We do not plead for any wild assurance and certainty of persever- ance; we do not say that they that neglect means, or grieve the Spirit, and do what they list, are sure that they shall not miscarry ; that is against the nature of God's dispensation, and the nature of this assur- ance, and therefore but a vain cavil. It is against the nature of God's dispensation ; whom he maketh to persevere, he maketh them to per- severe in the use of means. Hezekiah had assurance from God of life for fifteen years, yet he taketh a lump of figs, and applieth it as a plaster to the boil, Isa. xxxviii. 5, with 21. More clearly, Acts xxvii. 31, ' All shall come to land ; ' but, ' Except ye abide in the ship ye cannot be safe.' We are sure of life as long as God hath any ser-
■* ' OvK i<prj IVa yttr; dpvrjarj, dW diare yu.77 eKXlireiv tt]v Tricmv croC — Chrysost.
VeR. 1.] UPON THE EPJSTLE OF JUDE. 45
vice to do for us, yet we are bound to get food and raiment, and to use all means to preserve life. This was Satan's cavil against God's pro- tection over Christ, Thou nrt sure not to fall, therefore neglect means, cast thyself upon danger, Mat. iv. 9, 10. You learn this doctrine from the devil ; thou raayset do what thou list, thou art sure to be safe ; it is the devil's divinity. Again, it is against the nature of this assur- ance ; he that hath tasted God's love in God's way cannot reason so. A child that bath a good father that will not see him perish, shall lie waste and embezzle his estate be caretb not how ? A wicked child may presume thus of his father (though it be very disingenuous) because of his natural interest and relation to his father ; the kind- ness which be expectetb is not built upon moral choice, but nature : but a child of God cannot, because he cannot grow up to this certainty but in the exercise of grace ; it is begotten and nourished by godly exercises ; and the thing itself implieth a contradiction ; this were to fall away because we cannot fall away. You may as soon say that the fire should make a man freeze with cold, as that certainty of persever- ance in grace should make us do actions contrary to grace.
Again, we do not say that a believer is so sure of his conservation in a state of grace, as that be needeth not to be wary and jealous of him- self : 1 Cor. X, 12, * Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall' There is a fear of caution, as well as a fear of diffidence and distrust ; and there is a great deal of difference between weakening the security of the flesh, and our confiden'^e in Christ. None more apt to suspect themselves than they that are most sure in God, lest by improvidence and unwatchfulness they should yield to corruption. Christ had prayed that Peter's faith might not fail, yet together with the other apostles he biddeth him watch, Luke xxii. 40-46. The fear of God is a preserving grace, and taken into the covenant : Jer. xxxii. 40, ' I will put my fear into their hearts, and they shall not depart from me.' This is a fear which will stand with faith and certainty ; it is a fruit of the same Spirit, and doth not hinder assurance, but guard it; it is a fear that maketli us watchful against all occasions to sin and spiritual distempers, that we may not give offence to God : as an ingenuous man that hath an inheritance passed over to him by his friend in court is careful not to offend him.
Again, this certainty of our standing in grace doth not exclude prayer : Luke xxii. 46, ' Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' Perseverance is God's gift, and it must be sought in God's way; by Christ's intercession, to preserve the majesty of God, and by our prayers, that we may constantly profess our dependence upon God, and renew our acquaintainde with him ; besides, by asking blessings in prayer, we are the more warned of our duty; it is a means to keep us gracious and holy. As those that converse often with kings had need be decently clad, and go neat in their apparel, so he that speaketh often to God is bound to be more holy, that he may be the more acceptable to him.
Again, it is not a discontinued, but a constant perseverance that we plead for ; not as if an elect person could be quite driven out of the state of grace, though he be saved at length ; he cannot fall totus a ioto in tohcm, the whole man with full consent, from all grace and
46 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 1 .
godliness ; he may sin foully, but not fall off totally, no more than finally; there is something that remaineth, a seed, an unction, a root in a dry ground, that will bud and scent again. Briefly, true grace shall never utterly be lost, though it be much weakened, but in the use of means it shall constantly be preserved to eternal life.