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| Chapter 17 - Of the Perseverance
of the Saints |
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1. Those whom God hath accepted
in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given
the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall
from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end,
and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without
repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance,
love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and
though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall
never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith
they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations
of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time
be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall
be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall
enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of
his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from
all eternity.
John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6;
2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi
3:6
2. This perseverance of the
saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability
of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love
of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus
Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit,
and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace;
from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans
5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40
3. And though they may, through
the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption
remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall
into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur
God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces
and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences
wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon
themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through
faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5,
9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke
22:32, 61, 62 |