2ób i job ZZ8..3,,4. & 8..4. Luke. 18.11. Pf3.1.79: t,to the .0. ver. Sc &8. 4,' 53" 6, Sfa.So. c. mi joh.x. 3,14 : I net.2.2. Af"nrance as pofsiyle. Serin. x Z ` . diretions, if by thefe rules we cannot for the prefent obtain it: For the hating of the firfi part of the ucaion, concerning the poi- fibility of getting this certainknowledge of our future Happinefs, I flhall lay before you thefe fix polirions. I. Pofation._ I. An unregenerateperfon while (c) fuch can have no affiirance or certainknowlege of the eternal falvation of his Immortal foe;1. Be- caufe 44ftach he huh no actual interea in the prornifesof falvation, be- ing without the conditions of faith and repentance, to which the pro- mifes are made, being a child of (d ) wrath, ( e ) a flave to his tufts, a ( f) captive to the Devil, a (g) rejecter of the Son of God. This man hashplague fares, tot cns of eternal death. I cannon fay thou (halt be in- fallibly damned, becaufe thou (h) rrmayefi repent and believe ; and thou cant} not fay thou (halt be faved, becaufe thou has nor yet repented for thy fin, nor believed on the Son of God. A wicked m is otft /camna capa.e, a ruble& capableof this aflùrance, Eph. I, i 3an . Inn whob- re 1lfo after ye believed, ye were fealed withthat holy fpirit ofprornife. It is not the hard (lone, but the foft wax that receiverh the impreffion of the feat. If he hopefor Salvation while he liveth, and dyeth in a natural condition, he (hall joie his hope (i) and foul together : this prefumpti- on will prove 1df-delution, and end in defperation. He is worfe than a Ph,rifee, (k) whether he be a private perfon,or a Preacher, that liveth in grofs tins, hating the power of godlinefs, and difcouragingholinefs that yet bleffeth God for ele.,tion, juflification, fanCtification, andail- hope of glory. 2. Pofitio:s. . That manyof Gods dear Children (1) for a long time might re- main very doubtful as to their prefent and eternal condition,and know nor what to conclude, whether they (hail be damned, or whether they flail be faved. There are believers of feveral growths in the Church of God : (m) Fathers, young men, Children, and (n) Babes; and as in moll families there are more babes and children, than grown men, fo in the Church of God, there are more weak doubting Chri- flians, than (lrong ones, grown up to a full affurane,e. ABabe may be born and yet not know ir, fo a man may be born again and not be fure of ir. Sometimes they think they halegrounds of hope,that they rhIll be faved, fometimes r hey think they have grounds of fears, that they (hall becondemned : Inot knowing which might be moGweigh- ty, like a pair of ballances, they are in equal poyfe. Zach. 14.6a Anditjball come to Win that day, that the light fhall vot be clear nordark, it
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