Ver it. the 17th Chapter of St. J O HN. f4 point of Honour, and that he may be true to his Trutt, he fendeth his Spirit, as hia Deputy or Executor, that his Merit may be fully applied; therefore for the honont of Chrift, where-ever the Work is begun, it is continued. Chrift is called, Heb. i a. 2. the ,/Iuthor and Finifser of our Faith. Where -ever the Spirit is an Author, he is alto Finifher ; when the good Work is begun, he will alto perfect it, and continue his Grace to the end. It was faid of the foolifh Builder, He began, and wm not able to make an end. This Dithonour cannot be raft -upon Chrift, becaufe of the Power and Faith - fulnefs of the Spirit ; he Both, x«zepygeSai, go through with the Work which he bath begun. Phil. r. 6. Being confident of this, that he that bath began a good Wort itt you, will perform it unto the day of Chrift. The Spirit is to fit Veffels for Glory ; he doth not ufe to leave them half carved, but finith them for the honour of Chrift. The Spirit is faithful to Chrift, as Chrift is to the Father. The Father chufeth the Veffels, Chrift buyeth them, and the Spirit earveth and fitteth them, that they may be Veffels of Praife andHonour. He is ourComforter; working Grace,he puts us into an expectation of Com- fort and Glory ; and therefore to make it good,hecarrieth on the Work without failing. Rom. 8. 23. ...Ind not only they, but our fives allfo, who have the Ali-fruits of the Spirit; even we our films groan within our (elves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Body. 2 Cor. t. 22. Why bath fealed us, and given the Earnef of the Spirit in our Hearts. We have the Tafte, and the Pledge of it; it is good, it is lure. The fuit degree of Grace is conferred as a Pledg of eternal Life ; he giveth it as an Earneft or Pledg, affuring us of a more perfect Enjoyment of him. It is a Pledg of the whole Crop ; as an Earneft, hereby God affureth us that he will pay the whole Sum. An Earneft is a Pledg, whereby we confirm a Bargain; it is a Piece of Money, whereby we are affured he will pay the whole. Grace, it is the Livery and Scuff] of Glory ; as foon as a real Change is wrought in us, we have a Right that is indefeafible, it is enga- ged by Promu e. Therefore that the Spirit may be faithful, when he bath given us the Firft-fruits, the Earneft, (hall he not give us the Inheritance ? Vfi a. It exhorteth us to perfevere with the more care. John 2. 26, 27, a8. Theft things have I written unto you, concerning them that feduce you. But the Anointing which you have received of him, abideth in you, and ye neednot that any Man teach you ; but as the fame Anointing teachetb you of all things, and is Truth, and is no Lie; and even as it halls taught you, you fhall abide in him. Ind now, little Children, abide in him, that when he/hall appear, ye may have confidence; and not be ;Amsted before him at his coming. Since we have fomany Advantages of (landing, let us not fall from him. O how great will your Sin be, if you fhould fall, and dithonourGod ! We pity a Child, that falleth when it is not looked after; but when a froward Child wrefteth and forceth it Pelf out of the Arms of the Nurfe, we are angry with it. You have more ground to (land than others, being brought into an unchangeable Eftate of Grace, being held in the Arms of Chrift; fo that God will be very angry with your Slips and Fallings. Mercy holdeth you fait, and you Peek to wreft your (elves out of Mercies Arms. Never any can fin as you do; there is much frowardnefs in your Sins: You difparage the Spirit's ufto- dy, the Merit of Chrift, and the Mercy of the Father. Heb. 4. r. Let us therefore fear, lefts Promif being left as of entring into his Refl, any of you fiould feem to come /sort of it. Some feem to (land, and do not,; and Come feem to fall utterly, and do not. A Child of God indeed cannot come (bort, but he fhould not fient, nor give any appearance of coming (fort. Our Courfe in Religion is often interrupted, tho it be not broken off ;. this is a feeming to come thort of it. Hereby you bring a Scandal upon the Love of Chilli, as if it were changeable ; upon the Merit of Chrift, as if it were not a perte& Merit. Tho we do not fall fo as to break our Necks, yet we may fall fö as tö break our Bones. Vfe 2. If you fall, be not utterly difcouraged. Ai the Splutter leaveth a Lock of Wooll, to draw on the next Thread : There is foinewhat left, when you are departed from God ; you have more hold -fats in him,, than an unregenerate Sinner. A Child; tho a Prodigal, will go to him, and fay, Father. Pfal. 519. 176. I hàve gone aftray like a loft Sheep; fee/¿, thy Servant, for I do not forget thy Commandments. Through na- tural Weaknefs I bave gone affray like a Sheep, but I reek thy Commandments, there is force Grace left yet. Ifa. 64.8. But now, O Lord, than art our .Father ; we are the Clay, and thou art the Potter ; we are all the Work of thine Hand. The Church plead - eth thus ; nay, God is angry when we do ndt plead fo. Jer. 3... Will thou not fra i T t t n shit
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=