The covenant of grace or An exposition upon Luke 1. 73.74.75. By George Downame Doctour of Divinity, and Bishop of Dery

A TREATISE OF THE CERTAINTIE OF PERSEVERANCE. (Book 1)

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

The Methode of this Treatise. Of whom this question is to be understood. Two sorts of men in the Church: The testimony of Antiquity.

§ 1. THat we may the more orderly proceede in the handling of the question of the certainty of Perseverance:* 1.1 we will first set downe plainly and fully the state of this controversy: and secondly we will prove the certainty of Perseverance by evident arguments; thirdly and lastly, we will answere the objections of the adversaries, and namely of Bellarmine the Goliah of the Papistes.

§ 2. The question concerning the certainty of Perse∣verance is not to be understood of those that be regenerate of those that believe,* 1.2 of those that are justi∣fied and sanctified, of those that be the children of God

in shew and appearance, in opinion and profession, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the judgment of charity onely; but of such as are truly regenerate, of such as truly believe, of such as are truely justified and sanctified, of such as truly are the children of God.

* 1.3And whereas Bellarmine coyneth a distinction of that which is true, that there is verum essentiae, & verum permanentia, true in respect of essence, and true in respect of continuance, unto which some adde a third, viz. of firme solidity.t 1.4 Whe••by they would signifie, that a man may have the first, add yet not the second, nor third: I answere, 1. that the nature of truth is simple, as being one and the same; and that is it, which they call verum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or verum essentiae, unto which is opposed, false, counterfeit, or seeming onely: For true is that saying of Philosophers, ens & verum cr••vertuntur; & therefore what is not truly, is not indeed: and that of S. Augustine, u 1.5 verum est id quod est; falsum, quod non ita est, ut videtur. so that in this question he is a true Christian, wbo is sound and upright.

Secondly, that the branches of this distinction are con∣incident: For that which is true veritate essentiae, is also true veritate permanentiae; and that which is true veri∣tate essentiae & permanentiae, doth also in time become true in respect of firme solidity; such as they call faith & charity rooted, and grace confirmed. Now the second is not a distinct sort of truth, but a consequent, a signe and note of that which is true 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 indeed, or secun∣dùm essentiam. A consequent, I say, for therfore is faith or any other grace permanent, because it is true, and sound. A note, or signe, for as all true graces are per∣manent; so whatsoever is not permanent, is not true. Wherefore this distinction being applyed to the pre∣sent

question maketh wholly for us. For what saving grace soever is true, in respect of the essence and being, is also permanent, and the not being permanent, is an e∣vident signe of the not being true. If you abide in my word, saith our Saviour Christ,w 1.6 ye are (he doth not say you shalbe, but ye are) truly my disciples. Your future perseverance will be a plaine evidence of your present soundnes and integrity▪ as contrarywise defection, or falling away is a plaine evidence of unsoundnes and hypocrisie going before. To which purpose S. Iohn saith, x 1.7 they went out from us, but they were not (he doth not say, they are not, but they were not) of us; no, not when they lived among us, and made the same pro∣fession with us. For if they had beene of us in deed and in truth, if they had beene sownd and upright Christi∣ans, they would surely have remayned with us. For as Tertullian saith,y 1.8 Nemo Christianus nisi qui ad finem usque perseveraver••t: No man is a true or sound chri∣stian, but such as persevereth to the end. And Au∣gustine z 1.9, Si perseverantiam non habent (quos appellamus & electos Christi discipules, & Dei filios) t••in eo quod cae∣perunt esse non manent, non verè appellantur, qui appellan∣tur quod non sunt. If those whom we call the elect disciples of Christ, and sonnes of GOD have not perseverance, that is, continue not in that which they have begunne to be; namely, in their owne profession and opinion of others, they are not called truly, who are called that which they are not. Therefore every true or sound Christian persevereth to the end▪ and therefore also what saving grace soever is true veritate essentiae; is also true veritate permanentiae.

Now they who adde the third, which they call the truth of firme solidity, doe confesse, that those graces

which are true in that sence or degree, are permanent: and that he, who so believeth, believeth alwayes; and he that is justified by such a Faith, doth never loose his justification. But though there be degrees of all saving graces, as namely of Faith, that it is sometimes weaker, and sometimes stronger, sometimes lesse, sometimes greater; and of Charity, that sometimes it is more fervent, sometimes more remisse, &c. yet all saving grace which is true veritate essentiae, not onely is true veritate permanentiae, but also in time * 1.10 increaseth and groweth to firme solidity. All true Faith is rooted like the seed sowne in good ground Luk. 8.13.15.* 1.11 which bringeth forth fruite with patience: and that which wanteth roote, is counterfeit. Every sound & upright Christian is like the Wise man Mat. 7.24.25. which built his house upon the rocke, whose building cannot be overthrowne. And therefore that is true, which they cite out of Augustinesc 1.12, and maketh for us; that vere credere, est inconcusse, f••rmiter, stabiliter, fortiter cre∣dere: to believe truly, is to believe firmely & unmove∣ably. and that faith which may be lost, was never a true justifying faith. For whosoever truly believeth, he shalbe saved, and consequently shall persevere to salva∣tion; and whosoever is truly justified, he shall also be glorified. Neither is it true which they affirme, that all the commendations and prerogatives of Faith doe belong to this degree. For to every degree of faith, so it be true and unfained, the promises of blessednes & sal∣vation doe belong▪ Neither are we to imagine with these men, that the permanency of faith dependeth u∣pon the strength thereof in it selfe, (for he that hath the strongest faith, if he be left to himselfe, and to the temptation of Sathan, may fall grievously; & as they

teach, may loose his faith and justification, to which purpose they urge the example of David) but rather upon the truth and sincerity thereof (perseverance be∣ing alwayes the consequent of integrity. Neither is the perseverance of the true faith to be ascribed to the strength and worthines of it selfe, but to Gods eternall purpose of grace d 1.13 g••ven unto us in CHRIST before all times; according to which, we being elected and cal∣led, are also justified and glorified, as likewise to the immutability, truth, fidelity, and power of God, and to the intercession of CHRIST our Saviour, as hereafter I will shew. But, as I said, this Question is to be underr∣stood onely of the first branch. For as in respect of the third, themselves make no question; so in regard of the second, it were a very idle question to dispute, an quod verum est, veritate permanentiae permaneat, whe∣ther that which is true by the truth of permanency, be permanent.

The Question then is of those which truly believe, or are indued with a true faith, &c. that is to say, of found and upright Christian; whether there be cer∣tainty of their perseverance, or not, we hold the affir∣mative, the Papists and their adherents maintaine the negative.

§ 3. Now for the better clearing of that which we hold,* 1.14 we are to take notice, that there are two sorts of men in the Church of God; some, which are in the Church visible, but not of the Church invisible, that is to say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hypocrites, and unsound Christians; others that are not o••ely in the Church visible, but of the Church invisible, that is to say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sound and upright Christians. The former sort are subject to de∣fection and falling away; and the Lord doth suffer

them many times to fall away, that their former hypo∣crisy may be discovered. The latter have the privilege of perseverance, both which S. Iohn doth plainly testi∣fy d 1.15 They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had beene of us, they had surely remained with us: but this is come to passe, that it might appeare they were not of us.

This therefore we doe constantly hold, and firmely believe; that howsoever the hypocrite and unsound christian, who have not a true and a lively, but a coun∣terfeit and dead faith, be subject to d••fection▪ yet it is the privilege of the upright to be constant, and to per∣severe; perseverance e 1.16 being the perpetuall companion of uprightnes. Howsoever those which be hearers and not doers of the word, that is to say, hypocrites, be like the foolish man, f 1.17 which buildeth upō the sand, whose building is easily overthrowne: yet he that is not one∣ly an heater, but a doer of the word, that is to say, a sound and upright christian, is like to the Wise man that buildeth upon the rocke, whose building cannot with any tempest of temptations be overthrowne.

Howsoever the hypocrites be like the dogge grasse on the house toppes g 1.18, which resembling corne, withe∣reth before hervest, or like the rush h 1.19 that wanteth moi∣sture: yet the upright are like the tree; i 1.20 planted by the ri∣vers of water, which never withereth for want of moi∣sture. Though counterfeit piety be like the m••rning ••ist,k 1.21 or early dew, which vanisheth away: yet true piety knoweth no end, l 1.22 and the righteousnes of the up∣right endureth for ever m 1.23 Howsoever they, which re∣ceive the seed,n 1.24 as it were upon a r••ck superficially covered with would, that is, hypocrites doe in heat of temptation fade away: yet they which receive the seed into upright

hearts, as it were into good groūd, bring forth fruit with patience o 1.25, or permanency. Howsoever those that be servants in Gods family, and not sonnes, p 1.26 are not to continue alwayes in the house; yet those that be sonnes a∣bide for ever. Though the double minded man q 1.27 that is to say, the hypocrite, who speaketh with an heart and an heart r 1.28 be inconstant in all his wayes; yet the sound & upright shall shall never be removed s 1.29 but his righteous∣nes endureth for ever t 1.30.

And as we doe hold, that all sound Christians doe certainly persevere; so we doubt not to averre, that those which doe not persevere, were never sound. If you shall abide in my words▪ saith our Saviour, you are (he doth not say you shalbe,* 1.31 but you are) truly my disci∣ples. and contrarywise if you shall not abide in my words, not onely you shall not be, but you are not tru∣ly my disciples. Those therefore that truly are the dis∣ciples of Christ, doe abide in his word: those that abide not in his word, were never truly his disciples.

§. 4. And to this assertion collected out of the Scrip∣tures,* 1.32 ••ccordeth the judgment of an••iquity.

Tertullian saith,1 1.33 that they were never true believers, norsound Christians, who can be perverted by heresie.

That no man is to be acco••mpted a true Christian,2 1.34 but he that persevereth to the end.

That the Lord hath his fanne in his hand,3 1.35 to purge his floore; that although the ••••aff of light faith fly away with every blast of tētation, yet the heap of corne shalbe layd up more pure into the granaries of the Lord;

and to this purpose he alledgeth, 1 Ioh. 2.19.

4, 1.364. Cyprian in like manner. Let no man thinke that good men can depart from the Church, the winde carieth not away the wheat, nor the storme subverteth the tree, that is founded on a sound route. the empty chaffe is tossed with the winde, weake trees are over-turned with a tempest. Those men Saint Iohn doth detest, and sinite, saying, they went out from us, but they we••e not of us, for if they had beene of us, they would surely have continued with us.

5 1.375. And againe. When Peter said, Lord whether shall we goe; he sheweth, that the Church which believeth in Christ, and which holdeth that which it hath knowne, doth never depart from him at all; and that those are the Church which abide in the house of God, and that they are plants not planted of GOD the Fa∣ther, whom we see not established with the stability of the wheate, but as chaffe to be blowne away with the winde of the enemy scattering them; of whom S. Iohn in his Epistle, they went out from us, but they were not of us, &c.

6 1.386 Augustine likewise. In that thou doest depart and fly away, thou shewest thy selfe to be b••t chaffe, for they that are wheat endure the threshing.

7 1.397. Who also speaking of those words, 1. Ioh. 2.19. saith. He doth not say, they

went out from us, but because they did not abide with us, they are not now of us; but he saith, they went out from us, but they were not of us, that is, even when they seemed to be among us, they were not of us. And as though it had beene said unto him, how shew you that? for, saith he, if they had beene of us, they had surely remained with us. This is the saying of the sonnes of God, when as therefore the sonnes of GOD say, they went out from us, but were not of us; what els doe they say, but that they were not sonnes, even when they were in the profession and name of soones?

8. Againe.8 1.40 Those who went back (Ioh. 6.) as they were not truly the disciples of Christ (for if you shall abide in my words, (saith he) you are truly my dis∣ciples) so neither were they truely the sonnes of God, when they seemed to be, and were so called.

9. And else where he teacheth,9 1.41 that no man who is of the Church shall pe∣rish. For whosoever perisheth, ••e was not of it; for the foundation of God standeth sure.

10. An other saith,10 1.42 that those who whē they have sinned forsaking Christ, doe not repent, were never Christs.

11. Gregory likewise,* 1.43 sanctorū bona, quae ••era sunt permanēt;11 1.44 hypoc ••tarū vero bona quiaetalsa sunt, non perseverant. Elsewhere,

that Gold (saith he) which by the wie∣ked perswasions of the Devil may be trod under-••oot like clay, it was never gold before Gods eyes. And whosoever may be seduced never to returne, they seeme to loose that sanct••ty, which, as it were, they had before the eyes of men, but be∣fore the eyes of God they never had it, which commeth to passe by very just judgment, (that a man secretly wrapped in sinnes, should lose some virtue, which he seemed to have) that even before men he may lose that wherby he pleased men, who would not amend that, whereby he displeased God.

When as therefore it is objected out of the Scrip∣tures or Fathers; that the faithfull▪ or the children of God doe sometimes fall away, we are taught by the Scriptures and Fathers to answere, that those which doe fall away, were never true Christians, never truly the sonnes of God, of whom only this question is un∣derstood.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Methode observed in this Treatise.
• * 1.2

  The question vnderstood of those which truly believe.
• * 1.3

  De eccles mi∣nist. l. 3. c 7. The distinction of truth exa∣mined.
• t 1.4

  R. Th c. ••. Voss hist pelag l. 6. the••. 13.
• u 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 1. c. 5.
• w 1.6

  Iohn ••.31
• x 1.7

  1 Iohn. ••.1••
• y 1.8

  De praescrip. c 3.
• z 1.9

  De corropt, & gratia c ••.
• * 1.10

  Aug de verb. Apost ••orm. 13.••.10
• * 1.11

  Non modo quoritur quāta sit charitas, u. tium magna aut par••a, an mediocris: u num vel su quaero. Si nata est, latendo erescit, eresceo∣do perficīetur, perfect •• per∣manebit.
• c 1.12

  Tract. 106: •• Iona:
• d 1.13

  2 Tim. 1.29
• * 1.14

  Two sott of men in the Church.
• d 1.15

  1. Iohn 2.1••.
• e 1.16

  1. Iohn 2.19.
• f 1.17

  Mar. 7.84.25.25.
• g 1.18

  Ps. 129.6 imi∣••antes spicam ••erbae ante messem flave••∣eunt Quintil
• h 1.19

  Iob. 8.11, 1••,
• i 1.20

  Ps. 1.3, Pet. 17.7,
• k 1.21

  H••s. 6.4:
• l 1.22

  Bucer in Luc: 1:75: N••que enim pietas est quae finem ••o∣vit:
• m 1.23

  Ps: ••▪ 2: 5:
• n 1.24

  Luk: ••: 1••: ••••:
• o 1.25

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• p 1.26

  Ioh: 8.35.
• q 1.27

  Iam. 1.8.
• r 1.28

  Ps. 12.2••
• s 1.29

  Ps. 112.5.6.
• t 1.30

  Pro: 10:13▪
• * 1.31

  Ioh: ••, ••1.
• * 1.32

  Testimonies of fathers,
• 1 1.33

  De prescript•• Capt••: Neque fidelesne{que} prudentes, ne{que} ••s••∣tatos estimandos, quos hares•••• potne••••nt de rutare.
• 2 1.34

  Nemo christianns, nisi qui ad finem vs{que} perseveraverit.
• 3 1.35

  Ve••ilab••••m (al•• palam) in mann portat ad purgandū are∣am s••ā: acolent quantum v••∣lent pakae levis fidei quo•••••• que af••••atu ••entationū, ••o ••••∣rior ma••sa frumenti in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Domini•• op••netur,
• 4, 1.36

  De ••••itate eclesse 256. Ne••o ••••istimet bonos de ec∣clesia posse decidere triticum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ap••t ventus, nec arl orem 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ef ••n latam p••ocella ••••••ver••••t. In••••es pal••••e te••∣••••state jactantur Inv••••id ae ar∣•••••• ••turbinis incursione ever∣•••••• Hos execratur & er••u∣〈…〉〈…〉 Apostolus, dicens; ex 〈…〉〈…〉, sed non ••••e ••••nt ex nobis: si enim suissent ex nobis, man••ssent ut••{que} no∣bis••um.
• 5 1.37

  Epist 53 five lib 1 ep 3, Ecclesiam, quae in Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & quae semel id quod 〈…〉〈…〉 it, ••unquam 〈…〉〈…〉 mind if••••dere, & co•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 siam qui in do no Dei 〈◊〉〈◊〉 plantationem verò〈…〉〈…〉 Deo patre non es∣•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non f••u••enti 〈…〉〈…〉, fed ••••quā palea•••• ••pan••••s inimici spiritu ••ent••••ari. de quibus & Ioannes in pistola sun die••e•• ex Iobis exi••••tunt &c.
• 6 1.38

  Aug. in Ps. 140 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod dis••edis. & volas, paleam∣te esse indicas; qui triticum suut serunt trituram.
• 7 1.39

  De corrept. & gratia c. 9. Non ait, ex nobis ex••enent, sed quia non manserunt nobiscum, jam non sunt ex nobis: verum ait, ex nobis; ••xi••um, sed non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex nobis, ho•• est, & quia∣do vide bantur in nobis, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••∣rant ex nobis. & tarquam •••• dicetur, unde••id o••tend. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suiscent, inquit, ex nobi, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man••ssent ut••{que} non 〈…〉〈…〉 lio••un Dei ••ox est. Cum ergo fi•••••• Dei dicunt, ex nobis e••e∣tunt, sed non erant ex nobi, quid aliud di••••nt, nisi non ••∣tant fil•• etiam quando eran•• in professione & nomine filios ruin▪
• 8 1.40

  Ibid: 〈…〉〈…〉, si••ut non vere discipuli Christ era••t 〈◊〉〈◊〉 si manieritis, in∣quit, in quit, in ••er••i•• meo ve••••d sei••u 〈…〉〈…〉 est, ita ne••vere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de fueru••••, etiam quando esse ••. deba••t••r▪ & ••ta 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 9 1.41

  De cate•••••••• iudib c. •••• Nullum ex ecclesia periturum, qu••a ••uiperierit, ex illa non e∣rat. fir••••m enim fundamen∣tum Dei stat.
• 10 1.42

  Auctor operis in praef. in Mat. 2. hom•• qui cum Christo relicto peccaversunt, non agunt poenitent••am, nunquam sue∣runt Christi.
• * 1.43

  Moral. lib. 2. cap 20.
• 11 1.44

  Moralt lib: 34: c: 8: de poenum dict: 21 c: 44: Citius. Aurum quod pravis Diaboli Diaboli persuasionibus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 si∣out ••itum p••tueri••, au••n̄ ante oculos Dei munquam suit Et qui seduci quando{que} non 〈…〉〈…〉 quasi habi ā sane. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a••e oculos hominum vindentur amittere, sed eam ante oculos Dei nunquā habuerunt, quod valdè justo judicro agitut (se vt quia occul••è peccatis in∣volutus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aliquā, quam hab revilus est, amititat) ut et perdat ante homine••; vnd▪ ho∣minibus placuit, qui hoe vnde. Deo displicuit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 noluir.