But now it is high time to proceed to the second and last manifesta- tion of their effectual calling, preserved in Jesus Christ, TeT7jpi]/j,evoi^- iv Xpiarw, kept in or by him ; the meaning is, they were not only sanctified for the present out of the store and plenty of God the Father, but should for ever be kept in that estate by Jesus Christ. The point is : —
Ohs. That God's called and sanctified people are preserved and kept in their state of grace and holiness in and by Jesus Christ. The point asserteth two things — that they are kept hy Christ and in Christ ; that is, not only for his sake, but by virtue of union with him. Jesus Christ is the cabinet wherein God's jewels are kept ; so that if we would stand, we must get out of ourselves, and get into him, in whom alone there is safety. I might handle this latter branch apart, namely, that union with Christ is the ground of our safety and preservation. But because I atn sensible that I have staid too long upon this verse already, I shall content myself with handling upon this occasion the general doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. And, first, I shall give you the state of it, how far we may expect to be preserved ; •Secondly, The grounds of certainty and assurance in this kind.
1. How far we may look for preservation. The doctrine of per- severance is much impugned ; but the earth is never the more unsettled because to giddy brains it seemeth to run round. However, let us grant what must be granted, and then the truth Avill be burdened with less prejudice. Seeming grace may be lost : ' Take from him that which he hath,' Mat. xxv. 29, is, Luke viii. 18, ' Take from him that which he seemed to have.' Blazing comets and meteors are soon spent, and fall from heaven like lightning, while stars keep their orb and station. A building in the sand will totter, and hypocrites be discovered before the congregation, Prov. xxvi. 26. Again, initial or preparative grace may fail, such as is spoken of in Heb. vi. 4, 5, to wit, illumination, ex- ternal reformation, temporary faith, devout moods, some good begin- nings, &c. Plenty of blossoms do not always foretell store of fruit ;
•?K AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 1.
some die in the very pangs of the birth, and are still-born. Yet again, true grace may suiFer a shrewd decay, but not an utter loss ; the leaves may fade when the root liveth. In temptations God's children are sorely shaken ; their heel may be bruised, as Christ's was, but their head is not crushed. Peter denied Christ, but did not fall from grace; there is a remaining seed, 1 John iii. 9, It is notable what Chrysostom observeth concerning Christ's prayer for Peter, Luke xxii. 32, ' I have jjrayed for thee that thy faith fail not.' Mark, saith he, he doth not say, I have prayed for thee that thou shouldst not deny me, but I have prayed that thy faith should not altogether vanish and be abolished.! Once more, such grace as serveth to our well-being in Christ may be taken away, joy, peace, cheerfulness, &c. As a man may have a being, though his well-being be lost ; he is a man, though a bankrupt, though poor, though sick, though diseased : so a Christian may be living though he be not lively. Yet further, the operations of grace may be obstructed for a great while : a fit of swooning is not a state of death ; there may be no acts, and yet their seed remaineth ; this may last for a long time. David lay in a spiritual swoon nine months ; for he awaked not till Nathan came to him, Ps. li., the title ; and when Nathan came to him, the child begotten upon Bathsheba was born ; for he saith, 2 Sam. xii. 14, ' The child which is born to thee shall die.' Yet further, grace if left to us would soon be lost ; we showed that in innocency : but it is our advantage that our security lieth in God's promises, and not our own ; that we are not our own keepers ; that grace is a jewel not trusted but in safe hands ; that perseverance is God's gift, not man's act ; and that Christ hath a charge to conduct the saints, and keep them safe to everlasting glory, John vi. 37-40 ; and x. 28, ' I give unto them eternal life, and the}^ shall never perish (neither shall any perish) ; none shall pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them is greater than all ; none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.' They neither shall nor can ; God and Christ are en- gaged in the keeping of them ; Christ by God's command as Mediator, and God by Christ's merit : therefore he that separateth us from God must tug with Jesus Christ himself, and be too hard for him also, or else he can never pluck them out of his hands. If they should ques- tion Christ's power, because of the ignominy of the cross, the Father's hands are also engaged, for our greater assurance. Can any creature loose his eternal and almighty grasp, and pluck out those whom the Father hath a mind to keep ?