A Catechiftical Expojition 2 Secondly, By Common and RefrrainingGrace. 3· Thirdly, By Renewing and SanClifying Grace. ~ Wb~t arc the hlethods of Gvd's Providence, whereby be delivers hlc11 from the Evil ofSzn? · A. They are manifold and various ; but Five are mofr efpecially rern:!rk:tble r. Firft, Somelimes Providence cutsfhort their Power, whereby they thould be· ah!ed roSin; thus God withered Jeroboam's Hand, which he !lrerch'd forth againtl th; Prophet. 2. S~condlr, Sometimes God cuts off their wicked I.nfirumenrs, either for Counfel as he dtd Acbuophel from Abjolom, or elfe for Execuuon, ~s be did the Hotl of Sen: nacbertb. 3· Thirdly, Sometimes by raifing up another oppofite Power to withtland the Sin· ner. Thus the Rulers would have put Chrift ro Death, ·bur durtl nor, for fear of the People. 4· Fourrhly, .By caf\ing in ~afonable Diverlions. Thus the pafling by of Merchants altered the Parrrarchs Refolutton from Ktllrng Jofepb to Sell him. ..._ S· Fifthly, Sometimes God removes the Objell againfi which rbey intended roSin Thus he delivered David from Saul, and Peter from Her~d. ' Q We have feen bow God preferves iHen from Sin by his R<}lraining Pnroiden" fhew now how be dotb it by his Refiraining Grace. ' A. By Reil raining Grace God deals with rhe very Heart of a Sinner; and although he doth not change the habitual, yer he cbange1h the aaual, Inclination of it and takes away the Defire of committing rhofe Sins whic;h are unmortific:d and reigning. Q Ta whom dotb God voucbfafe tbi< Grace? .A To many unregenerate Perfons ; as he did to Efau and .t.bimelech. Q To what End dot I> be voucbfofe it ? · A That rheir Lives may be more plaufible, their Gifis more fctviceable, and their Condemnation at laft the more tolerable. Q Jiow dotb God keep Men from Sin by l!is efpecial Orace ? 11. By exciting rhe inward Principle and Habit of Grace implanted in his Children · to the aClual Ulc and Exercife of it. Q. Is not inhere m Gr1ct alone fufficient to kup the Godly from ]inning? A. It is not without the continual Influence ofGod's quickning Grace; '2 Cor. 12. 7· There was given to me a Thorn in the F!c.fo, the Meffingcr of Satan to buffet me, !efl ljbould be exalted above Meofure. Q What are tbofe Graces that God tlotb efpecially excite, to ""Phis Childrenfrom Sin? ' .A. They are Thtee, Faith, Fear and Love. Q. liow dotb Faith keep tbcmfrom./inning? .t.. Many Ways, but more elpecially by Two. • 1. Firfi, As it lively reprefems unto us Eternal Rewards and PunHhments, and makes them as real as they are cerrain. Heb. II. 1. Now Faith is the Subftance of Things hoped for, the Evidence of Things not fun. , . z. Secondly, As it reprefents umo us God to be the Obfervcr oi our AS:tvr.s, who muft hereafter be the Judge of rbem. For by Faith we fee him who is invir,b!e. Q How dotb the Fear of God keep Men from Sin? A. By po!feffing our Hearts with awful Thoughrsof his dread Majefiy, wbofe Power is infinite, and whofe Jufiice is firill and impartial. Pfa!. 4· 4· Stand m Awe, and Sin not. Q HowdotbtbeLo"eofGodkeepMen[romSin~ . . .A. By working in them an Holy lngenurry, and Sympathy of AffeClton wtth God: loving what he loves, and hating what he hates, and therefore thofe ~ho love God, will certainly hate Iniquity. Pial. 97· ro. le tbatlovc the Lord bate Evtl. . Q What do wt pray for in this Part of the PetJt1on, Deltver us from Ev1l? .A. We pray, 1. That if ir !hall pleafe God to lead us into Temptation, yet he would not leave us uflder the Power of Temptation, but would make a Way for us to efcape, that we might be ahie to bear ir. 2 . That ifar any Time Temptations lhould prevail over us, God would not leave us under rhe Power of Sin, but rai fe us again by true Repentance, that fo we may ar lalJ: be delivered from the ~:~ear Evil of Obduration and Impenitency. ;. T!" "; .. ~
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