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. before he be Partaker of it: Yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the Things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary Revelation, in the right Ufe of ordinary Means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the Duty of every one, to give all Diligence to make his Calling and Election fure "; that thereby his Heart may be enlarged in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghoft, in Love and Thankfulness to God, and in Strength and Chearfulness in the Duties of Obedience; the proper Fruits of this Affurance":

III. John's. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Ifa. 5o. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Mark 9. 24. And ftraight way the father of the child cried out, and faid with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. [See Pfalm 88. throughout. Pfalm 77. to the 12. verfe.]

1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Heb. 6. 11. And we defire, that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That you be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit

So

the promises. Eph. 3. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, v. 18. May be able to comprehend with all faints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. v. 19. And to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

m 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

Romans s. 1. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 2. By whom alfo we have access by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. v. s. And hope maketh not afhamed, because the love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Rom. 14. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy Ghoft. Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in be+

lieving

So far is it from inclining Men to Loofe nefs

IV. True Believers may have the Affurance of their Salvation divers ways fhaken, diminished and intermitted; as, by Negligence in prefer ving of it, by falling into fome special Sin which woundeth the Confcience, and grieveth the Spirit, by fome fudden or vehement Temptation, by God's withdrawing the Light of his Countenance, and fuffering even fuch as fear him to walk in Darkness

fieving,that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghoft. Eph. 3. Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift,who hath bleffed us with all spiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift. .4. According as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame be fore him in love. Pfalm 4. 6. There be many that fay, Who will fhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. v. 7. Thou haft put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increafed. Pfalm 119.32. Iwill run the way of thy commandments, when thou fhalt enlarge my heart.

and

the grace of God that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men, v, 12. Teaching us, that denying ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteoully, and godly in this prefent world. 7. 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,zealous of good works, 20%, 7.1. Having therefore thefe promi fes (dearly beloved) let us cleanfe our felves from all filthiness of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holines in the fear of God. Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnati. on to them which are in Chrift Je fus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v.12, Therefore brethren, we are debters, not to the 1 John 2.1. My little children, flesh,to live after the flesh. 1 John 3 thefe things write I unto you,that ye 2. Beloved, now are we the fons of fin not. And if any man fin, we God, and it doth not yet appear have an Advocate with the Father, what we shall be: but we know, that Jefus Chrift the righteous. 7. 2. when he shall appear, we shall be like And he is the propitiation for our him; for we fhall fee him as he is. fins: and not for ours only, but v. 9. And every man that hath this alfo for the fins of the whole world. hope in him, puriffeth himself, even Rom. 6. 1. What fhall we fay then? as he is pure, Pfalm 130, 4 fhall we continue in fin, that grace there is forgiveness with thee; that may abound? v. 2. God forbid: thou mayeft be feared. 1 John 1.6. how fhall we that are dead to fin,live If we fay that we have fellow any longer therein. Tit. 2. 11. For

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and to have no Light P: Yet are they never utterly defitute of that Seed of God and Life of Faith, that Love of Chrift and the Brethren, that Sincerity of Heart and Confcience of Duty; out of which, by the Operation of the Spirit, this Afsurance may

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with him, and walk in darkness, we me. 7. 2. In the day of my trou. lie, and do not the truth. v. 7. But ble I fought the Lord; my fore ran if we walk in the light, as he is in the in the night, and ceafed not: my light, we have fellowship one with foul refufed to be comforted. v. 3. another, and the blood of Jefus Iremembred God,and was troubled: Chrift his Son cleanseth us from all I complained, and my spirit was ofia. -verwhelmed. Selah. 4. Thou IV. P. Cent. 4. 2. Ifleep, but my holdeft mire eyes waking: Iamfo heart waketh: it is the voice of my troubled that I cannot speak. beloved that knocketh, faying, O- I have confidered the days of old, pentome, my fifter, my love, my the years of ancient times. v. 6.I dove, my undefiled; for my head call to remembrance my fong in the is filled with dew, and my locks with night: I commune with mine own the drops of the night. v. 3. Ihave heart, and my spirit made diligent put off my coat, how fhall I put it fearch. v.7. Will the Lord caft off on I have washed my feet,how fhall forever? and will he be favourable 1 defile theme v.6. 1opened to my no more! v.8. Is his mercy clean beloved, but my beloved had with- gone for ever? doth his promife drawn himself, and was gone: my fail for evermore?, 9. Hath God foul failed when he spake; I fought forgotten to be gracious? hath he him, but I could not find him; Ical- in anger fhut up his tender mercies? led him, but he gave me no answer. Selah. v. 10. And I faid, This Pfalm. 8. Make me to hear joy is my infirmity, but I will remember and gladness; that the bones which the years of the right hand of the thou haft broken,may rejoice. v.12. moft High. Matth. 26. 69. Now Reffore unto me the joy of thy fal- Peter fat without in the palace; and vation; and uphold me with thy free a damfel came unto him, faying, Spinit. v. 14. Deliver me from blood- Thou alfo waft with Jefus of Galilee. guiltinels, O God, thou God of my v. 70. But he denied before them all, falvation; and my tongue fhall fing faying, I know not what thou fayaloud of thy righteoufnefs. Eph.4. eft. v. 71. And when he was gone 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit out into the porch, another maid faw of God, whereby ye are fealed unto him, and faid unto them that were the day of redemption. v.31, Let there, This fellow was also with Jeallbitterness, and wrath, and an- fus of Nazareth. v. 72. And again ger, and clamour, and evil speak- he denied with an oath, I do not ing be put away from you, with all know the man. Pfalm 31. 22, For! malice. Pfalm 77. 1. I cried unto faid in my hafte, I am cut out from God with my voice: even unto God before thine eyes; nevertheless thou with my voice, and he gave ear unto

heard

in due time be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are fupported from utter Despair'. CHA P. XIX.

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Of the Law of God.

NOD gave to Adam a Law as a Covenant of I Works, by which he bound him and all his Pofterity to perfonal, entire, exact and perpetual Obedience; promised Life upon the fulfilling, and

heardeft the voice of my fupplications, when I cried unto thee. [ Pfal. 88. throughout] Ifai. 5o. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

91 John 3.9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit fin: for his feed remaineth in him, and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. Luke 22,32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, ftrengthen thy brethren. Job 13.15. Though he flay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Pfalm 73.15. IfI fay, I will speak thus: behold, Ifhould offend against the generation of thy children. Pfalm 51. 8, 12. [See letter immediately before.] Ifaiah so. 1o. [See letter P immediately foregoing. ]

Mic. 7.7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for the God of my falvation: my God will hear me. v. 8. Rejoice not against me, Omine enemy; when I fall, I fhall arife; when I fit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have finned a

v. 9.

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threat

v. 8. Ina

gainst him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Fer. 32. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, That I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they fall not depart from me. Ifa. $4.7. For a fmall moment havel forfaken thee; but with great mer cies will I gather thee. little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlafting kindness will I have mercy on thee, faith the Lord thy Redeemer. v. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over the earth; fo have I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. v. 10. For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness fhall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Pfal. 22. 1. My God,my God, why haft thou forfaken me? why art thou fo far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?[ Pfal. 88, throughout.]

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threatned Death upon the Breach of it; and indued him with Power and Ability to keep it 2.

II. This Law after his Fall, continued to be a perfect Rule of Righteousness, and as fuch was deivered by God upon Mount Sinai in Ten Commandments, and written in Two Tables; the

Four

1. Gm. 1. 26. And God faid, under the curfe for it is written, Let us make man in our image, af- Curfed is every one that continueth ter our likeness: and let them have not in all things which are written dominion over the fish of the fea, in the book of the law, to do them. and over the fowl of the air, and v. 12. And the law is not of faith: Over the cattle, and over all the but, the man that doth them, fhall earth, and over every creeping live in them. Eccl. 7. 29. Lo, this thing that creepeth upon the earth. only have I found, that God hath 27. So God created man in his made man upright: but they have own image, in the image of God fought out many inventions. Job created he him: male and female 28. 28. And unto man he said, Becreated he them. With Gen. 2. 17. hold, the fear of the Lord, that is But of the tree of the knowledge of wisdom, and to depart from evil, good and evil, thoufhalt not eat of is understanding. it: for in the day that thou eatest II. James I. 25. But whofo thereof, thou shalt furely die. Rom. looketh into the perfect law of li2.14. For when the Gentiles which berty, and continueth therein, he have not the law, do by nature the being not a forgetful hearer, but a things contained in the law, these doer of the work, this man shall be having not the law, are a law un- bleffed in his deed. Fam. 2. 8. If to themselves: v. 15. Which fhew ye fulfil the royal law, according to the work of the law written in their the fcripture, Thou shalt love thy hearts, their confcience alfo bear- neighbour as thy felf, ye do well. ing witness, and their thoughts the v. 1o. For whofoever shall keep the mean while accufing, or elfe excu- whole law, and yet offend in one fing one another. Rom. 10. s. For point, he is guilty of all. v. 11. For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs he that faid, Do not commit adultewhich is of the law, that the man ry; faid alfo, Do not kill. Now which doth those things, fhall live if thou commit no adultery, yet if by them. Rom. s. 12. Wherefore, thou kill, thou art become a tranfas by one man fin entred into the greffor of the law. v. 12. So fpeak world, and death by fin; and fo ye, and fo do, as they that shall be death paffed upon all men, for that judged by the law of liberty. Rom v. 19. For as by 13. 8. Owe no man any thing, but one mans difobedience many were love one another: for he that lomade finners: fo by the obedience veth another, hath fufilled the law. of one, fhall many be made righ-9. For this, Thou shalt not comteous. Gal. 3. 10. For as many as mit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, are of the works of the law, are

all have finned.

Thou

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