes for vs it is he and not our selues that doth preserue vs from falling and worke this grace of perseuerance in vs. Iâ—…ay 26. 12. and Phil 4. 13. Secondly I reply that God doth giue vs one heart and one spirit that hee doth put this feare into our hearts to that onely end and purpose that wee should not depart from him but that we should feare him for euer if therfore we should cease tofeare the Lord and depart away from him then he should loose his end which cannot be admitted A wise man will not loose his end when as he is able to effect it much lesse will God so then this place and couenant is yet vnanswered nay I may be bold to say that it cannot be answered The third sort of promises which I meete with the Scriptures that make for my conclusion they are these that the righteous shall hold on their way and proceede from grace to grace and from strength to strength without fainting that their graces shall neuer faile nor yet decay but alwaies grâ—…w and increase From which I frame this third argument Those that shall hold on their way and proceed from grace to grace and from stength to strength without fainting those whose graces shall neuer faile but still grow greater and stronger it is impossible for them either finally or totally to fall from grace But God hath promised that all such who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by a true and liuely faith shall hold on their way and proceed from grace to grace and from strength to strength without fainting so is the expresse text Iob. 17. 9. the righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath cleane hands shall be stronger and stronger Isay 40. 29 30 31. he giueth power to the faint and to them that haue no might he increaseth strength Euen the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall vtterly fall but they that waite on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount vp with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint the Lord will strengthen and support them he will helpe them and vphold them with the right hand of his righteousnesse and cause them to proceed from strength to strength till they all appeare before him in Zion Psal. 29. 11. Psal. 31. 24. Psal. 84. 7. Psal. 119. 33. Isay 41. 10. cap. 46. Ezech. 34. 16. Hosea 14. 9. and 2 Cor. 4. 16. Yea God hath promised that their graces shall not faile Luke 22. 31. 32. that they shall not waxe old nor bee corrupted Math. 6. 20. Luke 12. 33. God hath promised that their sun shall no more 〈◊〉 downeâ—… neither shall their moone withdraw it selfe Isai 60. 20. those that do but once drinke of the waters of life and grace shall neuer thirst but those waters shall be in them a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Iohn 4. 14. their graces shall bee still on the growing hand they shall waxe stronger and greater then they were Iob. 17. 9. Prou. 4. 14. Isai. 40. 29 31. cap. 44. 4. Psa. 92. 13 14 15. Col. 1. 10 11. 2 Thes. 1. 3. 2 Iohn 2. 2 Pet. 3. 18. and Reu. 2. 19. Therefore it is impossible for them either finally or totally to fall from grace What can be here replyed I cannot yet coniecture The fourth sort of promises that make for my present purpose are these That God will stablish and confirme his Saints vnto the end that he will keepe them from euill and preserue them blamelesse euen vnto the comming of Christ from which this fourth argument will arise Those whom God himselfe hath promised for to establish and confirme vnto the end those whom he hath promised to keepe from euill and to preserue blamelesse euen to the comming of Iesus Christ it can not be that they should euer fall finally or totally from grace But God hath promised to all such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ that hee will establish and confirme them vnto the end Psa 89 35 37. 1 Cor 1 8. Rom 16. 25. Ephes 3 18 Col 1 11. cap 2 5 6 7. 1 Thes 3 13. 2 Thes 2 17. cap 3 3. Ier 32 41. and Amos 9 15. which are expresse in point that he will keepe them from euill and preserue their soules and bodies holy and blamelesse euen to the comming of Iesus Christ. 2 Thes 3 3 the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you and keepe you from euill 2 Tim 4 18 the Lord shall deliuer me from euery euill worke and preserne me to his heauenly kingdome 1 Cor 1 8. who shall confirme you to the end that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ and 〈◊〉 Thes 5 23 24. the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly I pray God your whole spirit and soule and body may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ faithfull is hee that calleth you who also will doe it God will establish and confirme vnto the end all such as are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 will 〈◊〉 them from 〈◊〉 keep them blamelesse and hâ—…ly vnto the 〈◊〉 of our Lord Iesus Christ as these forecited Scriptures fully proue therfore it cannot be that they should euer fall finally or
shall neuer be remoued if he be not remoued and hee shall stand fast for euer if he stand fast for euer For the promise doth preserue him in his righteousnesse and in his estate of grace the promise doth support him and not hee the promise he continues righteous and trusteth still in God because that God hath promised that he shall doe so he shall stand fast for euer and neuer be remoued not because hee doth doe so but because God hath promised that hee shall do so so that their clause supposition if he continue or as long as he continues righteous trusting in God is but a meere tautologie for if a man continue righteous it is certaine that he shal neuer be remoued or fall froÌ„ grace though this promise of God had neuer beene Thirdly I would demand this question of them what profit fruite or benefit any Christian could reape from this promise of God if this their exposition glosse vpon it were true For if this promise as they pretend doth not establish settle Christians in the state of grace and giue them full comfortable assurance that when they are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ by faith that they shall continue and perseuere for euer and neuer fall from grace what benefit or comfort haue they from it If you say that it assures them that if they continue righteous and trust still in God that then they shall neuer be remoued but shall stand fast in grace for euer then it leaues them but where they were before for if they should continue and perseuere in grace vnto the end its certaine that they should neuer be remoued though God had made no such promise at all vnto them and so this answere of theirs doth quite frustrate and make void the promises of God If they say that this promise declares Gods constancy to the righteous if they are constant vnto him I answere that there is no such thing as this in it for God doth not promise here what he will be vnto his Saints but he oâ—…ely promiseth what they shall be he doth not promise that he will not remoue from them but that they shall neuer be remoued and stand fast for euer this promise hath onely reference to the stability of the Saints it onely declares what their estate shall bee 〈◊〉 not what God will bee to them and therefore this their answere and exposition doth but delude frustrate these promises of God Fourthly I answere that this clause and glosse of theirs doth quite peruert this promise of God and all the other promises For it takes away all from God and puts all on man whereas this and all the other promises take all from man and puts all on God that so he may haue the praise and glory of all The Scriptures they informe vs that a regenerate mans estate is permanent sure and perpetuall because that God hath promised that it shall be so because that God hath promised that the righteous man shall neuer be remoued but shall stand fast for euer they by this euasion if he continue righteous take all from God and lay all on man that so man may glory in himselfe and not in God So that this euasion and shift of theirs it peruerts the promises of God it robs God of the glory and man of the fruite and comfort of them and so cannot be admitted Fifthly I answere That this promise which I haue mentioned is partly a promise to assure the Saints of God of the perpetuity of their estate because that God will establish them for euer and neuer suffer them to be remoued and partly a declaration or discription of the firmenesse stability and perpetuity of a regenerate mans estate and if it bee a declaration and a discription of the stability and firmnesse of a regenerate mans estate then it cannot admit of any inclusiue and implied condition For a declaration manifestation or description admits of no suppositions or inclusiue conditions but is a thing that is plaine absolute and positiue in it selfe declaring things as they are in themselues without any ambiguities at all so that it admits of no suppositions or conditions at all Now that this place of Psal 125 1 should bee a declaration and a discription of the firmnesse and stability of a Christian mans estate it appeares most euidently by the words themselues and by that illustration or similitude that is included in theÌ„ The words are these They that trust in the Lord shall bee as mount Zion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euerâ—… Here the state of a regenerate man is illustrated and set forth by a comparison it is as stable and firme as mount Zion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer Which proues that this is not onely a promise of God but likewise a discription and declaration of the sure stedfast estare of faithfull Christians and being so their imaginary and inclusiue condition if hee continue to trust in God it can neuer stand together with it Sixthly I answere that this their glosse if they continue righteous and trust still in God can neuer be admitted for the words are not these that trust in the Lord are not for the present onely like to mount Zion which cannot be remoued but they shall be so they are so for the present and they shall be so for euer which hath reference to all future times they doe not one onely stand fast for the present but they shall stand fast for euer if therefore they do not onely stand fast for the present but shall doe so for euer to where then is their supposition if they doe continue when as the Scripture saith expressly that they shall continue and stand fast for euer it is but meerely friuilous and repugnant Seuenthly I answere that the only scope and drist of the holy Ghost in this promise and place is to proue that a truly faithfull and regenerate man can neuer fall away from his estate of grace and therefore their supposition if he continue faithfull is but friuilous and repugnant to the place Now that this is the scope and meaning of the place I proue it by these reasons First because the words themselues do best of all beare this sense and meanings and cannot well admit of any other the words are plaine and categoricall without any ambiguities or suppositions at all they that trust in the Lord shall bee as mount Zion which cannot bee remoued but standeth fast for euer therefore this exposition and application of these words to this end to proue the stability of a Christian and regenerate mans estate being most consonant and agreeable to the sense and meaning of the words must neâ—…ds be the scope and end of them Secondly the very emphases the very force and vigor of these words doe proue it For the text doth not say that they that trust in the Lord shall be as a tent that may be
remoued as an house 〈◊〉 vpon the sand that may be ouerturned and cast downe or as a tree without a roote that may be blowne downe with euery winde No nor yet as a man hanging by a bough that may fall if he will himselfe but like to mount Zion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer Marke the comparison and obserue it well A man that trusteth in the Lord is like to mounâ—… Zion but in what is he like to mount Zion why in this mount Zion it cannot bee remoued it cannot remoue it selfe though it would it cannot bee remoued by others it is so fixed and established that it shall stand fast for euer mauger it selfe and others So hee that trusteth in God is so setled and established in grace that hee cannot bee remoued neither by the liberty and freedome of his owne will nor yet by the policy and force of all outward enemies and temptatioâ—…s whatsoeuer So that this their glosse and exposition that they cannot be remoâ—…ed vnlesse they will themselues doth quite thwart the comparison for they are compared to mount Zion which cannot remoue it selfe nor yet be remoued by others and therefore neither can they themselues remoue themselues neither can others doe it this word cannot is so emphaticall that it takes away all possibility both in themselues and others for to doe it Wherefore the very emphases and vigor of the words do proue this to be the scope and meaning of the place Thirdly the insuing verses proue this to be the scope and meaning of the place or when the Psalmist in the first verse had laid downe this as a firme and positiue ground They that trust in the Lord shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zion which cannot bee remoued but standeth fast for euer hee shewes the reasons of it in the 2 and 3 verses which are twoFirst because God is alwaies present with them and doth compasse them about on euery side As the mountaines are 〈◊〉 about Terusalem so the Lord is round about his people 〈◊〉 from hence forth and for euer Secondly Because God doth speedily deliuer them from those outward afflictions which might shake and cast them downe For the rod of the wicked shall not rest vpon the lot of the righteous least the righteous 〈◊〉 forth their hands vnto iniquity Then in the fifth verse he confirmes it by an anithesis betweene the righteous and the wicked True it is saith he there are many that made an outward shew of trusting in God but yet their hearts were not vpright such as these they turne aside vnto their crooked wayes and the Lord shall leade them forth with the workers of iniquity that is he will seuere them from his owne flock and discouer them to be goates and hypocrites But peace shall be vpon Israel the true Israel of God they shall haue alwaies peace with God they shall not be moued but like mount Zion shall stand fast for euer So that the whole scope and drift of this Psalme is but to proue the perpetuity and stability of a regenerate and faithfull mans estate and therefore cursed is this glosse of theirs which would thus corrupt this text and all those other promises of God which I haue cited whose onely scope and end is nothing else but to assure the Saints of God that they shall alwaies perseuere and neuer fall from grace Eightly I answere that this their shift and starting hole If they continâ—…e righteous or as long as they continue righteous and trust in God it it be well examined is nothing else but a meere petitio principâ—… a begging of the question controuerted and a denying of the conclusion proued For the question being no more but this Whether â—…hose who are once truly regenerated and ingrafied into Christ may fâ—…ll from grace I produce this argument to proue that they cannot fall from grace God hath promised that their graces shall neuer faile that the holy Ghost shall be with them and dwell in them for 〈◊〉 he hath promised them for to support and keep them from falling and that they shall be as mount Zion which cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer and therefore they cannot fall away from grace Well what now is the answerâ—… that they giue Their graces shall not faile the holy Ghost shall dwell in them for euer God will keepe them from falling and they shall not be remoued if they continue faithfull or as long as they continue faithfull or vnlesse they will themselues What now I pray are these answeres of theirs but a meere begging of the question which is dispuputed and a plaine and manifest denying of the conclusion proued what else in substance is it but onely this that those who are once truly regenerated and ingrafted into Christ may fall away from grace and so a begging of the question and a deniall of the conclusion Which how absurd and ridiculous a thing it is and how vn befeeming those that make a shew of wit and learning euery freshman and puny Sophister in our Vniuersities can informe you Ninthly This answere of theirs if they continue righteous and vnlesse they will themselues can neuer be admitted as sons and consonant to the Scriptures because it giues man a free will either to take receiue grace or to refuse and cast it off at his will and pleasure it sets the clay and the weake and impotent creature who hath no might no strength no will and power of his owne but what he hath from God aboue the Potter and almighty Creator For if regenerate men may fall from grace out of the liberty of their owne wills when as God himselfe hath vndertaken promised to preserue and keepe them from falling to confirme them to the end and to perserue them blamelesse vnto the day of Iesus Christ as that answere doth suppose they may what were this but to exempt man from Gods iurisdiction and alleagance and to make him an absolute creature in himselfe without any dependancy at all on God Yea this were nothing else but to take the hearts and wills of all men out of the hands of God to giue him no soueragntie and power ouer them which is expressy contrary to the Scriptures which certifie vs that the hearts of Kings and therefore of all men else are in the hand of the Lord and that as the riuers of water he turneth them whether soeuer he will that the liues and wayes of all men are in his hands that it is not in mens owne wills or power for to direct their stepâ—… Dan 5 23. Jer 10 23. 〈◊〉 16 13 With God onely is wisdome and strength he hath councell and vnderstanding Behold 〈◊〉 breaketh downe and it cannot be built againe hee shutteth vp a man and there can bee no opening With him is strength and wisdome the deceiuer and the deceiued are his He leadeth councellers away spoiled and maketh the Iudges fooles He looseth the bond of Kings and