The collegiat suffrage of the divines of Great Britaine, concerning the five articles controverted in the Low Countries VVhich suffrage was by them delivered in the synod of Dort, March 6. anno 1619. Being their vote or voice foregoing the joint and publique judgment of that Synod.

THE SIXT.

THat the doctrine of the certainty of perseve∣rance and salvation, is of its owne nature both hurtfull unto true piety, and pernicious e∣very way to Religion.

BOth Gods truth, and mans experience ea∣sily wipe off this aspersion. For this Christian perswasion of perseverance, and salvation, not onely in respect of its own nature, But also according to the very event in the Church, doth, by Gods blessing, pro∣duce a quite contrary effect.

1 First in respect of the thing it selfe, the certainty of the end doth not take away, but establish the use of the meanes. And the same holy men, who upon sure grounds promise unto themselves both constancy in the way of this pilgrimage, and fruition of God in their everlasting home, know also that these

are not obtained without performance of the duties of holinesse, and the avoidance of con∣trary vices: and therefore they turne not their backes from these meanes, but industriously embrace and prosecute them. 1 Iohn 3.3. Eve∣rie man that hath this hope in himselfe, purifieth himselfe, even as he is pure. Esay 38.5. When Hezekiah had received that promise of God of an addition of fifteene yeares to his life, he did not therefore neglect the use of medicines or meats, but, that this promised event might be brought into act, he applied, for the cure of his body, the plaister, which was prescri∣bed unto him by the Prophet. The Apostle doth altogether reject this consequence of car∣nall security imputed to this doctrine, and that with a kinde of indignation. Rom. 6.1. Shall we continue in sinne, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, which are dead to sinne, live any longer therein? As if Saint Paul would in∣timate unto us, not onely the incongruity, but also impossibility of such a sequell.

2 As touching the event, true it is, that any the most wholesome truth of God may bee perverted by the abuse of men. But upon

this doctrine wee cannot acknowledge that there groweth any such inconvenience, no not de facto, that is, in the event it selfe. Let us take a view of the Reformed Churches, in which this confidence of perseverance and inviolable adoption is beleeved and maintai∣ned. Doe we finde that thereupon the bridle is let loose unto riot? That piety is trampled downe? We give thankes unto God through our Lord Iesus Christ, that among ours (who enjoy this full perswasion of spirituall com∣fort, and are confident, that there is an inhe∣ritance, which cannot bee lost, laid up for them in heaven) there is not found lesse care of godlinesse, nor lesse endevor (so far forth as mans infirmity will suffer) to live an un∣blameable life than is to be found among any sort of those, who pinne their perseverance on their owne free will, and will not grant it to flow from any foregoing Election of GOD.