330 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING are these : 1. Because, as is said, our miscarrying remaineth still possible. 2. Because the perfect certain knowledge of our elec- tion, and that we shall not fall away, is proper to God only; we have ourselves but a defective, interrupted assurance of it. 3. The covenant gives us salvation but on condition of our perseverance, and perseverance on condition that we quench not the Spirit, which we shall do if we lose the apprehension of our danger. 4. Ac- cordingly there is `a connection, in our assurance, between all the several causes of our salvation, and necessaries thereto ; whereof theapprehension of danger is one. We are sure we shall be saved, if we be sure topersevere; else not. We are sure to persevere, if we be sure faithfully to resist temptations. We can be no surer of faithful resisting of temptations, than we are sure to be kept in an apprehension of our danger. I still say, therefore, that the doctrineof Antinomians is the most ready way to apostasy and perdition; and no wonder if it lead to licentiousness and scandals, which our eyes have seen to be its genuine fruits ! They cry down the weakness, unbelief, and folly of poor Christians, that will apprehend themselves in danger of falling away, and so live in fear, after they are once justified ; and that if they fall into sin (as whoredom, drunkenness, murder, per- jury, destroying the ministry, and expelling the gospel, &c.) will presently question or fear their estates and their justification. Such like passages I lately read in some printed sermons of one of my ancient acquaintance, who would never have come to that pass that he is at now, if his judgment and humility had been as great as his zeal. I entreat you, therefore, never to expect such an as- surance as shall extinguish all your apprehensions of danger. He that sees not the danger, is nearest it, and likely to fall into it. Only he that seeth and appsehendeth it, is likely to avoid it. He that seeth no danger of falling away, is in greatest danger of it. .1 doubt not but that is the cause of the seditions, scandals, heresies, blood-guiltiness, destroyers of the churches of Christ, and most horrid apostasies, hypocrisy, and wickedness, which these late times have been guilty of; and they apprehended not the danger of ever coming into such a state, or ever doing such things, but would have said, Am I a dog?' to him that should have foretold them what is come to pass. Wonderful ! that men should be so blinded by false doctrine, as not to know that the apprehension of danger is made, in the very fabrication of the nature ofman, to be the very engine to move his soul in all ways of self-preservation and salvation ! Yea, it is that very supposed principle .upon which all the government of the world, and the laws and order of every nation, are grounded. We could not keep the very brutes from tearing us in pieces, but for their own safety, because they appre-
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