Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

Amminempul 290 , Af urance ù po!siW le. Berm. i Áa.4.3.,34, (n) neceffity. Now this fincere love co the people of Cod , is au 3 5, 37 . i d 1 Evidence of the goodnefs of our fpirirual condition i ohn 3. 14, 3 7. we know that we have patted from death to life. How , not by extra- ordinary revelation , but by this rational argumentation , becaufe we love the Brethren ? and verle 18. My little Children, let us not love in, word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And verle 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and ¡hall afrure our hearts before him. But here the Papifl doth not onelycavil, but the drooping diftreEd Chriftan alto queflioneth all this , becaufe of thedecei.fulnefs of the heart. Alas the Scripture tells us, that the heart of man is defperately o romie'l.1i.9, wicked, and deceitful above all things (o) who can know it ? And ifthe The Papifts ca- vils, the droop - tin; Chrittian doubts. a. Propofition, vvhich fnevvs the connexion, betvveen grace asid glory. From the verity of Gois jromifes. heart of man cannot be known , how can we fay we believe , or love God ? For this confider thefe four things. I. Another man cannot know it ; I cannot certainly and infallibly know whether another man be fincere, or what his heart is, for it is the prerogative and excellency of God to be polo ' A c one that knows the hearts of all men, Afls 1.24. 2. A wicked mans heart is fo wicked, and there is fuch a depth of wickednefs in his heart, that he cannot come to the bottom of it. . if a man cannot know all the fecret turnings , and windings of his heart., yet he may know the general fcope , and frame of his heart. 4. If-he could not do this of himfelf , yet affìtled by the fpirit of God,which all believers have received,he might know the frame, bent, Tcope,inclination of his own heart-. Thus far the ftrffpropofition , that a man may know that he hath fincere faith in Chrifl,, and love to God. Now we proceed to the fe- cond. Second propofitïonis this; That there is an infallible connexion be- tween ju(li fying faith, unfeigned love,and eternal glory. The Apollle tells us of Ionic things that may be called i(4.04 .g_ Tees ÍTeb. 6.9. things that accompany falvation Having, or contain- ing falvation, that are contiguous to falvation , that the one toucheth the other ; this muff be proved, for elfe though I know I do believe and love God fincerely to day, I can have no infallible affurance of fal- vation , becaufe this may be lot} before to morrow , or before I dye. Now this I ¡hall endeavour to prove by thefe three following particulars. I. The undoubted verity of Gods promifes in-meth ax i #reperable con - nexien

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