The supposition here made l)y Mr Goodwin, and imposed on his adversaries, is, as hath been showed, wretchedly false, not once spoken or owned by them with whom he hath to do, not having the least colour given unto it by the doctrine they maintain ; yea, it is diametri- cally opposite thereunto. The main of what they teach, and which Mr Goodwin hath opposed in this treatise, endeavouring to answer that eminent place of 1 John iii. .0, with many others produced and argued to that purpose, is, that God will, according to the tenor of the covenant of grace, so write his law in the hearts of his, and put his fear in their inward parts, that they shall never depart from him, so as to become "desperately and outrageously profane," but be pre- served such to the end as that the Lord, with the greatest advan- tage of glory to his infinite wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, may " irreversibly assure the immortal inheritance of his love and favour unto them." So that Mr Goodwin's discourse to the end of this sec- tion, concerning the continuance of the love of God to them that are wicked, with an equal measure of favour to them that are godly, according to this doctrine, is vain and grossly sophistical, and such as he himself knoweth to be so. To say " every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and that he delighteth in him," — that
416 DOCTRINE OF THE saints' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
is, he approveth wicked and ungodly men, — we know is sufficiently dishonourable to him; but yet to say that he delighteth in his church and people, washed and made holy in the blood of Christ, notwith- standing their failings, or their being sometimes overtaken with great sins, when he pleaseth, in an extraordinary way, for ends best known to himself, to permit them to fall into them (which yet he doth sel- dom and rarely), is that which himself affirmeth and ascribeth to himself in innumerable places of Scripture (if their authority may pass unquestioned), to the praise of the glory of his grace. But it seemeth, if we take any care that Mr Goodwin may not call the authority of the Scriptures into question (he being fully resolved that the doctrine of the saints' perseverance is unworthy of a holy and righteous God), we must give over all attempts of farther deducing it from them; but yet, for the present, Ave shall consider what he hath farther to object against it.
Sect. 34<, he farther objecteth against himself and his doctrine, in the behalf of that which he doth oppose, in these words : —
" It is possible that yet some will farther object against the argu- ment in hand: 'Unless the saints be assured of the perpetuity of their standing in the grace and favour of God, they must needs be under fears of falling away, and so of perishing; and fear, we know, is of a discouraging and enfeebling nature, an enemy unto such ac- tions which men of confidence and courage are apt to undertake.'"
Ans. What this objection maketh in this place I know not. It neither asserteth any eminency in the doctrine by Mr Goodwin opposed, as to the promotion of godliness, nor immediately chal- lengeth that which he doth maintain of a contrary tendency, but only iutimateth that the saints' consolation and peace is weakened by unnecessary fears, — such as his opinion is apt to ingenerate in them. But, however, thus far I own it, as to the main of the observa- tion in hand, that the doctrine of the apostasy of believers is apt and suited to cut the saints of God and heirs of the promise short of that strong consolation which he is so abundantly wilHng that they should receive, and to fill their souls and perplex their consciences with cares, fears, and manifold entanglements, suited to weaken their faith and love, and alienate their hearts from that delight in God to which they are called, and otherwise would be carried forth unto. They being all of them, in some measure, acquainted with the strength, subtlety, and power, of indwelling sin; the advantages of Satan in his mani- fold temptations; the eminent success which they see every day the " principalities and powers in heavenly places," which they wrestle withal, to have against them; and being hcrewithal taught that there is neither purpose nor promise of God for their preservation, that there isnotliing to that purpose in the covenant of grace; — the con- sideration of their condition must of necessity fill them with innu-
XI.] ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE DOCTRINE CONSIDERED. 41 7
merable perplexities, and make them their own tormentors all their days. Thus far, I say, I own the objection. That it is not properly courage or confidence, but faith, love, and reverence, that are the principles of our actions in walking with God, hath been declared.
But what saith Mr Goodwin to the objection as by himself laid down? Besides what he relateth of his conquest of it in other j^laces, he addeth, —
That " the saints, notwithstanding the possi])ility of their final fall- ing away, have, or may have, such an assurance of the perpetuity of their standing in the grace and favour of God as may exclude all fear, at least that which is of a discouraging or enfeebling nature. The apostle, as we have formerly showed, lived at a very excellent rate both of courage and confidence, notwithstanding he knew that it was possible for him to become a reprobate. The assurance he had, that, upon a diligent use of those means which he knew assuredly God would vouchsafe unto him, he should prevent his being a re- prolmte, was a golden foundation unto him of that confidence and courage wherein he equalized the holy angels themselves."