Catholic Theology Plain Pure Peaceable, Section 24
SECT. XXIV. The ſum and end of this Diſcourſe of certain Perſeverance.
339. The end and ſum of all that I have ſaid of Perſeverance is but this, that the controverſie is neither, 1. Of ſuch weight; nor, 2. Of ſuch facility and certainty, as that it ſhould be made neceſſary to our charitable converſe or Church Communion to hold either this or that: But we ſhould number it with the dogmata not to be impoſed on others, nor fit to make any breach in the love and concord of Chriſtians; and for my part, I profeſs that I take him for the worſer Chriſtian caeteris paribus, whom I hear with diſaffection blotting the names of others with notes of unſoundneſs and culpability, for diſſenting in this point on one ſide or other, either as holding or as denying the certain Perſeverance of all the juſtified, than thoſe that differ from me in the point it ſelf, without any proud ſupercilious confidence. And that it is to be numbred with Tolerable Opinions, I have proved by theſe Arguments, in ſum, 1. That which is ſo difficult that very few of the Learned and Godly Teachers of the Church in all ages could diſcern a certainty of it, cannot be a point ſo great or clear, as to be made neceſſary for all Chriſtians or all Paſtors of the Church to agree in: But ſuch is this: For my part I profeſs that though my judgment incline more one way than the other, it is with no certainty that I am in the right, and I ſee ſo great difficulties after my hardeſt ſtudies and ſearch, that my inclination is not without much doubtfulneſs: And humility and modeſty forbid me, to profeſs a certainty or too much confidence for a Doctrine, which I openly ſay, I cannot prove or find that any one Chriſtian held of about 1000 years after the Apoſtles dayes, *Unleſs Jovinian may be excepted, which is doubtful.I have not read all Books, and therefore there may have been ſome ſuch that I know not of: But I know of none, that I remember for a far longer time. I know the Learned Biſhop Robert Abbot and others cite Augustine as on that ſide; But it's paſt all controverſie, that it is not all the juſtified but only all the elect whoſe Perſeverance he aſſerted. And I am not he that would be ſeparated from the Communion of all the ancient Churches, and Doctors, and all the Greeks and Lutherans of theſe times. Methinks we ſhould learn of the Papiſts at leaſt to be moderate in our cenſures, when they who are ſo much for Impoſitions, do yet bear in part of this, with one another, in the controverſies between the Dominicans and Jeſuites.
340. 2. My other reaſon is, as to the comfort of men's Souls, how little is the difference between theſe two concluſions. [I am uncertain that every weak Chriſtian ſhall perſevere.] And [I am uncertain whether I my ſelf ſhall perſevere.] The firſt is the Arminians, and the ſecond is all or almoſt all weak Chriſtians concluſion in the world: For I have fully proved elſewhere, 1. That the ſinfulleſt and worſt ſort of true Chriſtians have not a certainty of their own Sincerity and Juſtification, nor are they fit for it: Nay, that it is only ſtrong, active Chriſtians who attain to ſuch Aſſurance: 2. And that there are but few ſtrong active Chriſtians comparatively in the world. 3. Yea, but few that will ſay [I am certain that I am ſincere and juſtified] (excepting thoſe that ſpeak it opinionatively or preſumptuouſly, experience ſatiſfieth us. 4. And that one that is uncertain that he is justified at all, …annot be certain that he ſhall perſevere in Juſtification, I need not …rove. So that by our own common Doctrine and Experience, it is …ew true Chriſtians that are certain of their own Perſeverance and Sal…ation: And what doth this comfort them more than their Doctrine, who ſay that it is not certain in it ſelf, that any beſides the ſtrong confirmed Chriſtians, and the Elect ſhall perſevere? and that we can …e certain of the Election of none but the confirmed and the per…evering.
341. I confeſs it is a great comfort to doubting fearful Souls, if they …an ſoundly thus argue, in their doubtful ſtate, [I am ſure I had true Grace once, and I am ſure none fall quite away that have it: Therefore I am ſure I have it ſtill.] But, 1. Even this could be the comfort of none …ut thoſe few that were once of the ſtronger ſort of Chriſtians: For no other can ſay [I am ſure that I had true Grace once]. 2. And that preſent ſenſe of ſin which maketh them doubt of their preſent ſincerity doth …ſually make them as much doubt of their paſt ſincerity. 3. And though ſuch a comfort I think be due to a cauſeleſs and melancholy doubter, (who feareth unjuſtly) which is fetcht from former perceived ſincerity, yet it is not fit for all Chriſtians that are faln into ſuch doubts. For if a man be faln as ſinful, as will ſtand with any ſincerity, (even …n groſs Sin) it is not ſafe for that man to argue, [I am ſure that I once …as ſincere in my obedience; therefore I am ſure it is ſo ſtill] for the reaſons which I gave before But by Repentance he muſt make ſure that he is truly obedient, that he may be ſure he was ſo.
342. For my part I will labour as earneſtly as I can to make ſure both that I am ſincere and juſtified and ſhall perſevere, and I will be none of thoſe that ſhall command, commend, or encourage cauſeleſs troubleſome fears: But preventing fear is the means of perſeverance: Heb. 4. 1. Having a promiſe left us of entering into his reſt, let u… fear leſt any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it, Joh. 14. 4, &c. Abide in me and I in you.—6. If a man abide not in me, he is caſt forth as a branch and is withered, and men gather them and caſt them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye ſhall ask what ye will—As the Father hath loved me, ſo have I loved you: Continue ye in my love. If ye keep my Commandments ye ſhall abide in my love—Joh. 8. 31. If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Diſciples indeed. So Col. 1. 23. & paſſim. And I will never reproach, or cenſure, or diſaffect ſuch men as holy Bernard (though I am not of his opinion) who ſaid Serm. 1. de Septuageſ. [Quis poteſt dicere Ego de electis ſum? Ego de praedeſtinatis ſum ad vitam aeternam? Ego de numero ſum filiorum Dei? Quis haec inquam dicere poteſt, reclamante nimirum, Neſcit homo ſi amore dignus ſit an odio? Certitudinem igitur non habemus: Sed ſpes fiducia conſolatur nos, &c.