288 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTLNG AND KEEPING Object. 'But I cannot be sure that God will give me grace to persevere, or at least not to deny him, as Peter did; and therefore I should neither promise nor resolve what I cannot be certain to perform.' Amp., 1. I suppose you have read the many scriptures and arguments which our divines ordinarily use to prove that the true believers shall not fall quite away. And I know not how the op- posers can answer that text which themselves use to alledge for the contrary; Matt. xiii. 6. 21. Those that believe for a time, and in the time of persecution fall away, it is because the seed had not depth of earth, the word never took rooting in their hearts. Whence it seems that it may be well inferred, that those shall not fall away in time of temptation, in whom the word of Godhath taken deep rooting. And that is, in them in whose hearts orwills Christ bath a stronger interest than the creature, or those that have a well- grounded, unreserved, habituated or settled resolution to be for Christ. 2. However, your present resolution, and your covenant- ing with Christ, is no more but this; to say, ' I do consent;' or This I am resolved to do, by the help of God's grace.' 3. Else no man should be baptized or become a Christian, because he is uncertain tokeep his covenants; for all that are baptized, do cove- nant and vow, " to forsake the world, flesh, devil," and fight under Christ's banner to their lives' end. Understand me therefore, that you are not to promise to do this by your own strength, but by the strength of Christ, as knowing that he hath promised his Spirit and grace for the aid of every true believer. xiv. If your resolution at present be hearty, you, ought not to vex and disquiet your mind with doubtful, tormenting fears what you should do, if you be put to it to forsake all, and suffer death for Christ, for he hath promised to layno more on us thanwe can bear, but with the temptation will make us a way to come forth ; 1 Cor. x. 13; either he will not bring us into trials beyond our strength, or else he will increase our strength according to our trials. He hath bid us pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ;" and he bath promised, that "whatsoever we ask in the name of Christ according to his will, he will give ùs." So that ifonce you canbut truly say, that it is your full resolution to forsake all for Christ if he call you to it, and that on the fore-men- tioned grounds, you ought not then to vex your soul with fears of the issue; for that is but to distrust God your Father and your strength. Only you must be careful to do your duty to the keep- ing up of your present resolutions, and to wait obediently on God for the help of his Spirit, and to beg it earnestly at his hands. xv. Much less is it lawful for men to feign and suppose such calamities to themselves,, as God doth never try men by, and then
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