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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
blood_n	will_n	work_n	work_v	473	4	6.4338	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85704	A treatise touching falling from grace. Or Thirteen arguments tending to prove that believers cannot fall from grace, as they were laid down at a conference at Yalding in Kent, examined and answered, with many absurdities of that doctrine shewed. Whereunto is added thirteen reasons to prove that believers may fall totally and finally from grace, and many profitable uses flowing from that doctrine. By John Griffith.	Griffith, John, 1622?-1700.	1653 (1653)	Wing G2006; Thomason E690_17; ESTC R202323	40,736	75

A TREATISE TOUCHING FALLING from GRACE OR Thirteen Arguments tending to prove that Believers cannot fall from grace as they were laid down at a Conference at Yalding in Kent examined and answered with many absurdities of that doctrine shewed Whereunto is added thirteen Reasons to prove that Believers may fall totally and finally from Grace and many profitable Uses flowing from that Doctrine By JOHN GRIFFITH Hold fast that thou hast that no man take thy Crown Rev. 3.11 Well because of unbelief they were broken off and thou stands by faith be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the naturall branches take heed least he also spare not thee Rom. 11.20 21 LONDON Printed by H●n Hills and are to be sold by Richard Moon at the sign of the seven Stars in Pauls Church-yard 1653. To all the Elders and Deacons with all the faithfull Brethren in the County of Kent John Griffeth an unworthy Servant of Christ wisheth the increase of Grace and stabillity through the knowledge of our dear Lord and precious Saviour Jesus Christ DEar and well beloved Brethren to whose consideration and pious sincerity I chiefly desire to present this small Treatise touching falling from Grace as a token of my bounden love and respects unto you whom I judge competent judges between truth and errour I therfore seek not the patronage of any one in esteem of the world no courting Lord nor mincing Lady knowing none that are of greater birth or more nobly descended then you who are Kings and high priests of the most high God born unto an inheritance that fadeth not away who are aires unto a Kingdome unto a Crown not a corruptible but an incorruptible one c. The reason of my appearing in this matter so publikely is onely and alone the glory of God the love I bear to Religion and the benifit of the Church of Christ That which occasioned my setting upon this work was partly the importunity of some friends who greatly desired it together with an ingagement that lay upon me to do it for the satisfaction in this point of some friends in your Country But the first and primary occasion did arise as followeth you may remember that I was providentially cast amongst you at Cranbrook at your generall Assembling there July 21. 1652. where you did appoint me with some others to endeavour to give satisfaction touching some points in Religion that were questioned by some to which end and purpose we did meet on the six and twentieth of the same moneth at Yalding about the matter which when we were assembled amongst other things this fell in as the matter most in difference viz. falling from Grace whereupon there was two Positions stated the one by me and the other by the other party the position stated by me was That Believers in Christ may fall away The position stated by them was That Justified persons cannot fall totally nor finally from the grace of union with the Lord Jesus the proof was taken on their part in order to their affirmation they framed thirteen Arguments eight of which were answered at the same time but night coming on we brake up with this conclusion that I should answer them in writing and give the reasons of my conclusion which I have endeavoured to do in this following Treatise to the end that it might extend to the satisfaction of all who are doubtfull in it and for the confirmation of those who have already received it let it therefore intreat your loving entertainment and serious perusall weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuarie if it prove weighty and satisfactory give God the glory I had not been so forward but for these two reasons first because I see few write touching this point Secondly because I judge it is a point very usefull for Believers to be acquainted with that they may know by what they stand viz. faith and what need they have especially in these perilous times to keep close unto God in that way that he hath taught by his Son sure it is that God doth require we should so doe we see daily how many there are that do turn their backs upon the way of God yea and tread his Son under foot and hath counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace What may be the reason that many so do is it not as much in this as any one thing that they suppose they cannot fall and by that means grow carelesse and secure high minded and the like being puffed up with conceitednesse touching their own parts strength and opinions and so grow heedlesse and slight the means denying Ordinances the word yea and Christ himself at last as too too many have done in this age I believe some not unknown to you for I cannot see but that the doctrine of impossibility to fall doth lead to the taking away of the very power of Religion and godlinesse yea and Church-government and discipline for what shall we need any more religion then to get into Christ if nothing when we are once in him can seperate us from him no not sin as is affirmed what shall we need to walk under the strict rule of Discipline if that doctrine be true But I hope you have otherwise learned Christ therefore my dear Brethren be steadfast unmovable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for your labour is not in vain in the Lord hold fast that you have that no man take your crown now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the sheep though the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfit in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever amen Which is the hearty desire of your brother in the faith of our dear and precious Lord who subcribeth himself willing to serve you and all the Churches of Christ in all services of love John Griffith A word to the Reader FRIEND WHosoever thou art let me tell thee one thing touching this small Treatise it may be thou wilt scarce read it because of the subject it treateth on it sounding unpleasantly in thy ears but let me in treat this one thing of thee however it is to read it seeing thou maiest try all things but be sure cleave to that which is good weigh it well take it not upon trust carry it to the Touchstone that will tell thee whether it be gold or no if thou find it speak according to the Law and Testament then thou maiest not for thy life reject it for if thou doest thou wilt be found to be a dispiser of the word and who so dispiseth the word shall be destroyed Prov. 13.13 I hope thou wilt find benefit in it which if thou do I have my end thy profit is that I seek

if thou find it give God the glory in obeying his voice doing his will and loving his righteous law and testimonies which he hath ratified with the bloud of his deer Son who died for thee Thine JOHN GRIFFITH REader these few faults have escaped the Presse and the Author desireth thee to mend them with thy pen ERRATA PAge 7. line 11. read I will give thee a Crown of life p. 21. l. 11. r. comforts of the spirit in Epist. Dedic. p. 4. l. 10. r. through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant A TREATISE TOUCHING Falling from Grace OR Thirteen Arguments tending to prove that Believers cannot fall from Grace Examined and Answered THe Position That Justified persons cannot totally nor finally fall from the grace of Vnion with the Lord Jesus The first Argument is drawn from Matthew 24.24 thus If any could prevail upon the Elect it is like they might be false Prophets that might do it But they cannot seduce them Therefore muchlesse can any totally draw them Answer First consider that the Lord Jesus doth speak in the former part of this chapter Matthew 24.24 touching the signs of his coming it being desired of him by his Disciples verse 3. our Lord in his answer the beginning thereof gives them as an introduction unto his answer this charge viz. that they take heed that none deceive them verse 4. it seems then his Disciples might be deceived and that by men to or else needless was this caveat take heed the reasons why they must is because many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many v. 11. therfore take you heed what Disciples of Christ must they take heed they that are justified persons or else lyable to be deceived yea they must for they onely that endure to the end the same shall be saved v. 13. it seems it is not impossible for false prophets to deceive justified persons as appears in this chapter and also in 2 Pet. 2.1 2. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious waies by whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of and through covetousnesse shall they with fained words make merchandize of you of who why of justified persons such as had obtained like precious faith through the righteousnesse of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.1 Again Paul in the 20. of Acts calleth the Elders of the Church at Ephesus together v. 17. and in the 28. v. he exhorteth them to take heed unto themselves and to all the Flock c. here the chosen or Elect Elders chosen of God and purchased by his blood Eph. 1.4 are commanded to take heed to themselves and to the Flock why what is the matter why after Pauls departure shall grievious wolves enter in not sparing the Flock and of their own selves men shall arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them therefore they must watch v. 29 30 31. or else they may be deceived or drawn away therefore Christ saith beware of false Prophets c. Mat. 7 15. yea and Peter in his second Epistle 3.17 exhorteth them that have like precious faith chap. 1.1 to beware saying least ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse Justified persons may fall and be deceived by false Prophets else how uselesse were these sayings of Christ and his servants unto us in these and many more places of Scripture this premised Now to the Argument and first let me inquire whether by the Elect is intended such as Paul who had fought a good fight who had finished his course who kept the faith it such I grant an impossibility of being seduced by false Prophets But if by Elect be meant such as Paul in his warfare The Minor proposition is denied viz. that they cannot fall away nor be seduced for Paul having kept the faith could say henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse c. 2 Tim. 4.8 But in his warfare he saith otherwise I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the air but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection least that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a castaway 1 Cor. 26 27. thus much to the Argument now to the text from whence the argument is drawn I answer First such as keep the faith are the Elect that shall not be deceived by false Prophets and false Christs although they should come with all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish 2 Thes. 2.10 those that doe wickedly against the Covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits Dan. 1● 32 They that give diligence to make their calling and election sure in so doing shall never fall 2 Pet. 1.10 Secondly by the word Elect is sometimes meant Israel after the flesh for they are called the chosen of God Deut. 7.6 chap. 14.2 Exod. 19.5 6. yet notwithstanding because of unbelief they were cut off Rom. 11.20 yet not for ever for he is able to graffe them in again v. 23. compared with v. 24. God will not forget the Covenant made with them Jer. 31. v. 31. to 34. There shall come a deliverer out of Syon that shal turn ungodlinesse from Jacob c. Rom. 11.26 though as concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes yet as touching the election they are beloved for the Fathers sake v. 28. although they are now deceived yet then it shall be impossible to deceive them for they shal see him whom they have pierced and mourn c. Zach. 12.10 Rev. 1.7 Mat. 24.30 Thirdly by Elect sometimes is meant Jesus Christ for he is the very Elect behold saith God my servant mine elect in whom my soul delighteth Is 42.1 he is the chief corner stone Elect precious c. 1 Pet 2.6 Mat. 21.42 he saith the Lord shall not fail nor be discouraged Isaiah 42.4 he is the beloved Ephes. 1.6 neither false Prophets nor false Christs shall deceive him it is impossible for the Lord hath said he shall not fail nor be discouraged Now if by the Elect be meant either such as keep the faith or Israel as to their future condion or Christ I grant an impossibility of their being deceived but if by elect it be the sence of the Opponent that believers in their warfaring estate cannot fall and that to be the sence of this text it is a thing I want proof of which till I have I must deny as beforesaid The second Argument is taken from the unchangeable love of God towards his people Isa. 54.17 Psa. 1. Jer. 31.1 2. Arg. Though there is unconstancy in the creature yet in the first of Pet. 1.5 We are