ap.14 about .Aarattce. 121 and Hope tarries for it til l it come, Heb. 6. i9. which Hope welhave as an Ax- cher of the foul, bothfore andifedfafl: Hope were but a poor Anchor if it fhould leave the foul to uncertainties, to the courtefieof a wave ; CO the clemency of a Rock, to thedifpofing ofa forme. But this Anchor pierceswithin the vaile, will'be fore to have fait hold, it will fix upon Heaven it felt, &c. Again, Vim. g. 2. we glory in hop, &e. But its a poor glory to triumph in uncer- tainties, and before the vielory : theres little caufe of joy till the foul beprovi- dedfor eternity, and till it know it felfe to be in this Cafe condition. A probable hpe indeed will beare up, and fupport the foul ; but it will not quiet and fa- tisfic the foul. Chriftian hope, when it is in its full vigour, isall one with af- furance, om. ç. ç. Hope makes not afhamed : but if hope couldbe frufrated, it might make of lamed.' Oteft. Whatis themanner howChriflians are affured of their falvation ? or how(hall we know that ourgraces are true, and not counterfeit ? Anfw. Manycbarac`ters of true grace might here be given : as that it mull flow from a principle offinceriry,froma principleof love : that it muff be con- formableto thegracecf Chrill. But all this will not fatislie the foul, which willfill quefion, how thail I know that my graces are fuch ? fo then that which we mull ultimately refolve it into is that doubleTefunony, Rom.8. i 6. The fameSpirit bearerh witneffe withour fpirits that we are rh fans of God : both theft witnelfes do fully agree, and make up one entire tefimony, fo that the foul may fayhere, as Pau/Both, Rom. 9. I. i fpeakthe truth, I lienor, mny confcience bearing mewitnefeby, the Holy Ghofl. So that the whole work of affuratiee is fummed up in this PraWtical Syllogifme. Whofoever believes full be Paved ; but I believe, therefore I shall certainly beCaved. The Affumprion is put out ofdoubt : For, I. Confcdence cornes in with a full Tefimonywhich isbetter thena thoufandwitneffes, I john3.io. He that beli.ver halo awrt- neffe inhimfelf. So i John3.2í.1f our heart condemn us nét, thenhavewe confi- dence towards Çod. Ob.Burjer.l7.9.the heart is deceitfulabove all things,how tien can wetruft it? Anfw. Firf, fome underltand it of the unregenerateheart : of which it I. is laid, All the imaginations of the thoughts ofmans hrart,are altogether 'evil. Secondly; the drift of the text is to (hew the deceitfulneffe of mene hearts II. in refpe& of others : fcr its brought in by way of Objedtion, thus : the 7s,,.ß can delude theProphets, and fo think to evade the turfed No, 1 the Lord frarchthe hearts; all is naked in my fight, 1ar.il.ro. Heb.4.13. Thirdly, its true, , the frnceref heart is very deceitful. So was Davids. III. Pfa.I9.12. mho canknow the errour of his wages? No man can be acquaint- ed with every turning and winding of hisheart : But this hinders not bur that he may know thegeneral frame andbent of hisheart. The foul knowes which way itsfaculties ftrearia with molt vehemency. Confcince cannot be bribed, it will give in truejudgement, efpecially anenlighrned confcience. There is none, burif hefearchand examine his foul in a lira&, and intpartial manner, mayknow whether he be fincere or no, I Cor. 2. ii. Whoknowsthe things ofa man, but thefpirit ofa manthat is in him. Elfe whyare we fo often enjoyn- ed, to fearch, and try, and examine our hearts, &c. ifafter all our diligence we maybe deceived. Ob. If by the teilimony of confcience, men may know theframe oftheir fpi- rits, whether theybeupright or no, wily then are notalt true Chrifl:ans affured of their falvation ? have they nottheir hearts and confciences about them ? eilnfw. Firf, many arenot fowell acquainted with their own hearts as they I. liíould:they donot fearch and try theirwaysaheyhavea rreafure,but know it.not. SecOndly , eternity doth Etaamaze and fwallow up their thoughtswhen they II thinkof it, thatthey are readyiiotremble though theybe4fecure; as a man on an R High
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