of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God h: which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption i. III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the efsence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it k: 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 thereuntol. And therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence poffeffion, unto the praise of his glory. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption. 2 Cor. i. 21. Now he who stablisheth us with you, in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: v. 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. things, ye shall never fall. v. II. For fo an entrance shall be miniftred unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. I John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. 2 Cor. i. 12. For our rejoicing is this, The testimony of our confcience, that in simplicity, and godly fincerity, not with flethly wisdom, but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to youwards. Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the fpirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. v. 16. The spirit itfelf beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. ¡Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trufsted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your, falvation: In whom also, after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy spirit of promife. v. 14. Which is the earneft of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased III. 1 John v. 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. 1. 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. ix. 24. And straightway the father of the child, cried out, and faid with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (See Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout. Pfal. lxxvii. to the 12. verse. 11 Cor. ii. 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. I John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he G3 hath ligence to make his calling and election surem; 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 afsurancen: fo far is it from inclining men to looseness 0. IV. True believers may have the assurance of their falvation hath given us of his Spirit. Heb. vi. 11. And we defire, that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full afsurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not sloth ful, but followers of them, who thro' faith and patience inherit the promises. Eph. iii. 17. That Christ 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 Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled, with all the fulness of God. m 2 Pet. i. 10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for if ye do these things, ye shall ne-, ver fall. # Rom. y. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. v. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghost. Eph. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: v. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. Pfalm iv. 6. There be many that fay, Who will thew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. v. 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. Pfal, cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy command. ments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. • 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye fin not. And if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. v. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the fins of the whole world. Rom. 6. 1. What shall we say then? shall we continue in fin, that grace may abound? v. 2. God forbid= how shall we that are dead to fin, live any longer therein? Tit. ii. II. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, v. 12. Teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lufts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. v. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he tion divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special fin, which woundeth the confcience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and fuffering even fuch as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no lightp: yet are they never utterly deftitute of that feed of God, and life of faith, that might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these promises (dearly beloved) let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v. 12. Thereføre, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall fee him as he is. v. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Pfal. CXXX. 4. But there is forgiveness with thee: that thou mayest be feared. 1 John i. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. v. 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanfeth us from all fin. IV. p Cant. v. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. v. 3. I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? v. 6. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had with. drawn himself, and was gone: my foul failed when he spake; I fought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Pfal. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice. v. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; anduphold me with thy free Spirit. v. 14. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my falvation; and my tongue shallsing aloud of thy righteousness. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. v. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evilspeaking be put away from you, with all malice. Pfal. lxxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. v. 2. In the day of my trouble I fought the Lord: my fore ran in the night, and ceased not: my foul refused to be comforted, v. 3. I remembred God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. v. 4. Thou holdesst mine eyes waking: I am so troubled, that I cannot speak. v. 5. I have confidered the days of old, the years of G4 ancient 1 that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and confcience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this affurance may in due time be revivedq, and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair r. ancient times. v. 6. I call to remembrance my fong in the night: I commune with mine own heart, and my fpirit made diligent search. v. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? v. B. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? v. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. * v. 10. And I faid, This is my infirmity, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Mat. xxvi. 69. Now Peter fat without in the palace; and adamsel came unto him, faying, thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. v. 70. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayeft. v. 71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid faw him, and faid unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. v. 72. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Pfal. xxxi. 22. For I faid in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my fupplications, when I cried unto thee. (Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout.) Ifa. 1. 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 Johniii. 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. " 1 CHAP thee, that thy faith fail not; and Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for when thou art converted, strengthhe slay me, yet will I trust in him: en thy brethren. Job. xiii. 15. Tho' before him. Pfal. lxxiii. 15. If I say, but I will maintain mine own ways I will speak thus: behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. Pfal.li. 8, 12. (See letter p immediately before.) Ifa. 1. 10. (See letter immediately foregoing.) look unto the Lord: I will wait for Mic. vii. 7. Therefore I will the God of iny falvation: my God will hear me. v. 8. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I fit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. v. 9. I will bear the indignatined against him, until he plead my on of the Lord, because I have fincause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteoufness. Jer.xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, them, to do them good; but I will That I will not turn away from put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Ifa. div. 7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. v. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting faith the Lord thy Redeemer. v.9. kindness will I have mercy on thee, For this is as the waters of Noah un to me: for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah should no more go F T : G CHAP. XIX. Of the Law of God. OD gave to Adam a law as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to perfonal, entire, exact and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it a. II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as fuch, was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables b; the over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. v. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Pfal, xxii. 1. My God, my God, why haft thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout.) I. Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. v. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them. With Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: v. 15. who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness; and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or elfe excufing one another. Rom.x. 5. For Mofes describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man who doth those things, shall live by them. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have finned. v. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners: fo by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them. v. 12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doth them, shall live in them. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found. that God hath made man upright: but they have fought out many inventions. Job. xxviii. 28. And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, is understanding. II. James i. 25. But whoso look eth |