Chapter XVII - Of the Perseverance of the Saints

I. They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.(Phil 1:6, 2 Pet 1:10, John 10:28-29, 1 John 3:9, 1 Pet 1:5,9)

II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father;(2 Tim 2:18-19, Jer 31:3) upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ,(Heb 10:10, 14, 20-21, 9:12-15, 34-38, John 17:11, 24, Luke 22:32, Heb 7:25) the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them,(John 14:16-17, 1 John 2:27, 3:9) and the nature of the covenant of grace:(Jer 32:40) from all which arises also the certainty and infallibility thereof.(John 10:28, 2 thess 3:3, 1 John 2:19)

III. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins;(Matt 26:70, 72, 74) and, for a time, continue therein:(Psa 51:14) whereby they incur God's displeasure,(Isa 64:5, 7, 9, 2 Sam 11:27) and grieve His Holy Spirit,(Eph 4:30) come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts,(Psa 51:8, 10, 12, Rev 2:4, Song 5:2-4, 6) have their hearts hardened,(Isa 63:17, Mark 6:52, 16:14) and their consciences wounded;(Psa 32:3-4, 51:8) hurt and scandalize others,(2 Sam 12:14) and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.(Psa 89:31-32, 1 Cor 11:32)

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