§. V.
I. Watchfulness and Diligence is of indispensible Necessity to all. And First, I freely acknowledge that it is good for all to be humble, and in this Respect not over confident, so as to lean to this, to foster themselves in Iniquity, or lie down in Security, as if they had attained this Condition, seeing Watchfulness and Diligence is of indispensible Necessity to all mortal Men, so long as they breathe in this World; for God will have this to be the constant Practice of a Christian, that thereby he may be the more fit to serve him, and better armed against all the Temptations of the Enemy. For since the Wages of Sin is Death, there is no Man, while he sinneth, and is subject thereunto, but may lawfully suppose himself capable of perishing. Hence the Apostle Paul himself saith, 1 Cor. ix. 27. But I keep under my Body, and bring it into Subjection, lest that by any Means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a Cast-away. Here the Apostle supposes it possible for him to be a Cast-away; and yet it may be judged he was far more advanced in the inward Work of Regeneration, when he wrote that Epistle, than many who now-a-days too presumptuously suppose they cannot fall away, because they feel themselves to have attained some small Degree of true Grace. But the Apostle makes Use of this Supposition or Possibility of his being a Cast-away, as I before observed, as an Inducement to them to be watchful; I keep under my Body, lest, &c. Nevertheless the same Apostle, at another Time, in the Sense and Feeling of God’s holy Power, and in the Dominion thereof, finding himself a Conqueror therethrough over Sin and his Soul’s Enemies, maketh no Difficulty to affirm, Rom. viii. 38. For I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life, &c. which clearly sheweth that he had attained a Condition from which he knew he could not fall away.
II. A Condition attainable in this Life, from which there is no Falling away. But Secondly, It appears such a Condition is attainable, because we are exhorted to it; and, as hath been proved before, the Scripture never proposeth to us Things impossible. Such an Exhortation we have from the Apostle, 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. And though there be a Condition here proposed, yet since we have already proved that it is possible to fulfil this Condition, then also the Promise annexed thereunto may be attained. And since, where Assurance is wanting, there is still a Place left for Doubtings and Despairs, if we should affirm it never attainable, then should there never be a Place known by the Saints in this World, wherein they might be free of Doubting and Despair; which as it is most absurd in itself, so it is contrary to the manifest Experience of Thousands.
III. A certain Assurance and Establishment given of God to many of his Saints and Children.Thirdly, God hath given to many of his Saints and Children, and is ready to give unto all, a full and certain Assurance that they are his, and that no Power shall be able to pluck them out of his Hand. But this Assurance would be no Assurance, if those who are so assured were not established and confirmed beyond all Doubt and Hesitation: If so, then surely there is no Possibility for such to miss of that which God hath assured them of. And that there is such Assurance attainable in this Life, the Scripture abundantly declareth, both in general and as to particular Persons. As first, Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, &c. which containeth a general Promise unto all. Hence the Apostle speaks of some that are sealed, 2 Cor. i. 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts: Wherefore the Spirit so sealing is called the Earnest or Pledge of our Inheritance, Ephes. i. 13. In whom ye were sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. And therefore the Apostle Paul, not only in that of the Romans above noted, declareth himself to have attained that Condition, but 2 Tim. iv. 7. he affirmeth in these Words, I have fought a good Fight, &c. which also many good Men have and do witness. And therefore as there can be nothing more evident than that which the manifest Experience of this Time sheweth, and therein is found agreeable to the Experience of former Times, so we see there have been both of old and of late that have turned the Grace of God into Wantonness, and have fallen from their Faith and Integrity; thence we may safely conclude such a Falling away possible. We also see that some of old and of late have attained a certain Assurance, some Time before they departed, that they should inherit eternal Life, and have accordingly died in that good Hope, of and concerning whom the Spirit of God testified that they are saved. Wherefore we all see such a State is attainable in this Life, from which there is not a Falling away: For seeing the Spirit of God did so testify, it was not possible that they should perish, concerning whom he who cannot lie thus bare Witness.