I might produce many other arguments in defence of the saints’ perseverance, but shall conclude this head with two or three scriptures, whereby the truth hereof will farther appear: Thus our Saviour says to the woman of Samaria, _Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life_, John iv. 14. Where, by the water that Christ gives, is doubtless understood the gifts and graces of the Spirit; these are not like the waters of a brook, that often deceive the expectation of the traveller; but they are a well of water, intimating that a believer shall have a constant supply of grace and peace till he is brought to the rivers of pleasure, which are at God’s right-hand, and is made partaker of eternal life. Again, our Saviour says, _He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life_, chap. v. 24. _i. e._ it is as surely his as though he was in the actual possession of it; and he farther intimates, that such are not only justified for the present; but they shall not come into condemnation; certainly this implies that their salvation is so secure as that it is impossible for them to perish eternally. Another scripture that plainly proves this doctrine, is in 2 Tim. ii. 19. _Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his; and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity_; in which words the apostle encourages the church to hope for perseverance in grace, after they had had a sad instance of two persons of note, _viz._ Hymeneus and Philetus, who had not only _erred from the truth_, but _overthrown the faith of some_; and he cautions every one, who makes a profession of religion, as they would be kept from apostatizing, to depart from iniquity, _q. d._ since many of you are ready to fear that your faith shall be overthrown, as well as that of others, by the sophistry or cunning arts of those apostates who lie in wait to deceive, you may be assured that their state is safe, who are built upon that foundation which God has laid, that _chief corner stone, elect, precious_, viz. Christ, _on whom he that believeth, shall not be confounded_, 1 Pet. ii. 6. or else, that the instability of human conduct shall not render it a matter of uncertainty, whether they, who are ordained to eternal life, shall be saved or no; for that depends on God’s purpose, relating hereunto, which is a sure foundation, and has this seal annexed to it, whereby our faith herein may be confirmed, that they whom God has set apart for himself, and lays a special claim to, as his chosen and redeemed ones, whom he has foreknown and loved with an everlasting love, shall not perish eternally, because the purpose of God cannot be frustrated. But inasmuch as there is no special revelation given to particular persons, that they