Confidence towards God, explained. 319 who hath the folid hope of being acquitted S ER M. by his fupreme ruler, perfectly wife, power- XIII. ful, and juif, in whofe favour is life ? On the contrary, what horror, trembling, and con - fufion, muff feize the heart which is even fufpicious of being difapproved by him, and bath the foreboding apprehenfions of a fu- ture condemnation ? The apoffle hath preremptorily deter- mined this matter in my text, (hewing us upon what grounds we may affure our hearts, before God, as he fpeaketh, that is, fatif- fy ourfelves that we are entitled to his ac- ceptance, as knowing that we are of the truth, or have fulfilled the obligations to obedience we are under, according to the true intent and meaning of his law : and then he explaineth himfelf more fully by laying down this general doérine, that the teftimony of our own confciences is the only juif meafure of our expectations from God; if they condemn us, as wilfully and wickedly tranfgreßìng his law, and coming fhort of that duty which he requireth, we have nothing to look for but his difpleafure ; for he is greater than our hearts, which are immediately fubje t to his judgment, more impartial than they; and he knoweth all things, all the fecret infincerity which is in them,
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