Of Elel1ion. ~'God ordefs, and contrives-all Dif\rdfes, Temptations, Sins, afore-hand· togeBoGK IV. thcr with fuch llfues of them as fhall make Salvation fure. ' ~ Vft. ForTou that be old Difciples of Chrif\, let me fpeak to ycu fir{\: (The Apolllc calls them fo with Honour, lltl. 21. 16.) there are fome of fuch a– ·mong you: You have heard all that hath been faid, and you have profdftd the Truth a long time, it may be thirty, it may be forty years; Come hither, let me fpe•k fredy to you: You murt fubfcribc that God is true in this his deal– ing and_promifc, or f\udy Jour Cafe that you may fubfcribe it; I ufo that phrafe St~6(cn6tto the Lord, for) ou have it, lf<J. 44- 5· One that was a dy– ing faid, Is thrn 1101 Juch a prom1{t .1 fpecitying a fpecial Promife had taken •his Heart; pray turn to 1t, Btar W1t11rjs, fa~d he, thatthil Promifr u trrir; G~d iJ fa(tbfult, and h~thfulft~led this Promifrto mr. The like do you, ac– cording to your expenences ol hts having ordered all, and carried you through ·hitherto ., as bath been related; that as Davtd fays, PfaJ, 92. 14. Thr rig.h– troUI jhtJtl br.i11g forth fruit i11 hu Old Agr, tojhew thatthr Lord u upright; •that is, thadre is a God of all Grace, who having Called me fo many ·years ago, hath -carried me through all my Temptations, and through my Sins, and bath kept and brough me hnherto. I do not enqmrc, what your fim have been: But fome may have run into fin more than others, and perhaps fcandalnus ones ; But I demand of vou, bath not God !\ill reduced, fetled, fin!Jlifht you more in 1 he end? as Vavidalfo fays, Pfal. 7I • I 8, I 9· Now alfo wheu I tlm otd, mtdgray-hraded, 0 Godforfakr me not; untiltl havrjlmt>– edthy Jlrength tmto thi< Grneration, atJd thy power to rotry onr that is to cor1u, Thy nghtrot~Jiufj alfo, 0 God, is vrry hsgh, who haf1 done grtat things: 0 God, who is like unto ther? God exalts pardoning Grace to fome more, and fandifying Graco to others; he is the God of Grace. Thofe fhips that have been in long Voyages at Sea, three or four years out, have gone through hot Climates apd Cold , pall the Equinoctial again and again , and have run through many a difficulty' and great rtorms, and yet have been kept a!i1·e at Sea (as they fpeak) when thefe !hall meet one another at Sea neer •the .Haven , how will they Congratulate? And Old Difciples ~ould do fo, •tJut God hath kept Grace alive in their Souls. And I would ask you howmany •th<lU(, nd Ships have you fecn ea{\ away be!ore your eyes? How many that have made Shipwnzrk of F.1ith, and agoodConfCiena, as the Apof\le fpeaks1 This and that Profc!for, that has run into this and t:tat errour damnable, or falfe opinions and teachings, though all of fmaller moment ; others that have •{\rude upon Qg;ckfands ot Worldly preferments, and many fplit upon Rocks, and yet you have been kept : This fhould move you to blefs this your God, .1thr·Godvj Gt·,,cr, the more. Come, let me knock at your Hearts; Arc mone of ,)·ou Olrl Protdfors, like old hollow Oaks, who !\and in the Wood •rnong Profdfors !\ill, and keep-their f\a.nd of Profdlion !\ill, and go to Ordi- · ,nances, (!)c. but the R,zin they dri11k in, as the Apof\les word is, ferves to ·•n<> other end but to rot thcm--Thefe are ntgh ttnto curjing: Or, have you ~~;reen Fruits !\ill growing on you, as quickl y and lively Affedions to God and Chrif\, and Faith and Love, as at tue firl1, and more abounding? 0! Blefs God y~u are fo r.cer the H•ven; and lift up your Hearr.s, your Redemp– <tion draws neer: And with all raife your Confidence, that That God ofGrace who bath called you into his eternal Glory, will keep you for it:> and polfefs y ou of it fhorily. CHAP. , .. :·
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