of adoption witneffing with our fpirits that we are the children of God b: which Spirit is the carneft of our inheritance, whereby we are fealed to the day of redemption i. III. This infallible affurance doth not fo belong to the effence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of itk: 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 di things, ye fhall never fall. v. 11. For fo an entrance fhall be miniftred unto you abundantly, into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ. 1 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 teftimony of our confcience, that in fimplicity, and godly fincerity, not with flethly wifdom, but by the grace of God we have had our converfation 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 fpirit itfelf beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. i Eph. i. 13. In whom ye alfo trufted, 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 fpirit of promife. v. 14. Which is the earneft of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchafed ligence 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 fealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 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 ftay upon his God. Mark. ix. 24. And ftraightway the father of the child, cried out, and faid with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (See Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout. Pfal. Ixxvii. to the 12. verfe. 11 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit 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 iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he G 3 hath ligence to make his calling and election furem; 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 affurance n: fo far is it from inclining men to looseness o. IV. True believers may have the affurance 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 affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not floth ful, but followers of them, who thro' faith and patience inherit the promifes. Eph. iii. 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. i. 10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for if ye do these things, ye fhall ne-, ver fall. "Rom. y. 1. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift. v. 2. By whom alfo we have accefs by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. v. 5. And hope maketh not afhamed, because the love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghoft which is given unto us. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteoufnefs 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 Ghoft. Eph. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath blessed us with all spiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift: v. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love. Pfalm iv. 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 increased. Pfal, cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy command. ments, when thou fhalt 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, Jefus Chrift the righteous. v. 2. And he is the propitiation for our fins: and not for ours only, but alfo for the fins of the whole world. Rom. 6. 1. What fhall we fay then? fhall we continue in fin, that grace may abound? v, 2. God forbid: how fhall we that are dead to fin, live any longer therein? Tit. ii. 11. For 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, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent world. v. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he tion divers ways fhaken, diminished and intermitted; as, by negligence in preferving of it, by falling into fome fpecial fin, which woundeth the conscience, 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, might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore thefe promifes (dearly beloved) let us cleanfe ourselves from all filthinefs of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holinefs in the fear of God. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v. 12. Therefore, 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 fhall be: but we know, that when he fhall appear, we fhall 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. CXII. 4. But there is forgiveness with thee: that thou mayeft be feared. 1 John i. 6. If we fay 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 Jefus Chrift his Son cleanfeth us from all fin. IV. p Cant. v. 2. I fleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, faying, Open to me, my fifter, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with that the drops of the night. v. 3. I have put off my coat, how fhall 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 withdrawn himself, and was gone: my foul failed when he fpake; I fought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no anfwer. Pfal. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou haft broken, may rejoice. v. 12. Reftore unto me the joy of thy falvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. v. 14. Deliver me from blood-guiltinefs, O God, thou God of my falvation; and my tongue fhall fing aloud of thy righteoufnels. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption, v. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evilfpeaking 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 iore ran in the night, and ceafed not: my foul refufed to be comforted, v. 3. I remembred God, and was troubled; I complained, and my fpirit was overwhelmed. Selah. v. 4. Thou holdeft mine eyes waking: I am fo troubled, that I cannot speak. v. 5. I have confidered the days of old, the years of G 4 ancient that love of Christ and the brethren, that fincerity of heart Chap. XVIII. and confcience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this affurance may in due time be revived q, and by the which, in the mean time, they are fupported from utter defpair 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 fearch. v. 7. Will the Lord caft off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? v. 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promife fail for evermore? v. 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger fhut 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 moft High. Mat. xxvi. 69. Now Peter fat without in the palace; and adamfel came unto him, faying, thou alfo waft with Jefus of Galilee. v. 70. But he denied before them all, faying, I know not what thou fayeft. 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 alfo with Jefus 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 hafte, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardeft 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 truft in the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his God, I 91 John iii. 9. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin: for his feed remaineth in him, and he cannotfin, because he is born of God. СНАР. thee, that thy faith fail not; and Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for when thou art converted, strengthhe flay me, yet will I trust in him: en thy brethren. Job. xiii. 15. Tho' but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Pfal. lxxiii. 15. IfI fay, offend against the generation of thy I will speak thus: behold, I should children. Pfal. li. 8, 12. (See letter p immediately before.) Ifa. 1. 10. (See letter p 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 againft me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I fhall arife; when I fit in darknefs, the Lord fhall be a light unto me. v. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have fincaufe, and execute judgment for me: ned against him, until he plead my and I fhall behold his righteoufhe will bring me forth to the light, nefs. 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 fhall not depart from me. Ifa. div. 7. For a small moment have I forfaken thee; but with cies will I gather thee. v. 8. In a great merlittle wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting 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 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 pofterity to perfonal, entire, exact and perpetual obedience; promifed 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; 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 shall not depart from thee, neither fhall 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 forfaken me? why art thou fo far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Pfal. lxxxviii. throughout.) I. a Gen. i. 26. And God faid, 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 fhalt furely 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: the v. 15. who fhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witnefs; and their thoughts the mean while accufing, or elfe excufing one another. Rom.x. 5. For Mofes defcribeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man who doth thofe things, fhall live by them. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned. v. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made finners: fo by the obedience of one fhall many be made righteous. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe: for it is written, Curfed 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, fhall 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 faid, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, is understanding. II. James i. 25. But whofo look eth |