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fanctified by Separation from those without the Church (p); but the Elect cannot be fo deceived (q). Though this Perfeverance be certain to true Believers, yet it is made a Condition of their Salvation, yea, of their continued Life and Fruitfulness, and of the Continuance of their Juftification, though not of their firft Juftification itself (r). But eternally bleffed be that Hand of Love, which hath drawn the free Promife, and fubfcribed and fealed to that which afcertains us, both of the Grace which is the Condition, and the Kingdom which on that Condition is offered.

$12. SUCH are the Effentials of this People of God: Not a full Portraiture of them in all their Excellencies, nor all the Notes whereby they may be difcerned. I befeech thee, Reader, as thou haft the Hope of a Chriftian, or the Reafon of a Man, judge thyfelf, as one that muft fhortly be judged by a righteous God, and faithfully answer thefe Questions. I will not enquire whether thou remember the Time or the Order of thefe Workings of the Spirit; there may be much Uncertainty and Mistake in that: If thou art fure they are wrought in thee, the Matter is not fo great, tho' thou know not when or how thou camest by them. But carefully examine and enquire, haft thou been thoroughly convinced of a prevailing Depravation thro' thy whole Soul? and a prevailing Wickedness thro' thy whole Life? and how vile Sin is? and that, by the Covenant thou haft tranfgreffed, the leaft Sin deferves eternal Death? Doft thou confent to the Law, that it is true and righteous, and perceive thyfelf fentenced to this Death by it? Haft thou feen the utter Infufficiency of every Creature, either to be itself thy Happiness, or the Means of removing

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(r) John xv. 4, 6, o

(p) Heb. x. 29. (q) Matt. xxiv. 24.
viii, 31. Rev. ii. 25, 26. iiì. 11, 12. Col, i. 23. Rom, xi

this thy Mifery? Haft thou been convinced, that thy Happiness is only in God, as the End; and in Chrift, as the Way to him? and that thou must be brought to God through Chrift, or perifh eternally? Haft thou seen an abfolute Neceffity of thy enjoying Chrift, and the full Sufficiency in him, to do for thee whatfoever thy Cafe requires? Haft thou discovered the Excellency of this Pearl, to be worth thy felling all to buy it (s)? Have thy Convictions been like thofe of a Man that thirfts; and not merely a Change in Opinion, produced by Reading, or Education? Have both thy Sin and Mifery been the Abhorrence and Burthen of thy Soul? If thou couldst not weep, yet couldft thou heartily groan under the infupportable Weight of both? Haft thou renounced all thy own Righteousness? Haft thou turned thy Idols out of thy Heart, fo that the Creature hath no more the Sovereignty, but is now a Servant to God and Chrift? Doft thou accept of Chrift as thy only Saviour, and expect thy Juftification, Recovery, and Glory, from him alone? Are his Laws the most powerful Commanders of thy Life and Soul? Do they ordinarily prevail against the Commands of the Flefh, and against the greatest Intereft of thy Credit, Profit, Pleasure, or Life? Has Chrift the highest Room in thy Heart and Affections, that though thou canst not love him as thou wouldft, yet nothing else is loved fo much? Haft thou to this End made a hearty Covenant with him, and delivered up thyfelf to him? Is it thy utmoft Care and watchful Endeayour, that thou mayft be found faithful in this Covenant; and though thou fall into Sin, yet wouldst not renounce thy Bargain, nor change thy Lord, nor give up thyfelf to any other Government for all the World?If this be truly thy Cafe, thou art one of

(s) Matt. xiii. 45.

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the People of God in my Text; and as fure as the Promife of God is true, this bleffed Reft remains for thee. Only fee thou abide in Chrift (t), and endure to the End (u); for if any Man draw back, His Soul fhall have no Pleafure in him (w).-But if no fuch Work be found within thee; whatever thy deceived Heart may think, or how ftrong foever thy falfe Hopes may be; thou wilt find to thy Coft, except thorough Conver fion prevent it, that the Reft of the Saints belongs not to thee. O that thou wert wife, that thou wouldst underftand this, that thou wouldst confider thy latter End (x)! That yet, while thy Soul is in thy Body, and a Price in thy Hand (y), and Opportunity and Hope before thee, thine Ears may be open, and thy Heart yield to the Perfuafions of God, that fo thou mightest rest among his People, and enjoy the Inheritance of the Saints in Light (z)!

$13. THAT this Reft shall be enjoyed by the People of God, is a Truth which the Scripture, if its Teftimony be further needed, clearly afferts in a variety of Ways. As for Inftance. That they are foreordained to it, and it for them. God is not afbamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City (a). They are ftiled Veffels of Mercy, afore prepared unto Glory (b). In Chrift they have obtained an Inheritance, being predeftinated according to the Purpose of him who worketh all Things after the Counsel of his own Will (c). And whom he did predeftinate, them he also glorified (d). Who can bereave his People of that Reft which is defigned for them by God's eternal Purpofe?-Scripture tells us, they are redeemed to this Reft. By the Blood of Jefus we have Doldness to enter into the Holieft;

(t) John xv. 4.
(x) Deut. xxxii. 29.
(a) Heb. xi. 16,
(d) Rom. viii. 30.

(u) Matt. xxiv. 13.
(y) Prov. xvii. 16.
(b) Rom. ix, 23.

(w) Heb. x. 38.
(z) Col. i. 12.
(c) Ephef, i. 11.

eff (e); whether that Entrance means by Faith and Prayer here, or by full Poffeffion hereafter. Therefore the Saints in Heaven fing a new Song unto him who bas redeemed them to God by his Blood, out of every Kin dred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and made them Kings and Priests unto God (f). Either Chrift then muft lofe his Blood and Sufferings, and never fee of the Travail of his Soul, or elfe there remaineth a Reft to the People of God.In Scripture this Reft is promifed to them. As the Firmament with Stars, fo are the facred Pages befpangled with thefe divine Engage ments. Chrift fays, fear not, little Flock, for it is your "Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom (g). I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom (h). &c. &c. &c.-All the Means of Grace, the Operations of the Spirit upon the Soul, and gracious A&tings of the Saints, every Command to repent and believe, to faft and pray, to knock and feek, to ftrive and labour, to run and fight, prove that there remains a Reft for the People of God. The Spirit would never kindle in us fuch ftrong Defires after Heaven, fuch Love to Jefus Chrift, if we fhould not receive what we defire and love. He that guides our Feet into the Way of Peace(i), will undoubtedly bring us to the End of Peace. How nearly is the Means and End conjoined? The Kingdom of Heaven fuffereth Violence, and the violent take it by Force (k). They that follow Chrift in the Regeneration, fall fit upen Thrones of Glory (1).-Scripture affures us, that the Saints have the Beginnings, Foretafts, Earnefts, and Seals of this Reft here. The Kingdom of God is within them (m). Tho' they have not feen Chrift, yet loving him, and believing in him, they rejoice with

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Joy

(g) Luke xii. 32. (k) Matt. xi. 12

Foy unspeakable and full of Glory; receiving the End of their Faith, even the Salvation of their Souls (n). They rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God (o). And does God feal them with that holy Spirit of Promife, which is the Earneft of their Inheritance, and will he deny the full Poffeffion (p)?The Scripture alfo mentions, by Name, thofe who have entered into this Reft. As Enoch, Abraham, Lazarus, the Thief that was crucified with Chrift, &c. And if there be a Reft for thefe, fure there is a Reft for all Believers. But it is vain to heap up Scripture-Proof, feeing it is the very End of Scripture, to be a Guide to lead us to this bleffed State, and to be the Charter and Grant by which we hold all our Title to it.

$14. SCRIPTURE not only proves, that this Rest remains for the People of God, but alfo that it remains for none but them, fo that the rest of the World fhall have no Part in it. Without Holiness no Man fhall fee the Lord (q). Except a Man be born again, he cannet fee the Kingdom of God. He that believeth not the Son fhall not fee Life, but the Wrath of God abideth on Lim(r). No Whoremonger, nor unclean Perfon, nor covetus Man, who is an Idolater, hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Chrift, and of God(s). The wicked fhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God (t). They all shall be damned, who believe not the Truth, but lave Pleafure in Unrighteousness (u). The Lord Jefus fhall come in flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on them that know not Gid, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jefus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting Defruction from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power (w). Had the Ungodly returned before their Life was expired, and been heartily willing

(n) 1 Pet. i. 8, 9.
(q) Hb. xii. 14.
(t) Pidm ix. 17.

(o) Rom. v. 2.
(r) John ii. 3, 36.
(u) 2 Theff. ii. 12.

(p) Ephef. i. 13, 14.
(s) Ephef. v. 5.
(w) 2 The, i. 7--9.

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