One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 66
SERMON LXVI. Of the Perſeverance of the Saints.
JOH. 17.12.
I have kept them, and none of them is periſhed, but the Sonne of Perdition.
THe Doctrine obſerved was, That none of thoſe who are given by God to Chriſt ſhall periſh.
To ſtate and clear which Truth we have given in ſome particulars; and ſome more are now to be added, which if well digeſted will be ſo many Anſwers to thoſe many Objections which are made againſt this Truth.
And Firſt Conſider, That though we hold the Godly man will perſevere to the End, yet this is not to be attributed to his own power and strength, but ſolely to Gods Help; This Truth was maintained of old by Auſtin againſt the Pelagians, who thought a man by his own power might overcome Temptations, and perſiſt conſtantly in what is good: In his Book De bono perſeverantiae and lib. de correptione & gratiâ, He makes it his great work to overthrow that proud and preſumptuous doctrine, and among other Arguments this is often urged, That a man prayeth unto God for perſeverance, which would be abſurd if it were in mans own power to give it, and he alſo preſſeth another Argument of two having equal grace (whether he mean true real ſanctifying grace, is controverted by the Learned; Voſſius ſaith he doth, but others think not, as Rivet: He propounds this Queſtion, Why one doth perſevere and not the other, as we may inſtance, why Peter and not Iudas, who though he had not Sanctifying Grace yet had many good Gifts of Gods Spirit, and none can give a dfference of this but by running to Gods grace confirming one and not the other, So then as we ſee it was with the people of Iſrael in the Wilderneſſe, travelling to Canaan, their ſhoes and garments did not wax old, or their bread moldy, God miraculouſly preſerving of it; Thus in our way to Heaven God preſerveth the Godly ſo that their Graces which otherwiſe would quickly periſh and decay, are yet kept lively and vigorous by him; As in Phyſick there are Medicines to recover out of Diſeaſes, and then to preſerve and keep health; So there is the grace of God, out of ſinne, and Grace to preſerve us being thus recovered; Hence Auſtin well obſerveth that expreſſion, Rom 11. I have left to my ſelf ſeven thouſand that have not bowed their knees to Baal; It was God that had ſaved them from Idolatry, he kept them from the common corrupt worſhip, not they themſelves, and Rom. 14. the Apoſtle ſpeaking of a weak Chriſtian ſaith, he ſhall be holden up, for God is able to make him ſtand, God is able not he himſelf; This Truth that profound Doctor Bradwardine doth ſolidly maintain againſt Pelagians, lib. 2. De Cauſâ Dei, cap. 8, 9, 10. where he reproveth Lumbard the Maſter of Sentences for attributing perſeverance to a mans Free-will, deſiring his Zeal may be excuſed, becauſe it is for Gods Truth; In that Diſcourſe he well ſheweth how that when God hath infuſed Grace into a mans heart, it is not as when the Husbandman hath prepared and fitted the ground, and hath caſt his Seed into it, then he leaveth it that of its one ſelf it may fructifie and bring forth Corn; But as the Air when it is enlightened by the Sun-beams needeth the continuall preſence of them, ſo that if but for an hour light be withdrawn it is preſently dark; Thus if God ſhould from the moſt holy men withdraw his gracious help but for a moment, they would be immediatly plunged into all evil, for if the Heavens that are ſo glorious Creatures, and for their firm ſetling called the Firmament, doe yet wholly ſtand by the Omnipotent power and Word of God, how much rather muſt the eminent and dear Children of God be preſerved in their ſupernaturall Life by the ſame Grace and divine might; Hence 1 Chron. ult. David praieth, that what good there was for the preſent in the peoples hearts, God would alwaies keep it in them; Thus perſeverance then is not the fruit of our own ſtrength, nor is it beſtowed for any antecedent merits of our own, but meerly from the grace and favour of God, but of this more, v. 15.
2. We are alwaies to diſtinguiſh between thoſe that are in profeſſion and appearance Godly, and ſuch who are indeed ſo: No doubt but the Scripture giveth ſundry and plain Inſtances of the Apoſtacy and Fall of many who for a while were eminent and admirable in their profeſſion of Religion, but yet for all this they were not ſuch as were indeed rooted and grounded in Chriſt; and this propoſition will ſerve to anſwer many places that are brought to prove the periſhing condition ſometimes of thoſe that had true grace, as Heb. 6.4, 5. where ſome are ſaid to be enlightened, and to have taſted the good Word of God, and it's ſuppoſed that they may fall away and never be reſtored again, but howſoever the Arminians think there is an enumeration of the beſt things the godly may have, and that none can go beyond thoſe qualifications, yet the Apoſtle plainly ſpeaketh the contrary, for when he had reckoned up theſe particulars, yet he addeth, I hope better things, and things that accompany or hold ſalvation; So then there were better things then theſe, and there are things that hold Salvation, that cannot be ſeparated from them, but ſuch were not theſe things named in the Text, and further the Apoſtle chargeth theſe perſons to whom he attributeth theſe priviledges, that they were dull and ſlow, that they needed to be taught the firſt principles; By all which it appeareth that the godly ought to have better things then thoſe mentioned; Do not therefore gather the Apoſtaſie of thoſe that are truly godly, becauſe ſometimes you ſee men of eminent parts and profeſſions in Religion become degenerate and unſound, for poſſibly theſe never had the Truth of grace, and ſuch alſo were thoſe named by Peter, 2 Pet. 2.20. where ſome are ſaid to have eſcaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Chriſt, and yet were again entangled in their former luſts; We grant, that the Faith of Chriſt had ſo farre a powerfull operation upon them, that they left off thoſe pollutions they lived in whilſt Heathens, but yet that they were never changed at the very root and heart, appearrth in that the Apoſtle cals them but waſhed Swine, they had not changed their Swiniſh nature, they were not made Sheep, though they had an outward Reformation: Now that all ſuch though never ſo wonderfull for parts and duties, if falling off, never were truly principled with the work of grace in their ſouls, appeareth by that eminent place, 1 Joh. 2.19. They went from us becauſe they were not of us, If they had been of us they would have continued with us; Here it is plain, that whoſoever is truly of the Church of God he will alwaies abide ſo; Indeed when we ſee the fall of ſuch who ſeemed ſuch glorious Starres, and ſuch tall Cedars, we ought in an holy manner to fear and tremble; We that ſtand are to take heed leſt we fall, but this doth not prove the total Apoſtaſie of thoſe that do truely belong to God, Mat. 13. He that did beleeve and receive the Word with joy, did yet at laſt wither, becauſe he had not a good and honeſt heart; Now when we ſay, all theſe mentioned had not true Grace, we do not mean they were groſſe Hypocrites, as if they did outwardly profeſſe they beleeved, but inwardly were the clean contrary; No, only we take an hypocrite in a large ſence for one who hath ſome imperfect and inchoate works of Gods Spirit upon him, which are like diſpoſitions in a tendency unto true Grace, as the Embryo to a Childe, but yet they fall farre ſhort of Sanctification; They in their thoughts and hearts are reall and ſerious, others apprehend them to be in the ſtate of Grace, but ſtill though Virgins they are but Fooliſh Virgins, They have not that Oyle which will ſerve when the Bridegroom cometh; Terrible it is to hear this, and oh what ſharp goads ſhould they be in our ſides, leſt we never as yet have gone further then ſuch perſons, Say it again unto thy ſelf, Am I not gone further then ſuch and ſuch perſons?
3. It is good to obſerve, That even the Adverſaries to this Truth do grant that God is able to confirm a man in grace ſo that he ſhall never fall; They grant God doth eſtabliſh the Angels in that happy condition that they ſhall never fall from it, yea, they will not contend but that de facto God did confirm ſome, as the Apoſtles, that they ſhould never be ſeparated from Chriſt; Now if this be granted, it will overthrow all thoſe reaſons that they bring to prove the periſhing eſtate ſometimes of the godly; For thus they argue, If a Godly man ſhall certainly be preſerved, to what purpoſe then are all Counſels and exhortations? Why are they commanded to fear, and to take heed leſt they fall; Do not all theſe Admonitions ſeem vain and abſurd? As if we ſhould bid a man take heed he do not fly up into the air, if he do, he will fall; Now if there be any abſurdity in this, will not all this hold as well in thoſe Apoſtles whom they grant to be infallibly preſerved to Eternal Life; Though Chriſt told them Their Names were written in heaven. That he went te prepare a place for them, yet for all that he exhorts them to take heed of the leaſt motions of ſinne, and abide in him, though he promiſeth they ſhall continue in him.
4. Conſider That of thoſe who pleade for an Apoſtaſie of the godly, there is a deſtinction to be made, Some go further then others, ſome hold one way and not another; As firſt, Some hold that though men be Elected to Salvation, yet they may periſh becauſe their Elect on is not abſolute but conditionall, ſuppoſing their perſeverance, and thus the Arminians, but ſome Papiſts and the Lutherans they hold that no Elect man can ever periſh, for then God might be fruſtrated in his Councels, which were abſurd to think; Others they ſay, That men may have true grace for the preſent, but yet not Elected; They do not make true Faith proper to the Elect only, but ſay, many beſides ſuch have for the preſent true lively grace now with them; The Elect man he cannot fall from his grace but the other may; The Learned V…ſſius doth at large endeavour to make this the Op…nion of Auſtin, as we told you; Though ſome deny it, and bring places that ſeem to evince the contrary, whoſe Opinion ſoever it be, it cannot be juſtified by the Scripture. Laſtly, Others hold, that a Godly man though Elected may for the preſent totally loſe all his grace, and not ſo much as any Sparks remain, but then they ſay he will not alwaies abide thus, he ſhall at laſt recover, So that he ſhall not finally periſh; Now we cannot joyn with any of theſe Opinions, but affirm the truly godly, though never ſo weak, yet ſhall certainly be preſerved to happineſſe, ſo that though he may fall grievouſly, yet the Spirit of God doth not wholly and finally forſake him.
5. When we ſay that ſuch as are given to Chriſt ſhall never periſh, this is to be underſtood of all and every one of them; Not only ſuch who have an high degree of Grace, but even thoſe that are babes, ſuch as are like the ſmoaking flax and bruiſed reed; Where there is true grace, though but like a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, yet that ſhall be ſo qu…ckened and enlivened, that it ſhall never goe out, and this is of great Conſolation to the godly, who are apt to think that though ſome eminent Beleevers be carried on to happineſſe, yet ſuch weak and frail things as they are ſhall never hold; they cannot withſtand any temptation, they preſently are ready to fall as ſoon as ever they are ſet on their feet, but they are to know that the ſame divine protection and power is to all, becauſe they are Chriſts; It is not becauſe one hath more godlineſſe then another, but becauſe all are in Chriſts hands; A Childe in the Ark was as ſafe as any ſtrong man, ſo that our protection is not founded upon the meaſure of our grace but the truth of our grace, That which is true grace will perſevere, Perſeverance doth not make it to be true, but the Truth of it makes it to perſevere, So that where true Grace is, there Perſeverance will certainly follow, as where the Sunne is, there will be Sunne-beams; Therefore that diſtinction though applauded by the Learned Voſſius of a threefold Truth of Eſſence, To which is oppoſed no Faith, or a ſeigned Faith; Truth of intenſion or degrees to which is oppoſed a weak and remiſſe Faith; Truth of radication or perſeverance, to which is oppoſed a temporary abiding, is well called by Ameſius, futilis deſtinctio, a meer frothy diſtinction, for the leaſt degree of true grace hath perſeverance annexed to it, and the good ground and the bad are diſtinguiſhed not only by their perſeverance but by the very nature of the ſoil, and therefore the good Ground only is called a good and honeſt heart, ſo that we are not to ſay, Grace if it be rooted, but if it be true, will be brought to Eternal Glory
6. Though the Godly ſhall ſurely be ſaved, yet this doth not exclude a great deal of difficulty and many dangers in the way; The Apoſtle ſaith, The Righteous is ſcarcily ſaved ▪ 1 Pet. 4.18. which by conſequence at leaſt relateth to a ſpiritual …alvation: Hence the way to heaven is a ſtreight and narrow way, and they are to ſtrive to enter in, Luk. 13.24 It is compared to all the hard and difficult things, as are; It is called crucifying and mortifying of ſinne; It is often compared to fighting and conflicting; Thus they are wreſtling Jacobs ere they can obtain the Bleſſing, many Iebuſites and Enemies muſt be conquered ere they can poſſeſſe Canaan.
Laſtly, The Godly are not only to be preſerved thus to Eternal Salvation, but they are to be aſſured and perſwaded of it; So that two Priviledges God vouchſafeth.
1. Their Perſeverance.
2. Their aſſurance and powerfull perſwaſion of this; As Paul Rom. 8. I am perſwaded neither things preſent, or future, ſhall ſeparate us from the love of God in Chriſt; As Paul doth not ſpeak only of himſelf from ſome ſpeciall Revelation he had, but from ſuch common Arguments that agree to all that are holy; Not that this aſſurance is ſuch an aſſurance, is ſuch an abſolute one, that though I walk in all prophaneſſe, and drink down the deadly poiſon of ſinne, that it ſhall never hurt me, but it's a well-ordered aſſurance in the conſtant and diligent uſe of the means, So that as we give all diligence to make our Election ſure to us▪ ſo commonly our aſſurance is; It is true the moſt tender and exact godly ones, as Iob and David are ſometimes in deſertions, and cry out God hath forſaken them, but ordinarily the more formal and careleſſe we are in our approaches to God, the more are our doubts and fears; As in ſtanding Pools croaking Frogs are generated; By this Doctrine then or Perſeverance we may ſee two Graces ought to be conjoyned which the Godly by their weakneſſe make one oppoſe another; They are to beleeve firmly on Gods promiſe, and yet to be humble in themſelves; They are to rejoyce, and yet with trembling; when thy confidence devoureth an holy trembling, then take heed of preſumption; When thy fear devoureth thy Faith and Joy, then take heed of deſpair; But as in nature there is the humidum and calidum radicale, both which preſerve life; Or as to the heat of the heart there is the pericardium to cool it, Thus in our way to heaven; Theſe are the two Millſtones by which we are made pure bread; And as in the Old Teſtament, ſo here, neither of them may be taken to pledge, becauſe one cannot work without the other.