upon the ,Epiftle of J A M B s. VERS.6. are not always madeggod in the rigor ofthe letter, yet they are in agreat meafw:e fulfilled, and ~ ..~ '7f)..i1r;ov for the moft pari take place; I fay.~rhough they are to be exp?unded with ch.e. excepti– on and referva•tto'n of the Crofs,(for God JS no fUtther obbged then he is obliged by the Co:vmam of Grace, and .in the Covenant uf , Grace be bathQill}{ept a liberty ofvijit~ng their iniquity with r-od.r, P[al. 89. 33·) yet becaufe the children of God haye many experi– ences of their accomplilhment, they cannot choofe but conceive fome hope towards Gotl, and incline rather to think that God will grant ; the leafi that thefe promifes do, is, to beg~c fome loo[e hope, they being fo exprefs to our cafe, and being fo often accom– pliilied: Nay, how can we mge'thefe in prayer to a good God, and not fay, -as David~ &member thy Word FJnto thy[trvant, Where– in thou haft Clflte{ed me to hope, Pfal. 119. 49· I do not (ay we lhou1d prefcribe toGod, and limit his will to our thoughts, but onely conceivean hop~ witbfubmiffion, becaufe of t,he general refervation ofthe crofs. . · , 47 -4· Some, th~t.t have more neer commu>Jion with God, mtty have a particHlarfaith offome particular orcurrences : By fome fpe. cial infiinCls in prayer, from the Spirit ofGod,tpey h:tve gone away, ·and faid with David, b; this I will be confident: I do not fay ~tis Pfal. 27· 3• ufual, but fometimes it may be fo ; we cannot abridg the Spirit of his liberty, of revealing himfelf to his people : B1:1t remember, Priviledge.-s do not mrz/ze rules ; Thefe are acts of qods prerogative, not according to bisjl.:1.nding la-w andrule: However, this I conceiv~ is common, That, in aparticular cafe, we may conceive the more hope, when our hearts have been drawn ·out to God by an aflual tru.ft; that is, when we have, ~rged a particular promife to God in prayer, with fobmijfi.on, yet With hope; for God feldom f.aileth a truO:ing Soul: They may lay hold on God by virtue of a donble,daim, par.dyb¥ virtue of the jingle promife that fir.{( invited them toGod, and then by virtue of an~nher promife made to their _ truft, as lftti. z.6. 3• Thou k$epeft him inperfe[f peace, Who put· eth hu truft in th~e, b.e't:~ufe he trufteth in thee : An ingenious man will not difappoimt Truft; andGod faith, eon9mine, for th~t · reafon, Becau{e .they truft in him, he will do them good : Therefore, nowhav~glorified Gods power, and with hope ref~rr~d th~mfelves to hts Will, they have a new argument of hope wtthtn . t~~~~e!!es; :~ ~~~~~:t tha~~l_! P[al. 9!· ~i3• J'~~~ ~ abdialogue -- - . e~we~~
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