C.k1. g.3t. Do&-ot Sts ApotÍafy leaves no ground_ofAfuranceor peace 25 8 then the bloodofthe Lord Jefus? He telleth you then three things; r. That the weakenefe,ofthe flefli, or aptneffe ofmifcarrying through this 4' 3" is no reafonable roundoffeare, to any true Believer ofhisperifhing: cotfidering that no manloofeth , orforfeiteth the Grace and Favour of God, throughfinnes of weakenefffe or infirmity: It it only the,ftrengthofinne, and corruption inmen, that expofeth to the danger ofloofîng the Love of God. Anf. The latterpart ofthefe words plainely difcovers the vanity ofthe former asproduced forany fuchend and Purpofe as thatin hand: For though I willingly grant, that that which is termed the weakeneffe of the fief), is enough tomake any man what ever feare, that he fhall not holdoutin the courfe ofhis Obediencetotheend, ifhe have no Promife offupportment and prefervation by an Almighty power, (notwithftanding it is affirmed that it draweth men only to finnesofweaknefie or infirmity, which I thought had notbeen called fo from the weakeneffeofthe flefh, but ofGrace inBelievers) yet itis theftrength , the pówer the Law, the fubtilltyof the flefh, or in- dwellingftnne, that is the matter of our plea in this cafe. Not that which Paul gloried in even his infarmity,but that which madehim cry out, oh ! wretched 8. r, manthat I am whojhalldelivermefrom the bodyof this death, & from the di- ftreffe by reafon 'whereof he found nodeliverance, but only in theAffured LoveofGod in JefusChrift.So that notwithfcanding thisReply,fhaped tofor tille the minds ofmen againft their failings, upon theaccount ofthe weakenes ofGrace, rather then ofthe flefh, (which yet it is not able to do, for ifthere beno Promife to the contrary, why may not the principle which carrieth men forth to lefTer,carry them alfo forth togreater,&more provokingfinnes, what boundaries will you prefcribe unto thefe finnes of infirmitie í) The pretenfion from the ftrength ofthe flefh,(yea from the weakeneffe ofit) hol- deth good againft the Saints effablifhment in Peace and Affurance , upon the account oftheir being deftitute ofanyPromife of prefervation by God. Q. 22. 2. If the Saints bewilling (faith he) toflrengthen the Spirit in them, and make hire willingproportionably to the meaner prefcribed, and vouchfafed:into them by God,forfuch a purpofe, this willfully ballane the weakeneffe oftheM prevent themifcarriages.& breakingout hereof;This Ifay then (faith theApa- file) walke in theSpirit, andyè (ball notfulfill the Infieof the fief); and again, Ifyou be leadby the Spirit you are not ender the Law, and confequently, areiii no anger of loofing the Favour ofGod, or of perifhing forfuchfnnes,whichunder the condull ofthe Spirityouarefubjell unto. Anf. But that all now mutt be taken in good part , a no .sg>$ed ítrangeor uncouth,fince wehave paffedthepikes in the laittSSOion, I fhould fomewat Admire at the Do&rine ofthis Paragraph; For a. Here is a willingin referenceto a great Spiritual! duty fuppofed in men, antecedent to any Affiftance ofhim whoworketh to will and to doofhis owne goodpleafure. What heworketh, he worketh by the Spirit. But this is a willing inus, diftin&from, and antecedent to, the appearing oftheSpiritfor the ftrengthning thereof. 2. That whereaswe have hitherto imagined that the Spirit ftrengthneth the Saints and that their fupportment had been from him, as we partly alto before declared fat leaft wedid our minde tobe fo perfwaded) it feemeth theyfirengthen the Spirit in them, and not he them; Howor bywhat meanes, or by what principlesin them it is, that fo they do, is not declared. Betides what is hereintendedby the spirit, is not manlfefted; If it be the Holy and BidedSpirit ofGod, be hath no needofour ftrengthning; he is able ofhim- felfe, tomakeus meetfor the Inheritance of the Saints in Light; Ifit be the gracious
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=