the promfer of fife. =2"5? knew their owne Adoption; and we may inferre, that thisknowledge is a priviledgeofalbelievers in their mea- fure, as well as theirs. For the faith whereby theywere z Pet Lt. aflured,was ordinary ; the grounds ofaflurance common R `n'$'34'DS , 3 to themwith all true believers ; the benefit it felfegene- , Joh7. . L rail, not in any fpeciall manner appropriated. What pro- Ro , g i,ï, ;. mifes foever concerning life andhappinefle weremade to theApofcles, the fame are made to all believers, and con- firmed and foaledunto them after the fame manner, For they have all one God, one Chrift, one Spirit, they Ephef.4.4,5,6 are under one Covenant, and live by the fame faith. TheAdoptionof Believers is confirmed on Gods part un. to them by his word, leales, oath, pledge and witnefèof his Spirit with the graces thereof': And what God fo fufficiently confirmed), we by faith may receive it : for faith inablethus tobelieve what God revealeth, Faith giveth affurance, but every believer isnot allured in himfelfe,nor is any affurance in this life fo certaine,that it is never intermixed, nor difturbed with doubtings. There is a (}ate in which faith fheweth it felfe, rather in earne(l longings and partings after mercy , then in certaine apprehension of it : there isa (late of infan- cie, a (late oftemptation andfpirituall conflict, in which the foule cannot attaine this certaintie and affurance. And even in the growne and confirmed (late the believer mull not looke to walke on fmoothly without any rubs, or to enjoy perfec`l aflurancc without doubtings and afl'aults. The affurance of this believer is an affurance ai- mingand {rivingafter affurance ; an affurance wrellling and combating withmany affaults : an affurance which Pfa1,3 71,.1 labours with continual) weakenef'e, and lookes not to & , l'fa1, 4,,5, come to perfetlion but by temptations. But of this be- & 43.5, I fore. * Exod. =9.5. *God ingreat mercy Both vouchfafe to his Adopted I 1. i35, 4. fonnes many excellent royalties in this life. They arc Cat.7.6' PCaI, i 6, 5. mollprecious unto him, His chiefe treafure, His lovefor Deut.; z.y. delights, His peculiar people, the lot of his inheritance, rfal,s;.;. S His
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=