Section 2.
SECTION 2.
The important doctrine of perseverance is farther weighed in the Scripture Scales.
THE scriptures produced in the preceding section might convince an impartial reader that Zelotes and Honestus are both in the wrong with respect to the doctrine of perseverance: and that a Bible Christian holds together the doctrines which they keep asunder. But considering that prejudice is not easily convinced; and fearing lest Zelotes and Honestus should both think they have won the day, the one against free will, and the other against free grace, merely because they can quote, behind each other’s back, some passages which I have not yet balanced, and which each will think matchless; I shall give them leave to fight it out before Candidus, reminding him that Zelotes produces No. I. against free will; that Honestus produces No. II. against free grace; and that I produce both numbers to show that our free will must concur with God’s free grace, in order to our persevering in the faith and in the obedience of faith.
I.
A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it: I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day, Isaiah 27:2, 3.
The Lord God of Israel saith, that he hateth putting away, Malachi 2. 16. (And yet he allows it for the cause of fornication, Matthew 5:32.)
The righteous shall never be moved, Proverbs 10:30.
The mountains shall depart, &c, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, Isaiah 54:10.
They that trust in the Lord II.
I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? &c. Thou saidst, &c, I have loved strangers, and after them I will go, Jeremiah 2:21, 25. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard, &c; I will lay it waste, &c, and command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it, Isaiah 5:4, 5, 6.
Backsliding Israel, &c, hath played the harlot.
And I said, &c, Turn thou unto me: but she returned not; and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when, for — adultery, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorcement; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, Jeremiah 3:6, 7, 8.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you.
shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever, Psalm 125:1, 2.
The Lord will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, Psalm 85:8.
Peace shall be upon Israel, Psalm 125:5. For Christ is our peace, Ephesians 2:14.
O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee.
Let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to God, &c, as unto a faithful Creator, 1 Peter 4:19.
I will betroth thee unto me for ever, &c. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness. The Lord is faithful who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
To him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Hosea 2:19, 20; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Jude 1:24.
The earth which beareth thorns, is rejected; and, &c, its end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany Unto the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth? Psalm 50:16. O Israel, if thou wilt put away thy abominations out of my sight, thou shalt not remove, Jeremiah 4:1. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed, Lamentations 1:8. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him, Hosea 9:17.
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, &c. He that does these things shall never be moved, Psalm 15:1, 2, 5 Abide in me, and I [will abide] in you, John 15:4. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, [thou, Lord, art my hiding place, Psalm 32:7,] shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, Psalm 91:1. He that does the will of God abideth for ever, 1 John 2:17. Draw out thy soul to the hungry, &c, and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and, &c, thou shalt be like a spring of water, whose waters fail not, Isaiah 58:10, 11.
Be diligent, that you may be found of him in peace. If the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it. As many as walk according to this rule, [i.e. as become new creatures,] peace be on them, and mercy, 2 Peter 3:14; Matthew 10:13; Galatians 6:15, 16.
And thy righteousness to the upright in heart, Psalm 36:10. He [the apostate] flattereth himself in his own eyes, &c, he hath left off to be wise, and to do good, &c. He setteth himself in a way that is not good, he abhorreth not evil, &c. There are the workers of iniquity fallen, &c, and shall not be able to rise, verses 2, 3, 4, 12. Whoso continueth in the perfect law of liberty, he being a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed, James 1:25. They went out from us, but [in general] they were not of us [that continue in the perfect law of liberty.] For had they been of us [that are still doers of the work] they would no doubt have continued with us: [the Gnostics, or Antinomians, would not have been able to draw so many over to their pernicious ways, or tenets, 2 Peter 2, &c.] But they went out [they joined the salvation, though we thus speak, Hebrews 6:8, 9.
I am confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower, Psalm 17:2.
I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you [so far as is consistent with your moral agency] to walk in my statutes, and ye shall (or will) keep my judgments and do them, Ezekiel 36:27.
Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, Isaiah 45:17.
O Lord, save me, and I shall be saved, for thou art my praise, Jeremiah 17:14.
Salvation is of the Lord, Jonah 2:9.
The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Timothy 2:19.
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn to our fathers from the days of old. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his Antinomians] that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us, [i.e. that in general their heart had departed from the Lord, and from us; they of late being of us, more by profession than by possession of the faith which works by obedient love,] 1 John 2:19.
St. John says they were not all of us, to leave room for some exceptions. For as we are persuaded that many, who have gone over to the Solifidians in our days, are still of us that are doers of the work, so St. John did not doubt but some, who had been seduced by the primitive Antinomians, see verse 26, continued to obey the perfect law of liberty, which the Nicolaitans taught them to decry. May we, after his example, be always ready to make a proper distinction between the Solifidians that are of us, and those that are not of us! That is, between those who still keep Christ’s commandments, and those who break them with as little ceremony as they break a ceremonious “rule of life,” or burdensome rule of civility.
In well doing. (Ibid.) Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings, Isaiah 3:10.
If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, (that which is least,) who will commit unto you the true riches? Luke 16:11. He made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not, &c. Yet they kept not his testimonies; but turned back and dealt unfaithfully, &c. When God heard this, he, &c, greatly abhorred Israel: so that he forsook the tabernacle, &c, which he had placed among men, &c, Psalm 78:52, &c. For, &c, ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister: [so that, in the judgment of charity, which “hopeth all things,” especially where there are favourable appearances, it is right in me to hope the best of you, nor will I suspect you, till you give me cause so to do. However, remember that] if we sin wilfully, &c, there remaineth [for us] a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries holy covenant and the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, Micah 7:20; Luke 1:72.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, Psalm 23:6.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee, Psalm 91:7.
My sheep [obedient believers] hear my voice, and I know [approve] them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my Father’s hand, John 10:27, &c. There shall arise false christs, and shall show great signs, insomuch that (if it were possible) they shall deceive planhsai [lead into error] the very elect, Matthew 24:24.
I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, Luke 22:49.
That Peter’s faith failed for a time is evident from the following observations:
(1.) “Faith without works is dead;” much more faith with lying, cursing, and the repeated denial of Christ.
(2.) Our Saviour himself said to his disciples, after a far less grievous fall, “How is it that you have no faith?”
[that is, apostates,] Hebrews 6:10; 10:26, 27.
It is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart [and charity hopeth all things] inasmuch as in my bonds, &c, ye are partakers of my grace, — ye have always obeyed, Philippians 1:7; 2:12. [Thus spake the apostle to those who continued to obey. But to his disobedient converts he wrote in a different strain:]
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? I desire now to change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you, Galatians 3:1, 4; 4:20.
My defence is of God, who saveth the upright in heart, Psalm 7:10. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good and upright in their hearts: as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, Psalm 125:4, 5.
Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them, Ezekiel 36:37. Ye stiffnecked, &c, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did, Acts 7:51.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Hebrews 2:3. Remember Lot’s wife, Luke 17:32.
Thy faith hath saved thee, Luke 7:50. Ye are saved, if ye keep [in memory and practice] what I have preached unto you, 1 Corinthians 15:2.
And let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. (Ibid.) Now if any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of his, Romans 8:9. His peculiar people (being) a holy nation, zealous of good works, 1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14. Be zealous, therefore, and repent; (or) I will spue thee out of my mouth, Revelation 3:19, 16.
I will perform the oath which 1 sware unto Abraham thy father, &c, because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws, Genesis 26:3, 5. Thus says the Lord God of (3.) His adding immediately, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” shows that Peter would stand in need of conversion, and consequently of living, converting faith; for as by destructive unbelief we depart from God, so by living faith we are converted to him. Hence it is evident that if Christ prayed that Peter’s faith might not fail at all, he prayed conditionally; and that upon Peter’s refusing to watch and pray, which was the condition particularly mentioned by our Lord, Christ’s prayer was no more answered than that which he soon after put up, about his not drinking the bitter cup, and about the forgiveness of his revilers and murderers.
But if our Lord prayed (as seems most likely) that Peter’s faith might not fail, or die like that of Judas, i.e. in such a manner as never to come to life again, then his prayer was perfectly answered: for the candle of Peter’s faith, which a sudden blast of temptation (and not the extinguisher of malicious, final obstinacy) had put out — Peter’s faith, I say, like the smoking flax, caught again the flame of truth and love, and shone to the enlightening of thousands on the day of pentecost, as well as to the conversion of his own soul that very night. However, Israel, Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers, (in the day that I brought them forth from the iron furnace,) saying, Obey my voice and do them, so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God; that I may perform the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, Jeremiah 11:3, 4, 5.
If thou continue in his goodness. Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith, have made shipwreck, Romans 11:22; 1 Timothy 1:18, 19.
Because thou hast made the Most High thy habitation. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him, verses 9, 14.
The Lord preserveth the faithful, &c. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord, Psalm 31:23, 24. If ye will fear the Lord, and obey his voice, and not rebel against his commandment, then shall ye continue following the Lord your God. But if ye will not obey, &c, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you. Only serve him in truth, with all your heart: for consider how great things be has done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, 1 Samuel 12:14, 15, 24, 25. [Lest Samuel’s testimony should be rejected as unevangelical, I produce that of Christ himself; hoping that Zelotes will allow our Lord to understand his own Gospel.] Bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love, John 15:8, &c. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away — and they are burned, John 15:2, 6.
They shall deceive many. Take heed that no man deceive you, ver. 4, 5. They, (that cause divisions,) by good words deceive the hearts of the simple, Romans 16:18. [Query: are all the simple believers whom party men deceive, very reprobates?] I have espoused you to Christ, &c. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent from our Lord’s prayer, Zelotes concludes that true faith can never fail, in opposition to the scriptures which fill the opposite scale; yea, and to reason, which pronounces that our Lord was too wise to spend his last moments in asking that a thing might not happen, which, if we believe Zelotes, could not possibly happen.
God, even our Father, who hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, &c, stablish you in every good word and work, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17. He who establishes us with you in Christ, &c, is God, 2 Corinthians 1:21.
Christ shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless, &c. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 9.
He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee:
so that [in the way of duty] we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, Hebrews 13:5, 6. (I add, in the way of duty, because God made that promise originally to Joshua, who knew God’s breach of promise, when Achan stepped out of the way of duty. Compare Joshua 1:5, with Joshua 7:12, and Numbers 14:34.)
Then the devil taketh him beguiled Eve, so your minds should be corrupted, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 3. They have been deceived, (or have erred) from the faith (apeplanhqhsan, the very word used by our Lord, and strengthened by a preposition,) 1 Timothy 6:10. [When Zelotes supposes that the clause (if it were possible) necessarily implies an impossibility, does he not make himself ridiculous before those who know the Scriptures? That expression, if it were possible, is used only on four other occasions; and in each of them it notes great difficulty, but by no means an impossibility. Take only two instances: “If it were possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me,” Galatians 4:15. “Paul hasted to be at Jerusalem on the day of pentecost, if it were possible for him,” Acts 20:16. Now is it not evident, either that Paul wanted common sense, if he hasted to do what could not absolutely be done; or that the expression, if it were possible, implies no impossibility? And is not this a proof that Calvinism can now deceive Zelotes, as easily as the tempter formerly deceived Aaron, David, Solomon, Demas, and Judas in the matter of the golden calf, Uriah, Milcom, and mammon?
I know thy works, &c, thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith [as Peter did.] Having damnation because they have cast off their first faith, Revelation 2:13; 1 Timothy 5:12.
Which [a good conscience, the believer’s most precious jewel, next to Christ] some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck, 1 Timothy 1:19. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The just shall live by faith, but if he draw back [i.e. if he make shipwreck of faith] my soul shall have no pleasure in him, Hebrews 11:6; 10:38. If any [believer] provide not for his own, &c, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, 1 Timothy 5:8.
If ye will not believe, ye shall not be established, Isaiah 7:9. God preserveth not the life of the wicked, &c. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, &c. He showeth them their work, and their transgressions, &c. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him. If thou be the Son [or child] of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, &c, [not only lest thou fall finally, but also] lest thou dash thy foot against a stone, Matthew 4:5, 6; Psalm 91:11, 12.
How wisely does the tempter quote Scripture, when he wants to inculcate the absolute preservation of the saints! Can Zelotes find a fitter passage to support their unconditional perseverance? It is true, however, that he never quotes it in favour of his doctrine: for who cares to plough with such a heifer?
(Fænum habet in cornu.)
Therefore, though she is as fit for the work as most of those which he does it with; he never puts her to his plough, no, not when he makes the most crooked furrows. Should it be asked why the devil did not encourage Christ to throw himself down, by giving him some hints that a grievous fall would humble him, would make him sympathize with the fallen, would drive him nearer to God, would give him an opportunity to shout louder the praises of preserving grace, &c, I reply, that the tempter was from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, &c. But if they obey not, they shall perish, &c, and die without knowledge, Job 36:6-12.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God? &c. If any [of you] defile the temple of God, him will God destroy, 3:16, 17. If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell, Matthew 5:29.
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. For meat destroy not the work of God [in] thy brother, who stumbleth, or is offended, Romans 14:15, 20, 21. The Lord having saved the people, &c, afterward destroyed them that believed not, Jude 5. They did all drink, &c, of that spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they, &c, were destroyed of the destroyer, 1 Corinthians 10:4, 5, 10. They were broken off because of unbelief, and thou standest by faith, &c, continue in his goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off, Romans 9:20, 22. Through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died, &c. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to stumble [and so to perish] I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 18. There shallf30be false teachers among you, &c, who, denying the Lord that bought them, shall bring upon themselves swift destruction. These shall utterly perish in their own corruption, and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, &c. Cursed children, who have forsaken the right way, 2 Peter 2:1, 12, 15. See also the scriptures quoted in page 82.
My people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me, &c. I will even forsake you, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 2:13; 23:33. The destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed, &c, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them, Isaiah 1:28, 31.
Jesus said, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, Matthew 4:7. Neither let us too wise to show so openly the cloven foot of his doctrine; too decent not to save appearances too judicious to imitate Zelotes.
tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents, 1 Corinthians 10:9.
Who can tell how many have been destroyed by dangerous errors, which after insinuating themselves into the bosom of the simple, by means of their smoothness and fine colours, drop there a mortal poison, that too often breaks out in virulent expressions, or in practices worthy of — Mr. Fulsome?