To this Mr Goodwin farther adds that weighty observation, that the word "if" is not in the original; and thence takes occasion to fall foul upon the translators as having corrupted the passages, out of favour to the doctrine contended foT'. I wish they had never worse mistaken, nor showed more partiality in any other place. For, first, will Mr Goodwin say that a proposition cannot be hypothetical, nor an expression conditional, unless the word "if" be expressed? Were it worth the labour, instances might abundantly be given him
640 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
in that language whereof we speak to tlie contrary. He that shall say to him as he is journeying, " Going the right hand way, you will meet with thieves," may he doubtless said to speak conditionally, no less than he that should expressly tell him, " If you go the way on the right hand, you shall meet with thieves." Secondly, what clear sense and significancy can be given the words without the supple- ment of the conditional conjunction, or some other term equipollent thereunto, Mr Goodwin hath not declared. " For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened," etc., " and they falling away," as the words ("verbum de verbo") lie in the text, is scarce in English a congruous or significant expression; yea, xa/ ^ra/saTsffJi/rag, in the syntax and coherence wherein it lies, is most properly and directly rendered, " If they fall away," as is also the force of the expression, chap. x. 26. Yea, thirdly, the corruption of the translation men- tioned by Mr Goodwin doth not in the least relieve him as to the delivery of the words from a sense hypothetical, " When they fall away" (though his " when" be no more in the text than the transla- tors' "if"), doth either include a supposition that they shall and must fall away certainly, and so requires the event of the thing whereof it is spoken, or it is expressive only of the condition whereon the event is suspended. If it be taken in the first sense, all believers must fall away; if in the latter, none may, notwithstanding any thing in this text (so learnedly restored to its true significancy), the words only pointing at the coimection that is between apostasy and punish- ment. Notwithstanding, then, any thing here offered to the contrary, those who affirm that nothing can certainly be concluded from these places for the apostasy of any, be they who they will that are in- tended in them, because they are conditional assertions, manifesting only the connection between the sin and punishment expressed, need not be ashamed of nor recoil from their affirmation in the least.
For mine own part, I confess I do not in any measure think it needful to insist upon the conditionals of these assertions of the Holy Ghost, as to the removal of any or all the oppositions that from them, of old or of late, have been raised and framed against the doc- trine of the saints' perseverance, there being in neither of the texts insisted on either name or thing inquired after, nor any one of all the severals inquired into, and constantly in the Scriptures used, in the description of the saints and believers of whom we speak. This I shall biiefly in the first place demonstrate, and then proceed with the consideration of what is offered by Mr Goodwin in opposi- tion thereunto. Some few observations will lead us through the first part of this work designed. I say then, —
]. There is an inferior, common work of the Holy Ghost, in the dispensation of the word, upon many to whom it is preached, causing in them a great alteration and change as to light, knotvledr/e, abili-
xvil] certain passages in scrtpture considered. 641
ties, gifts, affections, life, and conversation, when the persons so wrought upon are not quickened, regenerate, nor made new crea- tures, nor united to Jesus Christ. I suppose there will not be need for me to insist on the proof of this j^roposition, the truth of it being notoriously known and confessed, as I suppose, amongst all that profess the name of Christ.
2. That in persons thus wrought upon, there is, or may be, such an assent, upon light and conviction, to the ti'uths proposed and preached to them as is to'ue in its kind, not counterfeit, giving and affording them in whom it is wrought profession of the faith, and that sometimes with constancy to the death, or the giving of their bodies to be burned, with persuasions (whence they are called "be- lievers") of a future enjoyment of a glorious and blessed condition, and filling them with ravished affections and rejoicings in hope, which they profess suitable to the expectation they have of such a state and condition. This also might be easily evinced by innumer- able instances and examples from the Scripture, if need required.
3. That the persons in and upon whom this work is wrought can- not be said to be hyj^ocrifes in the most proper sense of that word, — that is, such as counterfeit and pretend themselves to be that which they know they are not, — nor to have faith only in show and not in substance, as though they made a show and pretence only of an assent to the things they professed; their high gifts, knowledge, faith, change of affections and conversation, being in their own kind true (as the faith of devils is) : and yet, notwithstanding all this, they are in bondage, and at best seek for a righteousness as it were by the works of the law, and in the issue Christ proves to them of none effect.