V ER.I4. Ep ofians Chap. r. 145 ì.ng in theheavens, when the light is with is here in earth ; but weare toconceive the fpirit himfelfedwelling in this fänctuaryofgrace,which himfelfe hath erected inour foules. This by the way. Themaine point tobe marked is, that the fpirit doth not onely as a feale, but as an carnal pennie given usfrom God, confirme unto usour heavenly inheritance,affure us that we fhal receive indue time the fulnefs ofgrace andglory, zCor.i,zz. who hat,Ijgir:enus the earnef1ofht'sfßirit. incur hearts : Even as men doe affurcothers that theywillpay them the whole fumme due for this or that, by giving an earneft ; fo God doth makeus, as it were, part ofpaiment, Both execute in part his gracious, promife, that we may be the betterafcertained touching his gracious purpofe ofbringing us to that ourheavenly inheritance:He knoweth our unbeleevingmolde, and ergo , omitteth no meane which mayhelp us forward to allured perfwafron. There is twixt an earneft and thefpirit with the grace wroughtin us, great refemblance. Firft, an earneft is part of the whole fumme, which . is in regardof thisor that,to hepaid in times appointed ; fothe fpirit we have, andgrace, is the beginning ofthat gloriousbeing we (hall receive, the fame forfubftance, differing in degree. z. An earneft is but little in comparifon ofthe whole; twenty foil. lingsisearneftfufficient to make fure a fummeof an hundred pound: Thus all we have is but a ftnall thing in comparifon ofthe fulnefle we looke for; even as the,firft fruits were incomparifon ofthe full harveft. 3. Anearneft doth aflüre him that receiveth,of thehoneft meaning of him withwhom he contracteth ; fo the fpirit and gracewhich were- ceive from God, doe allure us ofhis fetled purpofe of bringingus to eternal) glory. TheVfe is, Eft to be fully perfwaded without doubting, that God will bringus to that perfeét redemption both of foule and body: We arenot todoubtabout that which God byearneft,by pledgeandpawne confirmes unto to ; though we will not beleeve a mans word, nor truft his Bill or Bond ; yet upon fufficient pledge or earneft, wewill deale, no whit fearing our man, though he be never fowecke ; and, fhall wenot truftto God, for that for which we have fo gooda pawne lyingwith use But becaufe this is a point contraverfall;I will fet downe my judgement briefly concerning ir, viz. whether we may in ordinary toad be infalliblyperfiveded teachingour falvation. The truth is, Chriftians maycome to it : That which is fufficiently confirmed on Gods part to Chriftians, and that whofe- confirmation ', may be fufficiently received on Chriftians part, concerning that they may infallibly beallured; but God hathfufficiently confirmed, ir , as is plaine by his word, feales, oath, pledge, 8&c. and what Godoffèreth or confirmeth fo, we by faith may receive it; for faith Both enable us fufficiently to beleevethat God revealeth.to us: Now hiswill to fave us, by all the former is particularly révealed, as we (hall fliew further hereafteratwhich makethus unableto have found joy,heárty thank- . 4:::)% , _ ö fulnefle; DolJ.z. An earneft doth flay with him thatrecci- reth the tom- pleatfemme; a pledge is given back when the fummeunder_ taken is fully performed. Vii I.
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