Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

tion witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God: (1) which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. (2)

III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: (3) Yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. (4)

(1) Rom. viii. 15, 16. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

:

(2) Eph. i. 13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22. Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(3) III. Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in

the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. See Ps. lxxxviii. throughout, and lxxvii. to the 12th verse.

(4) 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that

And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure; (1) that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance: (2) So far is it from inclining men to looseness. (3)

we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Heb. vi. 11, 12. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Eph. iii. 17, 18, 19.

(1) 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

(2) Rom. v. 1, 2, 5. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Ps. cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Ps. iv. 6, 7. Eph. i. 3, 4.

(3) Rom. vi. 1, 2. What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Tit. ii. 11, 12, 14. For the grace of God that bringeth_salvation hath appeared to all men, teach ing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we

IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it; by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light: (1) Yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sin

should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.-Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(1) IV. Čant. v. 2, 3, 6. I sleep, but my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?-I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Ps. li. 8, 12, 14. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.-Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.-Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Compare the above with Ps. lxxvii. first ten verses, and Matt. xxvi. 69, 70, 71, 72. Ps. xxxi. 22. Ps. lxxxviii. throughout, and Isa. 1. 10.

cerity of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, (1) and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair. (2)

CHAPTER XIX.

OF THE LAW OF GOD.

God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it. (3)

(1) 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Job xiii. 15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Ps. lxxiii. 15, and li. 8, 12, with Isa. 1. 10.

(2) Micah vii. 7, 8, 9. Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Isa. liv. 7, 8.

(3) I. Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Gen ii. 17. But of

II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables; (1) the four first commandments contain

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Rom. ii. 14, 15. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. x. 5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Rom. v. 12, 19. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.-For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. See also Gal. iii. 10, 12. Eccl. vii. 29, and Job xxviii. 28.

(1) II. James i. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James ii. 8, 10. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.-For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Rom. iii. 19. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law. Deut. v. 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. And chap. x. 4. And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount, out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. Ex. xxxiv. 1, and Rom. xiii. 8, 9.

« AnteriorContinua »