VER. 22,34. Epiftle to the H E B R Ew . eum:iance that concerns the In(titutionsofGod, we fhould fee it full ofWifdom and Grace; and the negletï of a due confideration thereof hath God fometime feverely revenged, Lev io. a, z. Thirdly, There is in them all a Gracious Condefcen¡on unto our weaknefs. God knows that we Rand in need of anefpecïal remark to be feet oncvery one of them. Such is our weaknefs, ourflowneß to believe, that we have need that the Word fhould be unto us, line upon line, and precept upon precept ; here a little, and there a little. As God toldMofe:, Exod. 4. 8. That if the children of Ifrael would not believe on the frfifign, they would ondiefecend. So it is with us; one confideration ofthe Law or the Gofpel oftentimes proves ine$Z5lual, when another over-powres the heart un- to obedience. And therefore bath God thus gracioully condefcended unto our .weaknefs, in propofing unto us the feveral confideration mentioned of his Law and Gofpel; that by lòme of them wemay be laid hold upon, and bowed untohis mind andwill in them. Accordingly, Fourthly, They havehad their various Influences andSuccefs on the foulsofmen. Somehave been wrought upon by one confideration, fome by another. In fome the Holinefl of the Law, in others the manner of its Admini(tration have been elhe&ual. Some have fixed their hearts principally on the Grace of the Gofpel ; fome on the Felon of its Author. And the fame perfons at [aural time: have had help and af- fiftance, from thefe feveral confideration:of the one and the other. So that in thefe chings,Goddoth nothing in vain;nothing is in vaintowards believers. Infinite Wifdom is in all ; and infinite Glory will arife out of all. And this fhould flit usup ùnto a diligent fearch into the Word, wherein God hath recorded all the concernmentsof his Law and Gofpel, that are for our ufe and advan- tage. That is the Cabinet whereinall thefe Jewels are laid up and difpo(èd, according to his Wifdomand the counfel of his Will. A general view of it will but little fa- tisfie , and not at all enrichour fouls. This is the Mine wherein we muff digg as for hid treafures. One main reafon whywe believeno more, whywe obey nomore, why we love nomore, is becaufe we are no more diligent in fearching the Word, for fubftantial Motives unto them all. A very little infight into the Word is apt to make men think that they fee enough: But the Reafonof it is, becaufe they like not what they fee. As men will not like to look farthet into a Shop ofWares, when they like nothing, which is at h ell prefented unto them. But if indeed we find fweetnefs; benefit, profit, life, in thedifcoveries that are /[lade tinto .us in the Word about the Lawand Gofpel, we fhallbe continually reaching after a farther Acquaintancewith them. It maybe we know fomewhat of thofe things ; but how know we, that there is not fame efpecialconcernment ofthe Gofpel, which God in an holy condefeenfton bath detigned for our good in particular, that weate not as yet arrived unto a clear. and diftin6tknowledge of? Here if we fearch for it with all diligence, may we find it ; and if we go maimed in ourFaith and Obedience all our dayes, we may thank our own Mothfor it. Again, whereas God hath di(fitilly ppfedthole thing: unto ti , they fhould have our diiftinflco>fderation. We fhould feverally and dif indly meditate upon them; that fo in them all we may admire the Wifdom of God ; and receive the effeEtual in- fluence of them allupon our ownfouls. Thus may wefometimesconverfe in our hearts with the Author ofthe Gofpel ; fometimes with the manner of its delivery; fometimes with the Grace of it; and from every one of thefe heavenly flower:, draw nourifhment and refrefhment unto our own fouls. Oh that we could take care to gather up thefefragments, that nothing might be loft unto us ; as inthemfelves they Ihall never perils. I V. What mean:foever God is pleafid to ufe in theRevelation of his Will be gives it a Certainty, Stedfaffnefs, Affurance andEvidence, which our faith may reif in, andwhich Cannot be negleled without the great* Sin. (The word fßoken was fledfaff. ) Every Big,2-, word fpoken fromGod, by his Appointment, is ftedfa(t ; and that becaufe fpoken from him, andby his Appointment. And thereare two thingsthat belongunto this (tedfaftnefsof the Word fpoken. r. That in refpedt of them unto whom it is fÿoken, it is the foundation of Faith and Obedience; The formal Reafonof them, and laft Ground whereunto they are refolved. a. That on the part of God, it isa liable and fuwïficient groundofRighteouM in proceeding
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