The Doctrine of the Saints Perseverance, Title page – Dedication 1
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS PERSEVERANCE, Explained and Confirmed. OR, The certain Permanency of their
1. Acceptation with GOD, &
2. Sanctification from GOD.
MANIFESTED & PROVED FROM The
1. ETERNALL PRINCIPLES
2. EFFECTUALL CAUSES
3. EXTERNALL MEANES
Thereof. IN,
1. The IMMUTABILITY of the
1. Nature
2. Decrees
3. Covenant and
4. Promises Of GOD.
2. The OBLATION and INTERCESSION Of JESUS CHRIST.
3. The
1. Promises
2. Exhortations
3. Threats
Of the GOSPELL.
Improved in its Genuine Tendency to Obedience and Consolation.
AND VINDICATED In a Full Answer to the Discourse of Mr JOHN GOODWIN against it, in his Book Entituled Redemption Redeemed.
With some DIGRESSIONS Concerning 1. The Immediate effects of the Death of Christ. 2. Personall Indwelling of the Spirit. 3. Union with Christ. 4. Nature of Gospell promises, &c.
ALSO A PREFACE Manifesting the Judgement of the Antients concerning the Truth contended for: with a Discourse touching the Epistles of IGNATIUS, The EPISCOPACY in them Asserted; and some Animadversions on Dr H: H: his Dissertations on that Subject.
By JOHN OWEN Servant of Jesus Christ in the Worke of the Gospell.
OXFORD, Printed by LEON. LICHFIELD Printer to the University, for Tho. … ANNO DOM: 1654.
TO HIS HIGHNESSE OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR OF THE COMMON-WEALTH OF England, Scotland and Ireland, with the Dominions thereof.
SIR,
THE Wise man tells us, that no man knoweth Love or hatred, by all that is before him. The great variety wherein God dispenseth outward things in the World, with the many changes and alterations, which according to the counsell of his will, he continually workes in the dispensations of them, will not allow them nakedly in themselves, to be evidences of the fountaine from whence they flow. Seeing also, that the want, or abundance of them, may equally by the Goodnesse and Wisdome of Cod, be ordered and cast into an usefull subserviency, to a Good infinitely transcending what is, or may be contained in them, there is no necessity, that in the distribution of them, God should walke according to any constant uniforme Law of procedure, all the various alterations about them, answering one eternall purpose for a determinate end. Of Spirituall good things, there is another Reason and Condition; for as they are in themselves Fruits, Evidences and Pledges of an Eternall unchangeable love; so the want of them, in their whole kind, being not capable of a tendency to a greater Good than they are, the Dispensation of them, doth so farre answer the eternall spring and Fountaine from whence it floweth, as in respect of its substance and being, not to be obnoxious to any alteration. This is that which in the ensuing Treatise is contended for. In the middest of all the changes and mutations, which the infinitely wise providence of God, doth daily effect in the greater and lesser things of this World, as to the communication of his love in Jesus Christ, and the mercifull gratious distributions of the unsearcheable Riches of his Grace, and the hid Treasures thereof purchased by his bloud, he knows no repentance. Of both these you have had full experience. And though your concernement in the former, hath been as eminent as that of any person whatever in these latter Ages of the World, yet your Interest in, and acquaintance with the latter, is, as of incomparable more importance in it selfe, so answerably of more value and esteem unto you. A sence of the excellency and sweetnesse of unchangeable love, emplying it selfe in the Golden oyle of distinguishing spirituall Mercies, is one letter of that new name, which none can read, but he that hath it. The Series and Chaine of eminent providences, whereby you have been carried on, and protected in all the hazardous worke of your Generation, which your God hath called you unto, is evident to all. Of your preservation by the power of God through Faith, in a course of Gospell Obedience, upon the account of the immutability of the Love, and Infallibility of the Promises of God, which are yea and Amen in Jesus Christ, your own soule is only possessed with the experience. Therein is that abiding joy, that secret refreshment, which the world cannot give. That you and all the Saints of God, may yet enjoy that Peace & Consolation which is in believing, that the eternall Love of God is immutable, that he is faithfull in his Promises, that his Covenant ratified in the death of his Sonne is unchangeable, that the fruits of the purchase of Christ, shall be certainly bestowed on all them for whom he died, and that every one, who is really interested in these things, shall be kept unto salvation, is the ayme of my present plea and Contest. That I have taken upon me to present my weake endeavours in this cause of God, to your Highnesse, is so farre forth from my perswasion, of your Interest in the Truth contended for, (and then which, you have none so excellent or worthy) that without it, no other considerations whatever, either of that Dignity and Power whereunto of God you are called, nor of your peculiar regard to that Society of men, whereof I am an unworthy Member, nor any other personall Respects whatever, could have prevailed with, or emboldened me thereunto. Sancta sanctis. The things I treat of are such, as sometimes none of the Princes of this World knew, and as yet few of them are acquainted with. Blessed are they who have their portion in them. When the urgency of your High, and important Affaires, wherein so many Nations are concerned, will lend you so much leasure, as to take a view of what is here tendred, the knowledge which you have of mee, will deliver you from a Temptation, of charging any weaknesse you may meet withall, upon the Doctrine which I assert and maintaine. And so that may ruune and be glorified, whatever become of the nothing that I have done, in the defence thereof, I shall be abundantly satisfied. That is the Sheild which being safe, I can with contentment see these papers dye. Unto your Highnesse, I have not any thing more to adde: nor for you greater thing to pray, than, that you may be established in the Assurance and sence, of that unchangeable Love, and free acceptance in Christ which I contend for: and that therein you may be preserved, to the Glory of God, the Advancement of the Gospell, and the Reall Advantage of these Nations.
Your Highnesse Most Humble, And most Faithfull Servant, IOHN OWEN.