' Rev. xii. 4; Jude 12; Matt. vii. 26, 27; 2 Thess. ii. 3; 2 Pet. ii. 20-22; 2 Tim. iv. 10; 1 John ii. 19; Heb. vi. 4-6.
80 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS* PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
minations, 2 Tim. ii. 17, 18, lest any disconsolation should surprise believers in reference to their own condition, as though that should be lubricous, uncertain, and such as might end in destruction and their faith in an overthrow, he immediately adds that effectual cor- dial for the reviving and supportment of their confidence and com- fort, verse 19, "Nevertheless'' (notwithstanding all this apostasy of eminent professors, yet) "the foundation of God standeth sure. The Lord knoweth them that are his;" — "Those who are built upon the foundation of his unchangeable purpose and love shall not be pre- vailed against." John likewise doth the same ; for having told his little children that there were many antichrists abroad in the world, and they for the most part apostates, he adds in his First Epistle, ii. 19, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." He lets them know that by their being apostates, they had proved themselves to have been but hypocrites; and therefore believers' dwelling in safety was no way prejudiced by their back- sliding. The like occasion now calls for the like application, and the same disease for the same prevention or remedy. That no sound joersons may be shaken, because unhealthy ones are shattered, — that those may not tremble who are built on the rock, because those are cast down who are built on the sand, — is one part of my aim and in- tendment in handling this doctrine; and therefore I shall as little dabble in the waters of strife, or insist upon it in way of controversy, as the importunity of the adversary and that truth which we are obliged to contend for will permit. One Scripture, in its own plain- ness and simplicity, will be of more use for the end I aim at than twenty scholastical arguments, pressed with never so much accurate- ness and subtilty.
A temptation, then, this is, and hath been of old, to the saints, dis- posed of by the manifold wisdom of God to stir them up to "take heed lest they fall;" to put them upon trying and examining "whether Christ be in them or no;" and also to make out to those fountains of establishment, in his eternal purpose and gracious promises, wherein their refreshments and reserves under such temptations do lie.^ And though our doctrine enforces us to conclude all such never to be sound believers, in that peculiar notion and sense of that expression which shall instantly be declared, who totally and finally apostatize and fall oft' from the ways of God, yet is it exceedingly remote from being any true ground of shaking the faith of those who truly be- lieve, any farther than shaking is useful for the right and thorough perfonnance of that great gospel duty of trial and self-examination.
' Rom. xi. 20; 1 Cor. x. 12, xi. 28; 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Rev. ii. 24, 2G; Isa. xlv. 22; Mai. iii. 6; 2 Pet. iii. 17; Hcb. iii. 12; Ilab. iii. 17, 18.
I.] APOSTASY A TEMPTATION TO BELIEVERS, 81
Mr Goodwin indeed contends, chap. ix. sect 8-11, pp. 108-110, "That if we judge all such as fall away to perdition never to have been true believers" (that is, with such a faith as bespeaks them to enjoy union with Christ and acceptance with God), "it will adminis- ter a thousand fears and jealousies concerning the soundness of a man's own faith, whether that be sound or no ; and so it will be in- different as to consolation whether true believers may fall away or no, seeing it is altogether uncertain whether a man hath any of that true faith which cannot perish."
Ans. But, first, God, who hath promised to make "all things work together for good to them that love him," in his infinite love and wisdom is pleased to exercise them with great variety, both within and without, in reference to themselves and others, for the accomplishing towards them all the good pleasure of his goodness, and carrying them on in that holy, humble, depending frame, which is needful for the receiving from him those gracious supplies with- out which it is impossible they should be preserved. To this end are they often exposed to winnowings of fierce winds, and shakings by more dreadful blasts than any breaths in this consideration of the apostatizing of professors, though of eminency. Not that God is delighted with their fears and jealousies, which yet he knows under such dispensations they must conflict withal, but with the trial and exercise of their graces whereunto he calls them ; that is, his glory, wherein his soul is delighted. It is no singular thing for the saints of God to be exercised with a thousand fears and jea- lousies, and through them to grow to great establishment. If, indeed, they were such as were unconquerable, such as did not work to- gether for their good, such as must needs be endless, all means of satisfaction and establishment being rescinded by the causes of them, then were there weight in this exception; but neither the Scriptures nor the experience of the saints of God do give the least hint to such an assertion.^