That the Lord bath as cer- tainlydecreed andpramifed ecc rfanChfica- tien asourfal- akation. 2.1101.7.:19. Ephef.r.4. Lb.t4.16.17. Ezcch.i 1.19. arid 36.26. Ier.3 r.3334 Iod.7..Z8.7.9. 640 Comforts againft ourlow progrefeinfanftification. as certainelie decreed and prornifed the means tending thereunto, which are the effe&s of his ele&ion and the fore- runnersofor,7 faluation;but oneefpeciall effect of his ele&d- on is our fandification, and the way to faluation is the path ofrighteoufrieffe andholineffe ; and therefore this is no Ieffe certainelie affured vnto vs, thatwee fhaI1 beefan&ified,and enabled to walke in this way of righteoufieffe and holi- neffe, then that wee are ele&edand fha11 be faued. Though then weeareweake and vnf{able, yet the foundation of' God remaineth euerfore ; though in regard of our owne feeble- neffe, and manifold irnperfe&ions, the worke of fan&ifi- cation feeme altogether impoflble, yet this fhould not moue vs to doubting nor difcouragevs in ourcourfe, feeing it bath not anyground vpon our owneftretigth, but vpon Gods immutable decree,and neuer failingpromifes. When then our (mall progreflc in true godlineffe, caufed through the violence ofour corruptions and oppofitions ofour fpi- rituall enemies difcourageth vs, making this worke offan- ¿ification feeme impoffible,letvs call to mind that the Lord hath as certainely decreed, that we fhould behis Saints here vpon earth as his Saints in heauen, that hehath moft fairh- fullie promifed, that hee will dire& vs with his holie fpirit, take away from vs our (tonic hearts and giue vsflefhyhearts, illuminate our blind vnderfiandings with true fauing know- ledge, induevs witha liuelie faith, and wí141 all other fan- ¿ ifyinggraces, enable vs to performe in folnemeafireho- lie obedience to his heauenlie Sill, mortyfying our cor- ruption ,and enabling vs to fern him in newneffe oflife; all which gracious promifes wee are as vndoubtedly tobe- leeue, as thofe which concerne either the remiffion ofour finnes,or euerlafting happineflè. And therefore thoughour ovine dulneffe,backwardneffe, and little profiting in fanéi- fication, fhouldworke in vs true furrow, yet this fhould not difcourage vs,doubting ofthe iffue ofall our labours, but knowing that God is alike true in all hispromifes, let vs, letting afide all difficulties, beleeue againft beleefe, andvn. doubtedly perfwade our felues that the Lordwill finial that goodworke whichhee hath begun in vs, though as yet it hati
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