The Perpetuity of a Regenerate Mans Estate, Table

The Perpetuity of a Regenerate Mans Estate · Table

A briefe Epitome and Compendium, Of the whole worke, which may serue for a Table to it.

THis Whole Worke may bee deuided into foure generall parts: …nto the state of the question controuerted: Into the proofes of the conclusion which is maintained: Into the answer and defeate of the Arguments obiected: and into the vses which arise from the conclusion and assertion here defended.

1. The state of the question you shall finde recorded, pag. 2. to pag. 5.

2. The proofes and Arguments in defence of the conclusion here maintained, are reduced vntounto 8. generall heads:

First, into Arguments drawne from God himselfe: Which are 110. in number: The first of them is taken from Gods eternall purpose and Election which you shall finde, pag. 5. The second from his almightie power and strength, pag. 8. The third, from his perpetuall presence With, and his continuall vigilancie ouer his Saints, pag. 10. The fourth, from his perpetuall and constant louelove vntounto them, p. 13. The fift from his gracious merciemercy and goodnesse to them, p 22. The sixt, from his infinite Iustice, p. 24. The seuenth from his honour, p. 26. The eight from his infinite wisdome, p. 29. The ninth, from his readinesse to heare the prayers of his Saints, p. 31. And the tenth, from his gracious Couenants and promises, to support and keepe his Saints from falling, p. 33. Now in these Promises of God there are foure things considered: First, the great multitude & number of them which are reduced vntounto 10. heads: from pag. 33. to 47. Secondly, the absolutenesse and freenesse of them, they being all absolute and positiue, without any condition at all annexed to them: in which all the cauells to the contrary, are answered and cleered, from pag. 48. to 72. Thirdly, … abilitie and power of God for to performe them, pag. 72 Fourthly, the truth of all these promises, and Gods truth and faithfulnesse in performing them. p. 72.

Secondly, into Arguments, drawne from Iesus C…ist: which 2are in number 7. The first is drawne from the efficacie and merits of his death and passion, pag. 74. The second, from his perpetuall intercession for his Saints, pag. 76. The third, from his might and power, pag. 78. The fourth, from … compassionate and tender nature, p. 79. The fift, from his … vigilancie, and care ouer his Saints and sheepe, p. 79. The sixt from his perpetuall residencie and dwelling in their hearts, p. 81. And the seuenth, from his Sacraments, p. 81.

Thirdly, into Arguments drawne from the holy Ghost; being 37. in number. The first is taken from his residencie and dwelling in the Saints, p. 82. The second from that seale and stampe which he sets vponupon them. p. 85. The third, from that seed and annointing which he puts into them, p. 86. The fourth, from that earnest which he giues them, p. 90. The fift, from the witnesse of the Spirit to them, and from the ordinarie and constant working of the Spirit in their hearts, p. 92. The sixt, from his continuall guidance and direction of them, p. 94. The seuenth, from his intercession for them, and his assistance of them, pag. 95.

Fourthly, into an Argument drawne from the perpetuall presence 4of the Angells with the Saints, and their continuall watchfulnesse and protection ouer them, pag. 96.

Fiftly, into arguments drawne from the present estate and condition 5of the Saints of God, and from those many priuiledges which they doe inioy. pag. 96. which are 15. in number. First, they are partakers of the diuine nature and of the immortall seed, p. 96 97. Secondly, they are borne of God, and they are the sons of God, p. 97. Thirdly, they are built vponupon a rocke, and vponupon Christ the sure corner stone, p. 98. Fourthly, they hauehave a new heart, and a new spirit, and the law of God ingrauen in them, p. 98. Fiftly, they hauehave ouer come the world: they are men of another world: they are translated from death to life, and shall not come into condemnation, pa 99. Sixtly, they are partakers of the first resurrection, and the second death shall hauehave no power ouer them, pa. 99. Seuenthly, they are alwayes greene and flourishing like trees planted by the riuers side. pa. 100. Eigthly, they are truly happy: they are truly and fully saued, and they hauehave eternall life begun within them. p. 101. Ninthly, they are called, iustified, and sanctified: and they are made Kings and Priests for ouer vntounto God the Father, pag. 102. Tenthly, their names are written in heauen, and in the Booke of Life, pag. 103. Eleuenthly, they cannot depart from God, and it is impossible for any to seduce them. pag, 107. Twelfthly, they cannot choose but serue and please the Lord: and they can neuer sinne vntounto death, pag. 109. Thirteenthly, they are married vntounto God for euer, and they cannot be separated from his louelove, pag. 111. Foureteenthly, they are the inheritance of the Lord: they are as pillars in the house of God, and they are so established, settled, and grounded in grace, that they cannot be cast downe, pag. 111. Lastly, they hauehave all the inward and outward helpes and meanes that may bee to preserue them in grace, pag. 112.

Sixthly, into an Argument drawne from Grace it selfe, which 6is of a perpetuall, immortall, incorruptible, and euer-growing nature, pag. 113. to 122. where all the obiections against the perpetuitie, and immortality of grace are answered.

Seuenthly, i…o Arguments drawne from the dangerous consequencies 7which would arise from the contrary position: which are branched into 4. generall heads.

First, into the d…ngerous consequencies in respect of the whole 1Trinity, and Deity: which are 13. First, it would derogate from the honour of the Trinitie, pag. 122. Secondly, it would derogate much from the truth, the promises and word of God, pag. 123. Thirdly, it would derogate much from the infinite goodnesse, mercy, and louelove of God, pag. 124. Fourthly, it would derogate much from the omnipotencie and power of the Trinity, and from the efficacie of the meanes of grace, pag. 125. Fiftly, it would derogate much from the infinite iustice and wisdome of God, pag. 126. Sixtly, it would much ecclipse the efficacie and vertue of Christs passion and intercession, pag. 127. Seuenthly, it would make the sweet and comfortable working of Gods Spirit in the hearts of the Saints to be but a meere imposture, pag. 127. Eigthly, it would rob the Lord of the heart, the affection and the louelove of all his Saints, pag. 128. Ninthly, it would rob the Lord of all his praise and glory, pag. 129. Tenthly, it would make men negligent in Gods seruice, pag. 130. Eleuenthly, it would rob God of the prayers of his Saints, and make the Lords prayer to be but vaine and idle, pag. 131. Twelfthly, it would take away all absolute and irrespectiue predestination, pag. 132. Lastly, it would make men and not God, the authors of their owne saluation, pag. 133.

Secondly, into the dangerous consequencies, in regard of the 2Saints themselues; which are 6. First, it would cause them to call Gods truth and promises into question, pag. 134. Secondly, it would depriue them of all true happinesse in this life, and make them miserable men, pag. 134. Thirdly, it would depriue them of all … ioy and comfort, pag, 135. Fourthly, It would driue them to dispaire, pag. 136. Fifthly, it would make no difference at all betweene the godly and the wicked in this present life, p. 141. Lastly, it would breed a doubt, whether God had alwayes a true Church on earth, or whether there are any saued, pag. 142.

Thirdly, into dangerous consequencies in respect of grace it selfe: 3Which are 6. First, it would cause men to vilifie and vnderunder-value grace, p. 142. Secondly, it would destroy the very nature and essence of true grace, pag. 143. Thiraly, it would vtterly abolish and take away all true and sauing faith, pa. 144. Fourthly, it would take away all certainty and assurance of saluation, pa. 145. Fifthly, it would take away and abolish the graces of louelove to God, and of ioy in the holy Ghost, p. 146. Lastly, it would make grace to bee no worke and fruite of the holy Ghost, but a meere mor all perswasion; and it would quite destroy the …ery kingdome of Grace which is in men, pag. 147.

Fourthly, into the dangerous consequents in respect of the whole 4Church of God, which are 2. First it would traduce, condemne, and sleight their doctrine and opinions, pag. 147. Secondly, it would reuiue those herefies which they had formerly condemned, pag. 147. And into the dangerous consequences in respect of the Church of England: Which are 4. First, it will pull vp one maiue point and principle of that doctrine and religion which hath beene planted and established in our Church, p. 148. Secondly, it will giuegive our aduersaries occasion for to triumph ouer vsus, Ib. Thirdly, it will be a meanes to bring in Poperie & Arminian…sme into our Church, ibid. Fourthly, it will breed diuisions and Combustions in our Church, page 249.

Eighthly, into humane authorities: which are of three sorts: 8Fathers and Councells: Protestant Churches and writers in sorraine parts: and the Church of England, p. 151.

First, for Fathers and Councells, we hauehave for vsus: Dionysius 1Areopagi…a, pa. 152. Iustin Martyr, p. 153. Irenaeus, pa. 154. Clemens Alexandrinus, p. 155. Tertullian, pa. 159. Origen, p. 159. Cyprian, p. 162. Arnobius, p. 163. Hilarie, p. 163. Basil the Great, p. 165. Ambrose, p. 167. Epiphanius, pag. 169. C…rysostome, p. 169. Augustine, p. 171. Cyril, pa. 173. Prosper, p. 174. Chrysologus, p. 175. Fulgentius, p. 176. Gregorie the Great, p. 178. Venerable Bede, p. 179. Anselme, pag. 181. Bernard, p. 185. Bradwardyn, p. 188. The Councell of Miliuitan, p. 189. The Generall Councell of Africke, and the Councell of Arausica or Orange, p. 189. An answer to the Fathers that are obiected, p. 193. 194.

For Protestant Churches beyond the Seas: we hauehave first their 2Authors, whose names and workes are cited, pag. 196. to 202. Secondly, their seuerall Confessions, Articles, Resolutions, and Synods w…ich are cited, p. 202. to 215.

Thirdly, for the Church of England, pag. 215. wee hauehave first 3her learned Authors and Writers, pa. 216. to 226. Secondly, her Articles, p. 226 to 235. where the obiection from the 16. Article is answered, and the Article it selfe is expounded. Thirdly, her Homilies and Common prayer B…ke, which make rather for vsus than against vsus, p. 235. to 245. where the obiections from the Homilies are answered. Fourthly, an Argument to proue this present position here defended, to be the receiued and resolued Doctrine of the Church of England, p. 245. In this eighth part all the cauells of those who would hauehave the Error of the totall and finall Apostacie of the Saints to be the Tenet of all Antiquitie, of all the German Protestants, and of the Church of England, are answered in their places. And this is the whole summe and substance of the second generall part of this worke.

The third generall part of this worke which begins at pag. 253. containes the arguments which are made against this assertion here defended, with the seuerall answers that are giuen to them; where first you hauehave two obseruations, commended to your consideration, which serue to answer, or at least to weaken, all future arguments that are obiected: which you shall finde. pag. 253. 255. Secondly, you hauehave the seuerall arguments which are obiected, and the answers to them in their order. The first argument is taken from Ezech. 18. 24. and 33. 12. 13. 18. it begins pag. 257. The second is from 1 Cor. 9. 27. pag. 264. The third from Heb. 6, 4, 5, 6. cap. 10. 26. to 30. and the 2 Pet. 2. 21. pag. 287. The fourth from Math. 12. 43, 44, 45. Luke 11. 24, 25. pag. 273. The fifth from Iohn 152. to 11. pag. 276. The sixth Phil. 2 12. pag 211. The seuenth from 2 Pet. 3. 17. pag. 283. 284. The eighth from 1 Cor. 10. 12. Heb. 3. 12. cap. 4. 1, 11. and Rom. 11. 8. pag. 285. The ninth from 1 Cor. 16. 13. Phil. 41. Reu. 2. 25, 26. pag. 288. The tenth from Iohn 8. 31. 1 Cor. 15. 2. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Gal. 69. Col. 1. 21. 22, 23. 1 Thes. 3. 8. 1 Tim 2. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 21. Heb. 3. 6. & 2 Pet. 1. 10. p. 290. The eleuenth from Heb. 10. 35. 38. pag. 296. The twelfth from Dan. 11. 35. pag. 296. The thirteenth from Prou. 24. 16. pag. 297. The fourteenth from 1 Cor. 8. 11. pag. 298. The fifteenth from 1 Tim. 5. 11. 12. pag. 300. The sixteenth from 2 Cor. 6. 1. and 1 Cor. 15. 2. pag. 301. The seuenteenth from Psal 27. 9, 11. Psal. 51. 11. Psal. 71. 9. pag. 302. The eighteenth from Gal 5. 4. pag. 304. The ninteenth from Prou: 30. 8. 9. pag. 305. The twentieth from 1 Thes. 5. 19. pag. 306. The twenty one from 2 Ioh… 8. pag. 307. The twenty two from Psal. 119. 176. pag. 309. The twenty three from 1 Cor. 6. 15, 16. pag. 310. The twenty foure, That a regenerate man may fall into a grosse knowne and scandalous sinne, and lye in it for a time, or dye in it without repentance; therefore he may fall from grace. pag. 312. The twenty fiue: That a regenerate man may be excommunicated, and therefore he may fall from grace. pag. 342. The twenty sixe: That infants which are regenerated in their baptisme may fall from grace; and therefore true regenerate men. pag. 343. where that place of Gal. 3. 27, and the words obiected out of the Common prayer booke are answered, and the vse, the efficacy and the end of baptisme, are declared. The twenty seuenth argument is from examples. pag. 364. which are of three sorts. The first, of Adam and the Angells. pag. 365. The second, from whole Churches. pag. 368. as the Church of the Iewes. pag. 369. The Church of the Galathians. pag. 370. The Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira and Pergamus. pag. 372. The third, from particular Saints, as the second and third ground. pag. 383: those in Iohn 2. 23, 24. pag. 375. The Disciples who went backe from Christ: Iohn 6. 66. pag. 377. Dauid: pag. 378. Peter: pag. 385. Iudas. pag. 391. Solomon. pag. 393. Saul. A…a. Ioash. Simon Magus. the Elders of the Church of Ephesus. Demas. Hymenens. Alexander. those of Math: 24. 24. and the rest of whom Paul, Peter, and Iude hauehave prophecied, that they should depart from the faith. pag. 393. 394. The twenty eighth and last argument, is from the inc…cies of this our assertion. pag. 394. which are three. First, it would make men presumptions, & bold to sin. pa. 395. Secondly, it would make men negligent and sloathfull in Gods seruice. pag. 399. Thirdly, it would make men proud & arrogant. pag. 403. And this is the substance of this third generall part.

The fourth & last part of this worke consists of two profitable vses, 4drawne from this assertion. pag. 406. The first is a vse of exhortation, to incite & stirre vp all men to seeke & prise the state of grace, which is so permanent. pag. 406. The second, a vse of exhortation to the true Saints of God, to comfort and reioyce their soules in the consideration of the perpetuity of their state of grace. pag. 408. And thus you hauehave the compendium, summe & substance of this Treatise.