OF SI;IfiITUAL MINDEDNESS. 311 grow, may justly be suspected, and ought diligently to be examined by them who take care of their own souls, and would not be eternally deceived. Secondly. It is contrary to the most excellent or invariably evangelical promises recorded in the Old Testament and the New ; and which are amongst the principal supportments of the faith, hope, and comfort of believers. God hath given them to us,, to encou- rage us into an expectation of such supplies of grace, as shall cause us to thrive and grow against all opposi- tion, to the utmost of our continuation in this world, And they are so multiplied as that there is no need to mention any of them in particular ; God evidencing thereby how great is the grace, and how precious, which he so often promiseth, and of what considera- tion it is of to ourselves. See Psal. xcii. 13-15. Isa. xl. 28-31. Wherefore the folly of taking up with present measures of grace, holiness, and spiritu- ality, is attendedwith two unspeakable evils.. First. A signal contempt of the love, grace, faith- fulness, and wisdom of God, in giving us such prom- ises of grace, to make us increase, thrive, and grow. How can it be done more effectually, than by such a neglect of his promised grace i Secondly. An evidence that such persons love noJ, care not, for grace or holiness for their own souls, but merely to serve their turn at present, as they suppose, nor to desire the least of grace or privilege by Christ, without which they can have no hopes to get to heav- en. This sufficiently discovers men to be wholly under the power of self love, and to centre therein; for if they may have so much grace and mercy as may save them, they care for no more. Thirdly. It is repugnant to the honor of gospel
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