CHAP.2. upon the Epiflle of J A M n s. VERS.:H. . 3· From th1t, [Whtn he d(ftred Ifaac] I{ailt is counted offer- Obfervat. 3.' · ed, bt:>Gaufe he was fo in Abrlihams purpofe ~ The Note is, 7 hat , fo'rious purpofes oftJbcdiena are accepted for obedience. God haeh given in pardon upon a. purpof~ of returning; Pfal. 3z. 5· -1fa id 1 would confefs, And thotJjrif·g~vefl the iniquity of m] fin. Only r~member they mufl: be· fuch purpofes as are like A~r.th~1ms : 1. Serious ~tnd refolved,fot hf! prepaFed himfdf to the performance; . nor vain pnrpofes to bettay prefem dqtits, when men hope to do . that to morrow which they thould do to day ; thefe are vanitl1ing and flitting motions, which God taketh notice of: -x cJod k.no:w"'"" * Pfal 91 .I x , ' cth thefecrets ofhearts; and that fuch delays are bnt modeft den;- a!s,or rather deceitful offers,to put off the clamour and importunity of confcience : Nothing m0re ufual then fuch purpof«:s for the future to jufiifie prefent-negleth; God wiU fearch it out; AbraJ ha:mwas rc:,ady. a. They mull be fuch as end in aetion,uniefs in the cafe of allowable hi-nderan~es: \!Vhen's that? I. When we are · ' hindered,as Abr11ham was,fromHeaven; he by divine Command, . webyProvid.nce: 1 King.8. 18. Wheruuit Was -inthinehellrt _, ) tq bui!J, aiJ houfe ~tnto my NarrJC, thou dtdft well irn that it Was in·> thine heart, WheJJ meer Providence diverceth us from holy inten- ·· cions, God acGcpteth of the will. z. By invincible wc,z/:z.nefs; .. Rom.7.18. 'To Will is p>•efent With me, but to p'erforfn that Which is good I jirJd not: The A-poftle could not K,fhleryrl~~·.:J-cu, ·come up to ) rhe rat~ of his purpofes; in fuch acafe God looketh eo what is in the he..art. Well then·, r. le fNvech for comfort eo the peqple of God, who becaufe chey do not per-form duty as they would, are lhuchdifcouraged; God taketh noticeGf the purpofe, and judgeth ofyou, as Phyficians do of their Pat~ms, not by their-eating, bnt: I their appetice. Pm:pofes and defires are.works of Gods-own !tiringup, the free native offering and motions of grace : PraCl:ices • may be over*ruled ; but fuch earne'fi purpofes as make you do what · youcan, are ofually ferio,us; and·genuine: The children of God ~hat catinot jufiifie their pracbfes, plead-the it1ward lhodons and defires Gf tli~ir hearts·; Job. 2'1. 17.·'lfhou· k...noweft all t1,ings, and t-hou k._Jto~eff t·hat I f.ove thee: N eh. 1.1 I. Dejire to fear thyN .1me,6·c. z, "Tis fo(advice tous, to be ca~eful of our purpofes·: '*Many • Sotv: leonan / .would be mor-e wicke-d,. were·tlu:ynot bound up;.. God takes no- & ftams. tice of what is in thcit hearts: JIA...st, 5.2·8. He thdt lookph.upon a · · J \~gman to luft ajtt·r her, bath c-C.mmittcd adultery with her in his he~r~ •. ·
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