CONTENTS, TX
of mortifj'iBg the flesh, namely, the Spirit of Christ, Rom. viii. 13 ; applying the cross and death of Christ, chap. vi. 5, 6—3. This doctrine is useful to promote gospel obe- dience, in that it tends dii-ectly to increase and strengthen faith and love both to- wards God and towards our Loi'd Jesus Christ—How it strengthens their love to God, namely, by discovering his love to them in three eminent properties of it, freedom, constancy, fruitfulness— How it strengthens their love to Jesus Christ, nanielj', by discovering his love to them in two eminent acts of it, his oblation and his intercession — 4. This doctrine conduces, etc., by giving gospel obedience its proper place and due order — 5. By closing in with the ends of gospel ordinances, particu- larly the ministry, one eminent end whereof is to perfect the saints, Eph. iv. 12, 13, which is done by discovering to them the whole will of God, both pi'ecepts on the one hand, and promises, exliortations, thrcatenings, on the other— That of the pro- mises more particularly and more largely insisted on, . . . . 379
CHAPTER Xr.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE DOCTRINE CONSIDERED.
The entrance into an answer to Mr (x.'s arguments against the doctrine of the saints' perseverance — His sixth argument, about the usefulness of the doctrine under consi- deration to the work of the ministry, proposed — His proof of the minor proposition considered and answered —Many pretenders to promote godliness by false doctrines — Mr G.'s common interest in this argument— His proofs of the usefulness of his doctrine unto tlie promotion of godliness considered and answered — The consequence of his arguing discovered — The doctrine by him opposed mistaken, ignorantly or wilfully — Ubjections proposed by Mr G. to himself to be answered — The objection as proposed disowned — Certainty of the love of God, in what sense a motive to obe- dience— The doctrine of apostasy denies the unchangeableness of God's love to believers; placeth qualifications in the room of persons— How the doctrine of per- severance promiseth the continuance of tlie love of (jod to believers— Certainty of reward encouraging to regular action— Promises made to persons quali&ed, not sus- pended upon those qualitications— Means appointed of God for the accomplishment of a determined end certain — Means not always conditions— Mr G.'s strange infer- ence concerning the Sci'ipture considered — The word of God by him undervalued and subjected to the judgment of vain men as to its truth and authority — The pre- tended reason of the former proceeding discussed — The Scripture the sole judge of what is to be ascribed to God, and believed concerning him— The doctrine of the saints' perseverance falsely imposed on, and vindicated — Mr G.'s next objection made to himself against his doctrine — Its unseasonableness as to the argument in hand demonstrated — No assurance of the love of God, nor peace left the saints, by the doctrine of apostasy — The ground of peace and assurance by it taken away — Ground of Paul's consolation, 1 Cor. ix. 27— The meaning of the word a-Uxiuos—An- otlier plea against the doctrine attempted to be proved by Mr G. — That attempt considei-ed — Not the weakness of the flesh naturally, but the strength of lust spirit- ually pretended — The cause of sin in the saints farther discussed — The power ascribed by Mr G. to men for the stx'cngthening and making willing the Spirit in them con- sidered— The aptness of the saints to pei'form, what and whence — 'fhe opposition they have in them thereunto— Gospel obedience, how easy — The conclusion— Answer to chap. xiii. of his book proposed, ...... 406
CHAPTER XII.
OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE KEFCTED.
Mr G.'s entrance and preface to his arguments from the apostasy of the saints considered — The weakness of his first argument— Tlie import of it— Answer to that first argu- ment—Doctrine may pretend to give God the glory of being no accepter of persons, and yet be false— .lustification by works of that rank and order —Acceptation of persons, what, and wherein it consisteth— No place for it with God— Contrary to distributive justice— The doctrine of the saints' perseverance charged with render- ing God an accepter of persons unjustly — What it says looking this way — The sum of the charge against it considered and removed— Mr G.'s second argument, and the weight by him hung thereon — The original of this argument— By whom somewhat insisted on — The argument itself in Ids words proposed— Of the use and end of the ministry— Whether weakened by tlie doctrine of perseverance— Entrance into an answer to that argument— The foundation laid of it false, and why — It falsely im- poseth on the doctrine of perseverance sundry things by it disclaimed — The first considered— The iniquity of tho.se impositions farther discovered — The true state of the diflcrencc as to tliis argument declared — The argument rectified — The re-enforce- ment of the minor attempted and considered— The manner of God's operations with and in natuial and voluntary agents compared— Eiticacy of grace and liberty in man consistent— An objection to himself framed by Mr G. — That objection rectified^ Perseverance, how "ab.solutely and simply necessary;" how not — 1'he removal of the pretended objection farther insisted on by Mr G.— That discourse discussed,