Ver. 1 i . the 17th Chapter of St. J OHN. ; 59 knoweth every diftina Sheep by Name, and conftandy giveth an Account of them to God. I am glorified in them. It is grievous to our Advocate, when he is forced to be an Accufer. He taketh a diftina and eìtplicite Notice of them. Ifa. 40.27. Why fay- eft thou, 0 Jacob, and fpeabefi, O Ifrael, My Way is hidfrom the Lord, and my judgment is paid over from my God ? Pfal. 34. 6. This poor Man cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out all his Troubles. If it were not for this our Keeper, we lhould Cutely perifh ; but Chrift is our Keeper, who is faithful, loving, able, watchful. potefi & unit, facit. Chrift's own Charge cannot mifcarry. If the Elea lhould not be faved, Chrilt would neither do his Work, nor receive his Wages. Vfe. To preis us to come under thefe fweet Hopes. There is nothing wanting, but the clearing up of our Intereft, that you may be of the number of thofe that are given to Chrift. You will know it by God's Mt towards you, and by your Adtowards God. I. By God's Aá towards you. If we be given tdChrift; Chtift is given to us s We - are given to Chrift before all time, and in time Chrift is given to us; by converting Grace he and we are brought together. ,God makes an Offer in the Gofpel ; Are we willing to receive him for Lord and Saviour ? Then you put it out of queftión. Are you moved by the Spirit to receive him upon God's Offer ? Converfion, it is as it were an aetual Eleeeion. By original Eleaion, the Heirs of Salvation are diftinguilbed from others in God's purpofe ; fo by Converfion, or aaual Ele&ion, they are vifibly di tinguifhed. What Excitements of Grace can you fpeak of, that urge you to come to Chrift ? All that are given to him, come to him. 2. By your Ad towards Chrift. All the Father's Aas are ratified in time by Belie- vers: He ordaineth, we confent ; he chufeth Chrift for Lord and King, and they (hall appoint themfelves.one Head. So God's giving of Souls to Chrilt is ratified by the Belie- vers Aa. As there is a double giving on his part, by way of Charge, and by way of Reward ; fo there is a double Aft on our parr, committing, and confecrating our felves to Chrift. (r.) Committing our felves to Chrili. Can we wholly and abfolutely refign up our Souls into his hands? The Father is wirer than we; he knew well enough what he did, when he commended us to his Son. Faith is often expreffedby committing ourfelves to Chr /; it anfwereth the Trutt the Father repofed in him. 2 Tim. 1. 12. ¡know whom I have believed, and I am perfuaded, that he is able to /¿eep, 7r epghmess µa, that which I have committed unto him againll that day. This is not an eafy matter, it argueth a fenfe of Danger, a follicitous Care about the Soul, and an advifed Confidence. What care haft thou ever taken to lay thy Soul fafe ? ; What confidence haft thou of Chrift's Ability ? Didit thou think thou couldit be fafe without him ? Thou wouldit be art unfaithful Guardian ! Knowingly canft thou venture Eternity on thy prefent State ? (2.) Confecrating our felves to him. B.om.r2.r. I befeech you by the Mercies of God, that ye prefent your Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reefonable Service. Then walk as his, it is dangerous to alienate Things once confecrated. r Cor. 3. 23. re are Chr's. Whatever you have, you mutt give up to him, for his Glory. You have nothing at your own difpofe,neither Tongue,nor Heart, nor Eftate ; as long as a Man referves to himfelfan Intereft, he will mifcarry. Nabal called what he had, My Bread, and my Water, and my Phil; I Sam. 25. II. Did you ever make a ferious B e- fignation of your felves to God ? Pfal. I59. 94. /am thine, fave me ; for I have fought thy Precepts. SERM,
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