Ball - BT770 B3 1637

268 What it is tolive by Faith concerning hath freely promifed ir, who can and will performe whatfoever he bath fpoken ; it is Chrif who hath pur- chafed it by the facrifice of himfelfe once for all, why fhould Idoubt ? Iam commanded to believe ; and believing the poflefiion oflife is given in part, which may be increafed by a daily addition to the graces and comforts ofthe Adopted ; why fhould Ibe negligent to feeke itconfirmed and fealed ? Everlalling life is the only true life, full of joy, peace and contentation ; a durable treafure which can never fade, a crowns that never wi- thereth : and fhall bale things take up the heart, when ' God calleth to feeke a moli glorious and everlal}ing in- heritance? Oh. the inel imable love and favour ofGod, who makes offer of an Adoption and immortall Inheri- tance to themoti contemptible wretches, that live upon the face of the earth ? The man that toiles hard all day long for a fmall piece offilver, or lies at the rich mans gatewaiting for an Almes, the ícraps that come from his Table : he is invited tocome unto Chrili, that he might obtainea kingdome, an eternal' kingdomc that bathrone end, an inheritance abundantly glorious, furpaflìng the glory and worthofall earthly treafuresand inheritances laid together, mach more thenall earthly treafùres do ex- ceed the worth ofone pin;What anheart-breake is it toa man, whenhe finds that by forcedefault hebath forfeited fonne earthly matters, which he might haveheld, had he binwarie ? but what griefe and conflationwill this carafe, whenhe (hallfee that through folly, (loth, careleffenefï'e, matchleffe cruelty, and unthankfulneffe, he bath loft an cverlaf}ing inheritance of glory, which he might have ob- tained ? Meere poffibility ofcompafling forre great and extraordinary good is of more weight in fwayirgmens actions and inciting endevours, thencertainty of accom- plifhing pettie delires. But certaintyand commodity do here concurre in one : There is no good to thepofl'ef ion ofeternall life; no fucceffe certaine but this, that hewho unfainedly belicveth in Chri(}, 'hall inherit the crowne of glory.

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