l. J~IJn 10,18.& 17. I lo Mat 6. 33· Objca: 1 ]o1J11 1.6', J>ro-u. :~:o. 9· Eiclef-7· 20, Chap. 7.Sect.5', not tak;s them up from the ground for them; .but fuppofc there had been no cares, but pleafmes in them, yet Mojes when he had thrs affurance of Faith, He ref11fed to be called the foit of Pharao/;, choofi"g rather to fujfer ajfliUion with the people ofG'od, Jhanto enjoy the pleafirrt:J offin for af:afoll; ejlumt?'lg the reproach ofChriftgreater riches than th! trea– fnrcs <f E<~]pt, j <r hehr.d rcfpeU unto the recompence ofmvard. 6. A bola approachmg unto the throne of Grace upon all occafions: Becaufe we are affurd, therefore we beg. any dung of God With greater afliance ; Prayer is nothing elfe but tb.o fiream and river offauh, and an ij{t.e ofthe defire of that which we jo;jidly bciiev.. Our Saviour Chnfl knew that hiS jheepJhould never pmjh, and yet· he prayeth , Ho1y .Father, keep themm thy Name: Paul knew affuredly, that the Lord would deliver hilll; from every evil work, yet withoct ceafing he prayeth to be delivered from evil. Affu– rance and,· fervency to prayer; the firmer our faith, the more free is our accefs 'with boldnefs and confidence to the throne of Grace , the more fervently .and boldly can \Ve pray, .Abb(Z P.ulxr: Affurance heark.neth what the Lord fpeaketh, and fpeaketh back again in fervent groans and defires; It hath the promife of God, and therefore is bold to pr~y, ~nd \\Ill not keep ft!ence, Thou, 0 Lord of H o(fs, Uod ofIfrael, haft revealed'" rhyfcrr:ant, f aying_. I rvi/1 build thee an holife, ~thertffli·e harp thyflruantjound in his heart topray thi' prayer unto thee; nay , affurance puts on the fvul to ask any thing it wants 1· thefe be the times when the fpirit moveth the waters, therefore, N ow (faith Affurance) raft inyour pctition,and whatfoever griefit hath in it,yott jhdl be cured of it . Now the l):ing holds out hlsgoldenScepter, And therefore (faith Affurancc) let the !..!.!!em come in boldly, ;;>ith her req~tcjf, though it be fout kJnJdom; yea, this King likes it belt, iffir}/ wefulz.~ kjngd<m, ar:d the righteot1r.cfr infeparablyannexed to it, for then we ll1all have aiL otl"r iiJt ... 11gs with £t. 7. A valiant adventuring for Chritl:: Is a man affured of Gods love in Chrifl:? fuel! a one fears not any troubles, he knows all comes through his fathers hands, and.that man ann Devil cannot do what they would, and therefore he goes on comfortably to day, to morrow, and to th• end; he is like one of Davids VV'orthies, or like David him– fclf, th~t having got experielllce, fears nothing; he walks up.and down the world like a Gyant, higher br he.ad and fhoulders than moll: men, he holds in his hand.a !i:rong jbteld, that the Devtl himfelfcannot pierce, buut quencheth hu fiery dart': He gets a vi<'lory againfi the world by his Faith, and S.wnfon-like, breaks all bands oftemptation as ftraw, he leaps ovtr a wall; breakj a bowe offlee!, lays her.ps upon heaps. 8. An earnell: longing for the appearing of the Lord Jefm: As he adventures and conqu,ers in life, fo he can think of death, without any prevailing fear; he can fay with l'atd, I de fire to be dijfolved, and to be Ivith Chrijf; and with Stephen, Lord Jefiu receive ..J,yfpirit; and with the Spoufe·in the Cantides, Come away, my Beloved, and be thou ilk.! a Roe, or to a young Har't ttpon the mountaines offpices. It is the voice of Affurance, My Life is hid J>ith thee, 0 Chrijl-, and t~erefore appear quickjy, my Life, my Jrfns, that I may qlrickJy appear with thee inglory; let the day •fgla,/ncfr quirkJy come. , wherein bothfoul and body, even my wholefelf, may eternally enjoy thee: 1 rap11ot be j/i/1 put offwith thrfe t~{fes and tarnejfs, mylove and longing is rather enjia.JJtcd by them to the fruition oftlm: The very voice of thefc earnefl:s is, Come; yea, they fcarce know any other language but Come, therefore again and again they fay, Come ; yea, after they have faid, Come, as if that were not enough, they fay, Come quickly ; and now, what can the foul fay more to her Lord? only as before fhe fiill faid, Come, fo now will fhe fiill fay, Amen, evenfo, Amen and Amen. 9· A loathing of finne, indignation for fin, contell: with fin, and a continual watch aoainfl: the baits artd al!urements of finne: How can it be conceived that a man fhould b~ affured of the pardon and forgiveneffe of many fins , but it wil~ work a greater loathing and detefl:ation of fln,unfeigned>bafement for former weaknefs,and continual watchfulnefs, to l{eep himfclf pure for the future that he lofe !lOt his comfort , nor difhonour God, who hath done fo great things for him? it is Satans cavil again!\ the S'aints, That .Affirrance begetsfccuriry: Affuredly,if it be true Affiuance,it will through Chrilt mortifie our lull:, and quicken us to IT~ore fincerc, fetled and conl\ant obedience;– nor is it poffible that a Chrifl:ian fhould hold his affurance any longer, th.an whiles he follow>, cherifh'cs, and feeds in himfelf this heavenly affection. Butfome may objefl, Ifwefay we have no fin , we deceive om'[elves : ----- Who ,·an fay: hts hCfrt" clean?------ There is no man jufl, tbatJinnrt/; 110t: ...... hit/ how ran thefc rwo fla;id t>gcther, Sin and ·.AjfHr~nce. · Iimfwer,
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