PERSEVER.ANCE (pgr'st-ver'ans), (Gr. rpocr kaprepnets, firos-kar-ter'ay-sis, persistency, endur ing constancy), the continuance in a state, or in a course of action, notwithstanding much opposi tion (Eph.
From the Calvinistic point of view whatever partial decays of grace the saints really have; and though, if left to themselves, they would lose their whole stock of grace; and though the use of watchfulness, and of other means of steadfast ness, is necessary to their perseverance in their gracious state, nature, and course; yet their total or final fall from the same is evidently incon sistent with a multitude of Scriptures; incon sistent with the unchangeable love, the justice, the wisdom, and faithfulness of God • inconsist ent with his unchangeable purposes, promi.z..-, covenant, and oath ; inconsistent with the honor of the Father as their chooser, as the giver of them to Christ for his reward, and as their establisherand keeper; inconsistent with the honor of the Son as their purchaser, advocate, builder, shepherd, husband, life, and one body and spirit with them; inconsistent with the honor of the Holy Ghost, who is in them as a perpetual in habitant, worker, comforter, fountain springingup to everlasting life, the seal of redemption, and earnest of their glory (Job xvii:9; Prov. iv:18,
and x:25; Ps. ii:8; cxxv:2, and cii:28; Is. xlvi: to; liv:8-to; liX :20, 21, and liii:to; Jer. xxxii: 39-42; Hos. 20; Matt. XVi :18, and xxiv: 24; Luke xxii:32; John iv:14; vi:27, 35, 39, 40, 54-58; x:io, 28, 29; xiii :1 ; xiv:16, 17, 19, and xvii:6, 12, 15, 20, 24 ; Acts xiii:48; Rom. V :21 ; Viii :28-39; iX :23, and xi:23; Cor. i:8, 9; vi: 15-19; x:i3; 2 COr. i :21, 22, and iii:3; Gal. ii: 20; Eph. i :13, 14; iV: 30, and v:25-3o; Phil. i: 6, and ii :3; Col. iii:t ; Thess. v:8, 9, 23, 24; 2 Thess. iii:3; 2 Tim. ii:i9; Tit. ii:i4; Heb. 3; vi:17-19; I Pet. i :5, and ii :9; John ii :19, and iii :9). (SCC ELECTION ; PREDESTINATION.) Brown.