Some few observations will farther clear the mind of the Holy Ghost, and obviate the exceptions that are put in against our re- ceiving the words in their plain, proper, obvious signification. Ob- serve, then, —
1. Upon the intimation of the great power and prevalency of seducers, our Saviour adds this, as a matter of great consolation to true and sound believers, that notwithstanding all this, all their attempts, however advantaged by force or subtlety, yet they shall be preserved. This the whole context enforceth us to receive, and our adversaries to confess that at least a great difficulty of their seduction is intimated. And it arises with no less evidence that this difficulty is distinguishing in respect of the persons exposed to seduction; — that some are elect, who should be seduced if it were possible; others not, that may and shall be prevailed against.
2. The bottom of the consolation, in the freedom of the persons here spoken of from falling under the prevailing power of seducers, consists in this, that they are the elect of God, such as on a personal
' Eph. i. 4 ; Rom. ix. 11, 12, xi. 7. * Eph. i. 9 ; Phil. i. 29 ; Acts xiii. 48.
198 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
consideration are chosen of God from all eternity, to he kept and preserved by liis power to salvation, notwithstanding any interve- niencies or oppositions which he will suffer to lie in their way. " But," saith Mr Goodwin, " these men, at least before their calling, are as liable to be deceived or seduced as other men. This is their own con- fession; and Paul says that they were sometimes deceived, Tit. iii. 8." Ans. An exception, doubtless, unworthy him that makes it; who, had he not resolved to say all that ever had been said by any to the business in hand, would scarcely, I presume, have made use thereof. The seduction of persons is not opposed to their election, but to their believing. Mention is made of their election, to distinguish them from those other professors which should be seduced, and to discover the foundation of their stability under their trials; but it is of them as believers (in which consideration the attempts of seducers are advanced against them) that he speaks. It is not the seducing of the elect as elect, but of believers who are elect, and because they are elected, that is denied.
3. That it is a seduction unto a total and final departure from Christ and faith in him whose impossibility in respect of the election is here asserted. " But," saith Mr Goodwin, chap. x. sect. 10, p. ]81, "this is to presume, not to argue or believe; for there is not the least ground in the word whereon to build such an interpretation." But the truth is, without any presumption or much labour for proof, the falsity of this exception will quickly appear to any one that shall but view the context. It is evidently such a seduction as they are exposed unto and fall under who endure not unto the end, that they may be saved, Matt. xxiv. 13; and they who are excepted upon the ac- count mentioned are opposed to them who, being seduced, and their love being made cold, and their iniquities abounding, perish ever- lastingly, verses 1], 12.
4. It is, then, a denial of their being cast out by the power of se- ducers from their state and condition of believing and acceptation with God wherein they stand, that our Saviour here asserts, and gives out to their consolation, — they shall not be seduced, that is, drawn off from that state wherein they are to a state of unregene- racy, infidelity, and enmity to God : so that, as Mr Goodwin observes in the next place, we deny them, from hence, not only to be subject to Q, final but also to a total seduction.
5. We grant that notwithstanding the security given, which re- spects the state and condition of the persons spoken of, yet they may be, and often are, seduced and drawn aside into ways that are not right, into errors and false doctrines, through the "cunning sleight of men who lie in wait to deceive," but never into such (as to any abode in them) which are inconsistent with the union with then- Head and his life in them.
III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 199
The errors and ways wliereinto tliey are, or may be, seduced are eitlier such as, though dangerous, yea, in then- consequences perni- cious, yet have not such an aspect upon the faith of hehevers as to deny a possibihty of union and holding the Head upon other ac- counts. I doubt not but that men for a season may not know, may disbelieve and deny, some fundamental articles of Christian religion, and yet not be absolutely concluded not to hold the Head by any sinew or ligament, to have no influence of life by any other means. Was it not so with the apostles when they questioned the resurrec- tion of Christ, and with the Corinthians who denied the resurrection of the saints? — an abode, I confess, in either of which errors would, when the consequences of them are manifested, prove pernicious to the souls of men ; but that they have in themselves such an abso- lute repugnancy unto and inconsistency with the life of Christ, how- ever considered, as that their entertainment for a season should be immediately exclusive thereof, I suppose Mr Goodwin himself will not say. In this sense, then, we grant that true, saving, justifying faith may consist with the denial of some fundamental articles of Christian religion for a season; but that any true believer can persist in such a heresy we deny, he having the promise of the Spirit to lead him into all necessary truth.