Verf. 21. the Epifile to the R amans. 475 sooft feare,t ben how is there any certainty in Faith, for there is nothing fo contrary to Faith, as fear and doubting ? Solution. S r L. Feare, and perplexed doub- fing, comes from the weakeneffe of faith ; Faith in its owne nature, being a moß certain perfwafion : but wee re to note that this is not fpoken to this or that true beleever, for whom it is impoffible that they fhouid lofe their faith wholly. For it is a gift where- of God repenteth not : alto, God ne- ver tempteth his above their power : But this is fpoken of whole congrega- tions, wherein Come do falfely perfwade themfelves to be true beleevers , and bee not fo indeed. Thirdly, howfo- ever that fear that engendreth per- plexity of niinde, and breedetk de- fpaire of Gods goodneffe, cannot con fìß together with Faith, the one de- flroying the other; yet that fear which breeds a reverence of God, tray well Rand with the affurance of faith, being a means ordained of God, both to con- tinue and encreafè faith, becaufe it mo- veth us toearneft confiant Prayer, by thewhich faith is nourilhed and ftreng timed. Howfoever then, a beleeving perlon need not fear condemnation, yet he may and mull feartranfgrellion, pfal. 4.4 He cannot fear falling away into perdition, but he ought to fear falling into fin : he mull have the fear of humi- lity to make him watchfull, but not the fear which arifes out of irffidelity,which makes him difrußfull. T r iv. What profit is to be made of ibis inftrollion touching the fearof God? S t L. It acquits us from the flander of the Papißs, who accule us that we do teach men that they may live fecurely, and need not fear God.Secondly,it con - vias them of error, which fay we can. not be certain of forgivenefi-e of finnes, becaufewe mull fear; tvhereas fear being . a fruit of fanaification and marke of our adoption, Reis so. 35. the more we doe fear God and his word, the more we are lure to be bleffed, which is every where promifed to loch as fear God. Laflly, it exhorts all Chrißians which lack this fear , to leek it, and thofe efe. See Rbe- miYr notes no t John 4.1i. which have it to be thankfull for it,and grow up in it. For bleffed is he that feareth continually : Therefore if yee call God Father, paffe the time of your dwelling in fear. T r M. Come now to the 2r. vetle, and tell ur .what is meant by the L naturali branches. ] S s t. The Jewes, Gods owne people, who becaufe they were borne of an holy root and beleeving parents, (who by a free covenant were ofGod leparated from ether people) are there - I fore called naturali branches, though they were conceived in finse as all others are, and by nature had no more holineffe then others. And whereas it is Paid of God that he (pared not them, the meaning is, that he punifhed them and brake them, as it is expounded, verler7,19. See alfo Rom. 8, 3z. Leto is fpoken then is meant, which is uftull in the Scripture, fee if Cor. 15. 58. Heb. 6. ro. Ti M.'Wbat is tire lefon to be learned from hence ? S r L. The unpartiall feverity of God againft the obflinate unbelee- vers, which are contemners of his word; in that his ancient people which had flood fo many yeares under his co- venant, and were fo long before us in poffeffron of religion, and had fo many great promifes and favours don6 them ; yet when they defpifed and abuled Gods goodneffe fo farre, as publickly to deny and rejea his Sonne,they mutt be no longer borne with, at any hand. How then may we which are branches by graffing in, defcended of infidels and heatbenifh paréts,and but adopted children, looke to efcape Gods fierce wrath if we contemne his word? when the very naturall branches and fuch as come of the holy Patriarchs were dif- inherited and cafe out, but not before God had chaßned them with rods, and fometimes Pent them into captivity. This may therefore ferve as a pattern for parents, how to proceed to difinhe- Firing their children:and for fitperiours, how to deale with inferiours, with much patience and long fuffering, wai- S f 3 ring DoEïrine.
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