254 2he P,rfé ofFaátb, which is the V 'liverfal Promife, nut} cfpecially be made the ground of our faith, and all other as they are branches and ap- purtenances of that, and have in the Scripture fore taue fig- nification, that they indeed extend to us. For if we fhould believe that every Promife made to any Saint of God (as Hannah, Sarah, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Mary, &c. do belong to us, we fhould abole our (elves and God. And yet to us they hive their ufe. Dire& 23. It is of verygreat importance, to underhandwhat Promifes are abfolute, and which are fufpended upon any comb- ties: to be performed by ti ; and what each of tbofe conditions is. As the Promife to the Fathers that the Mejiab fhonld come, was abfolute. God gave not a Saviour to the world, fe as to fufpend his coming on any thing to bedone by man, The not drowning of the world, was an abfolute Promife made toNoah : fo was the calling of.the Gentiles prómiftid. But the Covenant of Promifes fealed in Baptipe, is conditional: and thereforeboth parties, God and man, arc the Covenanter, therein. Andin the Gape! the Promifcsofour hrfi Juaification and Adoption, and /ofour after pardon, and of our Jutt ification at Judgement, and of our additional degrees of grace, and ofour freedom from chafrifcments, have Come difference in the con- ditions, though true Chriflianity be the main fubftance of themall. MeerChriflianity, or true content to the Covenant, is the condition ofour firff Juftification. And the continuance ofobis., with aigual fincere obedience, is the condition ofnon - aamiflion, or of continuance of this frate of Jufiificatian : And the ufe ofprayer and ether means, is a condition of our further reception of moregrace. And perfeverance in true holinefs withfaith, is the condition of our final Mifi ation and Glori- fication (ofwhich more ,anon,) Direr. 24. You canna further believe the fulfilling of any of tbefe conditional Promifes, than you know that ycu perform the condition. It is preftemption, and notfaith, for an impenitent perfon to expel the benefit of thofc Promifes, which belong to the penitentonly ; And f it is for him that forgiveth not others, to
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