CHAP.I. upon the Epiftle of J A M E s. Vs R s.8~ 57 2 , That doubtfulnefs ofminde u the caufe ofuncertainty in our Obfervat. 2. lives and converfations: Their mindes are doable, and therefore - their ways are unftable. _ Firfi ther~ is (as-~< Smc~a f~i~h) n14[quam * Sen. lib . de rejidentu animi volutatio, uncertain rolhngs of fpmt; a~d then, Tranquil!, vita pendens,. adoubtful and fufpenfive J,fe; for our aClwns do oft bear the image and refemblanceofour thottghts, and the heart not being fixed, the life ,is_ very uncert~in : The Note holderh good in t_wo cafes; I: In fixmg t~e heart mthehopes oftke Gefjel. * F~des qu.e 2 , In fixmg the heart m the doilrme cftheGofjel: a~* fauh fome- mdttur, & fi: times implieth thedoilrine which is beleeved, fomettmes thegrace des qua mdz-. by which we do beleeve : A certain expeilationofthe hopes of the tur_. Gofpel produceth obedience; and acertain belief of the doClrine of the Gofpel producethconftancy. I. None walk.Jo evenly with God, tU they that are a{[ure1 of the love of God: Faith is the mother of obedience, and {urenefs ,of truft makethway for ftrianefs oflife; when men are loofe from Chrijf, thty are }oofe in point of duty, and their floating belief ·is foon difcovered in their inco1zjl.mcy and unevennefs of walking~ -~< IIe;c.&~11 0'1 ~ * We do not ,wtth any alacrity or cheerfulnefs engage in that of ~I(, 'Em 1 rl.Jiu– whofe fuccefs we are doubtful; and therefore when we know-not vcL1c-Jv. Arift. whetht:r God will accept us or no,when wearc off and on in point Ethic. ofrrufi, we are jufi fo in the courfe ofour lives, ferve God by fits andftarts,only when fome z:,ealom moods and pangs come u~on us. ~ris theJlander ofthe World to think AJfurance is an idle doe1rinc; · never is the Soul fo quick_cnedand enabled for duty, as it is by the joy of the Lord, N eh.8. Io. The joy ofthe Lord isyour ftrength•. Faith filling the heart with fpiritual joy, yeeldeth a firength for all our duties and labors; and we are carryed on with life and vigor, when we have moll: l~vely apprehenfions of the divine grace. 2. None are{o conflant in the profeffion of any truth, tU they that are convinced and ajfured ofthe grounds of it: When we are but halfconvinc~d,we ~re ufuallyunft,abfe· ~ remember the Apofilc fpeaketh of a thmg whtch he calleth ihov >net')lp.ov, our own (l-ed– faJtnefs, 2Pet.3o17• Leftyefallfromyour OWN ftedfastnefs into the error Bf the wick.,ed: Every Beleever hath, or fhould have aproper ba//.,fl in his own fpirit, fome folid rational grounds tha~ !Day fiay and fupport him; otherwife when the chain of confent ts broken, we fhall be foonfcattered: So elfewhere .A Beleever is bidden to render J-.6)'ov,a~reafon of the hope th;zt u hi;,, I Pet. 3· I 5. I that
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