Ans. Truly this is such an enormous and an abominable calumny that I cannot but admire how any sober and rational man durst venture upon the owning of it. The question now is, what faith the doctrine insisted on ingenerates in particular persons, that should enervate and make void the exhortations, etc., of the ministry? Now, though the doctrine should teach this indefinitely, that though men
VOL. XI, 28
434 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVEEANCK [CHAP.
did sin so and so, as is here expressed, yet they sliould be kei:)t in a state of grace, as is mentioned (which yet is loudly and palpably false, as hath been declared), yet that it doth require particular men to believe for themselves, and in reference to the guidance of their own ways, that they may " lie and wallow in their sin, like swine in the mire, and yet continue in a state of grace and acceptation with God," is so notoriously contrary to the whole tenor of the doctrine, the genius and nature of it, with all the arguments whereby it is asserted and maintained, that if conscience had but in the least been advised withal in this contest, this charge had been without doubt omitted. All that is produced for the confirmation of this strange imposition on the persuasion under consideration is his own testimony that makes the charge, " that it is the known voice of the common doc- trine of perseverance;" and that being said is laid as a foundation of all that follows, the whole discourse still relating to a supposition that this is the doctrine which it opposeth, from the very next words to the end ! Nor is there the least farther attempt for the confirma- tion of this grand assertion. But is this " the known voice" of our doc- trine of perseverance? Who ever heard it but Mr Goodwin, and men of the like prejudicate spirit against the truth? The worst that can be charged with looking this way is its asserting the promised effi- cacy of the grace of God for the preserving of believers, by the use of means, from such wallowing in abominable sins as is supposed that it affirms they may be exposed unto. In brief, it says not, — first, That all believers are certain of their perseverance; nor, se- condly. That any one can be certain of it upon such supposals as are here mentioned, — such a persuasion would not be from Him that calls them; nor, thirdly. That the end can be obtained without the use of means, though by them it shall certainly be so; but, fourthly, That all the hope of their perseverance is built on the promises of God to preserve them by and in the use of means. So that, in truth, there is no need of any farther process for the removing of the argu- ment insisted on but only a disclaimer of the doctrine by it opposed, if it be that which is here expressed.
That, indeed, which Mr Goodwin hath to dispute against, if he will deal fairly and candidly in the carrying on of his design, is this: — "That the certainty of an end, to be obtained by means suited there- unto, doth not enervate nor render vain the use of those means ap- pointed for the accomplishment of that end." The perseverance of the saints is the thing here proposed to be accomplished. That this shall be certainly effected and brought about, according to the pro- mises of God for the effecting of it, God hath appointed the means under debate, to be managed by the ministry of the gospel. That the promise of God concerning the saints' persevei'ance, to be wrought and effected, as by others, so by these means in then- kind^ doth not
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XII.] OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTEINE REFUTED. 435
invalidate or render useless and vain the use of those means, but in- deed establishes them, and ascribes to them their proper efficacy, is that which in this doctrine is asserted, and which Mr Goodwin ought to have disproved if he would have acquitted himself as a fair anta- gonist in this cause. The promise, we say, that Hezekiah had of the continuance of his life, did not make useless, but called for, the " plaster of figs" that was appointed for the healing of his sore, Isa. xxxviii. 5, 21.
I might then, as I said, save myself the labour of farther engag- ing for the casting down of this fabric, built on the sandy founda- tions of falsehood and mistake ; but because something may fall in of that which followeth, — more indeed to the purpose than an orderly pursuit of those assertions laid down in the entrance would require, — that may more directly rise up against the cause in whose defence I am engaged, I shall consider the whole ensuing discourse ; which, without doubt, will administer farther occasion for the illustration or confirmation of the truth in hand. He proceeds, then : —
" The reason of the minor is, because a certain knowledge and persuasion that God will, by an irresistible hand of power, preserve a man in the state of grace, how desperately careless, negligent, or wicked soever he shall be, clearly dissolves the usefulness and neces- sity of all other means whatsoever in reference to this end. If I know certainly that the corn which I have sown in my field will, whether I wake or sleep, grow and prosper, would it not be a very impertinent address for any man to come to me, and admonish me in a serious and grave manner to take heed I sleep not, but keep myself waking, lest my corn should not grow and prosper, or that it may grow and prosper? If my corn grows, thrives, and prospers, by the irresistible hand of God, by the course of a natural and standing- providence, my watchfulness in order to a. procurement of these things is absolutely vain," etc.