The:odesefeEivallcallings®Chrift. God bath put into his hands : this is agreat want, and it was in Adam $ he had afaire flare, and loft all,andundidLimfelfe,and his pofterity too: now the foule feares this, but faith fteps in, and lends fuccour herein, as thus faith maintaines acond. mall influenceofGods grace andpower into the fouleupon all occafons; fo that howfoever ma- nywants and weakneffes may bee in the foule, faith goes to heaven, and brings new fuccour up- on all occafions to'releeve it : this is the maine difference fetweene the firf} and fecond cove- nant: Adamhad the flock in his ownehands,and the fountaineand roots ofit was in himf Ife : yet howfoever it is true, a mans grace is weake, and would come tonothing, and may eafily beeover- come ; and yet the fountaine ofgrace and good- neffe that is in Chrift, will never be drawne dry ; and faith goes to that daily,and fodrawes fupply and fuccour: and from hence it is, that faith is called the prote6 our of all graces; Ephef 6, 16. there faith iscalled a shield : now the natureofa thield is this; It not only covers thebody, but ali the armour ofthebody; fo faith nor only covers the foule, but all thegraces ofthe foule, and fuc- cours them all; and it is not only the prote6tour ofall graces,but it is alfo a victorious conquerour in thebehalfeofgraces; for ¡ob.5.4. Thin it your vii;torie,evenfaith : fo that faithmakesa Chriftian foule a conquerour, and keepes hire fafe and fore now it is true indeed, that mans Corruption is roo ftrong for his owne gray 'iii himfelfe,_ and his temptations are too thong for all his fpirituall abilities 323
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