Chav.t ~.sea 9· ·1aeaningtl)t 110orn 3q -----.r------------~---- Thc fccondhead was, Places that hold f orth <onforts againft the t'strthcn of his dazlj infirmities, imvard W11flations, and aff/iEfiws offpirtt : The ufe hereof, IS (when fuch a particular temptation comes) to eye the p~omifes, and to betake the foul unto the Lord for fuccour promifed : Thts ts the voyce of Fatth, Be ofgood cc1:rage, here ts a word of conifort, and there i J help en.ottg I~ in heaven; the D_cvii may thru ft fore at thee, but he jhati not get thcviUory, for God ~s -._vuh thee; r1o q!ufhon, bJt.t for r_bcfo fins the Lord bc(fowcs on 1hee apardon, onclybc 'Vtgdant and watchful at at/tunes, tn all places, upon all o~cafion.r, agamft all fim, with ail the degrees thereof, efpecially againft fin ofconftitu-· tionl catlinu, cowpany, corrupt cd:tca,uon: Indeed, thts IS the property of fatth, both to reil: on the'promifes, and to keep waking, for nothmg is more wifely fearful then faith, nor more cauteousand ctr~umfpecr then holy fear. The third head was, Places that ejlablijh hu heart againfl the fear offalling away: The ufe hereof is, in cafe of any fu~h doubt, to learn and think upon there precious places, that we may be fetled in bclievmg om perfcverancc. Thts wtll mcourage and quicken us in our Chrifl:ian courfe, fiabltfh us m well-domg, and hearten us agamfi the greatell: difficulties: Their objecrion, who fay, The doctrine of affurance ofnot falling away, doth fer open a door to alllicentioufnefs, is moll: falfe; for the more affurance ~f fal– vation in a mans foul, the more fear and trembling m a mans courfe; he who ts bell: affured, hath moll: power of Gods Spirit,and the ll:ronger the Spirit of God is within,the more holinefs and fruits of grace arc without. The fourth head was, Places that dire£led him in his partichlar calling: The ufe here– of, is\o confider the fevcral Texts, ,as the crowing of Cocks, which ring in his ears. When wilt thou arife? why tamefl thou fo long? why f/mejl- thoit fo jlowly I See how the S~tn rcjo;cethas a Gyant to rtmhts rat·e, why then d•JI.notthou jharpen thy_felfto the work_ which vod hath l1tid on thee? tt may be thou meeteft wuh many troubles, difgracn, oppofi-· tions, bttt what tbcn ? is not this Gods C(l1(llntlfld f' is not this a[ervice to the Lord Jcfm? tloth mt the Lord ajfij/? and;, not he Pay-mafterJiifficiem? it may be thy labour is in 'Vain, 1hy worh_i5 without fmit, and what then_? i> not labour thy dmy? and good [Hcieji Gods wor/z.. what hajlthou to dowith thoughts about the blejfing andfHccefs ofthy labours ? loo/z. thou to the duty, 'View the Texts well, and obey them, and lca'Ve the bleJJing of thy mdea– 'Vours to the good will and pleafure of God: lay aft de at!care of the t'Vent, and roll thy Vllrthen upon the Lord, who willfuflam thee : Thus thefe Texts cry upon htm to fubmit to P[.l ..~ Gods diredion, and to depend therein upon his help and affifiance. This is the double a· SS• • duty we all owe, Firll: to ask counf~l at the \Vord, and'to follow the determination !>fit; for a true heart is ever obediential, fubjeC\ing it felf to the will of God, as the rule ofholinefs, acknowledging his foveraignty, fubfcribing to his wifdom as moll: abfolute, and to his ways as moll: true, jull: and merciful. Secondly, To put over all our bufineffes into Gods hands, and in a manner out of our own, trufiing in him for ability to the work, and for good fuccefs to come by them. · The.fifth head is, Promifcs that comforted him agmnft outward croffes: The ufe here– of, is to li'Vc by faith in afflictions; for then is faith in thcfe promifes the onely ll:ay and fupport of the heart: ·I hadfainted, ltnlefs I had belie'Ved to fee thegoodnefs •f the Lord in thela>1d ofthe li'Ving :--This is my comfort in my affli[/ion, for thy Word hath quick: ned me : Indaily and lighter tryals, a man of mild and patient temper, may hold up the head, but when one deep calleth unto another, and the waves flow over our head, when nature yieldeth, and the heart fainteth, then to frand fall:, and be of good cou. rage, ts the only property of faitli, which is grounded upon the rich mercy of God, made over to us in thefe precious prom-ifes. I cannot deny, but difiruC\ many times wrmgs from aChrillian fuch voyces as thefe, Were it any thing but this I could bear it; l,mt now tf in confciencc of his impotency,he will feek to Chrifl: to make him able; and he wtll faflen htmfelf upon him by a true and lively faith in thefe promifes, he may find fhength enough through his might, whereby to bear that comfortably, which otherwtfe he may find moll: intolerable. Faith drives a man out of himfclf, as riot able to bear the le~fl: crofs as he ought, and through the power of God, it enableth him to bear that bell: wtt.li whtch God is pleafed to try him. ·I Pf•l. 27. •3· P•l· 119, 49, so. . The fixth head ts, Places that hold forth his pri'Viledges in Chrif/, abo'Ve allth~ wickid m the world:· ,The _ufe hereof is, 1. 1o believe and tG rejoyce in them: All thefe pri'Vi– lrdgcs are.mme, V('ll a foul fay, the Lord hathgiwn thew for my portion, harP theq jhonld I !Jiory mGod, tr1umph O'Vcr death, fin and hell, through my_Savio11r .~ 2 . To liv<; u"nto htm who hath beftowed them on'the foul : find riOW, 0 lfrael, (after all his kindnefs) Vm, 1 o, '"•'J Ss whRt
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