Serro. 2 to difcern their Spiritual Condition': 313 afcend aepby flop. Ele &ion is the uppermofl round,fan&ification is at the bottom, and by our fan& ification we mull climbe up to fee our names written in the Book of Life. In building men proceed methodo frthetich, in pulling down, methodo analytic 4, If you would take a Watch to pieces, you mull begin where the Watch -maker made an end. The Carpenter, when he builds, firll laies the foundation, and fi- nifhes the roof la(l ; when he puls down, he takes off the roof, and fo to the foundation. God did firíl chufe, and then convert us ; but we firíl know our converfion, and thereby our eledtion. Motives to get Affurance. In the clofe take there Motives drawn from the utility of this Af1u- rance,to quicken thee further to labour after ir. This Affurance will be Y. Comfortable to thy felf. z. Profitable to others. It will fill thee with comfort, i.Under all Gods Providcnces.e.Un der all Gods Ordinances. Firn, That is a deferable frame of fpirir, that cloth fit us to carry our felves under the various difpenfations of divine providence ( wherewith the people of God are exercifed) as moil becomes the Gofpel of Chri(l, and the profefiìon we make. Affurance helps us in this ; For LApirßnce fweetens everymercy,it is the Sugar in our Wine.He knows every mercy is given in mercy,and not in wrath; he knows it is not his portion ; he hash much here,but he is furs he (hall have mere hereafter; but the want of this imbitters all outward inuyments to the doubting °Chri(lian ; who Saith, what are the riches of the world to me, when I doubt whether the graces of the fpirit are infufed into me? what is gold without Gods love ? and what is plenty without hope of Heaven ? 3. Affarance will lighten every burden ; with this he can bear the bur- den of advcrficy (as Sampfon did the gates of Gazaa upon his back, judg. 16.3.) without finking under ir. T .The affured Believer know he it rich in the n idfl of Poverty,Col.z.z. Though I cannot fay riches are mine,yec I can fayChriíl is mine,& that is mot e.Though I cannot fay flyer and gold is mine,yet I can fay grace and glory is mine, and that is better.This believer can look up towards Heaven,and fay, yonder is the place, the Palace, the Kingdom I have a title to,above yonder Heavens mull I for ever dwell; above yonder Sun is a manfion for me, oh I long to be there, where I know I (hall for ever be. My heart is filled with joy, while I think on it ; oh what joy (hall enter into me,when I (hall enter into that joyful,hleffed place ; though now I walk in rags, I (hall fhortly be cloathed with white and glorious Robes. Now a Cottage is my houle, but a (lately building is prepared for me. z Car. 5 . z . Yoh, r 4.a, 3. R r z z.The
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