them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants :" And because as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgments.*

q Rom. 3: 20, and 4: 2, 4, 6; Eph. 2: 8, 9; Tit. 3:5, 6, 7; Rom. 8: 18; Psal. 16: 2; Job, 22: 23, and 35: 7, 8. r Luke, 17: 10. 8 Gal. 5: 22, 23. .t t Isa. 64: 6; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7 15 18; Psal. 143:2, and 130: 3.

VI.

Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him," not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's sight,w but that he looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.*

u Eph. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:5; Exod. 28: 38; Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11: 4. w Job, 9:20; Psal. 142: 2; Phil. 3: 12. x Heb. 13:20, 21; 2 Cor. 8: 12; Heb. 6: 10; Matt. 25: 21, 28.

VII.

Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which

God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others: yet because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith," nor are done in a right manner, according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God; yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.d

y 2 Kings, 10:30, 31: 1 Kings, 21: 27, 29; Phil. 1: 15, 16, 18. z Gen. 4:5; Heb. 11: 4, 6. a 1 Cor. 13: 3; Isa. 112. b Matt. 6: 2, 5, 16. c Hag. 2 14; Tit. 1: 15; Amos, 5: 21, 22; Hos. 1:4; Rom. 9: 16; Tit. 3: 5. d Psal. 14: 4, and 36: 3; Job, 21: 14, 15; Matt. 25: 41, 42, 43, 45; Matt. 23: 23.

CHAP. XVII.

OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.

I.

THEY Whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from a state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved.a

a Phil. 16; 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, from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace, from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.h

d

b2 Tim. 2: 18, 19; Jer. 31; 33. c Hcb. 10: 10, 14, and 13 20, 21, and 9: 12, 13, 14, 15; Rom. 8: 33, to end; John, 17: 11, 24; Luke, 22: 32; Heb. 7 : 25. d John, 17:21. e Hebrews, 6: 17, 18: Psal. 89: 35, 36. f John, 14: 16, 17; 1 John, 2: 27, and 3 : 9. g Jer. 32: 40. h John, 10 28; 2 Thes. 3:3; 1 John, 2 : 19.

III.

And though they may through the temptation 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, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure.' and grieve his Holy Spirit,m come to have their graces and comforts impaired," have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet they are and shall be kept by the power of God through faith, unto salvation."

i Matt. 26 70, 72; 74. k Psal. 51, title, and verse 14. 1 Isa. 64 5, 7, 9; 2 Sam. 11: 27. m Eph. 4 30. n Psal. 51: 8, 10, 12; Rev. 2:4; Cant. 5 : 2, 3, 4, 6. o Isa. 63: 17; Mark, 6: 52, and 16 14. p Psal. 32: 3, 4, and 51: 8. q 2 Sam. 12: 14. r Psal. 89 31, 32; 1 Cor. 11: 30, 31, 32. s 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 Thes. 5: 23.

CHAP. XVIII.

OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION.

a

I.

ALTHOUGH temporary believers, and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and state of salvation, which hope of theirs' shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.d

a Job, 8: 13, 14; Mic. 3: 11; Deut, 29: 19; John, 8: 41. b Matt. 7: 22, 23. c 1 John, 2:3, and 3: 14, 18, 19, 21, 24, and 5: 13. d Rom. 5: 2, 5.

II.

This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible

hope; but an infallible assurance of faith, founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel, and also upon the inward evidences of those graces, unto which promises are made, and on the immediate witness of the Spirit, testifying our adoption, and as the fruit thereof, leaving the heart more humble and holy.i

e Heb. 6 11, 19. fHeb. 10: 19, 20; Rom. 3:22. g 2 Pet. 1: 4, 5, 10, 11; 1 John, 2 : 3, and 3: 14; 2 Cor. 1: 12. h Rom. 8: 15, 16. i Psal. 51. 12, 17; 2 Cor. 7: 1.

III.

This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties 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 use of ordinary means, attain thereunto.1 And therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure,m that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness."

n

k 1 John, 5 13; Isa. 50: 10; Matt. 9: 24; Psal. 88, per tot. and 77: 1 to 12. 11 Cor. 2: 1, 2; 1 John, 4: 13; Heb. 6:11, 12; Eph. 3: 17, 18, 19. m 2 Pet. 2: 10. n Rom.