Bates - HP BX5200 B3 1700

_:_'5_1_'2_______ o_:_'f_H_E_A_V_E_N_. ____ Chap.)(. fe igned endeavours for Salvation is very pernicious. For this damps Indullry,and caufes either a total negle&, or uncomfortable ufe of Means for that End. Many Chrillians ~~~~~·~~:~~ t~:~ ~;a~p,:;t ;~~~'byt~z~r~~Jr; 6~~~~ >a~~ ~~~~~d~er~Jl;, ~; t~::~rru~ ~£ their Condition. To encourage fuch, let them confider, that Perfeverance is not only a ~~~::::~ii0ft~e~~~~~ t~'~f,~eff~c~~et~~~~~~~nf~~t p~~f~~f~~ ~~~ ~~~Ji~~~si~sr~~u~e~plyr~: deed rf Grace were the mere produEI: of Free-wtll, the moll fervent Refolutions would vanifh into a Lie, upon the Affault of an overpowering Temptation. As Hezekiah aclmowlcdgcd, that the AJ!jrian Kings had dejlroyed tl~e Gods of the Nations that were no God,, b11t Idols, the Work of Mem Hands, But fanllifying Grace is the ef!eEI: of the Ho- ~~,],!~~::;."d ~~ t:;~:tb:~~::,~~~~-:j~f~l7t~1~l~~r:~;;e"~~if;;t:~mE~r~:fi~~:,tvfft bind their unconllant Hearts, that by a faithful adherence they lhall cleave to their Duty and Fehcrty. God hath moll grac10ufly d~clared? I rvtll ftJt ml Spmt znto their Hwti, that they fball never depart from me. 'I he Promtfc JS founded m the unchangeable Love of God to his People. Were God, as Man, fub)ell to V'ariation, there might he Jealoulies in Ilclievers, Jell they fhould lofe his good Will: Asthofe who depend on Princes, are fufpicious !ell from the natural mconllancy of the human Will, a new Favotitefhou!d ~Ie~:l~~J;~~~~h!'~:J'o;S;~;';j;~~,";h;o;:"bl:;e~~ u~;fi th;~:m~~o~~f~"J: b~r t~~ confideration, faithfid i; he that calleth you, ht will do it. He fpeaks of the Internal Call, that ope!l s the Heart, and overpowers all Refillance. As when the Angel came with a ~i,gli~tr~;\):if ~%:/~~,P~~dnl!~ ~~i~~h;.~u~I~,?,;~~.~~~ 0~p!~~l~~~~ ~~o~;~a~rjf;e'lt~~=d him to Liberty. The ef!ellual calling of a Sinner is the vifible and infallible EffeCt of elelling Mercy; and God is unchangeable in his own purpofe, and faithful to his Promifes of bringing all fuch by SanEI:ification to Glory. The fame Apollle tells the Saints at Corinth, That the Redeemer would confirm them tO the End : God i; faithful, bJ n·hom ye are caUed. Grace that was at firft infpir'd, is continually aauared by the Spirir, who is .ftiled tile Earnejl of the Saints Inheritance. . So that whereas the Angels that e;cell'd in llrength, kept not thetr fir£! !late of Pumy and Glory, but are funk mto Corruption and Mifcry ; yet true h~mble Believer.s, tho .weak, an~ encornpafs'd with many Difficulties, D1all be preferved from dellruatve Evtl, and ratfed to an unchange- ~~~~~~~·~~df ~f~~C::?~artT,h;~c:~da~~du~i~~i~~~~c,F~~~a ~:n~.tar~~~~~~~~~ ~v~: acknowiedged hu infufficiency of himfilf to think a good Thought ; yet. triumphantly declares, I C4n do all tlungs. (within the cGmpafs of Ius Duty) through Chrij/that jlrengthm me. The Love, Ftdel~ty, and Power of God, are a fure Foumatn ~:>£ Affiftance to e\·ery Chrillian, that fincerely rcfo]yes and endeavours to profecure Ius !all and ble ~ l ed End. CHAP.

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