371 What it ism live by Frith touching the fizm Gode mercy, as the delight or pleafure of that fenfuall objef was tocaufe us't+ö tranfgreieanypart ofhis willrevealed. The fame ftrength, beauty had toallure un- to adultery, will that foule finne , unrepented of,have to divorce our foules from Chriff.Nor can we falle in pra- aiceofth-isor otherCommandesnents,without aprecedent defe&ofthat faith , whichonely can firmelyunite us unto Chrift: whereby likewilè were it fume it felfe,we fhould affent untoevery precept ofGodas much betterthenany incompatible good. That aft cannot pleafe God ; which isnot animated by faith : for it is but the naked carkaffe of a good worke, without lifeorfoule,ifthat bewanting. It is faith, which impelleth toworke righteoufneffe, and putteth life and vigour into theworke wrought : fo that the belt workes ofthe regeneratebe dulland liveleffe,if faith be dormant, . and put not forth it felfe for a time. And when a Chrif}ianknowes not, whether he (hall have flrength todoe what God requireth ; nor whether Godbathgivenhim any romife, that his burden Beall be -made light, and that Chris*will beare thegreatelt part of it for him, it midneeds be very tedious and troublefome; it will occafion many feares and doubts, deadnefie, and unchearefulneffe. This killeth the heart of right good Chriffians,when they are ignorant , or not throughly informed, that God will make them able and fit for fo great a works,as the leadng ofa godly life. But if they have this faith as a foundation to upheld them, they (hall fooncr wade through their doubts , and grow out oftheir feares , as knowing that God will be ever with them for their aífiftance. Who doth not know, that when fore certainty of falvation is obtained, yet for all that , inafmuchas it is but weake , they have many heart-griefesfor this,that they fee they have a wearifome pilgrimage to gee thorow , and little know ledge and perfwafion of anygreat guiding of them through all the 1 foams and dil iculties of it ? A Chrifiian that hath this confidence
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