strong holds of sin and Satan in their Consciences by casting down the imaginations and bringing them into subjection 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This he doth Ministerially by the Word of Reconciliation effectually by his Spirit Thus being delivered from the power of darkness they are translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son and Christ is become their Lord. Secondly he is the only Lord of their saith as he is Authour of it Heb. 12.2 To him only we can say as that poor man Lord I believe help my unbelief as the disciples Lord increase our saith And he only is the object or matter of our faith the Apostle preach'd him the only Lord our faith 2 Cor. 4. 5. It is highest sacriledge horrible usurpation to impose any thing to be believed for salvation which Christ hath not commanded Thirdly he is Lord by justifying their persons and forgiving their sins he is called the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 He is to us a Melchizedech a King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 To forgive sin is Royalty the Prerogative of such a Person who hath dominion over us as a Prince and Lord Acts 5.31 Fourthly by ruling leading governing them whom he hath justified and pardoned Isa 55.6 This he doth by writing his Laws in their hearts by giving a spiritual understanding in the knowledge of his Will by forming and fashioning their affections and conversations into holy obedience to the heavenly and spiritual nature of his Kingdom Fifthly by affording all needful supplies to all their wants by affording mercy and grace to help Joseph was made Lord of Egypt and he had all the Granaries and Store-houses at his Command to dispence So Christ is Lord of all his Fathers Treasures and he giveth all things 2 Pet. 1.3 Sixthly in protecting upholding succouring them in all their dangers amidst all their temptations infirmities discouragements 2 Cor. 12.9 by his compassions pltying them Heb. 4.15 by his power and grace helping them by his care and wisdom proportioning their strength to their trials to him every believer may say Lord save me or I perish Seventhly in overcoming all the enemies of their salvation the two Heads or Generals whereof are Satan Rom. 16.20 and Antichrist Rev. 17.14 Eighthly he hath manifested himself to be our Lord when he died for us and rose for us and sate down at the right hand of God for us and hath quickned us together and raised us together and set us together with himself in heavenly places Eph. 25 6. Thirdly consider how much this consideration that Christ lesus is our Lord doth afford to this triumph or ful persuasion of faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God He is our Lord and Lord over all creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell Lord over Angels Men Devils Lord over Life and Death Lord over all Prineipalities and Powers Lord in the heighths and Lord in the depths Lord over things present and Lord over things to come such as have a Lord so full of Love Power Wisdom Compassions Grace can never fall from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1. Use Is Christ Iesus a Lord over all creatures here is encouragement for any poor creature that lies under the sense of sin and wrath to come to Christ and say Lord save me or I must perish Doth the wrath of God threaten thee run to Christ and say be mâ—rciful to me O Lord under the shadow of thy wings I come for shelter Dost thou feel a dominion of sin a tyranny of prevalling lusts leading the captive come and say Lord many lores have dominion over me O let me be under the Dominion and Government of thy grace Doth Satan pursue Conscieâ—ce accuse Law condemn Death threaten Hell open upon thee Come to Christ who hath spoiled Satan pacified Conscience satisfied Law abolisht death triumph'd over Hell he is Lord over all hath swallowed up all in victory Dost thou want a Righteousness to lustifie thee Christ is Lord of Righteousness Dost thou want Pardon of sin Christ is Lord and hath power to forgive sin Dost thou want any grace within the whole compass of the Promises Ordinances Treasures of God Christ is Lord of all Dost thou want a good title to Heaven Christ is Prince of life and Lord of Glory 2. Use Is Christ Iesus in a special manner the Lord of his Church the Lord of believers I. Let us own Iesus Christ to be our Lord for this end two things are necessary First Faith when the Apostle represents this Lord absent to us he saith We walk by faith 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Other lords are present with us to command encourage oversee over rule and to reward us Christ is absent therefore to stand in awe of him to be diligent in his Work to do to suffer for him to fear to offend him to endeavor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him this requires much faith Secondly the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord Many that live under the Education and external Profession of the Gospel in words call Christ Lord yet they will never yield up themselves in obedience to him as their Lord without the over-ruling grace and power of the Holy Ghost II. As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Col. 6.2 Give up your selves consciences thoughts desires the secrets of your souls and the conversations of your lives to be guided ordered governed by his Word and Will Thirdly honour Christ Iesus your Lord both in life and death Rom. 14 7.8 9. Fourthly let us be faithful sincere constant and abundant in his service we have a Lord that can and will reward us 1 Cor. 15. ult Fifthly if Christ Iesus be our Lord let us trust him and live in dependance upon him for our present subsistence and future expectations the Lord never failed them that waited on him ROM 8 38 39. I am Perswaded THE Apostle having taken himself and all believers to their strong holds which is Communion with God and having strengthned this Communion with God by love and fortified this love of God in Christ Iesus and having engaged Christ Iesus his Lord his Leader the Captain of our salvation Now he prepares for the encounter 1. He takes a view of all his adversaries and then encourageth his faith against them all I am Perswaded Expects an assault from all kind of enemies Satan mustering his Aemies from the four quarters of Heaven Earth and Hell compassing the Camp of the Saints endeavoring to overthrew the beloved City the strong hold of Gods beloved ones he musters death and life Doct. Such as are beloved of God in Christ Iesus may yea must expect to encounter all kinds of enemies or evils possible or imaginable in this world I. In these enemies the Apostle reckons up in the Text which befal Saints on the Account of Gods love to them First consider the reality of them they are
affirm concerning afflictions with the same certainty they preach'd the Gospel Secondly they affirm not concerning a few but many afflictions Thirdly they declare in some respect a necessity Fourthly this is the way that leads to Gods Kingdom Fifthly hereby they confirm believers and strengthen them to continue in the faith of Gods love Thirdly to make full trial of the sincerity constancy strength of our love to God and to Iesus Christ Cant. 8.7 When Peter had fully declared his love to Christ then Christ tells him of his sufferings for him John 21.17 18. Because some pretend love to Christ as the stony ground which gladly received the Gospel but when persecution came fell away Others who pretend love to Christ can suffer in some kinds but not in others some can suffer a while but not long therefore God hath appointed many great of divers kinds yea sufferings to the last not only some present but some to come to try the sincerity of our love to Christ to the utmost 1. Use This Point convinceth the world and the generality of men who yet live within the sound of the Gospel of gross ignorance misapprehension They judge of the love of God and the ways of God as they are attended with outward peace liberty security from evils en mies dangers by that worldly felicity that attends them Secondly it reproves those who are informed in this truth and therefore dare not engage for God cannot love the ways of God because they know they must thereby expose themselves to so many kinds of sufferings and afflictions Most men love a dainty nice delicate Profession they can love Christ and his Priviledges but not Christ and his sufferings they can like the love of God in Christ but not the manisestations of that love through so many afflictions these cry out as the base Iews to Christ Come thee down from the Cross and we will believe in thee profess thee c. Thirdly for Exhortation to young Christians who are considering and consulting about giving themselves up to Christ and his ways to take that Councel of Christ Luke 14.28 31. to sit down seriously and consider what it will cost you to consider whether with our ten thousand the Promises Graces Comforts Priviledges we have in the Gospel we can meet twenty thousand such is the number of the afflictions trials temptations will encounter us Secondly to those who are engaged in the faith love Profession of Christ do not fancy to your selves some few some small some kind of troubles state the condition aright expect many and great and of several kinds all what is in the text It is true for our comfort all these in the text are not commonly the portion of every Saint but of the whole Church and God divideth to every Saint as he sees good But it stands us in hand to prepare for every one for the greatest men arm themselves all over because they know not where the blow will light Fourthly for Instruction Judge not of your selves nor other Christians by the multitude magnitude and variety of the greatest troubles that do befal you or them they are all founded in the love of God to you in Christ Iesus your Lord. ROM 8.38 39. For I am Perswaded THE Apostle having attained a full assurance of the love of God in Christ he builds his strong holds fortifies his saith in that love and then takes a view of all his enemies to the utmost which might be supposed to endanger him as to a falling off or falling away from this state and then by faith triumphs over all as weak impotent things as unable by their several or Conjunct power or concurrent strength to break the Communion Saints have with God in love through Christ lesus their Lord. The word I am perswaded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports A Persuasion that ariseth from strong conviction fulness of evidence undeniable Arguments therefore notes a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes from the same word which is A Persuasion with full confidence of faith Eph. 3.12 see Rom. 14.14 2 Tim. 1.12 It is joyned with a certain knowledge of the thing therefore the Persuasion must be certain and this certain Persuasion cannot be less then a strong confidence and full assurance of faith Doct. Such as have truly believed the Love of God in Christ Iesus their Lord may have a full Persuasion of faith they shall continue in the Communion of that love against all enemies that shall attempt a separation from it This I shall endeavor to demonstrate I From the nature of that Communion believers have with God in Christ Iesus First it is a fellowship with the Father and his Son Christ Iesus 1 John 1.2 In which observe first the reality and certainty of this Communion truly our Fellowship Secondly this Communion is a Priviledge common to every believer with the chiefest and highest Apostles one of which was Iohn called the beloved disciple he whom Iesus loved and laid in his bosom yet that ye might have fellowship with us Thirdly the effect that naturally flows from that Communion to believers viz. fulness of joy ver 4. Could any thing did any thing separate the Apostles from their Communion with the Father and his Son Iesus Christ every believers Communion with the Father and is the same Is there a most unquestionable truth and reality in that Communion whence slows fulness and compleatness of joy to believers then certainly none can separate them from it for then the joy would be very impersect narrow and scanty and by reason of the uncertainty of it the joy of a believer in his Communion with God would prove but like that spoken of Iob 20.5 Secondly it is a Conjugal Fellowship and Communion be ween God and believers Hos 2.19 20. It is for everlassing never to be violated it is performed with those solemnities ratified and confirmed by those engagements which make it sure and inviolable God undertakes for his part and pawns his Righteousness his Iudgment his loving kindness his mercies and his faith fulness for Performance and he undertakes for our part they shall know the Lord and they that know the Lord will never depart from him He who faith of man and woman in Conjugal Communion he hates puting away Mal. 2.16 will much less put away whom he hath betrothed to himself 2. Dem. Is taken from God in whom the love that flows from this Communion is in as its upper fountain and original The love of God the love which is in God There are four things in God First the Power of this God engaged to keep his in close Communion with himself against all adverse power that can attempt a separation John 10.29 If none can pluck them out of his hand less can they pluck them out of his bosome A man may have that wrung out of his hand by violence which cannot be pluckt out of his heart Secondly the unchangeableness of God a Balaam
and Son is chiefly managed and transacted 1 Iohn 16.14 15. and by whom it is manifested 1 Iohn 4.13 Thirdly be much in those duties frequent those Ordinances where God manifesteth and most communicateth himself to his own 4. Use Let Believers be exhorted to live walk act and work all their works in the strength of that grace that flows from this Communion First hence our victory over all dangers enemies difficulties 1 Iohn 4.4 Secondly hence your fruitfulness in Christ John 15.4 5. ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded c. IN the first Point I opened the doctrine of Believers Communion with God The second is the bond of this Communion The Love of God Doct. The Love of God is a sweet a sacred bond of inseparable Communion between God and believers Though the love of God in Scripture somtimes signifies our love to God yet here it must needs signifie Gods love to us for not our love to God but his love to us is the only foundation on which a believer can build such high resolution strong confidence glorious joy triumphing faith as is in the text There is a threefold love of God to us First a general love a love of benevolence or good will common to all his creatures as they are the works of his hand so his mercy and love are over all his works the invisible things of his Wisdom and Power are seen in every creature Rom. 1.20 And what of God is in any creature is lovely and he loves every thing himself hath made Secondly a particular love a love of beneficence or bounty Thus he loves man above all his other creatures before his fall Pro. 8.31 After his fall Psal 8.45 Heb. 2.16 Tit. 3.4 Thirdly a more special and peculiar love a love of Communion and Complacency it is of such out of mankind whom God hath loved in Christ with an everlasting love these are believers according to Election Man is Partaker with other creatures of all that love of God that communicates to them yet hath a special love of God that communicates to him and no other creature hath part with him Believers partake of all that love of God that communicates it self to all other creatures and to all other men yet hath a special love of God in which no other creature and no other men partake with him Thus a believer is Heir of all that love that ever issued forth from God of this love of God the Text speaks First it is the bond of our Communion as being that which draws us into this Communion There is in every man by nature an unwillingness to come to God a drawing off from God and Communion with him Partly from sin and corruption which is in man which is a privation of our suitableness and likeness and conformity to God and is a positive contrariety and opposition to God both which are flatly repugnant to Communion and partly also from the apprehension of the wrath and displeasure of God and our obnoxiousness to his Iustice whom most unjustly and injuriously we have offended hence no man will come into Communion with God except drawn Iohn 6.44 But what then doth God compell men against their wills no this would destroy that natural principle of liberty God hath implanted in that faculty therfore in infinit wisdom he hath ordered to bring them in by a way of voluntariness and free obedience and the meanes by which the power of his grace shall produce effectually those effects in the hearts of men to which they shall freely and willingly consent to is a way of love Hos 11 4. Love is the cord that drawes men that drawes man into communion with God Ier 34.3 When God by his Spirit manifests his love to the soul whom no other meanes could perswade much less compel the soul is conquered by the secret ineffable potency and Tweetness of the operation of love love drawes and the soule comes yea runs into his armes yea into that bosom where love opens Cant. 1.1.4 Secondly it is the bond of our communion with God because it binds God fast to us and us fast to God First it binds God fast to us in this sacred communion First this it doth by bringing us into an everlasting Covenant with God Ezek. 16 8. 1 Sam. 18.3 No after-sins â—ack-slidings no temptations persecuâ—ions of the world nor chastise rents of God can break Covenant because founâ—ed on love Our Communion with God is foundâ—d on the Covenant the Covenant founâ—ed on love hence we call it a Covenant â—f grace or love It is exprest to be a Covenant of Conjugal love Hos 2.18 19 20. when God threatens to visit the sins of his people c. yet my loving kindness c. nor breaks my Covenant c. Isa 89 31.34 Secondly this is that doth dispense all the blessings of the Covenant to believers in this Communion This love of God is that which first gives forth Jesus Christ to them 1 Jo. 4.10 And with Christ all other graces and Priviledges of grace that concur to salvation T it 3.4 7. This love makes the first great change and alteration in mens estates and conditions v. 3. this love of God goes on to manifest it self to such in Christ in the Renovation of the Spirit in Justification in making us heirs of glory and eternal life So love the Fountain of all grace Eph. 2 4 5 6. see 2 Thes 2.16 17. the love whence flows all consolation as from the original is there expresly affirmed of God the Father Secondly it is the bond of this Communion as it binds us fast to God this it doth First by engaging us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 3.16 God o loved c. the love of God here is made matter of greatest encouragement to finners to believe against all doubts of strongest engagement to believe against all Pleas Pretences on the contrary God so loved c. So How so as we cannot tell so as the tongue of men and Angels cannot express so infinitely so ardently so in comprehensibly as exceeds our thoughts as far as heaven is above the earth Gods love with a So swallows up all our sins doubts fears difficulties wants weaknesses unworthinesses or whatever stands in the way of believing Secondly by enabling us to believe 1 John 4.10 We have known such whom no means no Prâ—misâ—s no Persuasions could prevail with to believe if God make known but a secret hint of his love forthwith it believes against all unbelief believes in hope against hope and gives glory to God Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and every gift springs from love Christ is the Gift of God love and faith is the gift of Gods love the love of God brings Christ and faith together and unites both together Thirdly by begeting in our hearts a love to God in some manner of Analogie like that of his to us Love begets love as fire begets fire and in this flame
sight of their weaknesses corruptions imperfections Ezekiel 2 Chron. 32.22 24 26. The Peacock struts it self while it looks on its gay Plumes and is ashamed when it looks on its black feet when Paul was in danger of being up with his priviledges God turns his eye to look on his infirmities 2. Cor. 12.9 Thirdly there are heights in believers of carnal confidence when to spiritual priviledges of grace and comfort God shall adde temporal favours riches honours outward glory worldly prosperity Such a state of worldly felicity is call'd the height sublimity and exaltation of a person Ezek. 31.5 Such heights some understand to be meant in the text a state of worldly greatnesse and grandeur wealth power and authority which God sometimes vouchsafeth to some of his children to convince the world that he can do much more for his then the world for hers First this height may much endanger a believers Communion with God First it is aâ—â— to beget carnal security under present enjoyments and this provoketh God to hide his face and so theâ— Communion with God is much disturbed Psal 30.6 7. Secondly it affords matter for a great Temptation of the Devil the world and its glory the devil shewed Christ on a high Mountain Mat. 4.8 Thirdly these things have been great trials to Saints and made proof of their weakness in the midst of their highest enjoyments as in Hezekiah a Chron. 32.27 28 29 31. God left him to try him Secondly Yet shall not these heights be able to separate First because God will not suffer them long to rejoyce in these enjoyments but rather in an humble frame of spirit whereby they are enabled to manage such a condition to the glory of God and the comfort of others see Iam. 1.9 10 Secondly if worldly enjoyments seek to separate us from God he will quickly separate them from us If Hezekias Treasures lift up his heart they must go to Babylon Isa 39.6 When the disciples were over-ravisht with the external glory of that Transfiguration on the Mount Mat. 17. and said It is good to be here God brought a cloud over the glory presently and made them contented with their Communion with Christ alone Thirdly because whatever enjoyments all worldly felicity God vouchsafeth his people the comforts that flow in to them from these are weak narrow scanty full of insufficiency dissatisfaction God limits the comfort of outward things to his people more then to the men of the world The fulness the sufficiency of all spiritual comfort flows from their Communion with God 1 Iohn 1.3 4. Fourthly there is another height that is raised by the workings of carnal reason in thoughts opinions false judgments and conclusions which lift up themselves above the truths of God and somtimes above the ways and dealings of God this height you have 2 Cor. 10.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ratiocinations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every high thing as in the text First this is that which much endangers a believer in his 1. It s said there to exalt it self against the knowledge of God Carnal reason humane wisdom secular Science is profest enemies to the simplicity of the Gospel which is in Christ Hence the poor are said to receive the Gospel and babes those things which are hid from the wise and prudent 2. It is a great enemy to faith as appears by that expression Gal. 1.15 16. Paul had never believed if he had consulted hence that Rom. 12.3 Let no man according to the measure of faith Thirdly it makes false Conclusions of Gods dark dispensations to his people Isa 40.27 Isa 49.14 It perswadeth God hath forsaken us when he hath not so sense and carnal reason judgeth Secondly yet this height shall not separate 1. Because Christ Jesus in whom we have the true saving knowledge and through whom we have Communion with God in love is the Wisdom of God and the Power 1 Cor. 1.24 Wisdom to silence Power to overcome all the strong Arguments oâ— the flesh that rise up against him Secondly because God hath magnified the thoughts of his mercy counsels of peace contrivances of love which are as high above Isa 55.8.9 1. Use For Information many here it may be are ready to say To what purpose are all these words It may be they never experimented such enemies such dangers such oppositions in their Profession of Christianity to such all these are but empty notions Do you think the Spirit of the Scripture speaketh these things in vain Is it not to be feared ye are strangers to this great Priviledge of believers Communion with God in love 2. Use Christians never look to put off your Armour till you come from Communion with God to the full enjoyment of God When you have conquered one enemy one temptation and difficulty look to encounter another nor are all your enemies before you some are above you some are heights altitudes sublimities 3. Use Here is your comfort Christians you have this day not only the dangers discover'd but your safety and security confirm'd inviolable immutable in your Communion with God Are the dangers enemies heights insuperable inconquerable in themselves yet they shall not be able ROM 8.39 Nor Depths Doct. AS not Heights so not Depths shall be able to I. I shall declare what I mean by Depths ' I understand principally those Depths and Dejections of soul that attend a state of darkness and spiritual desertion incident not only to Saints in lower but to Saints in their higher capacity of grace according to the good pleasure of Gods Will. This state hath a great Depth and Profundity in it that Psalm wholly expresseth such a state see Psal 120.1 and that Psal 88.6 in the Deeps This is such a Depth into which all other Deeps empty themselves as Rivers into the Ocean First into this Deep falls in the Depths of sin sin is a deep thing lies deep out of sight Saints seldom search to the bottom of it but in case of spiritual desertion nor can they then sound the Depth without Gods Plummet Iob Iob 13.23 24. In this state God doth usually search the sin of Saints to the bottom Job in this case was made to repossess the fins of his youth David was made to reckon for the sin he stood guilty of in the Womb Psal 31.5 in a state of spiritual desertion Saints have usually a discovery of the depth of guilt and blackness and ugly deformity in sin beyond what they had at first Conversion Secondly into this depth of spiritual desertion falls in the depth of Gods wrath his Judgements are called a Deep Psal 36.6 so deep that the damned in Hell are ever sinking into them and shall never come to the bottom In this state of spiritual desertion Saints take deep of the wrath of God Psal â—0 11 Homan Psal 88.7 16. As God maketh some to taste of the good love and Word of God and the Powers of that glory that is to come who
Saints IV. They are not only on but in the Armes of Christ they are everlasting Armes Deut. 33.27 there is an everlasting Arm underneath and an everlasting Arm above Cant. 2.6 V. They are not only in the Armes but in the breast and bosome of Christ Isa 40.11 the High-Priest bare the Names of all the tribes on his breast-Plate VI. They are born not only in his breast but on his shoulders as Exod. 28.11 12. Cant 8 5. by which they are everlastingly upheld from all that ruine or destruction their enemies can VII They are not only on the shoulders but in the eye of Christ as the Apple in the eye Zach. 2.8 VIII Nor only in the eye but in the very bowels of Christ as that expression shews Phil. 1.8 IX Not only in his bowels but in his heart see Cant. 8.6 such as prevail to separate believers from Christ must pluck out the heart of Christ Obj. 1. But the Apostle seems to spâ—â—k within the Compass of Creatures that no Creature can yet God can separate Answ It is God that justifies who shall condemn Rom. 8.33 to justifie and condemn the same persons implies a contradiction which God cannot do Jer. 33.24 25 26. Secondly he hath said to the utmost I will never never never leave thee Heb. 13.5 6. Obj. 2. But though other men other creatures cannot do it a man may separate himself Answ 1. God hath promised to put his fear Jer. 32.40 Secondly never any true believer made the least separation from God but they quickly found a difference and readily return'd to him again with bitter repentings Hos 2.7 Obj. 3. Though no creature can do it sin may This was Bernards Position but I answer First Sin is a creature not Gods creature but the devils every sin is a Lie and the devil is the father of it Iohn 8.44 Therefore Secondly former sins cannot they are pardoned after-sins shall not they have an Advocate and a Propitiation 1 Iohn 2.2 Thirdly large experience hath made this good Ier. 51.5 when Balaâ—â— attempted to separate between God and his people he could not effect it because God beheld no iniquity Numb 23 21. for the Lord his God is with him 1. Use This informs us how much the salvation of man one way or other is endangered by every creature for if such who are gathered into Communion with God are endangered by every creature in a separation how much more are such who are yet at a distance from God in danger by the creature to be kept from embracing that Communion Doth not every creature an unregenerate man loves set up it self to be his God his chief good and endeavour to perswade him that his chief blessedness consists more in that enjoyment then in the enjoyment of God himself Beware how much you are endangered by the creatures either to be kept off from all Communion with God or made to have a loose Communion with God 2. Use I exhort believers again and again to strengthen your faith in your Communion with God in love which is in Christ Iesus This is the Ark of salvation in every deluge your Refuge and Sanctuary in every storm your Door of escape in every danger your resting place in all the Confusions of the world your Victory and Triumph over all your enemies all your fears doubts temptations trials But how shall we do this First study much the love of God it had a wonderful attractive vertue to draw you into this Communion With loving kindness I have drawn you It hath a marvellous force and efficacy to keep you close to that Communion 2 Cor. 4.14 The Love of Christ coarctat constringit Secondly better your acquaintance with Christ First who first swallowed up all the distances and reconciled all the eâ—â—ities and so made way for you into this blessed Communion with God Secondly study him converse with him who remains one with God and one with us in the divine nature and in the humane nature that he might preserve our Communion with God inviolable 3. Use Having clear'd your Communion Put on a nobleness of spirit an height of resolution a magnanimity of faith expect to encounter with the most and with the worst of enemies And doubt not of Victory and Conquest over all Let your faith rise higher then your dangers or enemies can Some can believe Victory over such and such not over others over things present not over things to come Faith is not come to its just height of spirit till it triumph over all real or possible present or to come not only over one creature but over the united concurrent power of all creatures FINIS