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of_o scripture_n be_v doctrinal_a in_o which_o respect_n the_o apostle_n say_v it_o be_v profitable_a for_o doctrine_n but_o 3.16_o because_o some_o book_n be_v chief_o concern_v in_o narration_n of_o thing_n past_a other_o in_o the_o prediction_n of_o thing_n to_o come_v and_o some_o be_v chief_o if_o not_o only_o conversant_a about_o dogmatical_a truth_n and_o practical_a precept_n they_o be_v not_o unfit_o thus_o distinguish_v of_o this_o latter_a sort_n be_v the_o epistolary_a write_n and_o therefore_o in_o this_o regard_n the_o fit_a to_o be_v discuss_v among_o the_o people_n the_o prophetical_a book_n be_v most_o congruous_a to_o the_o school_n but_o the_o doctrinal_a most_o suitable_a to_o the_o pulpit_n those_o for_o exercise_v the_o learned_a these_o for_o feed_v the_o vulgar_a upon_o this_o account_n i_o have_v make_v choice_n of_o a_o epistle_n and_o in_o particular_a not_o without_o serious_a and_o mature_a deliberation_n nor_o yet_o i_o hope_v without_o the_o bless_a 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1._o that_o which_o be_v from_o the_o beginning_n which_o we_o have_v hear_v which_o we_o have_v see_v with_o our_o eye_n which_o we_o have_v look_v upon_o and_o our_o hand_n have_v handle_v of_o the_o word_n of_o life_n 2._o for_o the_o life_n be_v manifest_v and_o we_o have_v see_v it_o and_o bear_v witness_n and_o show_v unto_o you_o that_o eternal_a life_n which_o be_v with_o the_o father_n and_o be_v manifest_v to_o we_o a_o scripture_n to_o which_o i_o need_v no_o beginning_n since_o it_o begin_v with_o the_o beginning_n and_o that_o such_o a_o begin_n as_o have_v no_o beginning_n a_o text_n to_o which_o a_o preface_n will_v be_v needless_a because_o itself_o be_v a_o preface_n and_o yet_o such_o a_o preface_n as_o may_v withal_o be_v call_v a_o book_n in_o reference_n to_o the_o epistle_n it_o be_v a_o proem_n in_o itself_o it_o be_v a_o volume_n well_o worth_a our_o most_o serious_a study_n and_o perusal_n the_o apostle_n duty_n and_o the_o gospel_n excellency_n be_v the_o 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thief_n and_o the_o least_o noise_n cause_v a_o commotion_n in_o his_o breast_n thus_o be_v it_o with_o wicked_a man_n many_o time_n they_o fear_v according_a to_o the_o psalmist_n expression_n where_o no_o fear_n be_v though_o withal_o the_o truth_n be_v they_o have_v always_o real_a cause_n of_o fear_n in_o respect_n of_o the_o danger_n that_o deserve_o hang_v over_o their_o head_n indeed_o as_o man_n in_o the_o dark_a sometime_o not_o see_v fear_v not_o the_o peril_n which_o they_o be_v very_o near_o to_o so_o wicked_a man_n be_v secure_a be_v fearless_a and_o not_o consider_v what_o they_o deserve_v fear_v not_o till_o they_o come_v to_o feel_v but_o when_o once_o their_o sleepy_a conscience_n be_v awaken_v oh_o what_o horrid_a fear_n perplex_v terror_n invade_v they_o while_o the_o cloud_n of_o vengeance_n be_v ready_a every_o moment_n to_o rain_v fire_n hail_n and_o brimstone_n upon_o they_o to_o end_v all_o what_o now_o remain_v but_o that_o this_o discourse_n of_o darkness_n 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scripture_n will_v be_v unwelcome_a to_o many_o auditor_n and_o that_o because_o it_o be_v a_o smart_n and_o sharp_a reprehension_n 8·_fw-la man_n natural_o love_v to_o be_v tickle_v with_o applause_n not_o scratch_v with_o reproof_n we_o relish_v well_o the_o honey_n of_o commendation_n but_o know_v not_o how_o to_o digest_v the_o wormwood_n of_o increpation_n but_o belove_v the_o diet_n which_o be_v not_o so_o toothsome_a may_v be_v wholesome_a that_o potion_n which_o be_v very_o bitter_a to_o the_o taste_n may_v prove_v healthful_a to_o the_o body_n and_o faithful_a rebuke_n though_o they_o be_v not_o so_o please_v yet_o i_o be_o sure_o be_v profitable_a especial_o when_o they_o be_v seasonable_a and_o suitable_a such_o as_o this_o be_v to_o those_o in_o st._n johns_n time_n and_o i_o will_v to_o god_n it_o be_v not_o as_o true_o agree_v to_o many_o very_o many_o in_o our_o day_n who_o will_v be_v find_v one_o day_n among_o the_o number_n of_o those_o liar_n if_o we_o say_v we_o have_v fellowship_n with_o he_o and_o walk_v in_o darkness_n we_o lie_v and_o do_v not_o the_o truth_n have_v already_o dispatch_v the_o impiety_n of_o those_o man_n practice_n in_o that_o they_o walk_v in_o darkness_n that_o which_o follow_v next_o in_o order_n be_v the_o eminency_n of_o their_o profession_n employ_v in_o that_o supposition_n if_o we_o say_v we_o have_v fellowship_n with_o he_o for_o in_o this_o supposition_n there_o be_v a_o position_n couch_v namely_o that_o many_o who_o walk_v in_o darkness_n say_v they_o have_v fellowship_n with_o god_n for_o the_o better_a explication_n of_o which_o in_o its_o full_a latitude_n i_o shall_v brief_o premise_v a_o double_a distinction_n and_o then_o pursue_v a_o double_a proposition_n the_o distinction_n to_o be_v premise_v be_v of_o 1._o a_o double_a have_v this_o fellowship_n to_o wit_n in_o spe_fw-mi and_o in_o re_fw-mi in_o a_o confident_a expectation_n and_o in_o a_o real_a possession_n 2._o a_o double_a say_v we_o have_v it_o namely_o a_o say_n within_o ourselves_o and_o a_o say_n to_o other_o that_o be_v inward_a in_o respect_n of_o our_o thought_n and_o opinion_n this_o outward_a in_o respect_n most_o proper_o of_o our_o word_n and_o not_o exclude_v gesture_n and_o all_o other_o way_n of_o external_a expression_n the_o proposition_n to_o be_v prosecute_v be_v two_o 1._o many_o say_v they_o have_v fellowship_n with_o god_n in_o hope_n who_o yet_o walk_v in_o darkness_n they_o promise_v to_o themselves_o the_o future_a vision_n of_o god_n face_n while_o they_o go_v on_o in_o the_o wilful_a breach_n of_o god_n law_n this_o be_v that_o which_o they_o say_v in_o their_o heart_n persuade_v themselves_o that_o their_o condition_n shall_v be_v happy_a though_o their_o conversation_n be_v wicked_a of_o such_o a_o one_o it_o be_v moses_n speak_v who_o bless_v himself_o in_o his_o heart_n say_v i_o shall_v have_v peace_n though_o i_o walk_v in_o the_o imagination_n of_o my_o own_o heart_n this_o be_v that_o they_o say_v with_o their_o lip_n impudent_o lay_v as_o full_a claim_n to_o happiness_n 29.19_o as_o the_o upright_a and_o exact_a saint_n if_o you_o inquire_v whence_o this_o come_v to_o pass_v i_o answer_v from_o the_o false_a reason_n which_o be_v in_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n concern_v the_o freeness_n of_o god_n grace_n in_o elect_v the_o fullness_n of_o his_o mercy_n in_o forgive_n the_o worthiness_n of_o christ_n blood_n in_o redeem_v 1._o when_o presumptuous_a sinner_n hear_v that_o god_n election_n be_v without_o respect_n to_o any_o worthiness_n or_o qualification_n in_o we_o they_o present_o fancy_v to_o themselves_o that_o their_o name_n may_v be_v write_v in_o the_o book_n of_o life_n as_o well_o as_o any_o other_o yea_o they_o fond_o imagine_v that_o be_v elect_v they_o shall_v have_v fellowship_n with_o god_n let_v they_o live_v as_o they_o list_v and_o hence_o they_o be_v embolden_v to_o presume_v and_o boast_v of_o a_o future_a well-being_n not_o consider_v that_o god_n election_n though_o it_o be_v not_o conditional_a yet_o be_v ordinate_a to_o wit_n to_o the_o end_n by_o the_o mean_n to_o happiness_n by_o holiness_n 2._o when_o wicked_a man_n look_v upon_o the_o extent_n of_o god_n mercy_n whereby_o it_o be_v that_o he_o desire_v not_o the_o death_n of_o a_o sinner_n that_o he_o be_v a_o god_n pardon_v iniquity_n transgression_n and_o sin_n not_o only_o few_o but_o many_o small_a but_o great_a all_o sort_n of_o sin_n they_o promise_v to_o themselves_o a_o facility_n of_o obtain_v forgiveness_n while_o yet_o they_o indulge_v to_o their_o sin_n not_o consider_v that_o god_n be_v just_a as_o well_o as_o merciful_a righteous_a as_o well_o as_o gracious_a and_o he_o be_v ready_a to_o pardon_v the_o penitent_a so_o he_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n clear_v the_o guilty_a final_o when_o secure_a sinner_n hear_v of_o the_o infinite_a merit_n of_o christ_n blood_n how_o satisfactory_a it_o be_v for_o the_o sin_n of_o the_o whole_a world_n and_o therefore_o much_o more_o of_o a_o particular_a person_n they_o be_v willing_a to_o persuade_v themselves_o of_o a_o interest_n in_o that_o blood_n and_o thereby_o of_o reconciliation_n and_o fellowship_n with_o god_n not_o consider_v what_o our_o apostle_n say_v in_o the_o very_a next_o verse_n the_o blood_n of_o jesus_n christ_n cleanse_v from_o all_o sin_n but_o it_o be_v only_o those_o who_o walk_v in_o the_o light_n thus_o be_v the_o sweet_a honey_n turn_v into_o gall_n by_o bad_a stomach_n the_o most_o wholesome_a antidote_n become_v poison_n to_o wicked_a man_n and_o the_o precious_a support_n of_o a_o lively_a faith_n be_v abuse_v to_o be_v prop_n of_o presumption_n by_o arrogant_a hypocrite_n by_o reason_n whereof_o it_o be_v that_o they_o be_v so_o impudent_a as_o to_o say_v they_o hope_v to_o have_v fellowship_n with_o god_n though_o they_o walk_v in_o darkness_n 2._o many_o who_o walk_v in_o darkness_n say_v they_o have_v actual_o this_o divine_a fellowship_n and_o be_v in_o a_o state_n of_o grace_n as_o for_o the_o gross_a sort_n of_o hypocrite_n who_o make_v pretence_n of_o religion_n and_o holiness_n a_o cover_n of_o their_o wickedness_n they_o can_v say_v it_o in_o their_o heart_n because_o their_o conscience_n must_v needs_o tell_v they_o they_o be_v wicked_a and_o odious_a in_o god_n sight_n but_o they_o say_v it_o to_o the_o world_n that_o they_o may_v walk_v in_o the_o dark_a and_o accomplish_v their_o wicked_a design_n the_o more_o secret_o speedy_o and_o effectual_o but_o as_o for_o other_o they_o say_v it_o both_o in_o opinion_n and_o profession_n they_o think_v and_o according_o boast_v themselves_o to_o have_v communion_n with_o god_n though_o they_o walk_v in_o the_o darkness_n both_o of_o sin_n and_o error_n instance_n of_o this_o nature_n there_o want_v not_o many_o in_o all_o time_n of_o the_o