A caveat to the standing Christian, and to him that thinketh he standeth by William Gearing ...

CHAP. XV.

Prop. 3. I Come now to the third Proposition; viz. That every godly man is to take heed lest he fall from that measure of grace which he hath received. We must not spill a drop of oil out of our lamps, but must be daily increasing it: God commandeth a growth in grace, is angry when he seeth the least withering. In the hand∣ling this Point, I will first shew

How a godly man may fall.

1. A man in the state of grace cannot, and shall not fall away from that state, his mountain is too strong to be re∣moved; storms may shake him, but they cannot beat him down, because he is builded upon a rock; a man once re∣ally

godly, and godly for ever; he is a mortal, yet im∣mortally gracious: I may say of grace, as Solomon of wis∣dom, Prov. 9.1. She hath builded her house, and hewen out seven pillars, on which grace stands so firm, that all the powers of Hell cannot totally ruinate it.

1. The pillar of Gods eternal election unto the state of grace and glory is impregnably strong: The foundation of the Lord standeth sure, 2 Tim. 2.19. That distinction is a meer dream, and not a Scripture revelation, of an electi∣on to grace only, such may fall away; and an election to grace and glory, such cannot fall away: but if God hath elected any man to holiness, he is elected to happiness, election to a state of grace is to a state of glory.

2. The pillar of Gods unchangeable love to his chosen ones so firmly upholds the Saints, that they shall never fall away from that state: The Lord telling his peo••le, that he would have mercy on them with everlasting kind∣ness, saith, Isai. 54.9, 10. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me, &c. the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord. The Sea is not so full of water, nor the Sun of light, as this place is of love and comfort to the Saints: God ab∣hors that it should be said of him, that he is an uncon∣stant lover of his people.

3. The pillar of Gods and Christs unconquerable pow∣er, 1 Pet. 1.5. his omnipotency is a strong guard about the grace which his Spirit worketh in us; for so the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth; Gods power is their strong garrison. Christ saith of his sheep, I give unto them eter∣nal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; My Father which gave them me is greater then all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand, Joh. 10.28, 29. The power that must dis∣possess your hearts of grace, must be stronger then God and Christ.

4. The pillar of an inseparable union with their Head

Christ: He and his members are more firmly knit toge∣ther then any natural head and members can possibly be: the head may be severed from the body; the arms or the legs may be cut off, or rent asunder by wild beasts; but all the strength of all the Divels in Hell cannot rend a member from Christ; they shall as soon separate his di∣vine nature from the humane nature, as a living member from his body mystical.

5. The pillar of Christs effectual and eternal redem∣ption of them firmly upholds grace in us, till he hath consummated their redemption; it were no better then a temporary redemption of his people, should they again return from grace to captivity to sin and Satan.

6. The pillar of Christs uncessant intercession in the behalf of his chosen people. Joh. 17.11.15. he always makes intercession for his Church and people; and God the Father always heareth Jesus Christ in their behalf.

7. The seed by which God regenerateth his children is immortal, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever, 1 Pet. 1.23. and this seed remaineth in them, 1 Joh. 3.9. neither can they sin, because they are born of God; they may sin themselves out of Gods favour, but not out of grace; they may sin themselves into Gods anger, but not into his hatred: when Solomon gave himself to follow his hearts desires, yet then his wisdom remained with his, Eccles. 2.9. God once repented that he had made man, but never repented that he bestowed his grace upon any: The gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Rom. 11.29. if God never repents of giving, they shall never lose that precious gift of his grace. Upon these pil∣lars our state of grace resteth, there is no falling from it.