56o CI) ap.i4. An Expdfationupon the Boó1 of Joa; Verf. 2. forfaken of all before the evening. Their inward thought (faith David, Pfal.49. r r .) ad, that theirkonfes!hall continuefor ever,and their dwelling places toall generations : Nevertkelefs man being in honour (power or riches) abideth not. If he abides, thefe do not, and if thefe abide, he doth not and the longer that both thefe have abode in any example fnce the foundation of the world, is not long enough towarrant this conclufion, tha t,They didabide. Thirdly, Confider man inhis fpiritual erate, where his con- tinuance is mot teddy, yetthere he continues not iii the fame (late. Some havea fpiritual erate, which is of as little continu- ance as mans natural or civil rate is. The Hypocrite appears toothers, and is often conceitedof himfelf full of the flowers of Grace; but hequickly difappears, he is cut down like a flow- er, and fleeth away like a fhadow. The parable faithof fuck' man, (Mat/h.' 3.20,2 r .) He heareth the word, andan©n with joy receiveth it, yet bath he not reot in himfelf, bnt dureth for awhile : thatis,he continuethnot : His leafof outfide prófeffton fatls,and his goodly form of godlineffe without power, breaks to pieces upon;the leaf/ blafl or touch of perfecution. And if perfecution do not kill hisprofeflion, it will die alone, or rather,itwill decay alone, for indeed it never had any life. Now, as, temporary believers have total decayes, and con- tinue not at all in their fpiritual eflate ; fo true believers may ..have temporary decayes. The way of a man in Chrir dothnot flee like a fhadow, but'increafeth more and more unto the perfe5bb day (Prov.4. i 6.) And that Scripture which takes up lobs fimi- litude, comparing all flejh to cafe, and the goodlineffe thereof to the flower of the field, thegrau ile withereth, theflowerfadeth, Both yet by way of oppofition, affure us, that theWord ofGodabideth firever, Ifa.4o.8.) Now, as the Wordof God, fo that Grace which is revealed to us and wrought in us by the Word and Spirit of God abideth for ever. And yet, though a rateof Grace, wherefoever it is doth continue for ever, yet it Both not conti- nue alwayes in the fame flare : And that not only becaufe it is gradually changed by way of improvement here (till it take its higher degree in glory, where it fhali know no changeat all, either by way of abatement or of improvement) but alfo'be- caufe it is often changed byway of gradual abatement. Peter did not alwayes continue in the fume flareof faith,nor the Church of
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