Thirdly, Whereas there is a twofold impossibility, — first, that which is absolutely and simply so in its own nature, and, secondly, that which is so only upon some supposition, — we say the total falling away of the saints is impossible only in this latter sense, the unchange- able decree and purpose of God, his faithful promises and oath, the mediation of the Lord Jesus, being in the assertion supposed. And, —
Fourthly, whereas we affirm they shall assuredly continue unto the end, the certainty and assurance intimated is not mentis but entis, not subjective but objective, not always in the person persevering, but always relating to the thing itself^
Fifthly, That the three things formerly mentioned, acceptance with God, holiness from God, and the defence upon them both unto the end, are that threefold cord of the covenant which cannot be broken. This will appear by comparing these two eminent places together, which afterward must more fully be insisted on, Jer. xxxi. ^3, 34, xxxii. 88-40. In general, God undertakes to be "their God," and that they shall be "his people," chap. xxxi. 83, xxxii. 88. And this he mani- fests in three things: — Fii'st, That he will accept them freely, give them to find great favour before him, in the forgiveness of their sins; for which alone he hath any quarrel with them : "I will," saith he, "for- give their iniquity, and remember their sin no more," Jer. xxxi. 34; as it is again repeated Heb. viii. 12. Secondly, That they shall have sanctification and holiness from him : " I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts," Jer. xxxi. 33; "I will put my fear in their hearts," chap, xxxii. 40 ; which Ezekiel, chap, xxxvi. 27, calls the " putting his Spirit in them," who is the author of that grace and holiness which he doth bestow. Thirdly, That in both these there
' Rev. ii. 5, iii. 2 ; Isa. Ivii. 17, 18 ; Hos. xiv. 4 ; Isa. lix. 21 ; Jolin xiv. 16 ; 1 John iii. 9, i. 8 ; James iii. 2 ; 1 Kings viii. 38 ; Isa. Ixiv. 5, G.
* Ps. xxiii. 6 ; Isa. xxxv. 1, 2, etc.; John xv. 3-7; Rom. xi. 18 ; John i. 16 ; Col. ii. 19; Lnkexvii. 5; I'liil. ii. 13.
» Isa. xlix. 14-16, Ixv. 17 ; Cant. v. 2, 6 ; Ps. Ixxiii. 26.
120 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS* PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
shall be a continuance for ever' : Jer. xxxii. 40, " I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me;" or, as verse 39, ''They shall fear me for ever;" which distinguisheth this covenant from the former made with their fathers, in that that was broken, which this shall never be, chap. xxxi. 32. This is the crowning mercy, that ren- ders both the others glorious: — as to acceptation, he will not depart from us; as to sanctification, we shall not depart from him.
CHAPTER 11.
THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS ARGUED FROM THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE NATURE.
The thesis proposed for confirmation — The fivefold foundation of the truth thereof — Of the unchangeableness of the nature of God, and the influence thereof into the confirmation of the truth in hand — Mai. iii. 6, considered and ex- plained— James i. 16-18 opened — Rom. xi. 29 explained and vindicated — The conditions on which grace is asserted to be bestowed and continued, dis- cussed— The vanity of them evinced in sundry instances — Of vocation, justi- fication, and sanctification — Isa. xl. 27-31 opened and improved to the end aimed at; also Isa. xliv. 1-8 — The sum of the first argument — Mai. iii. 6, with the whole argument from the immutability of God at large vindicated — Falsely proposed by Mr G. ; set right and re-enforced — Exceptions removed — Sophistical comparisons exploded — Distinct dispensations, according to dis- tinction of a people — Alteration and change properly and directly assigned to God by Mr G. — The theme in question begged by him — Legal approbation of duties and conditional acceptation of pei'sons confounded ; as also God's command and purpose — The unchangeableness of God's decrees granted to be intended in Mai. iii. 6 — The decree directly in that place intended — The decree of sending Christ not immutable, upon Mr G.'s principles — The close of the vindication of this first argument.
The certain, infallible continuance of the love and favour of God unto the end towards his, those whom he hath once freely accepted in Jesus Christ, notwithstanding the interposition of any such sup- posals as may truly be made, having foundation in the things them- selves, being the first thing proposed, comes now to be demonstrated.
Now, the foundation of this the Scripture lays upon five unchange- able things, which eminently have an influence into the truth thereof: first, Of the Nature; secondly. The Purposes; thirdly, The Cove- nant; fourthly, The Promises; fifthly. The Oath of God ; — every one whereof being engaged herein, the Lord makes use of to manifest the unchangeableness of his love towards those whom he hath once graciously accepted in Christ.