90 A C.A.LL '1'0 If you dare question his word, I hope you dare not question his oath. As Christ hath solemnly protested that the unregenerate and unconverted cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven; (Matt. xviii. 3. John iii. 3;) so God bath sworn that his pleasure is not in their death, but in their conversion and life. And as the Apostle saith, (Heb. iv. 1S--18,) Because he can swear by no greater, he swear by himself. ' For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to iie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast.' Ifthere be any man that cannot reconcile this truth with the doctrine of predestination, or the actual damnation of the wicked, that is his own ignorance; he bath no pretence left to question or deny therefore the truth of the point in hand; for this is confirmed by the oath of God, and therefore must not be distorted, to reduce it to other points: but doubtful points must rather be reduced to it, and certain truths must be believed to agree with it, though our shallow minds hardly discern the ngreement. U SE.-I do now entreat thee, if thou be an unconverted sinner that hearest these words, that thou wouldst ponder a little upon the forementioned doctrines, and bethink thyself awhile, who it is that takes pleasure in thy sin and damnation. Certainly, it is not God: he hath svvorn for his part that he takes no pleasure in it. And I know it is not the plea:sing of him that you intend. You dare not say that you drink, and swear1 and neglect holy duties, and quench the motions of the Spirit to please God. That were as if you should reproach the prince, and
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