292 EJCF,its ofGofpel Afflsrance in Believers. Pfal. i 30: 1aCC of nal incurfion upon the mind or foul ; fuch as is excited and occalìoned by incident darknefs and Temptation, fuch as the beIi,.and perlons of the highett affurance are liable and ob- noxious unto ; but it is fuch as hath a cotnpleat abiding prin- ciple in the foul, even a #iris of bondage, a prevailing frame contlantly inclining it to fear,or dreadful apprehenfions of God and its own condition. Secondly, That it tends to bondage, it brings the foul trit.0 bondage, Heb. z. t 4., t 5. He dyed to deli - ver them who by jear ofdeath were in bondage all their dams. Fear of death as penal, as it lyes in the curie, which is that fear that proceeds from a fpirit of bondage, brings the perfons in whom it is into bondage ; that is, it adds wearinefs, trouble, and anxiety of mind unto fear, and puts them upon all'aies and means imaginable, unduly and diforderly to leek for a re- medy or relief. Thirdly, h hath tonnent ; fear bath torment, r job. 4. 18. It gives no rLíl,no quietnefs unto the mind ; now this is fo call out by Gofpel Af urauce of forgivenefs, that though it may a, fault the f ul, it (ball not poffejs it ; though it make incurfions upon it, it fall not dwell abide and prevail in it. 3. It gives the foul an hope and expetiation of the Glory that Pall be revealed, and fecretly airs it up, and enlivens it unto a fupportment in futferings, tryals and Temptations. This is the hope which makes not afhamed, Rom. 5.5. and that, becaufe it will never expofc the foul unto difappointment. Where ever there is the root of Afurance, there will be this fruit of hope. The proper object of it, is things abfent, invilible, eternal ; the promifrd reward in all the notions, refpec`,is and concernments ofit. This hope goes out unto, in di(treffes, temptations, fail- ings ; and under-a fenfe of the guilt and power of fin. Hence ari(eth a fpringoffecret reliefin the foul, tomething that calms the heart, and quiets the (pint in the midit ofmany a form. Now, as where ever Af furance is, there will be this hope ; fo, where ever this fecret relieving hope it grows on no other root, but a livingperfw fon of a perfonir,al intereft in the things hoped for.. 4. As it will do many other things , fo that I may give one comptehenfivc intlance, it will carry them.out 4 in who a
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=