that they can have no affurance that they are Eled, they doubt of the conclufion.

And many of them think that the Promife extendeth not to fuch as they, because of fome fin, or great unworthinefs, which they are guilty of.

And others think that they have not that Faith and Repen tance which are the condition of the promife of pardon and falvation: And in fome of these the thing it self may be so obfcure, as to be indeed the matter of rational doubtfulness. And in others of them, the cause may be either a mistake about the true nature and figns of Faith and Repentance; or elle a timerous melancholy causeless fufpition of themselves But which of all these foever be the caufe, it is fomething different from proper unbelief or diftruft of God. For he that miftaketh the extent of the Promife, and thinketh that it belongeth not to fuch as he, would believe and trust it, if he understood it, that it extends to him as well as others. And he that doubteth of his own Repentance and Faith,may yet be confident of the truth of Gods Promife to all true penitent Believers.

I mention this for the cure of two mifchiefs: The firft is that of the prefumptuous Opinionist, who goeth to Hell prefuming that he hath true faving faith, because he confidently believeth, that he himself is pardoned, and fhall be faved. The fecond is that of the perplexed fearful Chriftian, who thinks that all his uncertainty of his own fincerity, and fo of his falvation, is properly unbelief, and fo concludeth that he cannot believe, and thall not be faved. Because he knoweth not that faith is fuch a belief and truft in Chrift, as will bring us abfolutely and unreservedly to venture our all upon him alone.

And yet I muft tell all thefe perfons, that all this while it is ten to one, but there is really a great deal of unbelief in them which they know not: and that their belief of the truth of the immortality of the foul, and the life to come, and of the Gospel it felf, is not fo ftrong and firm, as their never-doubting of it would intimate, or as fome of their definitions of Faith, and their Book-opinions and Disputes import. And it had been well for fome of them, that

they

they had doubted more, that they might have believed, and been fettled better.

Direct. 30. Think often of the excellencies of the life of faith, that the Motives may be ftill inducing you thereto.

As r. It is but reafenable that God fhould be trufted; or elle indeed we deny him to be God, Pfal. 20. 7.

2. What elfe fhall we truft to? fhall we deific creatures, and fay to aftock, Thou art my Father? Jer. 2. 27. Lam. 1. 19. Shall we diftruft God, and truft a lyar and a worm?>

3. Trying times will hortly come; and then woe to the foul that cannot truft in God! Then nothing elfe will ferve our turns. Then curfed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh bis arm, and withdrawerb his heart from the Lord; be fhall be like the barren wilderness, &c. Then none that trusted in him shall be ashamed, Jer. 17.5, 6. Pfal. 25.3, 4. Pfal.73. 26, 27, 28.

4. Gods Alffficiency leaveth no reafon for the leaft diftruft: There is the mott abfolute certainty that God cannot fail us, because his veracity is grounded on his effential perfeЯtions.

5. No witnefs could ever ftand up against the life of faith, and fay that he loft by trufting God, or that ever God deceived any.

6. The life of faith is a conqueft of all that would diftrefs the foul, and it is a life of conftant peace and quietness: Yea it feafteth the foul upon the everlafting Joyes. Though the mountains be removed; though this world be turned upfide down, and be diffolved; whether poverty or wealth, sickness or health, evil report or good, perfecution or prosperity befall us; how little are we concerned in all this? and how little should they do to difturb the peace and comfort of that foul, who believeth that he fhall live with God for ever. Many fuch confiderations fhould make us more willing to live by faith upon Gods Promifes, than to live by fenfe on tranfitory things.

Direct. 31. Renew your Covenant with Chrift in bis boly Sacrament, frequently, understandingly, and seriously.

For 1. when we renew our Covenant with Chrift, then Chrift reneweth his Covenant with us; and that with great

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advantage to our faith: 1. In an appointed Ordinance which he will blefs. 2. By a fpecial Minifier appointed to seal and deliver it to us as in his Name. 3. By a folemn Sacramental Inveftiture.

2. And our own renewing our Covenant with him, is the renewed exercife of faith, which will tend to frengthen it,and to fhew us that we are indeed Believers. And there is much in that Sacrament to help the ftrengthening of faith: Therefore the frequent and right ufing of it, is one of Gods appointed means, to feed and maintain our fpiritual life; which if we neglect, we wilfully farve our faith, 1 Cor. 11. 26, 28, &c.

Direc. 32. Keep all your own promifes to God and man.

For 1. Lyars alwaies fufpect others. 2. Guilt breederh fufpicioufnels. 3. God in juffice may leave you to your diftruft of him, when you will be perfidious your felves. You can never be confident in God, while you deal falfly with him or with others. The end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure beart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5.

Direa: 33: Labour to improve your belief of every promise, for the increase of boliness and obedience: And to get more upon your fouls that true Image of God in his Power, Wisdom and Goodness, which will make it eafie to you to believe him.

1. The more the hypocrite feemeth to believe the promise, the more he boldly ventureth upon fin, and difobeyeth the precept; because it was but fear that refrained him; and his belief is but prefumption abating fear. But the more a true Chriftian believeth, the more he flyeth from fin, and ufeth Gods means, and studieth more exa& obedience; and beving thefe promifes, laboureth to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit, perfecting boliness in the fear of God, 2 Cor.7.1. And receiving a Kingdom whih carnot be moved, we must ferve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, Heb. 12. 28, 29.

2. The liker the foul is to God, the cafier it will believe and truft him. As faith caufeth holiness; fo every part of holiness befriendeth faith. Now the three great impreffions of the Trinity upon us are expreffed diftinctly by the Apoftle,

2 Tim. 1.7. For God bath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of Power, of Love, and of a found mind, anůμa dvrápias; x areTHE OPPOVINE. Power, Love, and a found mind or understanding,do anfwer Gods nature as the face in the glass doth answer our face, and therefore cannot chufe but truft him.

Direct. 34. Lay up in your memory particular pertinent, and clear Promifes, for every particular use of faith.

The number is not fo much; but be fure that they be plain and well underfood, that you may have no caufe to doubt whether they mean any fuch thing indeed or not. Here fome will expect that I fhould do this for them, and gather them fuch promises. Two things diffwade me from doing it at large: 1. So many Books have done it already a, Ic will fwell this Book too big: But take thefe few.

1. For forgiveness of all fins, and Fuftification to penitent Believers.

Ads 5. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Ifrael, and forgiveness of fins.

4us 13.38, 39. Be it known unto you, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of fins and by him all that believe are juftified from all things, from which could not be juftified by the Law of Moles.

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Ads 26.18. To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and an inheritance among them that are fanctified, by faith, that is in machi

1 John 1.9. If we confcfs our fins, he is faithful and juft to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnels Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,and their fins and iniquities I will remember no more.

Alls 10, 43. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his Name, whoever believeth in him thail receive remiffion of fins.

Luke 24.47. That repentance and remiffion of fins should be preached in his Name to all Nations.

2. Promifes of Salvation from Hell, and poffeffion of Heaven John 3.16. God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not

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perish, but have everlafting life. v. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned. v. 36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life, 1 John 5. 11, 12. And this is the record that God hath given us, eternal life; and this is in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath life

Als 26, 18. before cited, 1 Tim. 1. 15. Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners.

Heb. 7. 25. He is able to fave to the utmoft all that come to God by him.

Heb. 5.9. And being made perfe&, he became the Author of eternal falvation to all them that obey him.

Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be faved.

John 10. 9. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. John 10. 27, 28. My fheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I will give unto them eternal life, and they fhall never perifh

Rom. 5.9, 10. Being juftified by his blood, we shall be faved from wrath through him' Much more being reconciled, we shall be faved by his life. See Luke 18. 30. John 4. 14.& 6. 27, 40, 47. & 12. 50. Rom. 6. 22. Ga!.6.8.1 Tim.. 3.16.

3. Promifes of Reconciliation, Adoption, and acceptance with God through Chrift.

2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20. God hath reconciled us to himself by Jefus Chrift, and hath given to us the miniftry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Chrift reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trefpaffes to them, and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are Ambaffadours for Chrift, as thoughGod did befeech you by us; we pray you in Chrifts ftead, be ye reconciled unto God: For he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him,

Rom. 5. 1, 2, 10. Being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift; by whom allo we have access by faith, into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God - When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. 2 Cor. 6. 16, 17, 18. I will dwell in them, and walk in