Iz8 I. Quefiions, and CafesofConfcience Chap, 141 Ob. But Pfal. 19. 13. Davidprayer that prefumptuaus fins might not prevail over him : therefore hefeared theymight, andfo had no afurance ? Anfw. Firft, Davidwas not indolt becaufe he prayed fo, but rather certain of the contrary, becaufe of this prayer of faith, as r John 5. t4, r 5. This is theconfidence that we have inhim, that ifwe askany thing according to hisVVill, he heareth us : and ifwe know that he heareth us,whatfoever weask, we know that we have the Petitions that we defiredof him. Secondly, Prayer is a meanes of certainty, no figne of uncertainty : we pray. fo: pardon of tin, and yet believe it. ob. But Saint Paul faith; r Cor. 4.4: .1 know nothing by my felfe, yet ano I not h reby jisitifted ; but he that judgesme is the Lord, therefore hehad not afu rance ? I. Anfw. Fir(l, Paoli wasnot juflifiedby any good thing in himfelf,hadhe there- fore no affurance ? Can aman fay, I know that I live not by (tones, therefore I cannot know that I live : this is a nra figaitur. Il. Secondly, thoughhe was not juftified by his own righteoufneffe, yet hewas aflùred of Gods grace, and of his Ju(lification by faith, as appears, Rom. 8.38. Gal. 2.5 6, ao. 'Phil. 3. 8i9. Ob. How cana childe of God be afearedofhisfalvation, being confciosa to him- fell, offo rnany andgreat fins ? I. .Anfw. Fiat, all finsare remitted to thofe who are in Chrifl, and therefore there is no condemnation to them, Rona.8.r. II. Secondly, only reigning fnnes hinder at wrance, not the remaining of finne. III. Thirdly; God bath punifhed all the fins of his Elea in their Surety Chrifi, and therefore cannot again punifh it in them, 3Zgm: 3. as. and 4. 25. Ob. But I have fo many doubts and fearer, that I cannot have *u- rance ? L Anfw. Firll, doubts exercifefaith, but do not.extinguifh it : Chritis difciples had many doubts. II. Secondly, a trembling hand may receive a Gift from a Prince, and know it bath ir, though it holds it but weakly. III. 3. Endeavour tobeleeve more firmly, and$rive againtt doubtings, andGod will accept it asperfe6 in Chtift. . Ob. But Ezek. 18. 24. A righteous manmayfallfrom his righteoufneffe, and therefore can have no affurance ? ell o/Infw. Fin}, Suppofitions are no pofitionns : he doth not fay that a righte- ous man may fall from his righteoufneffe. but if he dofall,&c. Secondly, we mutt diflinguih :of a righteous man; Some are righteous ,exracróeav, in appearance only, and in the judgement ofcharity, and thefe may fall away from their righteoufneffe, and die in their fins: others are righteous Yd-r ârn9siav, in deed, and in truth : now there is a righteoufneffeof Profetfioa that may be loft, ofwhich this text fpeaks : but the righteoufuef(e which is by faith in Chrif} it can never be loft t An Argument from appearance to being is not true. III. Thirdly, if it be meant of a truly righteous man, then I anlwer, that Loch a righteous man mayfall from the aas of grace, but not from the#gables : from tomedegrees ofgrace, but not from the feed ofit. Quef. But how can affuranceRand with the humble, and bafe effect's which a Chrif#iañflould have of kin/fell; Anfw. Firft, humility fights not with certainty, being an effet of it, Pfeil. r3o..4.' Secondly, Gods chiidten have two eyes, with0ná they look upon themfelves; and II.
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