A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty, Part 6
OF Perſeverance OR The certain and effectual Progreſs of Election.
FOR the firmer ſupport and comfort of Believers, notwithſtanding the preſent weakneſs of their Faith; As alſo, to allure and bring-in Others, who are hankering about the door, or yet in the high-wayes and hedges; It hath pleaſed the Holy and only Wiſe God, to indulge us with plain and poſitive aſſurance of the certain continuance and going-on, of All who have once believed and received the Grace of God in truth; Albeit, that many concern'd in this aſſurance, attain not to it.
That Faith and Holineſs do inſeperably follow Election, is ſhewn afore: Our buſineſs now is to ſhew, that Faith and Holineſs are of an abiding nature, and ſhall never be loſt: And this is that we call PERSEVERANCE. Which being the Crown and Glory of all the former Points; and that as ſecures to us the comforts ariſing thence; being alſo as much impugned as any of Thoſe: the proof and confirmation thereof, is apparently neceſſary, and tending to profit: And I truſt, it ſhall not onelyonly appear, that the Doctrine is True; but alſo replete with Arguments promotive of Holineſs; by which, the contrary opinion will beſt be contradicted: For, ſo it is, in the Wiſdom of God, that every Truth has that in it, as properly tends to its own defenſe and eſtabliſhment.
It's the property of Men truly wiſe, to enterpriſe onelyonly attainable things, and things worthy their wiſdom; as alſo, ſo to frame and module the means, as not to miſs their intent: Much more muſt it become, and be incumbent upon Him who is Wiſdom it ſelf, ſo to do: If, then, the Ultimate End of all things, be the Glory of God; and the ſecond great End, the Salvation of His Choſen: It may well be concluded, that the propereſt means for attainment, are pitched upon; and thoſe, ſuch as will compaſs his End. Hence alſo, we may be ſatisfied, that all intermediate Occurrences. (However improper in their own nature, and caſual to us,) were all fore-appointed of God, and that by a Decree moſt wiſe and fixed; and conſequently, are and ſhall be ſo diſpenſed, as not to hinder, but help-on and bring-about, the thing principally deſign'd; which therefore ſhall not (cannot) miſcarry, nor be finally diſturbed.
However therefore,2 Cor. 2. 17. Men of corrupt minds may ſtumble at the Word, Change the Truth of God into a lye, and turn his Grace into laſciviouſneſs; and ſome others, (not of deſign but) by miſtake and unacquaintedneſs with the true ſtate of the Queſtion; may diſapprove and object againſt it: Yet may not the Truth be diſcarded, nor its friends be ſhy to Own it; But ſtrive the more induſtriouſly, by their Sobriety, Meekneſs, Holineſs, and all good fruits, to make the World know; that To the Pure all things are pure; whiles to other Men (through the impurity of their own ſpirits) all things are defiled, and turned into ſin: And in particular, that the Doctrine of God's unchangeable love to his Choſen, and their Endleſs abiding therein, is no way an inle…, or Encouragement to ſin, or Remiſsneſs in Duty; but is, indeed, the powerfulleſt ſtrengthner againſt Apoſtacy; and moſt effectual quickner to Goſpel obedience.
As touching this Doctrine, the ſubſtance of what I intend, is reduced into this Propoſition: viz.