it, To use all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure; wherein we shall never fall: And there is no Spiritual Exhortation in vain, or ill grounded; which this would be, if it could not be made sure. The Apostle Paul was perswaded, concerning himself and some others, That nothing should be able to separate them from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now this Perswasion, being of the Truth, makes it evident, That he, and those concerning whom he was so perswaded, had attain'd this State.
And of such he affirms, That they could do nothing against the Truth, but for the Truth.
And of himself, he saith, I have fought a good Fight, I have finished my Course, I have kept the Faith, henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, &c.
So here's the Race run, the Rest enter'd into, the Fight fought, the Victory obtain'd, the Wicked One overcome; and so the Fixation, the durable State, the Assurance for ever.
1. For Christ hath promised, He that overcometh, shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son; and if he shall inherit all things, he shall inherit this good State, from whence there is no falling.
2. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. So here's no more falling away from this degree; these are God's Sealed Ones, com'd higher than the first Adam before the Fall, into a State in the second Adam, from whence there is no falling.
These are called, The Election that hath obtain'd; and it's said, The rest were blinded: But the reason is evident, they gave not diligence to add to their Faith, Vertue, &c. and he that hath not these things is blind, &c.
And those are called, by way of Pre-eminence, the Very Elect, whom neither false Christ's, nor false Prophets, with all their lying Wonders, shall ever be able to deceive: For to this State must these, and such like Scriptures relate; or else they would contradict those Scriptures which shew the possibility of falling from Grace, Faith, Righteous∣ness, &c.
Thus all these Propositions are expounded and demonstrated from Scripture, and their co-incidence and agreement clearly shewn; which otherwise taken, run into Confusion and Contradiction.