BEing met, Mr.
Ives proposed the Question in these words,
Whether the Doctrine of some true Believers, falling away totally and finally, be true? I answered in the Negative.
Mr.
Ives offered to prove it thus;
Arg. 1. If the Doctrine of the impossibily of any true Believers falling away totally and finally from Grace be false, then the Doctrine of the possibility of some true Believers falling away totally and finally is true; but the former is false,
Ergo the latter is true. I denyed the
minor, which he endeavoured to prove thus, If the Doctrine of the impossibility of any true Believers falling away, &c. be true, then it ought to be believed. But it ought not to be believed,
Ergo it is not true. I denyed the
minor, which Mr.
Ives went about to prove thus;
Whatsoever sins any are commanded not to do, and cautioned to fear the doing of, they ought not to believe is impossible to be done: But falling away totally and finally, is
[Page 2]a sin that true Believers are commanded not to do, and are cautioned to fear the doing of,
Ergo true Believers ought not to believe that it is impossible for them to fall away totally and finally.
To which I Answer. That many things might be objected against the
major and
conclusion, as that
true Believers was not in the
minor denyed, which he put now into his conclusion. And in his
major, I told him, That we distinguished of
impossibility simple and
absolute, and
ex hypothesi, or
supposition of some other thing intervening. And that what we are cautioned to fear the doing of, may be impossible to be done, by reason of the Divine Decree, or Promise, though otherwise possible, &c. [All this Mr.
Ives left out in his account of the Conference, and relates only my denial of the
major.] Many other things I might object, but I forbear, because I would not seem to cavil at small Faults. Mr.
Ives proceeded to prove the
major thus, If the Scripture no where commands the not doing, nor cautions us to fear the doing of that which is impossible to be done; then my
major is true. But the Scripture no where commands the not doing, nor cautions us to fear the doing of that which is impossible to be done,
Ergo my
major is true. I denyed
[Page 3]his
minor; after I had first repeated it, Mr.
Ives said, It was an
universal Negative, and therefore could not be proved. I Replyed, That it was a mistake in him so to think. [And since our debate, it came into my mind that Mr.
Ives having, 'tis like been sometime or other on a Jury, and observing that a negative Testimony in matter of Fact is not admitted (but in unusual cases) against the Affidavit; apprehends there is the like reason of negative Proposition.] But however, I gave him, at his desire, an
instance in the
sin against the Holy Ghost, which is impossible to be done by some to whom the Command and Caution is given,
(viz.) to
true Believers. To which Mr.
Ives Replyed, We are past that now, for we are out of the term,
True Believers; and read over his Argument again out of his Note-Book, which it is to no purpose for me to repeat. [The Reader may view them, I appeal to any person of understanding, whether it was not proper for me to the instance of the sin, to subjoyn an instance of some persons to whom it was impossible to be done, or committed.]
Mr.
Ives second Argument was this,
Arg. 2. If those that are partakers of the Divine Nature may fall away totally and finally, then some true Believers may fall away totally
[Page 4]and finally from Grace: But the former is true,
Ergo the latter. I denyed the
minor, that they who partake of the Divine Nature may fall away, supposing (I told him) that he took the phrase in the sense of the Apostle, 2
Pet. 1.5. To prove which, he argued thus;
If they that are partakers of the Holy Ghost may fall away totally and finally, then they that are partakers of the Divine Nature may so fall away. But the former is true,
Ergo the latter. I again denyed his consequence; which he assayed to confirm thus, If to partake of the Holy Ghost, be to partake of the Divine Nature; then it follows, That if he that is partaker of the Holy Ghost may fall away, he that partakes of the Divine Nature may fall away. But the first is true,
Ergo—
I denyed his
minor, which therefore he attempted to confirm thus, If the Nature of the Holy Ghost be a Divine Nature; then they that partake of the Holy Ghost, partake of the Divine Nature. But the former is true,
Ergo the latter: I denyed his consequence. [As for his additional Note, that to deny this consequence, is,
As much as if a man should say, The Wisdom that is from above is a Divine Wisdome; and yet say, That he that partakes of the Wisdom which is from above, doth not partake
[Page 5]of the Divine Wisdom. I answer, There's not
par ratio, for that phrase of
Wisdom from above and
Divine Wisdom note the same thing,
(viz.) the Original or Descent of Wisdom.
Whereas
partaking of the Holy Ghost, notes
common Gifts or
Graces; partaking of the Divine Nature, special Grace, in the places under debate.
Mr.
Ives would prove his Consequence, Because they that partake of the Holy Ghost; partake of nothing else but what is the Divine Nature. Which I denyed, and told him, That that phrase noted the common Gifts, whereof the Holy Ghost is the Author,
Heb. 6.3. or the extraordiary Gifts, as Tongues, &c. for which I quoted,
Acts 2.4. and
Chap. 19.6.
Then he proved his
minor thus, Because the partaking of the Holy Ghost and of the Divine Nature is one and the same thing; which I denyed, for though the receiving of the Holy Ghost, as to its Gifts and Graces, may be found in the same Subject, yet they are not terms of the same import; nor are the Gifts and Graces the same thing, any more then Logick and the Mathematicks are the same Art or Science, though found in the same Person; or that
Bezaleel and
Aholiabs skill in Workmanship of Gold, &c. And the Graces
[Page 6]of the Spirit, Faith, Love, &c. are the same thing, because ascribed to the Holy Ghost, as their efficient. Here Mr.
Ives multiplyed words to no purpose; as if any one would satisfie himself, he may find
pag. 15. of his Book, and at length denyed what he had often affirmed,
(viz.) that partaking of Gifts and Graces were the same thing, but pretended that they were one
participation, i. e. Effects of the same efficient, as I understand his meaning; which I granted, and no Body denies. At length he urged this Argument, If the Holy Ghost in its extraordinary Gifts be promised to none, but those that have the ordinary Gifts and Graces of it, then none can partake of the Holy Ghost in the greater, that doth not partake of him in the less: But the former is true,
Ergo the latter. To the
minor, I answered, That strictly there was no
promise of them at all, but a
Prediction onely; or if we would call that,
Joel 2.28. a Promise, it was to the visible Church indefinitely, which consists of visible Believers; and many whereof are only visible. Here was a great altercation about a Promise
[...], expresly to visible Believers; which, I told him, was not necessary, because in promises of such a nature
[Page 7]as that,
Joel 2.28. Many might partake of the benefit that were onely visible Believers. And that it was not sufficient ground to judge all the persons that had these extraordinary Gifts
Believers, because call'd such; for
Simon Magus was call'd a
Believer, whilst he was not truly such. [Here note a double misreport of Mr.
Ives, pag. 25, 26. That he sayes I said,
Simon Magus recieved the Holy Ghost, and that
all the Promises are made to visible Believers as such; Whereas I spake onely of
such Promises, as that of
Joel 2. of extraordinary but common Gifts, and that
Simon Magus might have received the Holy Ghost in its extraordinary Gifts, for any limitation that was in the Promise.] [To what I said then, I shall onely add, That
Math. 7.21, 22. and
Numb. 24.4, 5. plainly enough assert; That those that have not the ordinary Graces of the Spirit, may partake of the extraordinary Gifts of Prophesying,
&c.]
Arg. 3. If all those that have the Characters of true Believers, mentioned in
Heb. 6.5, 6. may fall away totally and finally, then true Believers may fall away totally and finally; but the former is true,
Ergo the latter: I denyed the consequence. [And I will now add a reason of it, because it proceeds upon this supposition, that if all true
[Page 8]Believers are
inlightned, &c. then all that are inlightned are true Believers; which is as bad an argument as this, in allusion to Mr.
Ives former and present Trade: All the Box-Makers and Cheese-Mongers in the City of
London are Freemen,
Ergo all the Freemen in in the City of
London are Box-Makers and Cheese-Mongers.] Mr.
Ives proceeded to prove his consequence: If all those Characters be appliable to none but true Believers, then the consequence follows: But they are appliable to none but true Believers,
Ergo—
I denied his
minor, and demanded a proof; which he gave thus, If the Scripture applies those Characters to none but true Believers, then my
minor is true. But the Scripture applies them to none but true Believers,
Ergo— To which I answer'd, by denying his consequence; for it follows not that they are not applicable to any others, because they are not actually applied, [which Answer Mr.
Ives hath omitted] and by denying the
minor, whereupon he urged for an instance of one place of Scripture, where all these Characters are given to one person
in terminis, or in the very same terms. To which I Replied, That the term
believing, frequently applied to Persons, not true Believers, includes all the Characters here mentioned; and that I could
[Page 9]shew him by parts where they are applied to those that were not true Believers. Mr.
Ives answered, That would not do, because he that hath one Vertue may be no true Believer. I Replyed, Not as he reports my words nonsensically,
I take Persons that are extraordinarily indowed from above; But thus, That
I speak not of vertuous Persons, or morally good, but of those that are indued with Grace from above. After a deal of Contest, I instanced in the term
inlightned, and shewed, That the thing intended by it, is in another term,
(viz.) believing or
knowing, applyed to those that are not true Believers,
John 17.21, 23.
(viz.) to the
World in this place, opposed to true Believers. Christ prays for the Conversion of those that were given to him; and speaks of the Conviction of the World, as an end that might be obtained thereby. I urged also
John 1.9. Whence I urged, that that universal Light could not import a spiritual illumination. [The Contradiction he would fasten upon me to what I have argued from that Text against the
Quakers, pag. 36. Of my
Quakers Folly, is so trivial, as that it deserves a Smile, rather then an Answer. Let them judge that can, by comparing that passage with
pag. 43. and 44, 45. of Mr.
Ives Book.] I also urged 1
John 5.1. compar'd with
[Page 10]
Luke 4.41. In the latter whereof the Devils are said to know that great Doctrine, That
Jesus is the Christ, which in the former place is made a Character of one born of God. Whence I infer'd, that all inlightning is not a Character of a true Believer, unless the Devil be a true Believer. [All this explication Mr.
Ives hath omitted.]
The next passage (though not in order in the Text) which Mr.
Ives urged, was,
renewing by repentance, of the application of which passage to any that was not a true Believer. To which I answered, That it was not necessary to produce those very terms.
Repentance is ascribed to those that were not true Believers, as
Ahab, Judas, &c. As for the phrase
renewing, that though it is frequently applyed to true Believers, yet there is no inconvenience in understanding it in this place, of a common work of the Spirit of God, which hath the same name with the special work, because of some similitude. As
Saul is said to be
turned into another man, 1 Sam. 10.6. I urged also
Jude 12. which Mr.
Ives hath barely quoted, without my gloss on it,
Trees twice dead, plucked up by the roots; in regard of their natural state, which is a death in sin, and their Apostacy, or loosing of what good was in them, which carried the
[Page 11]appearance of the effects of a spiritual life. And
plucked up by the roots, that phrase I mentioned as part of the Verse, but said nothing to.
The next Phrase is,
Tasting of the Powers of the World to come, of which I gave
Felix for an instance,
Acts 24.25. For one part of the Powers of the World to come, is a dreadful sense and apprehension of the future Judgment threatned in the Gospel against Unbelievers. [As for Mr.
Ives additional Note, That
tasting of the Powers of the World to come, must be limited to such a taste, as makes the Taster to be in love with what he tastes, is
gratis dictum. For
tasting is applyed to things evil as well as good,
Heb. 2.9. Christ is said to
taste death. And for Mr.
Ive's fancy, that the
Persons here spoken of might have had such a taste (viz.)
of terror, as Felix
had, if they had fallen away, but not if they had not: It is a wonder to me, he should forget that
Felix himself was so far from having fallen away, that he did but now begin to stand. I mean, this terror was the first effect of common convictions in him, and often separated from any Grace at all. And 'tis much to me he should be ignorant, that some degree of
trembling at the Word is made a Character of a godly Person,
Isa. 66.2.] We proceeded to the
tast of the good Word of God; for instance whereof, I alledged
[Page 12]
Matth. 13.20, 21.
Mark 6.20.
Luke 14.15 Of which places, which I onely named, that we might discuss them: Mr.
Ives took notice onely of the last, whence I observed, That
he was transported with joy at the Narration which Christ made of the happiness of the future State, who was a Pharisee, and to whom particularly Christ directed that Parable; The scope whereof is to shew, That they who were call'd outwardly to the participation of the benefits of the Gospel, miss'd of them, for want of a through compliance with that Call.
To this Mr.
Ives Replyed,
That they that were bidden did not taste of the Supper. And I rejoyned, that the not
tasting, verse 27. is consistent with the
taste, which those words,
verse 15. do import. For the
former intends a missing of the benefits offer'd in the Gospel; the
latter, some flashy joys in the apprehension of a possible benefit. And the manner of Christ's Speech seems to be a tacite exprobration of him, like that,
Luke 11.27, 28. [These Passages Mr.
Ives hath omitted.]
Mr.
Ives proceeded thus,
Arg. 4. They are true Believers that have clean escaped the Pollutions of the World, through the knowledge of Christ: But some such may fall away totally and finally,
Ergo
[Page 13]some true Believers may fall away totally and finally. To which I answered, That his Argument was not right in
form; for he put the Subject of the Question into the
major, and the Predicate into the
minor. His Argument ought to run thus, They that have escaped the Pollutions of the World,
&c. may fall away,
&c. They that have escaped the Pollutions of the World,
&c. are true Believers.
Ergo some true Believers may fall away totally and finally. [I add, that if his
major and
minor being
indefinite Propositions, are
particular; then the Syllogism is false, according to the old Rule,
Syllogizari non est ex particulari.]
If they be
universal, then by a simple conversion of the minor, (the terms being convertible according to his sense) from those premises may an universal Affirmative be rightly deduced (which he all along declin'd), thus the Argument stands in the first Figure, All that have escaped the Pollutions of the World,
&c. may fall away,
&c. All true Believers have escaped the Pollutions of the World,
&c. Ergo all true Believers may fall away,
&c.
At length, not knowing how to mend the form, though I directed him, he put his Syllogism into an Hypoth. form; If those that have clean escaped the Pollutions,
[Page 14]
&c. (as before) may fall away, then true Believers may fall away: But such may,
Ergo true Believers may. I denyed the consequence, because to escape the Pollutions,
&c. is not a Description onely of true Believers: Mr.
Ives attempted to prove it, because that
quality [
qualification, I suppose, he would have said] is applicable to none but true Believers; which being denyed, he proved thus; If that quality be applicable to any but true Believers, then either to Hypocrites, or prophane Persons; But to neither,
Ergo—
To his
minor, I answered, That it was applicable to Hypocrites: Against which Answer, Mr.
Ives urged, That if so, then an Hypocrite may be free from the Pollutions of the World, in the midst of his Hypocrisie; which I granted, in the sense of the Text under debate, 2
Pet. 2.20. Then he urged, that if so, Hypocrisie is not a Pollution of the World: I denyed the Connexion, because 'tis meant but of gross Pollutions, that these persons had escaped: And that the terms being indefinite, [and
in materia contingenti, which Clause Mr.
Ives hath left out, as not understanding it, I know,] they were but particular, not of all, but some Pollutions, which a person may be free from, whilst he is tainted with others. Then Mr.
Ives call'd
[Page 15]for a Greek Testament, to see what the Greek word is, that is rendred
clean, 2
Pet. 2.18. [Note, though it be no matter of moment, but to shew the fidelity of Mr.
Ive's Report. Mr.
Ives sayes, a Friend of mine pull'd out a Greek Testament, and read the word
[...], and rendred it as he had done before
really, or
truly; whereas upon Mr.
Ives calling for a Greek Testament, and my Friend, an ingenious young Schollar, Mr.
Glascock tendring it me, I said, it needed not, for I remembred the word, and its signification.] Then Mr.
Ives call'd for an
instance, I gave him that of the Pharisees,
Luke 18.11, 12.
Matth. 23.25,
&c. To which he answer'd, That they that were neither just, merciful nor faithful, were not free from the gross Pollutions of the World. To which I Replyed, That what ever they did contrary to the Laws of Mercy, Justice,
&c. they did with such cunning, that it did not appear to the World. For it could not be imagin'd, that Christ should affirm, that those persons were outwardly righteous, as he does
Matth. 23.28. who were openly and visibly guilty of such Miscarriages.
Mr.
Ives Replyed, That those men, 2
Pet. 2.20. had escaped from those that lived in Error; and how could that be, if they lived in the greatest Error,
(viz.) Hypocrisie. I
[Page 16]rejoyned, that they could not at the same be guilty of Hypocrisie, and yet free from it; but they might be intangled in Hypocrisie, and yet freed from external gross sins. Again, that 'tis not said, they were
clean escaped from Error, but
from them that lived in Error, i. e. changed their Company, or sorted with Believers, which they might do, and yet remain Hypocrites. Mr.
Ives demanded, how then
their latter end could be worse then their beginning. I answer'd, Because open Sins do openly dishonor Christianity; whence
Athanasius wished,
Ʋtinam omnes essent Hypocritae, Would to God all men were Hypocrites. [This passage, with some others immediately before, Mr.
Ives hath omitted.] As to Mr.
Ive's
additional Note, that
Hypocrites cannot be in a worse condition, by appearing openly prophane. I Answer, They may, not only because of the open dishonour done to Religion, but because also their profaneness is a Sin against Knowledge, and so adds weight to their Chains, and heats their Furnace hotter. See
James 4.17.
Luke 12.47. For though Hypocrisie singly may be worse then profaneness in some respects, yet the profaneness of an Hypocrite is the worst profaneness. At length, I gave
Paul for an instance, of one that had escaped the Pollutions of the World, whilst yet he
[Page 17]was an Hypocrite
(viz.) before he was converted. About which many words were spent; the sum was, that either he was a true Believer, or Profane, or an Hypocrite: Not the first, for we suppose him unconverted; nor the second, as appears
Acts 26.5.
Ergo the third, [all which Mr.
Ives omits] which I proved from the Character given of the Body of the Jews,
Rom. 9.31, 32. and acknowledged by himself, as agreeing to him,
Phil. 3.7.
(viz.) that they mixed their own Righteousness with the
Messiah's, whom, as to come, they professed to believe in. And to what Mr.
Ives Objected, That
Paul sayes, He did what he did with an honest mind, before his Conversion, and so was no Hypocrite. I answer'd, There might be a moral integrity in an unconverted person, alledging,
Gen. 20.5, 6.
Abimelech, an Heathen, and distinguished of Hypocrites; that though all agree in having an appearance of that Grace which they want, yet
some design to appear what they neither are, nor care to be; others are mistaken in themselves, and make account they are what they are not, for which latter I quoted
James 1.22, 26. And of this latter sort was
Paul.
Arg. 5. And last, was this, grounded on 1
Cor. 9.27. what
Paul used all diligence to prevent the coming to pass of, might possibly come to pass: But
Paul used all diligence to prevent his falling away totally and finally,
Ergo his falling away totally and finally was possible to come to pass. I answer'd to his
major, that which is possible in its own nature, there being a real hazzard in the nature of the thing, may yet become impossible as to the event, by something intervening. To which he Replyed nothing, but asked me, whether
Paul knew this event impossible? I affirmed it, whereupon he urged, that then it was in vain for him to keep himself out of the danger. And I Replyed, That it was not in vain, because God hath in his Decree joyned the end and means, and the Command of God is obeyed, which sure is a good end proposed by us in the use of means, though we might suppose the benefit obtainable without that use. To confirm the former branch of my Answer, I instanced in Gods Promise, of lengthening out
Hezekiahs life fifteen years,
Isa. 38.5. and yet obliging him to use a Plaister of Figs to cure his Boyl,
verse 25. A worthy Minister Mr.
Luffe, who now and then (as Mr.
Ives sayes) interposed, to discover his absurd method of arguing, alledged that
[Page 19]other instance of
Paul, Acts 27.22, 31. And whereas Mr.
Ives supposes Mr.
Luffes Answer to his Question, what if they had leapt overboard?
(viz.) that then they had been drowned, a granting of what was contended for; the contrary is evident, by what is said above. We concluded all, with another intepretation of the word
[...], rendred in our Translations
a cast away; which signifies also
disapproved, or
blame-worthy, for not practising his own Doctrine. Here Mr.
Ives kept a great pudder, that either my first interpretation of being
a cast-away [which yet I did not so interpret, but conceded his interpretation of it, as not hurting our Cause,] was true or false; if true, why did I not keep to it? if false, why did I alledge it? And makes an additional Note, that by this interpretation, I grant his
major. To his Question, I answered, That I conceded the first interpretation, because our English Translation was defensible. And yet I alledged the latter, as being warranted by the Greek, and taking off any Argument from thence by his Party. And to his
additional Note, I Answer, That if I had at first interpreted the Greek word
disapproved, or
blame-worthy; then I would not have denyed his
major, what
Paul used all diligence to prevent, might come to
[Page 20]pass, but his
minor, (viz.) But
Paul used all diligence to prevent his falling away totally and finally. I should have said, that according to the line of this interpretation,
Paul used diligence to walk so, as not to displease God, nor be a shame to that Gospel, of which he was not ashamed. What Mr.
Ives hath got by this Note, he may put in his Eyes, and see never the worse. [End of the first Conference.]
HAving finished my Answer to Mr.
Ive's Arguments, for the Saints falling away totally and finally from Grace: I shall add other Arguments, which the
Arminians urge, for the confirmation thereof. The first Scripture I shall reply to, is
Ezek. 18.24, 25.
But when the Righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doth according to all the abominatious that the wicked man doth, shall he live? &c.
To which place we except in general.
Exc. 1. That the righteous man here spoken of is not a
truly righteous man, or
true Believer, nor does what they produce for proof obtain its end.
1. That he is opposed to a wicked man.
Reply. So is the
Righteous to
Sinners, Math. 9.13.
I am not come (sayes Christ)
to call the Righteous, but Sinners to repentance;
[Page 21]which is spoken of the
Pharisees, verse 11. who did outwardly appear righteous unto men,
Chap. 23.28. which outward appearance was ground enough for that denomination of
righteous.
2. That the wicked man whom
Ezekiel speaks of, was truly wicked; therefore the righteous man he speaks of must be truly righteous.
Reply 1.
Math. 9.13. Before alledged, answers this Argument: The Publicans and Sinners
(viz.) open debauched Persons, were truly
Sinners; yet were not the Pharisees truly righteous.
Rep. 2. We retort upon them, that the Text speaking of a wicked man, as
visibly wicked, therefore the righteous man may be understood of him that is
visibly righteous only; Such as
Paul, whilst a Pharisee,
Phil. 3.6. And so the Antithesis is more direct, and the Description here given of a righteous man,
(viz.) The forbearance of external gross acts of Sin, Idolatry, Adultery,
&c. Ezek. 18.6, 7. And the doing of external acts of Mercy, Justice,
verse 8, 9. sufficiently favours our limitation.
Excep. 2. is this, That the Death here spoken of, is but a
Temporal Death, [immediately and
explicitly.]
The reason of this our assertion is, because the Lord does evidently vindicate himself from the imputation cast upon him by the wicked Jews, that in their Publick Calamities, he exceeded the desert of their personal Sins,
Ezek. 18.2, 19, 25, 29. So we must understand those Complaints, for we do not find that they charge him with casting them into Hell for their Fathers sins; nor is there any weight in what the
Arminians urge, for extending the phrase.
1. That the Death here spoken of, is opposed to the life promised to the Penitent; which is eternal life.
Reply 1. The
Arminians here forsake their own Principle, which is, that there's no express Promise of eternal life in the Old Testament.
2. Though we deny not, but that eternal life in Old Testament and New is promised to the Penitent; yet we deny that by
life here, is meant at least
immediately and
explicitly eternal life, but onely
temporal; for God speaks
ad idem, as of the same Death the Jews complain'd of, so of the same life they were desirous of.
2. That then a flagitious Sinner may escape eternal Death without Repentance.
Reply. We deny the Consequence, because though this Scripture does not explicitly threaten eternal Death to such a Sinner, yet other Scriptures do, as 1
Cor. 6.9, 10.
Except. 3. We except against their position from a supposition, that by the righteous man, were meant a truly righteous man; that therefore it is simply possible, that a righteous man should totally and finally depart from his righteousness, and die eternally. For,
1. When Christ sayes,
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, &c. John 15.6. That conditional enunciation does not imply a simple possibility of the antecedent and consequent
(viz.) of the total and final Apostacy, and damnation of all the men that are in Christ; for of the Apostles Christ sayes,
I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your Fruit should remain, verse 16.
And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, Luke 22.29.
2. We cannot suppose a greater possibility of the Antecedent and Consequent in this Enunciation;
If the Righteous turn away from his righteousness, he shall die, then in this,
If the Wicked turn away from his wickedness, he shall live. But from this conditional Enunciation,
[Page 24]cannot be inferr'd a simple possibility of the conversion of all wicked men, and of their Salvation; the
Arminians themselves being Judges: For if so, then Gods prescience of the final impenitency and perdition of some wicked men must needs be denied, which yet in their good moods the
Arminians stick not to grant.
Vide Ames. Anti Synodalia, Art. 5. c. 2.
Another Scripture urged by the
Arminians, is,
Matth. 13.20, 21. Whence they observe,
1. That these Persons have a Description given of them, agreeing to true Believers; 1. That they receive or believe the Word. 2. With gladness, 3. They profess the Faith.
Answ. To the parts of the Description.
1. Believing is ascribed to the Devil, of this truth, That there is a God,
James 2.19. And this, That Jesus is the Christ, and Son of God,
Luke 4.41. Which belief is else-where made an evidence of a new Birth, 1
John 5.1. By the collation of which places, we rightly conclude, That every believing does not denominate men true Believers. For if the Devils believing be not true Faith, why should every believing of Mens? yea, the Scripture tells us, that
Simon Magus believed
[Page 25]and that at the same time his heart was not right in the sight of God,
Acts 8.13, 21. See also
John 2.23, 24.
2. To the second we have spoken already, in answer to
Heb. 6.5.
3. To the third,
Luke 4.41. may suffice, where the Devil openly professes the Faith, as well as secretly believes it. See also
Acts 16.17. Where the Devil openly acknowledges the Gospel, to be
the way of Salvation. And
Acts 19.15. he owns Christ's Authority over him, as the Lord, and
Pauls as the Servant,
&c. When yet the Apostle tells us, That
no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12.3. Whence I infer, that every Profession is not an
indicium, or mark of true Faith.
2. The
Arminians observe, That the stonyground-Hearers were not Hypocrites, and therefore true Believers.
Answ. We have spoken to this before; we distinguish in the Antecedent of Hypocrites;
Some are not, nor care to be, what yet they would be taken for; in that sense we grant their Antecedent:
Others esteem themselves what they are not, so we deny their Antecedent. In this last sense they were Hypocrites, which is evident, because 'tis said, they had
no root in a tropical term, and are opposed to
[Page 26]a
good and honest heart (which is the explication of that term) which only the last sort had,
Matth. 13.21. compared with
Luke 8.15.
3. The
Arminians affirm, That perseverance is not of the essence of true Faith; and therefore these Persons might have true Faith, though they fell away.
Answ. We distinguish in the Antecedent between that which is of the essence of true Faith,
Constitutivè and
Consecutivè, i. e. between that which is an essential part of true Faith, and an adjunct or Property inseparable from it,
Ex hypothesi cause efficientis externae, upon supposition of some external efficient causes of operation. Thus the Moon suffers an Eclipse alway, when the Earth interposes between the Sun and it. Thus supposing a continual influence of Grace, which God hath decreed, and promised to afford (as we have proved) to true Faith; perseverance is a necessary adjunct of it.
Another Scripture alledged by the
Armini
[...]ns, is
Heb. 10.38.
Now the Just shall live by Faith; but if any man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him: Where they observe, That we put
any man instead of
he, i. e. the
just man, as they interpret it, the Greek being
[...]; and they charge
Beza, and others, that wrote in Latine and
[Page 27]our English Translations, with unfaithfulness.
Answ. 1. In some of our English Bibles, the words
any man are put into a
small Letter, to note they are not in the Text. In the Translation before King
James, now in use, the word
any without
man, is put in a smaller Letter, as in an Edition in Quarto, printed by
Barker, A. D. 1603. And
Piscater puts
quis in a Distinguishing Character,
Edit. Herb. Nass. 1613. And so does
Beza in all the Editions of his Versions that I have met with, which shews plainly they intended not to deceive.
Calvin renders it to their mind,
Si subductus fuerit, If he shall be withdrawn, or drawn back; though he understands the meaning of the Apostle otherwise then the
Arminians do.
2. There must be a supply of
quis, or
any man. For,
1. How can the
just draw back, if he
lives by Faith. I am sure Christ sayes, That he that eats him, (which surely every Believer does)
shall live for ever, John 6.51, 58.
2. If it be meant of the same person, then we may understand it of a
partial and
temporary drawing back, which displeases God, as 'tis said of
Davids Murther and Adultery, 2
Sam. 11.
ult.
3. The Apostles confidence of the not drawing back, and salvation of some that believe,
verse last. Though it was grounded but upon Charity, as to particular Persons, yet it plainly intimates a difference between Faith and Faith; or otherwise he had no ground for his confidence of any Believer at all.
We now proceed to the Instances which the
Arminians give us of those Persons that did fall away totally or finally, one or both from true Grace: Their first instance is of
David.
Arg. True Believers, when they commit Adultery, Murther, against the light of Conscience, with deliberation, and continue therein without Repentance, cease to be true Believers: But so did
David, Ergo he ceased to be a true Believer.
Answ. There is an ambiguity in the terms of the
major, which therefore must first be removed; and as 'tis phrased, we deny it, and answer to the
minor with distinction.
1. For committing those Sins against the
light of Conscience, we distinguish of an
habitual and
actual light of Conscience. 'Tis a Rule in moral Philosophy,
Omnis incontinens peccat ignorans, i. e.
Every incontinent person sins ignorantly, because that general knowledge
[Page 29]he hath of evil, he cannot apply to the present resistance of temptation, (inward Lusts, like a Cloud, or Mist, darkning his understanding for the present.) Thus we grant the former, but deny the latter of
David.
2. As to smning with
deliberation, we distinguish between a
Calm and
perfect, or a
disturbed and
imperfect deliberation. The former we deny, but the latter we grant of
David. For we have proved before, under the first Argument, against Believers Apostacy, that no Believer sins with full consent of will, and therefore not with a calm and perfect deliberation; for the former presupposes this latter. And we may retort the
Arminians own concession upon them, which is,
That the holy Spirit is not lost, till after the Commission of heinous Sins: Now where the holy Spirit is,
it lusts against the Flesh, Gal. 5.17. And consequently the true Believer cannot sin with full consent, whilst the holy Spirit is in him; that is, whilst he is a true Believer.
3. As to the continuance in sin without Repentance, we distinguish between an
habitual and
actual Repentance; and again, between the want of
actual Repentance for a time, and
for ever after the Fact committed. Whilst
David wanted an actual Repentance, it appears not that he wanted an habitual Repentance.
[Page 30]
David might have such a disposition of Soul at that time, which at other times he words after this manner,
Cleanse thou me from secret faults, Psal. 19.12. Let them that deny it, make proof of their denial; but to save them the trouble, I will evince the Affirmative by and by. Again, it is not evident from Scripture, that actual Repentance must immediately follow the sin committed; or for default thereof, Grace totally lost. I understand not, why
the Believer as well as
the man may not suffer a
deliquium, or failure, of the more ordinary sensible operations of life, and yet retain the principle of life.
There are also two Arguments drawn from the nature of the sins
David was guilty of, for the proof of his total Apostacy.
1. For his Adultery,
David, by his Adultery, was made a member of an Harlot.
Ergo he was no longer a Member of Christ. The Antecedent is proved from 1
Cor. 6.15, 16.
Answ. We deny the Connexion: For as in the Conjugal state, Adultery does make void the Marriage-Covenant
de jure, or
merito, not
de facto; but the injured Party may continue the band, without guilt of Adultery. So though Christ might justifie a Divorce, yet it appears not that he will sue out one
[Page 31]against any Believer that is guilty of bodily Adultery.
2. Another Argument of the
Arminians, is drawn from
Davids Murther, No Murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him: David was a Murtherer,
Ergo he had not eternal life abiding in him. The
major proved by the words of the Apostle, 1
John 3.15. The
minor they take for granted.
Answ. We deny the
minor, David was not a Murtherer, that denomination could not be given him from a single Act, and afterwards repented of; any more then the denomination of a
wicked man to a true Believer, because of the Sins he is guilty of.
Another Argument of the
Arminians against
Davids perseverance, is drawn from his Prayer,
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Psal. 51.10. Whence they infer, That he had lost a clean Heart, and right Spirit,
totally.
Answ. This (as generally what the
Arminians urge on the Point before us) is a pittyfull fallacy, which every freshman in the School is acquainted with,
à Dicto secundum quid, ad dictum simpliciter. They might as well infer from the Evangelists phrase,
For the Holy Ghost was not yet given, John 7.39. That therefore
David never had him at all.
[Page 32]All know, that in nature that species of motion call'd
Alteratio, which is a change made in a Subject as to quality, may be either
quoad speciem or
gradum. As water quite cold may become lukewarm, or seething hot.
And here
David might well express himself so emphatically, because of the late extraordinary defilement he had contracted, and the quick sence he had of it at this time.
To close up the Discourse of this instance, I shall offer two Arguments to prove, that
David did not wholly fall from Grace.
One from Psalm 51.
Take not the holy Spirit from me, verse 11. His deprecation of the taking away the holy Spirit, does plainly imply a gradual presence of it. For that could not be taken from him, which he had not.
The other from Psalm 18.21.
I have not wickedly departed from my God: Whence I urge an Argument in form, He that had never wickedly departed from God, had never fallen away totally from Grace.
But
David had never wickedly departed from God,
Ergo, David had never fallen away totally from Grace.
The
major I presume they deny not: The
minor I suppose will not down with them, because they may imagine, that this was spoken
[Page 33]before his total Apostacy. But to me 'tis evident, That
David speaks this of himself, after the supposed time of his total Apostacy. For it was spoken after God had delivered him from the hands of all his Enemies, as appears by the
Title of the Psalm, and he takes notice particularly of Gods
delivering him from the strivings of his People, (i. e. his own Subjects)
verse 43. which evidently relates to the Rebellion of
Absolom and
Sheba, which were after, and a punishment of those Sins of
David (by which the
Arminians pretend he fell away totally from Grace) as any one may inform himself, that will compare 2
Sam. Chap. 11.12. and
Chap. 12.10. with
Chap. 15,
&c. and the 20th. And when those Sins were committed,
David was in actual contest with his Enemies, 2
Sam. 11.1, 2,
&c. And if in any sin
David had
wickedly departed from God, we may judge in that, by the black brand which the Holy Ghost sets upon that, 1
Kings 15.5.
Another instance is of
Solomon, from whose Idolatry, and other Sins, they infer his total Apostacy, and final too, and so consequently his Damnation, 1
Kings 11.
Answ. 1. As to his
Idolatry, not every degree of that sin argues a defection from true Grace, as is evident by
Exod. 32.5, 25. in
[Page 34]the instance of
Aaron, and 1
Cor. 10.20, 21, 22. And as for
Polygamy, Custom had so blinded mens eyes, that few saw the evil of it.
Answ. 2. There's no Sin (except that against the Holy Ghost) which a Child of God may not be guilty of, because the body of Sin is not dead, though deadly wounded; but like a sick man, ever and anon giving ground for a belief, that his recovery is possible.
But that he was not a total Apostate, or ceased to be a Believer; We argue thus,
1. In that all the Writers of the Holy Scripture are simply affirmed to be
holy Men of God, 2
Pet. 1.21. whereof
Solomon was one.
2. Because he is said to be loved of God, 2
Sam. 12.24. Now the love of God is everlasting,
John 13.1.
That
Solomon was not a final Apostate, we prove thus,
1. In that he repented of his Miscarriages, as appears by the Title,
The Penitent,
[...] [of which word and thing, the learned may find useful Observations amass'd by Mr.
Pool, in his
Synopsis Crit. Comm. in Eccles. 1.] Given to
Ecclesiastes (as our Translation calls it) and particularly of giving himself to Women,
Chap. 7.26. under which, and that
[Page 35]phrase of
Inventions, verse ult. he seems to include his
Idolatry, which, for ought appears to me, was not by personal worship, but by connivance at, or at most, allowance of Temples for his Wives Idolatrous Worship, 1
Kings 11.7, 8.
2. From his being joyned with
David, as a President for
Rehoboams walking, 2
Chron. 12.17.
Many other Arguments,
Pro and
Con, might be produced, but it is not necessary; these have much more probability then the Scriptures silence of his Repentance, (which is the
Arminians main Argument); No Scriptures mention
Noahs, Lots, &c. Repentance of those heinous Sins,
Gen. 9.
& 19. yet none doubt, or have ground at least, of their Repentance.
A third instance is given in
Peter, whom, though
Bellarmin speaks favourably of, as to total Apostacy,
De Rom. Pontif. l. 4.
c. 8.
Perdidit confessionem Fidei, non ipsam fidem. Yet the Lutherans,
Hinckelman, Hunnius, &c. give him for another instance of true Believers falling totally from Grace.
Their first Argument is drawn from the nature of his Sin,
(viz.) a denial of Christ.
He that denies Christ before Men, shall be denied by Christ before the Father, [which
[Page 36]proposition is contained
Matth. 10.33.] But so did
Peter, Ergo he shall be denied by Christ.
Answ. 1. In general, this Argument, if it were wholly granted them, proves his
final Apostacy, which themselves deny (as we shall find in their next Argument.)
2. We Answer. The proposition is to be understood of a
final denial of Christ; and then we deny the
minor, for
Peter quickly repented of his denial,
Matth. 26.
ult. To inforce their
major, the
Arminians urge, The denial of Christ was an Heresie, and therefore puts the Denyer into a state of Damnation.
Answ. We distinguish of Heresie, 'tis considered either
materially or
formally: To the latter, pertinacy or
obstinacy is a necessary ingredient, which
Peter's speedy Repentance assures us he was not guilty of.
The
Arminians second Argument is this, He that was to be converted anew to the Faith, had lost the Faith he had: But
Peter was to be converted anew to the Faith,
Ergo he had lost the Faith he had. The
minor is proved by
Luke 22.32.
Answ. We distinguish in the
minor between a
specifical and a
gradual Conversion: A recovery from prevailing Sin is call'd
Conversion,
[Page 37]Matth. 18.3. which is spoken of adding to all their other Graces that of Humility, for they were converted before. And the reason of this denomination is, because
The increase of Grace is by adding a new degree of Grace; as in making Candles, when a Candle is put anew into the fat of boyled Tallow, every time it is put in, it comes out bigger. And this is done by a new act of Creation put forth by God, &c. To borrow the Reason, and apt Similitude for the illustration of it, of that
most excellent Divine Dr. Tho. Goodwin, Trial of Christian growth, pag. 165.
But that
Peter did not fall away
totally, is evident from
Christ's Prayer,
Luke 22.32. (which, that it is always answered, hath been proved) which must be meant either
not at all (which the event assures us was not
Christ's meaning) or not
totally, or
finally, which last the words will not bear.
A fourth Instance is of the
Galatians, ch. 5.4. whence they argue thus, The
Galatians
[...]ell from Grace: The
Galatians were true Believers.
Ergo, True Believers have fallen from Grace.
Answ. 1. If the
major or
minor being indefinite, be equivalent to an Universal, we deny
[...]hem both.
2. To the
major we say, That by falling
[Page 38]from Grace, is not meant falling from true inherent Grace, but the
Doctrine of Grace, or the truth of the Gospel, which teaches Justification by Grace through Faith, not by Works, as seemes evident by comparing the Phrase elsewhere, opposed to
another Gopel, which supposes
Grace to be
one Gospel, Gal. 1.6.
A fifth, of
Hymeneus and
Alexander, 1
Tim. 1.19, 20. whence they argue,
They that have put away Faith and a good Conscience, are totally and finally fallen away from Grace: But so had
Hymeneus and
Alexander: Ergo, They were fallen away.
Answ. We distinguish in the
minor, of
Faith, and
a God Conscience. There is a
feigned Faith, as the Apostles denomination,
Faith unfeigned, v. 5. imports: And there is a
Conscience morally good. Abimelech, an Heathen, gives testimony to the
integrity of his
own heart, Gen. 20.5. and God himself confirms it,
v. 6. Yet
integrity, or uprightness of heart, is the usual description of a godly man,
Psal. 11.2.
All that is worth the transcribing, which the
Arminians urge to confirm their
minor, is this:
That which
Timothy was exhorted to hold or keep,
Hymeneus and
Alexander had lost:
[Page 39]But that was a true Faith, and truly good Conscience:
Ergo, Hymeneus and
Alexander had lost such a Faith and Conscience.
Answ. We grant the whole, without prejudice to our cause, limiting the
major to that which was
visible; for so
Hymeneus and
Alexander had lost what
Timothy was exhorted to keep, as appears by their
blasphemy, ver. last. which was a visible casting off their profession.
The last Example of
Demas, 2
Tim. 4.10. if put into form, runs thus: Some love of the World is inconsistent with true Faith: Some love of the World was in
Demas: Ergo, Demas's love to the World was inconsistent with true Faith. An evidently infirm Ratiocination:
Vid. Ames Antisyn. de Persever. Sanct. c. 9.
The
Arminians Argument, from the absurdities following from our
Thesis, is this in general, That it renders Exhortations, Threatnings, Promises, useless.
I answer, The
first are not useless, Phil. 2.12, 13. For the assurance of so powerful an Assistance, is the greatest spur to endeavour. The
Arminians might with as much reason say, It is to no purpose to hoise up the Sails, when God sends a fair Wind. Nor the
second: For 1. All true Believers know not
[Page 40]their own safety. 2. God hath joyned the use of means and end together, by an immutable Decree; so that if we could suppose a true Believer to give over in his race, he would certainly miss of his Crown. Nor the
third: For the spirit of a Christian being an ingenuous spirit, the assurance of his happiness, is the greatest bond of gratitude and obedience.
Much more I might say; but this is enough.
HEre Mr.
Ives first read out of a Paper a kind of Explication of the Terms; wherein he dealt like himself,
disingenuously, and
ignorantly: The former, in that he would understand the Term
Grace of the
Favour of God, which none of us do; and his former Arguments shew, he took it not so himself, but for the
Grace of God in us, the effect of the Grace or Favour of God:
The latter, in the explication of the word
impossible, as
opposed to such as either have, may, might, or can fall away: For
impossible is opposed to
possible; and he ought to have distinguished between that which is
simply impossible, and that which is so
in a certain respect, according to my Answer when I was Respondent; and have told us, That he held it simply or absolutely possible for true Believers to lose their Grace totally and finally.
And in the prosecution of the Debate, I first offered to retort his own Arguments,
[Page 42]which were reducible to two Heads: 1. From the uselesness of caution against falling away, if it were impossible: 2. From Examples. Neither of which he would admit me to retort, but by his rude clamor forced me to desist, before he heard me out an Argument. I shall therefore now give an account of what I then intended to urge.
That which makes not the giving of Caution needless to prevent temporal death; makes it not needless to prevent falling away totally and finally from Grace: But the impossibility of the event makes it not needless in the former,
Ergo, nor in the latter case. The
major depends upon the
par ratio between temporal and spiritual death. The
minor I would have proved thus: That which makes not the use of Caution needless to prevent temporal death, makes not the giving of it needless: But the impossibility of the event makes not the use of it needless,
&c. Ergo, nor the giving of it. The
minor I would have proved by
John 11.54, 55. compared with
John 13.1. and
chap. 10.18. where we find that
Christ withdrew to avoid that temporal death, which could not befall him without his own consent, nor before the appointed time of his death was come.
To oppose his Examples, I argued thus
If true Believers can fall away,
&c. then some have: But some have not:
Ergo, they cannot. [Which in his Notes additional he calls a false Syllogism, but tells not why: But the Form, I suppose, seems strange to him, proceeding
a remotione consequentis ad remotionem antecedentis. Yet the Scripture hath the like, which he, pretending to be a Teacher, should not be ignorant of,
Gal. 2.
ult. If Righteousness were by the Law,
Christ died in vain; to fill up the Syllogism, I must assume, But
Christ died not in vain, and conclude,
Ergo Righteousness is not by the Law.] Mr.
Ives denied my
major, Sequel he should have said, and in his Book brings in these words as my proof of it,
Whatever is potential, hath been done; which were none of mine, but his own. All that I said was, That the Argument was good on his grounds; for in regard of the Activity of the causes of Apostacy, it cannot be imagined but some must fall away, if the thing were possible, and man left to his own stock of power; here I said it was not absurd to argue
a posse ad esse, which, bold man! he hath adventured to translate thus,
Whatever is potential, hath been done. After a great deal of brangle, I urged against his first Example 1
Pet. 2.20. They that were Dogs and Swine, when they had escaped the
[Page 44]pollutions of the World,
&c. were not true Believers; and so their falling away, no instance of true Believers falling away totally and finally from Grace: But these persons were Dogs and Swine,
&c. Ergo, not true Believers. The
major is evident: The
minor we have
ver. 20.
ult. compared. I offered also to prove against the Description, but he broke me off. What I would have said, was this;
Judas was not a true Believer;
Judas escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of
Christ: Ergo, Some that escape the pollutions of the World,
&c. are not true Believers. The
major is evident by
John 6.
ult. The
minor appears, because the Disciples, who knew his Conversation by familiar society, saw no cause to suspect him to be the Traytor, more than any other of their number,
Matth. 26.21, 22. and therefore he was not visibly wicked.
Against his other Instance,
Heb. 6.5, 6. I would have urged, That if those who were in the judgement of Charity true Believers, are supposed, to the making of them such, to have better things then those that fell away; then those that fell away were not true Believers: But the Antecedent is true;
Ergo, the Consequent. The Antecedent is proved by
ver. 9. If the
Arminians think to get off, by
[Page 45]pretending that the things ascribed to the Believers are said to be better, not in nature, but event;
ver. 9. will afford a confutation
[...],
things that have salvation in them, i. e.
no more separable from Salvation, then Salvation from it self. And
ver. 10. suggests another, Those things which God should be unrighteous in not rewarding, were better than those, which God should not be unrighteous in not rewarding: But the things ascribed to true Believers were such as God should be unrighteous in not rewarding;
Ergo, they were better then those which God should not be unrighteous in not rewarding,
viz. the things ascribed to them that fell away,
ver. 5, 6.
After a long rambling Discourse, I urged to Mr.
Ives, That if some true Believers might fall away totally and finally from Grace, then all might: But all could not (according to his own grant):
Ergo, not some. I proved the Consequence, because
Paribus paria conveniunt. He denied that though there be the like reason for the falling away of all, that there is for some, that therefore it followed, That if some might, then all might. Which being so grosly absurd, I appealed to the Judgment of the intelligent Hearers, and so left it. I called
[Page 46]upon him to hear
Christs own Argument
à pari, from
David's eating of the Shewbread, lawful onely ordinarily to the Priests; to the Disciples plucking of the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath, for the supply of a present necessity,
Matth. 12.3, 4. But being an enemy to vain janglings, I desisted, as I did often, to prosecute something else,
viz. the first main Argument from 1
John 3.8.
Arg. 1. They that cannot sin, as wicked men do, cannot fail away totally and finally from Grace: But true Believers cannot sin as wicked men do:
Ergo, true Believers cannot fall away,
&c. Mr.
Ives asked what I meant by
cannot sin. I answered, Not as to the
acts of sin, but the
manner [which Mr.
Ives leaves out, and makes my Answer nonsense] of sinning. After many superfluous words, he said, That if by
cannot I meant, neither for the present, nor future; fall from that state, and sin as the wicked do, then he denied my
minor. [Mr.
Ives's additional Notes about the acception of the word
cannot, p. 100. are rendred insignificant by the proof of my
minor, and therefore I omit them.] To prove my
minor, I quoted 1
Joh. 3.9.
Whosoever is born of God cannot commit sin, &c. Mr.
Ives presently replied, That this proved
no body could sin at all. I answered,
[Page 47]That either was meant, that they could not sin at all, or not as wicked men do. Not the former; for proof I quoted
chap. 1.8.10.
Jam. 3.2.
Ergo, the latter; for I knew no
tertium. And so I formed my Argument thus: Whosoever is born of God cannot sin as wicked men do: But all true Believers are born of God:
Ergo, true Believers cannot sin as wicked men do. [Which Argument Mr.
Ives hath omitted.] Yet he continued his Cavil, That if the
not sinning was meant not at present, nor future, he denied it. And I proved it thus: The reason here assigned of the Believers, or born of God, their not sinning as wicked men do, is of equal force to exclude his future, as his present not sinning as wicked men do,
viz. because the seed of God remains in him, ver. 9. Whence I argued thus, They in whom the seed of God remains, cannot sin as wicked men do: But in those who are born of God, the seed of God remains;
Ergo, Whosoever is born of God cannot sin as wicked men do. Mr.
Ives cavilled much about the term
remain, which I urged as plainly excluding a
ceasing or losing of Grace totally: And he pretended that my Argument was but like this,
They that come into this House, remain in it: Ergo,
They cannot cease from remaining in it. To which I answered,
[Page 48]That it was
fallacia compositionis and
divisionis, (as we say in Logick) to say Believers, whilst Believers, cannot cease to be Believers; for they cannot be both as to state at the same time: But the Question is, Whether they that are such, may become Unbelievers? And as to his Instance, if applied to our Question, the meaning is not, Whether he that is now in the House, may be out of it at the same time? but, Whether he that is in it, can afterwards go out? which by force, or other impediment, may become to him impossible, though possible in it self.
Here he cavilling about the word
seed of God, I asked him how he understood the Phrase, because I thought it so plain, as that I supposed he took it in the same sense I did, and as 'twas commonly understood,
viz. for a
Principle of Grace: Which Mr.
Ives understood not; but at length he said, he understood by it
the Word of God, and quoted 1
Pet. 1.23, 24. To which I replied, That in that place the Word is not called the
Seed of God, but Believers are said to be
born of incorruptible Seed by the Word. But suppose it had, yet the sense is the same,
viz. That the impressions of the Word remain in a true Believer; in which sense 'tis said,
The Word abides for ever, 1
Pet. 1.23, 25. At last I proved, That the Seed of
[Page 49]God cannot but remain in a true Believer, from the
Promise: Those to whom God hath made a Promise, that in them the Seed [or Principle of Grace] shall remain, in them it cannot but remain: But to all true Believers God hath made such a Promise:
Ergo, The Seed cannot but remain in them. He denying the
major, I proved it thus: If the Seed of God remain not in them to whom God hath promised, then the Promises of God are untrue: But they are not untrue:
Ergo, The Seed of God shall remain,
&c. [Note, That here it was that Mr.
Lueff admonished Mr.
Ives of his ignorance in the terms of Art, he denying the
major, when he should have said the
Sequel or
Consequence; and not in the former Syllogism, which was
Categorical, as Mr.
Ives suggests,
pag. 118. of his Book, like himself,
i. e. a man that makes no conscience of lying, to slur his Adversary.] Mr.
Ives gave instance in the Promise of God to
Abraham, That the Land of
Canaan should be to his seed an everlasting Possession, and yet that he would scatter them among the Heathen,
&c. Which Promise he pretended had no Condition, either where it is found, or elsewhere in Scripture; though he boldly denies his Assertion,
pag. 120.
I offered to prove that that Promise was
[Page 50]true, notwithstanding the non-performance of it, as it might seem: but was hindred by his Clamors. I shall give an account of what I would have said, and began to speak for instance, wherein a godly man cannot sin as the wicked do; but could not be heard for the rudeness of my Antagonist.
1. That
the course of sin is interrupted by sincere repentance in a godly man: So much is the opposition of the righteous man to the wicked, who imitates the Devil in sinning from the beginning,
ver. 8, 9. 1
John 3. imports: For simply, as to the continuing to do evil, the opposition between them cannot lie: The wicked man cannot get his heart to repent sincerely of his sins,
Rev. 9.21. and
chap. 16.11. Something like it, but not the same, was found in
Ahab, Nineveh, Judas.
2. The godly man sins not with
full consent of will; so much those Metaphors imply
Rom. 7.14. compared with 1
Kings 21.25.
Paul speaking of himself whilst a Believer, affirms, that he was
carnal indeed, but not simply; for he adds,
sold under sin, i. e. an involuntary Captive, as he sufficiently explains his meaning, when he tells us,
For that which I do, I allow not, ver. 15. [See other like Phrases to the end of the Chapter.] But of
Ahab the Holy Ghost affirms, That
[Page 51]
be sold himself to work wickedness. If it be objected, that the Text says,
There was none like to Ahab; I answer, For degree, not for kind of wickedness, must we understand that Negative. That there is in a godly man but a partial consent of Will, appears by
Gal. 5.17. where the Apostle says,
The spirit lusts against the flesh;
[...],
concupiscit; it notes an ardent desire
(viz.) of victory in the new Nature over the old, such as to be found in enemies, (so the word
[...] imports): Or else it may allude to Contrarieties in Nature, of which we observe in Philosophy, that they endeavour
mutuo se expellere, to drive out one another, when they meet in the same subject.
3. Another difference between the godly and wicked mans sinning, lies in this, That the
former hath not a setled purpose to sin; but the latter hath. Peter, whose sin the enemies of the Saints Perseverance do so tragically aggravate, was so far from resolving to deny his Master, that he resolved against it with much vehemency,
Matth. 26.39. Whereas
Judas kept fixed, notwithstanding the dreadful threatning uttered against him, in his resolution to betray him,
Joh. 13.27. compar'd with
Matth. 26.24. But more of this afterward, when we answer the Instances of
David, Peter, &c.
I now proceed to the second Argument, from
Jer. 32.40.
Joh. 10.28.
Arg. 2. Whatever God hath promised, shall certainly be accomplished: But God hath promised that Believers shall not fall away totally and finally from Grace:
Ergo, This Promise shall certainly be accomplished. Here I shall first take notice of, and answer what the
Arminians urge against the
major; which will also answer with advantage Mr.
Ives's Instance of the Promise of the Land of
Canaan, which I touched at then,
(viz.) That it being conditional, noted but a connexion between the Benefit and their Obedience, (though Mr.
Ives omits it).
The
major they deny, upon pretence of Instances of some Promises not fulfilled.
To which I answer, 1. That the Instances which they bring,
viz. Numb. 14.18. 1
Sam. 2.30. do not import a Promise to every individual person,
qua talis, as such, that they should enter into
Canaan, or succeed their Parents in the Office of the Priesthood; but it was fulfilled, in that the Stock of
Israel did enter, and of
Levi transmitted the Office to their Children, though particular Persons were cut off, and debarred that Privilege.
2. Suppose the Promises were made to individual Persons, and conditionally; yet
[Page 53]cannot be affirmed, that the Promises were broken;
Non enim affirmat connexa vel conditionata promissio, consequentem partem illius axiomatis fore, sed connexionem tantùm consequentis parte cum antecedente, quam semper etiam Deus praestat, as
Ames well observes in
Coronis, Art. 5.
de Perseverantia, cap. 2. The sum is, Conditional Promises engage but for a connexion of Duty and Benefit. As when God says,
Ye shall keep my Statutes, and my Judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them, Lev. 18.5. he does not strictly promise, that a man shall live by keeping his Statutes and Judgments; but that there shall be a certain connexion between perfect Obedience, and Life thereby, which is certainly accomplished, though no man lives by such Obedience, (innate corruption disabling him thereto,
Rom. 8.3.)
To the
minor, That God hath made promise of Perseverance to true Believers, which we prove by
Jer. 32.40.
John 10.28. the general Answer is, That these Promises are
conditional. Mr.
Ives would assign none, though much urged, nor would be perswaded that he was bound by the Law of Dispute so to do.
But the
Remonstrants, and others give this,
(viz.) That
Man does his Duty. To which I
[Page 54]answer, That this is the very
matter or
subject of the
Promise, and therefore cannot be the
Condition of it. All the Promises we produce do import an Obligation laid by God on himself to enable us to our Duty, so far as is necessary for the prevention of a total and final falling away from Grace.]
Against the first Promise,
Jer. 32.40. the
Arminians make divers Exceptions, which I shall first answer, and then repeat Mr.
Ives's.
1. That 'tis a Conditional Promise, because called
[...]
Foedus, a Covenant.
Answ. 1. This word is often taken for a simple Promise,
Gen. 6.19. and
chap. 9.9. 2. The Apostle mentioning this Promise calls it
[...],
Heb. 8.10. which is rendred
Testament or
Will, chap. 9.17. 3. Though the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace, compar'd one with another, have the nature of a Condition, as Faith of Justification; yet that hinders not but that the whole, and each part, are conveyed as Legacies,
Jer. 32.38. the Promise is, That we shall be Gods People.
2. Others bear us in hand, it was made to the whole People of the
Jews, and not only to true Believers.
Answ. 1. A Promise of Continuance with God, does suppose a Being with him.
2. The Promise is made to them all, in
[Page 55]respect of their Covenant, State, and Profession of true Faith: but yet it was not intended to any but true Believers; for they are the Children of the Promise,
Rom. 9.8. and for their comfort it was intended.
3. As to the matter of it,
1. They object, That the words may as well be construed a Promise to keep Believers from falling away from any Degree of Grace, as totally and finally.
Answ. 1. The very Event gives ground not to make that interpretation of the Promise, 1
Kings 8.46.
2. He is not said to depart, properly, who does not wholly relinquish or forsake whom he was with.
Now to Mr.
Ives's Answer, which was by denial,
1. That it was any Promise, either absolutely or conditionally to all true Believers. Whereupon I argued thus: Either this Promise,
Jer. 32.40. is made to all true Believers, or onely to some, or to Unbelievers: But neither is it made to some onely, nor to Unbelievers:
Ergo, To all true Believers. I proved that it was not made, as he pretended, to some onely. Spiritual Promises made to the
Israel of God, are made to all true Believers: But such is this:
Ergo, It is made to
[Page 56]all true Believers. I proved my
major, because the
Israel of God contains all true Believers, according to
Gal. 6.16. I proved further, that this Promise
Jer. 32. belonged to all true Believers, from a Promise of the New Testament of the same import,
(viz.) a Promise of Perseverance,
Joh. 10.28. Whence I argued, That if this Promise belonged to all true Believers, then so did that,
Jer. 32. But this did:
Ergo, That. [As for what he urges of Mr.
Fowlers, as aiding me, though I acknowledge his worth much beyond mine, yet I will appeal to Mr.
Fewler, and any of the sober Hearers, whether Mr.
Fowler did not often tell Mr.
Ives, I do but repeat what Mr. Danson said: And Mr.
Ives's disingenuity is remarkable, that he leaves out the word
spiritual, which I did often, perhaps not alway, add, as a limitation of the Promises made to
Israel, which, under them, as Types, agreed to the Believers of the New Testament. And where he brings in the same Argument in other words, as a new Argument, he abuses me; for all that were ingenuous of the Auditors will bear me witness, that by the many breaks (through his impertinent Harangues, which he hath had so much wit as to leave out) in the Discourse, I was fain to repeat the same Argument over and over,
[Page 57]to gain an Answer.] I urged also
Heb. 8.10. which evidently proves, that the same Promise made to the
Israel of God,
Jer. 32.38. and
Jer. 31.33. agrees to others than them,
(viz.) all true Believers. And let any impartial Person read his own report of his Answer, and they shall find it meer words, and that he does himself as little service to evade the Argument, as a Mouse in a Tarbarrel, with all her strugling to get out. I urged further, That if the whole Covenant of Grace made with
Israel, Jer. 32.38. belongs to all Believers, then part of it
(viz.) the Promise of Perseverance,
ver. 40. But the whole does:
Ergo, That part. The
Consequence (which he still ignorantly called the
Major) I proved, because that Branch of it was contained under the whole, as a Particular under an Universal. And whereas he brings me in saying,
Heb. 8.10. is part of the Covenant of Grace, and therefore the whole; that's false: and Mr.
Fowler's interposure (though he basely conceals what he said) was to reprove him for an undue repeating of my words, which were (as Mr.
Fowler told him) That
Heb. 8. being part of the Covenant of Grace, belongs to all Believers, under the title of the
Israel of God, because the whole does.
2. As Mr.
Ives denied the Promise,
Jer. 32.40. was made to all Believers; so he denied that it was a Promise of Perseverance at all, but that they may be read,
But let them not depart from me; and for this quotes
Calvin, whom he named not in the Conference, and subjoyns,
ver. 39.
that they may fear me. To which I answer him, that the words,
(viz.)
[...] are rendred, and so owned by the Remonstrants and others,
That they may not depart, Ʋt non recedant. As for
Calvin, he manifests his impudence to the height, in fathering such an Interpretation on him: Let any one that understands
Latin, read his Comment on
Jer. 32.40. and believe their own eyes.
Calvin does not so much as mention any such Translation of the
Hebrew words, but onely what our Translation follows. As for
ver. 39. that makes against Mr.
Ives; for the sence is the very same with
ver. 40.
(viz.) a Promise of Perseverance i
[...] the Fear of God. [This second Branch o
[...] Mr.
Ives's Answer was brought in by som
[...] impertinent words of his, in the midst of ou
[...] Discourse about the
Persons to whom the Promise was made, supposing it such: but so order sake I have transposed it hither. S
[...]his Book,
pag. 133.] The second Promise
[...] Perseverance I alledged, was,
John 10.2
[...]
[Page 59]whence I argued thus; They that cannot be plucked out of Christ's hand, cannot fall away totally and finally from Grace: True Believers cannot be plucked out of Christ's hand:
Ergo, True Believers cannot fall away totally,
&c. To which Mr.
Ives answers, That I concluded not the Question, because I argued
indefinitely, not
universally, [which Terms he used not then, so far as Memory and Notes inform me:] But how simple this Answer is, let any judge; for he first, for his advantage, stated the Question
particularly, (viz.) That some true Believers [not all] may fall away. Again, he opposes
Indefinite to
Ʋniversal; whereas an
Indefinite Proposition may be either
Particular or
Ʋniversal, as
the matter is contingent or necessary. And he repeated my words in an Hypothetical form; If none of the Sheep of Christ can be plucked out of Christs hand, then no true Believer can fall away,
&c. and so denied the
Major, the
Consequence he should have said, and being friendly admonished of his error, pretended they were all one: However, I told him the Consequence was evident, because all true Believers are Christs Sheep; which by his frequent diversions I was fain to repeat, and he would outface me then, as now in his Book, that I intended each Repetition
[Page 60]for a new
Medium, and so argued
idem per idem; whereas I stuck to that Proposition, till I had a plain and direct Answer. At last he said, That
Metaphors prove nothing. I told him, Yes, they did in that Similitude upon which they are grounded; and thereupon appealed to Mr.
Fowler, as Moderator, whom at first I proposed to Mr.
Ives for that Office, if he would please to undertake it: which was the reason of his so frequent interposure, that he might shew Mr.
Ives when I proved directly, and he answered not directly. At last he told us, That the Promise referred to the day of Judgment; That when Christs Sheep are possessed of Eternal Life, they shall not be plucked out of his hand, or perish: Which was so absurd an Interpretation, That Mr.
Fowler asked him solemnly, Whether he himself did believe it? To which the sum of his Answer was, That it was no absurdity. Here he quoted
Augustin, as holding that some true Believers may fall away. Mr.
Fowler's Answer I shall refer to the Appendix. When Mr.
Fowler and he had done, I repeated my former Argument, and Mr.
Ives denied that that Phrase of
Christs Sheep included
all true Believers; which I proved from the description.
ver. 27. that they
hear Christs voice, and know him, and follow
[Page 61]him. Then I proceeded from
Matth. 7.24.
Psal. 1.3.
Arg. 3. If true Believers be every where in Scripture set forth by Similitudes that note stability and firmness, then they cannot fall away from Grace totally and finally:
Sed verum prius: Ergo, & posterius. Here he denied the
major again; he was so dull, he could not think of a
Consequence, though often told; and would not be perswaded to answer, because it was a Parable: To which I replied, That even Parables do afford
Mediums from their general scope; and the ground of the Metaphor in
Matth. 7.24. was evident,
(viz.) That a true Believer is compared to an House built on a Rock, because they agree
in uno tertio stability and firmness, notwithstanding assaults that might endanger their fall. But he continuing obstinate, I told him he was a conceited ignorant
Person, not
Fellow, (as he quotes my words, both there, and twice besides.) Upon my calling him so, he produced a Book of mine, which I was necessitated by their misreports to publish against the Quakers, wherein
I accused Christ of ignorance, as he pretneded: Whereas I did not accuse him; for Accusation supposes a Fault, whereas Christs Ignorance of many things was not such; as not
[Page 62]his ignorance of the day of Judgment,
Mat. 24.36. What I said, was, that it was not evident from Scripture, that Christ did, as Man, know
Judas to be a Devil from the
first moment of his choice of him. What I accused Mr.
Ives of disingenuity in, was his not reading the last Clause of the Paragraph in my Book, concerning Christs ignorance; wherein I say, Whether that [foregoing Assertion] be true or false, yet Christ might deal with
Judas according to what he was visibly; Yet hath Mr.
Ives the front to affirm, That the Person he employed read word for word; whereas all took notice, that he stopped him at the last Clause, which therefore, when I had the Book, I read my self. I also accused Mr.
Ives, I confess, for disturbing us with impertinencies; for what was my mistake in that Assertion, to the Saints Perseverance?
Arg. 4. Whatsoever our Lord Jesus Christ hath prayed for, shall certainly come to pass: But he hath prayed for the Saints Perseverance, or that they may not fall away totally and finally from Grace:
Ergo, The Saints shall persevere.
The
major I proved by
John 11.42.
And I knew (says Christ to the Father)
that thou hearest me always: To which Mr.
Ives returned
[Page 63]no answer, but denied the
major, and instanced in Christs Prayer,
Luke 23.34. which he pretended was not answered, because all Christs Enemies that put him to death were not forgiven. To which I replied, 1. That it was answered in the conversion of 3000 of them,
Acts 2.23, 41. and that the term
them is taken indefinitely. To which Mr.
Ives replied, That
an Indefinite is equivalent to an Ʋniversal: But I rejoyned to him, That it is not alway so, but onely sometimes,
(viz.) in materia necessaria, non contingenti; which I would have explained to him, but that his rude clamor would not give me leave: but I shall now do it, for the help of the unlearned. In Logick we call that an Indefinite Proposition or Enunciation, which hath no Note of Quantity Universal or Particular set before it, but yet must ever be understood either Universally, or Particularly; as,
Man is a reasonable Creature; Mothers love their Children. In the former Instance, we understand
every Man: In the latter,
some Mothers. In the former Instance, we call the Predicate, or that which is affirmed of Man,
(viz.) a reasonable Creature, materia necessaria, or that which agrees to Man
necessarily; for we cannot conceive a Man not to be a reasonable Creature, without a contradiction. In
[Page 64]the latter
[...]nstance, we call the Predicate, or that which is affirmed of Mothers,
(viz.) That they
love their Children, materia contingens, that is, that which may be, or not be, in Mothers; for one Branch of natural Corruption, is to be
without natural affection, 2
Tim. 3.3.
[...] in the Original,
expertes charitatis naturalis, Scultetus in loc. that is, without those affections which by instinct of Nature we bear to those that in Nature and Blood are conjoyned to us, such as are those between Parents and Children. To apply all this now to the Text before us,
Luke 23.34. compared with
John 17.24. where Christ speaking of the Elect, prays
indefinitely, Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory, &c. In the former place, Christ prays but for
some of his Persecuters: In the latter place he prays for
all that the Father had given him; though
some is not expressed in the one place, nor
all in the other: Because the Election of God made the Salvation of
all those that were given to Christ
necessary, and but onely
of some of his Persecuters, (viz.) those that were given him by the Father.
2. I answered to Mr.
Ives, That this Prayer of Christs, though made
as a private Person,
[Page 65]and not as
Mediator, by vertue of that Law of Love which requires us to pray for them that despitefully use us, and persecute us,
Matth. 5.44. which Law he was under, by being
made under the Law, Gal. 4.4. was yet
answered, as truly, as those Prayers which he made as Mediator, supposing (but not granting) that he prayed for all; because, if he did, there was then such a Condition, in respect of the disposition of the Party praying, implied, as to the forgiveness of all his Persecuters, as was expressed, when he prayed for his own natural life,
(viz.) Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done, Luke 22.42. [Where note Mr.
Ives misrepresenting of my words, as if I acknowledged that some of Christs Prayers were not answered.] Whereupon Mr.
Ives demanded of me, Where that distinction between Christs praying as a private Person, and as a Mediator, was found? I replied in
John 17.24. and
Matth. 26.39. compar'd together; which I would have made out, but that he drown'd mine, with his Stentorian Voice, and,
Pilate-like, asked a Question which he would not take an Answer to,
John 18.38. I shall say onely thus much now, that
in the one he prayed for those that were given to him;
in the other place, for the prevention of his own death,
[Page 66]the grant whereof, would have rendred him uncapable of being our Mediator.
3. I now reply, (what I had then for substance in my thoughts, when I discoursed with Mr.
Ives, but prevented in speaking it, & many other things, by his uncivil demeanour) That in strictness of speech
there is no Prayer but what is absolute; which I ground upon the nature of Prayer,
(viz.) a submiss representation of our Will before God, to the end it may be performed by him. The representation of a
Velleity, whereby we would will a thing, if something did not hinder, is not Prayer, properly so called. The words are
Ames's, translated out of his
Coronis, Art. 5.
cap. 5. which yet was the Judgment of
Arminius himself, as the said Dr.
Ames there assures us upon the report of credible Persons, who heard
Arminius in his publick Disputations deliver himself to that effect. I find also the same Assertion in
Becanus Sum. Theol. Tom. 5.
cap. 17.
quest. 3. where, among other Reasons, he gives this, which is popular and plain;
Nam nostra oratio debet esse conjuncta cum certa spe seu fiducia consequendi id quod petimus, Jac. 1.6.
&c. i. e. For our Prayer ought to be joyned with a certain hope or assurance of obtaining that which we pray for,
Jam. 1.6. and
Matth. 21.22. But
[Page 67]when we propound or manifest a bare, uneffectual desire, we do it not with a certain confidence of obtaining what is desired, but rather with assurance of the contrary; as if a Man should pray, Oh that God would let me live over again my time that is past. Thus far
Decanus. But I must confess, the first that I met this Notion in, was Mr.
Richard Hooker, a very learned Person,
Ecclesiast. Polity, lib. 5.
m. 48. where he says, Of Prayer there are two uses: It serveth as a mean to procure those things which God hath promised to grant when we ask; and it serveth as a mean to express our lawful desires also towards that, which whether we shall have, or no, we know not, till we see the event. Onely Mr.
Hooker seems to differ from the Learned Men above-mentioned, in that he makes it an over-restrained consideration of Prayer, to tye it onely to this use, to be a chosen mean, whereby the Will resolveth to seek that, which the Understanding certainly knoweth it shall obtain. I have insisted the longer on this, because it may many ways be useful to us, and fully answers the
Arminians cavil about Christs not being answered in some of his Prayers. For if we hold, that no representation of our desire to God, of what we do not absolutely petition for, is strictly a Prayer; then our
major
[Page 68]Proposition, Whatever Christ prayed for, he was heard in, is true, without limitation; and Mr.
Ives, and other
Arminians, Remonstrants, &c. instance insufficient. If we suppose, that such a representation of our desires to God, may be called
Prayer; yet our
major is true, according to the more common acception of the
term Prayer, and our use of it in the Assumption or
minor, (viz.) for such a representation of Christs desire to God in general, and of Perseverance in particular, as served for a means to procure what God had promised to grant him.
Another Instance which the Remonstrants give of Christs Prayer not answered, is Joh. 17.25, 21.
where he prays, That they may be kept from evil, and be one among themselves; yet do they sin, and disagree.
Answ. Ames, that
Remonstrantium malleus, puts an Answer in my mouth: Christ does not pray for their immediate deliverance from all evil, nor so from discord; but for a gradual deliverance, as
Eph. 4.12, 13. imports.
The
minor, that Christ prayed for the Saints Perseverance, we prove by two Scriptures,
John 17.15, 20.
Luke 22.32.
To this the
Arminians say,
1.
That John 17.15.
may be meant of the Disciples onely.
Answ. The 20th
verse takes of that Gloss,
Neither pray I for these alone, &c.
2.
That by evil, verse 15.
may be meant only Persecutions, and particularly those that did attend Christs apprehension and death.
Answ. Supposing what they affirm, yet those Persecutions were considered as
Temptations to Apostacy; and therefore all other Temptations must be included, which might endanger their fall
ex natura rei. And
ver. 12. intimates, that he had hitherto kept them from that evil by which
Judas fell, which was not Persecution, but Covetousness.
To that other place of Scripture,
Luke 22.32. the
Arminians say,
That this might be a special Privilege of Peter and the Apostles.
Answ. 1. Then hereby we gain a Concession of what overthrows their grand Arguments for the possibility of any true Believers total and final Apostacy. 1. That the praedetermination or Decree absolute of perseverance, deprives the Will of its native liberty. 2. That Admonitions to avoid a Danger in any respect impossible, are vain and useless; for after this Prayer, Christ says to the Disciples,
Arise, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, Luke 22.46. 3. That a true Believer falls away at least totally from Grace,
[Page 70]when he falls into heynous sins (such as we readily acknowledge
Peters denying his Master to have been.)
Answ. 2. But we deny that this Promise was to
Peter alone,
verse 31.
[...],
ye, in the plural Number,
ver. 28, 29. Christ promises them a Kingdom for continuing with him in his Temptations, which must look forward, as well as backward; for,
He that endures to the end shall be saved, Mat. 24.13. nor yet to the Apostles onely (as we sawbefore,
Joh. 17.15, 20.)
To those four Arguments discussed, I shall add two more, which we had not time to debate.
Arg. 5. Whatever necessary to their Salvation the Saints pray for, they shall obtain: But the Saints pray for perseverance, and it is necessary to their Salvation:
Ergo, They shall obtain it. The
major is evident by
John 16.13. 1
John 5.14. The
minor, by
Matth. 6.13.
Deliver us from evil.
To the
minor the
Arminians object,
That in that place the Saints pray, that they may not be lead into temptation at all; and yet are not heard in that.
Answ. 1. If the
total exemption from sin be a Mercy the Saints have no warrant by promise to expect in this life, then the Saints
[Page 71]Prayer for that, is not
Prayer [strictly so called] (as I shewed before) but a representation of their desire of a thing in it self desirable: And look what Answer may be made about
Christs not being heard, when he prayed that
the Cup might pass from him, Matth. 26.39. the same will suffice
(mutatis mutandis) to invalidate the
Arminians pretence.
Answ. 2. This Exception opposes not either of our Propositions, in which there is a
limitation of that Prayer of the Saints that shall always be
heard, by giving the very thing prayed for, to that which is necessary to the Saints Salvation; which a not leading into temptation at all, is not.
Arg. 6. None of the Elect can fall away totally and finally from Grace: But all true Believers are Elect:
Ergo, No true Believers can fall away totally and finally from Grace.
I prove the
major and
minor, first by Arguments, then by plain Scripture.
The
major is denied, because the
Arminians suppose the Decree of God concerning Mens Salvation (which we call
Election) to be conditional; against which I argue thus.
Arg. 1. If Election be conditional, then it is uncertain: But it is not uncertain:
Ergo, It is not conditional.
I prove the Consequence thus.
That which depends on the Freedom of Mans Will, is uncertain: But conditional Election depends on the Freedom of Mans Will: Therefore it is uncertain.
The
Arminians deny the
major, because God did foreknow mens Faith. To which I reply, That upon their Hypothesis, God did not, nor could foreknow the Persons Faith whom he conditionally Elected; which I prove thus.
That which was not future, God could not foreknow: But the Faith of the conditionally Elected was not future:
Ergo, Their Faith God could not foreknow.
The
minor is proved thus:
What God did not will, was not future: But God did not will the Faith of the conditionally elected:
Ergo, Their Faith was not future. The
minor is their own; for they hold the
terminus ad quem praedestinationis to be only
Glory, not Grace,
i. e. That God wills Glory or Salvation to Believers, not Faith it self.
The
major I prove thus:
If that was future wich God did not will, then there was an Effect without a Cause: But the Consequent is false:
Ergo, so is the Antecedent.
The Consequence is evident, because from
[Page 73]Eternity there was nothing to cause that which was possible, to become future, but the Will of God:
Ergo, If any thing was future, which God did not will, 'twas an Effect without a Cause. [And this is the insoluble demonstration that cuts the throat of
Scientia media, whereupon the
Jesuits, and
Arminians, and all those that oppose the absoluteness of Gods Decrees, do and must relie, unless they will turn Atheists, and with
Cicero deny that God foreknows things to come, says the
profound Twisse against
Cotton of Predestination, pag. 69. and hath irrefragably proved it in that large and elaborate Tract
De Scientia media.]
I argue against the conditional Decree which the
Arminians extend even to those that are in the event damned; though withal they affirm, That he foreknows who will, and who will not perform that
Condition, (viz.) Believing in Christ, and persevering in that Belief.
Arg. 2. That which imputes Folly to God, is not to be ascribed to God: But so does a conditional Decree of saving those whom God foreknows will not believe, and so will be damned:
Ergo, Such a conditional Decree is not to be ascribed to God.
The
minor is evident, because a conditional
[Page 74]Decree makes God to resolve to do that which for want of the performance of a Condition, which he knows will never be performed, he is resolved not to do;
(viz.) to save those if they believe, whom he knows never will believe, and therefore for their unbelief is resolved to damn.
Many things the
Arminians urge for their conditional Decree of Election, whose proper seat is the Doctrine of Predestination. I will therefore onely take notice of one.
Arg. God hath elected Men to Salvation by Faith in Christ persevered in:
Ergo, Such Faith is the instrumental Cause or Condition of the Decree of Election.
Answ. We deny the
Consequence. The
Consequent ought to be,
Ergo, Faith is the instrumental Cause of Salvation decreed. And that we acknowledge.
We now proceed to the proof of the
minor, All true Believers are Elect: For this the
Arminians deny, and assert, That not Faith simply, but persevered in, is the condition of Election. Against which Reason of theirs, I shall onely urge these Arguments.
Arg. 1. If perseverance in Faith be a Condition requisite in the Object of Election, then no man whilst he is living is the Object
[Page 75]of Election [or an Elect person]: But some men whilst they are living are Objects of Election, or Elect persons:
Ergo, Perseverance in Faith is not a Condition requisite in the Object of Election.
The
Consequence is evident upon their own grounds, because (say they)
any one that is a true Believer may fall away; and 'tis onely
he that endureth to the end shall be saved, our Lord tells us,
Matth. 24.13.
The
minor is evident by 1
Thess. 5.9. For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 11.7. Believers are called
the Election in the abstract, which is more emphatical than to be barely called
Elect, and intimates the cause of their present obtaining of Righteousness, because at present
Elect.
For the proof of my
minor, I argue thus again.
Arg. 2. If true Faith be a fruit of Election, then all true Believers are Elect: But the Antecedent is true:
Ergo, The Consequent. I prove the Antecedent, first, by
Eph. 1.5.
Having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children, &c. compared with
John 1.12.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. Whence I argue
[Page 76]thus: He that hath predestinated to a State or Relation, hath predestinated to the Foundation of that State or Relation: But God hath predestinated some to a State or Relation,
(viz) Adoption: Ergo, He hath predestinated them also to the Foundation of that State or Relation,
(viz.) to Faith.
The
major is evident, as otherwise, so by the instance of
David, who being design'd to be
Sauls Son-in Law, was also designed to marry his Daughter, 1
Sam. 18.21. for without such marriage, he could not stand in such relation to
Saul. Again, I prove it by that Appellation given to Faith,
Tit. 1.1.
The Faith of Gods Elect. There can be no reason given hereof, but because it is peculiar to the Elect: and why is it so? Because either all that have true Faith are Gods Elect (which the
Arminians deny), or else because true Faith is a Fruit of Election, [whence that which they deny does evidently enough follow] as
Moulin observes,
Anat. Armin. cap. 19.
n. 7.
I now go on in the proof of my
major, that none of the Elect can fall away totally and finally from true Grace, by Scriptures.
First Scripture is,
Matth. 24.24.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false Prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch
[Page 77]that (if it were possible) they shall deceive the very Elect.
To which place many Exceptions are made.
1. As to the
Persons, That by
Elect are not understood the Objects of Gods absolute will or purpose of Salvation; but
choice Believers, or such as
Abraham was
strong in Faith, Rom. 4.20.
Answ. 1. It is not impossible that even they should be deceived (according to the
Arminians own opinion.)
2. The special provision God makes for the Elect, in shortning those perillous days,
Matth. 24.22. should rather be made for weak Believers, than strong ones, because the former need it more.
2. As to the
Phrase, If it were possible, they except, That it notes onely a great difficulty, not a simple impossibility.
Answ. 1. We do not assert a simple impossibility, but
ex hypothesi, or upon supposition of Gods Decree and Promise.
2. If by impossible, be meant only difficult; then by possible, is meant easie: But to interpret the Phrase so here, is repugnant to the scope, which is to shew the extraordinary diligence and success of the Seducers, that, like the Devil, they would even set upon
[Page 78]Christ himself, and leave no stone unturned, no means unused, to accomplish their design. If it were but a difficult thing, and not impossible, they would make new onsets, though frequently beaten off.
3. As to the
Event, they object, That it is seduction, not final and total, but partial, that the Letter of the Text imports.
Answ. 1. The place it self suggests gross and damnable errors,
(viz.) to look for another
Messias than the true,
ver. 23.
2. It intimates the final deceiving of some, in opposition to the final perseverance of others,
ver. 11, 12, 13.
4. The
Arminians object, That the Elect could not be seduced by the Seducers; therefore they could not fall away of themselves, is a bad Consequence.
Answ. 1. Nor is that our Consequence, but this, They that cannot be seduced by any means, cannot be seduced by false Prophets.
2. That Consequence is not absurd, 1. Because the seduction of false Teachers is most dangerous, called thererfore
[...],
the working of Satan, 2
Thess. 2.9.
vis efficax, an
effectual working (as we may say) an endeavour that cannot fail of success, and
[...],
strong delusions, verse 11. some render it
efficacy of cousenage, that which will
[Page 79]impose upon the most sagacious and wary person. And by that manner of seduction our first Parents fell,
Gen. 3. And by the like reason that the Apostle says,
If any man offend not in word, the same is able also to bridle the whole body, James 3.2. we may say, He that can withstand the attempts of Seducers, may be able to withstand any other assault. 2. That Consequence is not without another ground to support it,
(viz.) Because he that falls away of himself, seduces himself; for he assents to some falshood under the shew of truth: Whatever therefore it is in him, that secures him from the danger of being seduced by others, will be also his security against seduction by himself.
A second Scripture to prove, That
the Elect cannot fall away, &c. is,
Rom. 11.2.
God hath not cast away his People whom he foreknew: Where by
foreknowing we must understand (according to the frequent usage of the Phrase in Scripture)
a knowledge accompanied with affection; and we must observe, that the Apostle intimates a distinction between
casting away some of his People who
were not foreknown, and the
not casting away those that
were; of whom he gives himself an Instance,
ver. 1. This premised I argue thus. Those whom God casts not off, cannot fall away totally
[Page 80]and finally from Grace: But those whom God foreknew, he casts not off:
Ergo, Those whom God foreknows, [or the Elect] cannot fall away,
&c.
The
major is evident, because God casts off none but Unbelievers. The
minor the Text affords.
But the
Arminians answer to the
minor, That though God casts not off Men, they may cast away themselves, and so cease to be Gods People.
Answ. This is fond; for if they did cast off God, God must needs cast off them, according to 1
Chron. 28.9.
FINIS.