2 What it is live byFaith toúchin Confid_nce inthe promifes ofperfeverance loth encou- rageand quicken in a Chriflian courfe,ftabufh in wel do Prevention of in-g andhearten againfl the greatefldifficulties. O fold it a ohJatlon., hath beene objected againtt the doftrine of affurance of not fallingaway that it doth fit open a doore to a.l licen- tioufhef e : for ifmen cannot fall from their (late of hap- pineffe, why fhou?d they feare to commit all kind of wic- kedneffe. But he that hash faith indeed, will not, nay, he cannot take courageto goe on in fin, upon this-pretence, that faith oncehad cannot utterly he loft- The believer knowes himfelfe bound to the obedience of Gofpell, though he be freed from the damnationof the law : and certaine it is, that faithwhich knits to'Chrif}, doth le..de $ Pfal.'3o,4, us forth inall holineffe, * Mercy covering finneBoth be- get reverence : the more affurance offalvation in a mans foule, the more feare and tremfling.in a mans courfe. He who is bet} affured hath moll pówer of Gods Spirit, and theflronger the Spirit of God is within, the more holi- neffe, and fruits ofgrace without. `Paul was affixed that nothing fhould feperate him from the love of God in i,Cor.9.17. Chrifl : Peter was affured, that his faith fhould not faile : z Tím,4.7,8, did this make them the more carelefle ? Nay, rather the more carefufl to runne their race ; the more couragicus to Iohn,4,1ç. fight out their combase. The load -Hone oflove is love : Love in the fuperiour doth draw lovefrom the inferiour: and is itthen pofible for ustoapprehend inch unfpeakable Iove of God in choofing us to filch an excellent, happy, unchangeable condition, and not be affected to love the Lord again''e ? Of neceflity the faith which contìnueth mull be lively, nor can it imbracetie promif-s of perte- verance bu whit(} it is lively. The more oper.{tive faith is, the greater our affurance of future (landing : iffaith be dormant or Ianguifh fora time, for that time we are to feekeof this comfort norcan it be recovers d,till faith recover, and put forth it felf'e valiantly in combating a- gainft Sathan, fubduing corruption, and working righ- tcoufneffe, Looke
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