§. IV.
As in the Explanation of the fifth and sixth Proposition I observed, that some that had denied the Errors of others concerning Reprobation, and affirmed the Universality of Christ’s Death, did notwithstanding fall short in sufficiently holding forth the Truth, and so gave the contrary Party Occasion by their Defects to be strengthened in their Errors, so it may be said in this Case. The two Extremes some run into, by asserting a final Falling or not Falling from Grace impossible.As upon the one Hand they err who affirm, That the least Degree of true and saving Grace cannot be fallen from, so do they err upon the other Hand that deny any such Stability to be attained from which there cannot be a total and final Apostasy. And betwixt these two extremes lieth the Truth apparent in the Scriptures, which God hath revealed unto us by the Testimony of his Spirit, and which also we are made sensible of by our own Experience. And even as in the former Controversy was observed, so also in this, the Defence of Truth will readily appear to such as seriously weigh the Matter; for the Arguments upon both Hands, rightly applied, will as to this hold good; and the Objections, which are strong as they are respectively urged against the two opposite false Opinions, are here easily solved, by the Establishing of this Truth. For all the Arguments which these allege that affirm, There can be no falling away, may well be received upon the one Part, as of those who have attained to this Stability and Establishment, and their Objections solved by this Confession; so upon the other Hand, the Arguments alleged from Scripture Testimonies by those that affirm the Possibility of falling away may well be received of such as are not come to this Establishment, though having attained a Measure of true Grace. Thus then the contrary Batterings of Our Adversaries, who miss the Truth, do concur the more strongly to establish it, while they are destroying each other. But lest this may not seem to suffice to satisfy such as judge it always possible for the best of Men before they die to fall away, I shall add, for the Proof of it, some brief Considerations from some few Testimonies of the Scripture.