§. 132. Of the Persons and Grace that cannot utterly be lost.
FOr further clearing this Point of departing from God, or falling from grace, it will be requisite distinctly to consider,
- 1. What persons may fall▪
- 2. From what grace they may fall.
- 3. How far they may fall.
- 1. The persons about whom the Question is, are Professours of the true faith: Saints by calling, or called to be Saints, Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2. These are of two sorts,
- 1. Chosen and called, Revel. 17. 14. Their calling is an inward, and an effe∣ctual calling.
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2. Called, but not chosen, Mat. 22. 14. Their calling is only external and formal.
These later may fall from that which the former cannot fall from: and also fall much further. See §. 131. & §. 134.
- 2. The grace, from which mens falling, in departing from God is questioned, is either remaining in God himself, or inherent in man▪ Election is an act of God residing in himself, and altogether depending on his good pleasure. Justification also consists in Gods accepting our persons, not imputing our sinnes unto us. But faith whereby we are justified, and the several fruits of Sanctification are inherent in man, wrought in him by the Spirit of God. These graces inherent in man are of two sorts. They are either in truth, and in the judgement of certainty: or in appea∣rance only, and in the judgement of charity.
- 3. Concerning the degree or measure of falling from grace, That may be either in truth, in whole, or for ever: or only in sense, in part, or for a time.
To apply these distinctions:
- 1. The Elect being effectually called, cannot in truth totally and finally fall away. This Proviso (if it were possible, Matth. 24. 24.) being interposed in the case of falling away, and that in reference to the Elect, sheweth, that it is not possible, that the Elect should utterly be drawn from Christ.
- 2. No true sanctifying, saving grace can be totally lost. In this respect the be∣loved Disciple saith, that, Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sinne: For his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sinne, because he is born of God, 1 Joh. 3. 9. They who are born of God are endued with true, saving, sanctifying grace. To commit sinne is wholly to give himself over to sinne; and so utterly to fall from grace. This the regenerate cannot do. This reason is there render∣ed, because the seed of God, that is, the Spirit of God (by vertue whereof we are, a•…•… it were, out of a certain seed, born again, and made new men) abideth in us.
- 3. They who are effectually called, and endued with such grace, cannot final∣ly fall away. For these are given to Christ, and for this end, that he should not lose them, but raise them up again at the last day, John 6. 39. In this respect they are resembled to a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, whose leaf also shall not wither, Psalm. 1. 3. And to Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, Psal. 125. 2. and to an house built upon a rock; which, though the rain descended, and the flouds came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, yet it fell not, Mat. 7. 24, 25.
How far hypocrites and reprobates may fall, See Chap. 6. v. 6. §. 37.