C.X.g:14. Do t.ot Sts Petfev "its ufefulneffe topromoteQOM Obedience, 252 effe&ed & produced,fuitably to thenature ofthe immediate caufe ofwhich it is, whether free, neceflary, or contingent, but alfo (hall be fo farre uncertaine, as that it may , or maynot be wrought and accomplithed. . ia, The former part ofthis third Paragraph is butaRepetition ofan Afferti- on,which upon the Credit ofhis own fingleTeflimonywe have had often ten- dered; (viz.) That an Afurance given him, that is Godly, of theLove ofGod, not depending on any thing inhim, whichit is uncertain whether hemillperforme or no, is no motive to men to continue in the wayes ofHolineffe. This (as I paid be- fore) I cannot clofe withall: That that which isa motive toFaith, andLove, and eminently fuited to the f irringofthem up,and Petting themon worke, is alfo a motive to the Obedience, which iscalled Love, and Obedience of Faith, bath been declared. Ifthere be any thing ofthe new and Heavenly nature in the foule, any Quality, or difpofition of a Child therein, what can be moreeffe&aall to promoteor advance-the Feare, Honour,and Reverence ofGod in it, then an Aflurance of his Spirit , to continue and preferve them in thofe wayes, which are well pleating untohim. It is confetlèd, that in manyPromifesof Acceptation here, and Reward hereafter, the things and duties, that are the meanes, and wayes of enjoying the one, and attai- ning the other, are mentioned not as conditions ofthe Grace and Love, ofGod to them, to whom the Promifes are made, as though they fhould de- pendon any thing of their uncertaineaccomplifhment as bath been decla- red, but only as the meanes, and wayes, which God bath appointed formen to ufe, and walke in, unto thofe ends, and whichhe bath abfolutely prowl- fed toworke in them, and tocontinue to them. 4.13. 4. Thedole ofthis Paragraph in the fourth place,defervetha little more . cleare confideration, it containing an Affèrtion, which force would not be- lieve, when it was told them,and bath flumblednot à few at therepetitionof it. Thus thenhe proceedeth. Befides,mhether anyfachAffarance ofthe unchangeablenefe ofthe LoveofGod towards him that is godly, as the Objetionfpeal¿ethof, can be effectually, andup- on fitPientground.` clearedandproved, is very quefiionable, yea I conceive there is more reafon tojudge otherrvife thenfo, Teti that which is more, Iverily believe, that in cafe any filchAffuranceof theunchangeablenefee of Gods Love, were to be found in, or couldregularly be deduced from the Scriptures, it were ajufl ground,to anyintelligent andconfidering man, to.queflion their Authority, andwhether they werefromGod, or no: For, that a Godinfinitely righteous andholy fhould irre- verfîbly afsurethe ir.,mbrtall & undefiledinheritance ofhis Grace &Favour, unto . any Creature whatfoever:fo that though thiscreaturefhouldprobe^ r v a tI,7- nable inhisfight, never fo outragioufly and defperately.wickedand rophane, he fhould not be at liberty, to with-holdhis inheritance from him, is ajaying doubt- lefe too hardfor any man, who rightly underflandeth and confidereth the nature ofGod,to bears: 04. Anf. The Love mentioned in the foregoingObje&ion, is that which God beareth to them that are godly in Jefus Chrift , exerting it felfe partly inhis Gracious acceptation of their Perlons in the Sonne of his Love, partly in gi- ving to themofhis Holy Spirit and Grace, fo that they thallnever depart ut- terly andwickedly from him, and forfake him, or reje&him from being their God. Whether an affurance ofthis Love may,on good grounds, be given to Believers,bath been already confidered, and the Affirmative, I hope in force goodmeafure confirmed. The farther Demonftrationofit awaiting itspro- per feafon; which the will ofGod thall give unto it. This Mr Goodwin faith tohim is queigionable3yea I fuppofe it is with him out ofquellion , that it can- not be, elle furely he wouldnot have taken fo muchpainesin labouring to difprove
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