fire And this is that wrath of God and that judgement and those torments to be executed on such as in all his means used through the day of grace rebelled against him refusing his salting in his convincements and corrections and willingly walked after the lusts of the slesh which wrath and fire is everlasting and without ceasing tormenting for ever and ever And so cannot be quenched Heb. 9. 27. Revel 20. 15. and 21 8. And so first or last every one shall be salted with fire as to say 1. The spirit in the word and discovery of the grace in Christ convinceing and reproving of sin of want of righteousness and of evil designs in a man and his wayes as hath been shewn is a fire to burn up that filth and heats to the acknowledgement of Christ the Lord Ioh. 16. 8. 9 10. which is now received and yeilded to so as it may have its perfect work would burn up that and nothing but that which would destroy the man and heat with desires and fitness to receive the teachings of the spirit Pro. 1. 23 and 6. 23. But if refused and rejected till the day of Grace be past the same spirits convincements now rejected shall after seize on them so as they cannot avoyd it but it will kindle a fire that shall everlastingly burn on soul and body for ever and cannot be quenched Isa 45. 23. Phill. 2. 9. 10. 11. Isa 30. 33. 2 Thes 1. 7. 8. 9. 2. Corrections and punishments added where convincements and reproofs are not readily received to set them home to the heart and take down mans pride and break him off his enterprise and bow him to hearken and to submit to induâ—e such shame loss and pain in the flesh as is to be endured in receiving such convincements Iob. 33. 14. 24. 29 36. Prov. 6. 23. Yea for Christs sake to forsake all a man hath to be his Disciple Luke 14. 33. In which they will be received and blessed and enriched with better life c. by Christ But if a man refuse his convincements and corrections and prize not the Grace of Christ so as to bear that layd on them and undergoe the loss of natural life and all the comforts of it as required by Christ and for his sake but then and in such cases seek to save his life c. he shall certainly lose it and undergoe that loss and pain here if ever brought to repentance or else hereafter to his eternal woe lose all favour with God and Christ and Saints and all enjoyment of the inheritance and eternal life and yet confess Christ the Lord and then endure the torments of everlasting fire And this oft affirmed Matt. 10. 31. 35. and 16. 25. 26. Mar. 8. 35. 38 and 9. So that this is a most certain truth that to bring men to acknowledge Jesus Christ to be the Lord to the glory of God and every one shall be brought to it and that in bringing to confess it rightly here there must be a self denyal and sorrow with shame and grief for sin and loss of some things desirable to the natural life in Honour Ease Riches Friendship and relations below and it may be in some cases natural life it self which if for Christs sake not accepted but refused and not undergone they shall lose and undergo all and lose a far better use Riches Friend and Relations and yet be brought to this confession to their shame and then suffer eternal torments Vse 1. For every one shall be salted with Fire which sheweth both the truth of our Saviours saying It s better to endure the pain of this salting here what ever losses be in it then hereafter vers 43. 45. 47. And the necessity of taking and obeying our Saviours counsel given seeing there is no escape but this salting with fire must be endured now or hereafter And this also shews 2. The vanity and deceivedness of those that think to follow Christ and yet when his name or service requires this self-denyal suffering and loss seek to save themselves in these things yet think to be saved by him also and so to serve God Mammon enjoy their desires in these things here and life with Christ hereafter and this also shews 3. To warm and admonish us when a price is put in our hand to get wisdome not to think it too costly what ever is to be parted with for it or undergone to enjoy it whatever reproofs to be received or whatever self denyals and shame or sufferings to be undergone part not with the pâ—ize that is in truth for it Oh let not lying Vanities withdraw us from receiving our own Mercies but let us turn at his reproofs forsake the Foolish abase and Judge our selves in this World and so believe in his Mercy that we may not be condemned with the World but receive this Salting with Fire here that we may not be Salted with Fire hereafter And this is the first Affirmation given by our Saviour here in this Case to move us whatever it be that causeth us to offend how dear to us soever to cut it off and suffer the loss of it now in this Life for every one shall be Salted with Fire the next is CHAP. III The Second Affirmation ANd every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt he speaketh here in the Plural Number every Sacrifice And so as Christ himself in his own body was abased and made despicable and dispised and suffered much and so was Crucified and died for our sins and overcame death and rose again righteous in that very body And then through the eternal Spirit offered himself in that body a spotless Sacrifice to God so made Peace compleated Righteousness and obtained eternal Redemption and an Inheritance And the Sacrifice that one Sacrifice offered by him once for all and by which he is able to perfect all comers to God by him Heb. 10. 1. 14. and 9. 12. 14. 25. 28. and 7. 25. And so offers and presents them in himself before God blamless Col. 1. 22. And makes them enabling them to offer Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by him Heb. 8. 5. 1. Pet. 2. 4. 5. and every Sacrifice here meant is of these many Sacrifices and so they are and it verily is both 1. Every unfeighned Beleiver that in belief of this Sacrifice of Christ is thereby brought unto him and so into Covenant to be the Lords to have their Life in him and live to him 2. And every Spiritual Sacrifice by such Beleivers offered to God by Christ or in the name of Christ 1. And every unfeighned Beleever that in belief of the Sacrifice once offered by Christ is thereby brought into him and so into Covenant to be the Lords to have their life in him and live to him In which respect they are said to have made a Covenant with God by Sacrifice Psal 50. 5. And so to be the Lords and have given themselves to the Lord
according to his will to be his Psal 116. 8 9 16. Rom. 14. 7 29. 1. Cor. 6. 19. 20. 2. Cor. 5. And these are called his Offerings by vertue of his own Sacrifice the fatness whereof is manifested therein Psal 20. 3 4 5. And as this was tipyfied in the High Priest presenting before the Lord and offering the Levites for an Offering to the Lord Numb 8. 13. 14. So in this sence Christ is said in the body of this Flesh through death to present Beleevers holy unblameable and unreprovable in his sight Coll. 1. 22 23. Though they bâ— brought to him by his Servants ministration Rom. 15. 16. 2. Cor. 11. 2. So every of these Beleevers he thus offereth and presenteth to God in himself shall be salted with Salt with that which hath a firy and â—â—rging nature to consume filth and to make savory that which is presented And every Sacrifice every Beleever without exception of any shall be salted with Salt And this 1. Not only in their first being brought into beliefe by reproofs and corrections brought to turn at his reproofe and denying themselves and letting all go for his name sake and therein exercising Sorrow Repentance and Self denial c. But 2. Also when Beleevers in their abiding and walking in the Faith and Services of Love and in reciâ—e oâ— more grace and savour from him Forasmuch as they are not yet wholly Spiritual but partly Carnal having no good thing dwelling in their Flesh but the Lusts of the Flesh warring against the Spirit Rom. 7. 14 24. Gal. 5. 17. So as there is still need of reproof and turning at them and oâ— corrections and receiving the same that Flesh may be still purged that they may still abide and go on in the Services of Faith and Love for there is no one of them in moâ—tal Bodies that is without sin or that doeth good and sineth not 2. Châ—on 6. 36. Prov. 20. 9. Eccles 7. 20. Job 15. 14. 1. Joh. 1. 8 10. And so Jesus Christ in his meditation by veâ—â—ue of his Blood and Sacrifice is still about that work not only interceding for Trangessours and taking away the sins of the World Isaiah 53. 12. Joh. 1. 29. but even for Beleevers that are coming to God by him Rom 8. 34. 1. Ioh. 1. 2. Heb. 7. 25. and 9. 15. And so by the freeness and greatness of his Love commended in his Blood and by his Word and Spirit therein teaching washing and cleansing them c. Ephes 5. 26. Both in their walking in the light as he is in the light cleansing them from all sin And wherein overtaken with a fault as they confess and seek so forgiving and healing them 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. And so as iâ— is his Office and work in which he is faithful to sanctify them throughout c. 1. Thes 5. 23 24. And so as there is corruption of sin in their Flesh and in their Walkings to puâ—ge out the remaining filth and make savoury his grations teachings to them that they may more readilâ— receive them Even so there is dispensed Salt to them And this 1. From the Testimony of Christ in that set before them of the excellencies in him teaching to receive of that life in him are certain reproofs of some things in us and our wayes to be still repented of denied and turned from And the reproofs of Instruction are the wayes of life or of receiving enjoying and retaining that life in Christ Prov. 6. 23. And he is wise that learneth in his teachings and loveth and receiveth his reproofs and he that doth not so is brutish what ever he boast to know and believe Prov. 9. 8. and 20. 3. and 12. 1. and 13. 1. And so Job that was such an upright and perfect man Job 1. 1. 8. and 2. 10. Yet discerning the power and excellencies of the Almighty was mightily abased and sitted to lay down himself and seek knowledge of and pray to God Job 40. 3 4. 5 and 42. 2. 5. Yea Isaiah the Prophet in beholding a glymphs of the glory of the Lord cryed â—ut of his uncleanness and was sitted to hear and â—eild to what ever God would send him about Isa 6. 1 8. So he dispenseth Salt in his word And â—et 2. To boar the Ear and bow the mind to drink in these reproofs and yeild more readily to his teachings he also even to Beleevers useth his Rod of afflictions and punishments to take down their Pride and break them of their own enterprize to reduce them c. Iob. 33. 14 15. 24. 29 30. Psal 94. 12. and 119. 66. 67. And so correcteth every Son that he receiveth c. Prov. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 6 7. Revel 3. 19. And by these afflictions to prize home his reproofs for purging out their follies Isa 27. 7. To humble and make them poor and low in themselves that they may not look to or rest on or glory in or of any seen or sencible things or any of their Wisdom Parts Gifts or Attainments but in his strength and salvation only Psal 20. 5 9. Jer. 9. 22 23 24. 2 Cor. 12. 7 10. To vehement them more to pray to him Hos 5. 16. And make them more ready to keep his Testimonies Psal 119. 66. 67. and 9â— 12. 3. And so both by these reproofs and afflictions to salt and season them in their believing and confidence that they may receive no instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge noâ— believe every word or appearance of truth nor any thing for truth but his word his Testimony only and so the truth manifested therein to rest on that so they may not be rash in their confidence to rest in any thing besides or short of this truth nor mixe any thing in their confidence besides or with his Word or his Power Mercy or Truth manifested therein to rest on nor presume to confide in him for assistance and helpfulness in walking out of his way And this salting for this end is also needful for who through the Flesh in us and Satan and evil Ministers assailing us are too ready to miscarry herein that so our believing and confidence may be upright Prov. 14. 7 15 16. and 19. 27. Ye that in our confidence we may be taken off from resting on or attributing any thing of our helpfulness to any seen or humane things any Parts Gifts or Attainments received But as Christ by death overcame death being raised by the power of God so we in all straights and for all help may give all glory to God trusting in him that raiseth the dead 2 Cor. 12. 7 10. and 1. 9 10. which if not so salted we would not do And as 4. An addition to the forementioned reproofs and afflictions even sufferings of shame and reproach and tribulations c. For the name of Christ for his sake that we may be conformed to Christ in the fellowship of his sufferings and death and so through
salt with its saltness that our members on earth may be mortified and given up as weapons of righteousness unto righteousness Pro. 26. 3. Coll. 3. 5. 6. Rom. 6. 16. 19. Therefore in obedience to our Saviours command Let us have salt in our selves that is let us have it in our mind perswasion and usefulness as habituated and dwelling in us as the truth and righteousness of the spirit reprooving discoveries in the testimonies of Christ and the efficacies of it as mentioned Chapter 4. at 1. 2 3. have them habituated and dwelling in us And so have in us even all of them namely 1. That low and base estimate of our selves as Adams sons of our Wisdome as Folly our strength weakness our best deeds as filthy rags our sins vile our selves wretched and miserable which was discovered to us and effected in us in the appearance of the Grace of God in Christ Crucified for us Isa 53. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Rom. 7. 14. 24. 25. 2. That more vile estimate and judging our selves base and vile in respect of our willing sinning after we came to understanding and had means used towards us which was effected in us in and by the appearance of the infinite mercy love and compassion of God in Christ to manward in calling us thereby when we were such foolish and disobedient ones overcoming evil with goodness Tit. 3. 3 4 5. 3. That faâ—ther low estimate of our selves in respect of our short answering that grace and great scantiness in likeness to him and many unkind usages and ill requitals of his love being in this respect with the former the chief of sinners which the infinite riches and excellencies of his grace dispensed and continued to such unworthy and ill requiting ones did in such appearance of it effect in us 1 Tim. 1. 15. 4. That contempt and low estimate of the fellowship friendship applause honours dignities riches and pleasures of this world and all the conceited righteousness and priviledges thereof which was effected in us in and by the excellency of the knowledge of Christ as discovered in the whole of the testimony of him to us Phil. 3. 3. 7 8 9. 5. That abhorring and hatred of Idolatry Perjury Blasphemy Profaness Murder Adultery lying oppression covetousness drunkness c. which was effected in us in the appearance and dispensation and our receipt of the mercy of God in forgiveness and righteousness and hope given us Psal 119. 110. 128. 6. That acknowledgement of our need that poorness of spirit with prizing of and hungring after Christ and his righteousness which was by his grace effected in us by and in our receiving of his grace and mercy in beleiving Isa 4. 2. Psal 119. 123 124. And herewith that loathing of our selves and love of him and his word and wayes Psal 119. 98 c. 7. That perswasion of the terror of the Lord and the terribleness of the second death with trembling at his word and judgements that was effected in us in our beholding and belief of the truth of his testimony when he drew us in to beleive in him 2 Cor. 5. 10. 11. Psal 119. 119 120. Let us not content our selves to say we have had but let us have all these habituated and dwelling in us in usefulness as mentioned Chap. 4. And so have salt in our selves And to move us hereto the command of our deer and loving Saviour so earnestly prest might be enough to prevail with us it being that which is good and equal And yet a word or two more may be added to warn us as that 1. It is required in and suitable to the teachings of the spirit in the testimony who in discovery of the knowledge of Christ the wisdome love mercy riches of grace righteousness and life in Christ and the mind of God in him to be desired beheld and received doth therein and thereby discover folly in us and waies as foreshewn with such strength of his as in accepting we might in that season turn at his reproof in disowning and so denying our own wisdome thoughts desires designs and waies which if then we do not the spirit will not be poured forth to us to make known his mind in his words and teach us so as this is suitable to his teachings and the way to understand and receive the same Prov. 1. 22 23 24. and 10. 17. and 12. 1. and 15. 31. 1 Cor. 3. 18. 2. The having this saltness in us is verily needful and necessary for us there being in us of that self wisdome will and sinful Iusts proceeding from the corrupt disposition in the flesh which the spirit in the testimony discovers sinful and to be denyed which if not denyed on his reproofs we can neither receive his tendred knowledge grace teachings and life nor walk after the spirit in his teachings but certainly errâ— and go astray Prov. 1. 29. 32 and 3. 7 8. and 10. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. For 1. The Pride and corrupt disposition in us in the flesh will â—ise up in its Iusts even when we are hearing reading or meditating of the spirits testimony and his mind and sayings stirring with conceits of our own ability to understand with readiness to sancy an understanding Ioâ— 11. 12. And a thinking we know before that known â—ath its saving work in us Gall. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 8. 23. Yea a presuming to be salting and seasoning the sayings of the testimony which is to salt and season us which not receiving we count hard dangerous and absurd and so would be seasoning them to make them easie and safe to our conceptions Iohn 33. 27. and 21. 22. Prov. 3. 2. 6. Isa 40. 13. 14. with other vain thoughts and Iusts many which if at the reproofs of the testimony we do not disown and deny we certainly e rt and cannot rightly receive his grace savingly to our selves nor be accepted of God Psal 2. 3. nor find knowledge Pro. 15. 12. 31. 32. and 14. 6. and 12. 11. 1 Cor. 3. 18. 19. 2. This Pride and corrupt disposition stirreth and moveth when God in the meanes is by and according to the testimony tendred to us forgiveness mercy peace instruction consolation and spiritual gifts And when we approach to God in hearing prayer praise or fellowship with brethren And when we are declaring the word to others c. to conceit of our own furniture and ability to receive and do to aspiring after more then seen in the testimony to desires of applanse to ones self vain glory selâ—advancement and prehemenency above others and many wandrings and fleshly lusts besides Rom. 7. 21. 23. 1 Cor. 4. 6. Gall. 1. 11. and 5. 17. 4. and 4. 2. 3. which if not denyed at the reproofs of the spirit in that testimony c. 3. In that which pertains to ones self for conversation and managing affairs in this life this corrupt disposition in the flesh raiseth motions of Pride self exaltation and satisfying and so to inordinate affections
He that beleiveth not on the Son of God hath not life but abideth under wrath 1 John 3. 18. 36. 1 John 5. 12. and 4. He that is ashamed of the name and Cross of Christ before men Christ will be ashamed of him before his father which is in Heaven yea the end of the enemy of the Cross of Christ is destruction Mar. 8. 38. Phil. 3. 18. 19. and 5. He that loveth not his brother is in darkness and abides in death and walketh in darkness and there is no eternal life in him 1 John 2. 9. 11. and 3. 14. 15. and 4. 8 and 6. Such as are set for their own glory honour and applause with men exalting themselves refusing to deny and abase themselves and their own ends and so to give glory to God and so to glorify him and bring others to glorifie him are so far from having right to the tree of life and hope of reward from God that they are hypocrites and resisted of God Matt. 6. 2. 5. 16 1 Pet. 5. 5. 7. I am 4. 4. and sure 7. Such as make hast in use of unwarrantable means and put far off the evil day and say our Lord delayeth his coming are unfaithful and wicked and a bitter portion belongs to them Isa 28. 15. 16. 21. Amos 6. 3. Mat. 24. 48. 51 yet to say all in one word or sayings such as in the means extended to them do not know God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ but walk in their own waies fulfilling the affections and lusts of the flesh they have no inheritance in the kingdome of God nor are capacitated to enter it but another more terrible portion in flaming fire belongs to them Ephes 5. 3. 5. Gall. 3. 19. 20. 21. 2 Thess 1. 7. 8. such are none of Gods peculiar people none of Gods Elect and chosen and so have no right to the Tree of Life c. And yet even such he came to save and is exalted a Prince and Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins to such Acts 5. 31. 1 Tim. 1. 11. 15. so that yet while the day of his grace and patience lasteth as the voyce and call comes to them if they yet in hearing hear his voyce so as they verily beleive his sayings and so turn at his reproofs repent and beleive in his name and so to do these his Commandements before mentioned for the end here set forth they shall live John 5. 24. 25. 26. And receive washing sanctifying and justifying in the name of the Lord and by the Spirit of the Lord 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11. And therein begin to enjoy their right in Christ as set forth in the Gospel and so come therein to begin to have right to the Tree of life as here mentioned And so are brought out of darkness into the marvelous light and such only are his peculiar people his beloved his chosen Rom. 9. 26. 2 Thess 2. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 3. 4. 5. 9. let none deceive themselves nor suffer others to deceive them in saying though they do not his Commandements forementioned yet they may be his elect for ought any man knoweth for that is false and all that beleive the sayings of Christ know it to be false nor that he may say it is in vain or me to hear his voyce and turn for if I have no right to the Tree of life and be reprobated it is impossible for me to be converted and come to have â—ight thereto for that is false also though all remaining such as said have no right to the Tree of life which may be a provocation to hear his voyce and turn and be doing there Commandements Rom. 11. 7. 21. and 9. 26. The second Position THat the right end of doing these Commandments forementioned or the so doing them according to his mind that we may have right to the Tree oâ— life in the midst of the Paradise of God and so enter through the Care into the City It is to do them with this aime and desire and to this very end mentioned that we may have right to the Tree of life c. Thus express here and in the Gospel plainly discovered to us That as we must become Fools in our selves and beleive his sayings true and good who ever become a Lyar thereby so our end if we would receive the blessings must be not to conclude we are and shall be saved harmless because we beleive his sayings but even therefore beleive and here them that we may be saved by that discovered in them Isa 45. 22. Ioh. 5. 39. 40 2 Thess 2. 10. Psal 50. 16. 17. And so our turning at his reproofs and confessing ouâ— iniquities and judging our selves c. Must be not to conclude our selves as therefore saved and having the because that humbled and repenting But that in so humbling our selves under the mighty hand we may receive the powering forth of his spirit and making known his words that he may lift us up and bring us to beleive in him Isa 58. 2. 3. Prov. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 3. 7 8 9 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. And so our beleiving and â—â—â—â—ing in him for performance of his promises must be not to magnifie and trust in our beleiving trusting and confiding as for that righteousness justified and sure of all But that we may so magnifie his words and trust not in our trusting but in him that Christ himself may be our Righteousness and we justified by the Faith of him and so be strong in the power and grace that is in him and trust in him that he will perform his word and promises for his own word and names sake Psal 56. 3. 4. 10. 11. and 30. 6. 7 8. Gall. 2. 15. 16. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Ephes 6. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 2 Sam. 7. 25 26 27. And so our confession of his name and bearing his reproach and suffering for his names sake must be not to lift up our selves above others thereby and to vant of our sufferings But to be baptized in to his death to imitate him and be conformed to him in suffering and death that the life and power of Christ may be manifested in us and the spirit of Glory rest upon us and we receive this salvation and consolation and the power of his resurrection now and be made like him in the resurrection of the just 2 Cor. 11. 17. 18. Rom. 6. 4. 8. 2 Cor. 4. 10. 11. and 12. 9. Phill. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 21. and 4. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 10. Rom. 5. 3. 4. Iam. 1. 3 4 12. And in loving and shewing forth the Fruits of love in good works our end must be not to gain Applause or after Riches here not to have them for a foundation to him or rest on for life and righteousness before God but to answer his love to us and imitate him therein to testifie love and thanks to him Mat. 14. 48. Ephes 5. 1 2. 2 Cor. 5.
of God in Christ beleived we love one another as he hoth loved us and so bring forth all the fruits of love this is no law-work but the fruits and exercise of love by which faith worketh which though free from the bondage of the Law will lead to all righteousness in afflictions and actions commanded in the law in every commandment of it from the free obligation of grace in love Gall. 5. 6. 13 14 22 23. and 6. 15 16 Rom. 13. 8. 9 10. And the like I might say of endeavouring in all things to glorifie God and walk honestly and of patience waiting for his coming but I will not further enlarge for surely he that with the heart beleiveth the testimony of Christ and sayings thereof and so turneth at his reproof that he beleiveth in his name for the good he hath promised and hence confesseth his name whatever he suffer for it end â—ring to bear his reproach loving his brother as God hath loved him endeavouring to walk honestly in all things so to being glory to God and so patiently wait for his coming the word of the testimony and sayings in it certainly worketh savingly in him And he is born of God taught and learneth of God Rom. 1. 16. Pro. 2. 10 11 12. Heb. 11. 13. 1 John 3. 9 10 11. and 4. 21. and 5. 1. Acts 4. 20. And he that doth these things doth not beleive with the heart Rom. 10. 10. For the word of Christ with his spirit therein and love commended there through where ever in heart beleived doth work the motions and inclinations to the willing and doing these things so as no more is required of us but this that in his so moving to will and do we without murmering or disputing so will and do which in his strength in such season we may so will and do Rom. 1. 16. 1 Thes 2. 13. Phil. 2 12. 16. and 4 12. And where the heart is exercised in beleiving how can they but readily yeild up thereto Psal 116. 10. 16. 2 Cor. 4. 13. and thence the exhortation to work out this in working salvation Phil. 2. 12 13. which teacheth as said Tiâ— â— 11. 12. 13. and so by his mercies as the motive and motion to give up their bodies as a living sacrifice to him and their members as weapons of righteousness unto righteousness being changed and reformed by the renewing of the mind Rom. 12. 1. 2. and 6. 19. so as all that with the heart beleive Jesus Christ true in his sayings and so beleive in him as the Scripture hath said find in some measure the springs of these things in their heart and so may know that the right doing of these Commandments to this end is not law-work but an exercise of faith that worketh by love John 7. 38. Gall. 5. 5. 6. Nor doth the term Commandements darken this at all for the whole Gospâ—l given Christ to preach is called his Commandment Iohn 12. 50. And his giving it to the Apostles to preach is called his giving them Commandements Acts 1. 2. and the Gospel made known to any and they helped to beleive is called the holy Commandement delivered to them 2 Pet. 2. 21. and so beleiving on his name and loving one another are called his Commandments 1 Ioh. 3. 22. 53. 24. Ioh. 14 1. and 13. 34 and 15. 12. And so it is clear that this doing his Commandements to this end as it is no Law work but an exercise of faith so also it is a sure way to have right to the Tree of life yea right and life is found and received in so doing them Rom. 8. 13. Gall. 6. 8. and this is evident and plain in the Apostle shewing the end of their preaching the pâ—etioâ—s promises given them To be that the heareis in beleiving might partake of the divine nature in Christ risen from the dead Isa 55. 3. 4. and sheweth how Beleivers come to partake of this Efficacy of the word and promise of blessedness and faith First having excepted the polution that is in the world through lust And then in that which folâ—oweth and goeth together with it he saith and besides this giving all diligence Add to which implyes giving up and using and working together to your faith that object of and doctrine of faith you in beleiving have received and is moving in you vertue zeal and courage to bring forth its teachings and operations and to this vertue knowledge in minding and understanding his mind discovered in his sayings for the manner ends and seasons of venting forth vertue And least your knowledge of your liberty in all outward lawful liberties and things be abused to some snare and to your knowledge temperance that you be neither inoâ—dâ—nate in your desires not immoderate in persuit nor unseasonable or unsober in use of lawful liberties and because in so doing you must exercise self denial and meet with depravations and reproofs from some others therefore to your temperance add patience that in patience you may possess your Souls letting patience have its perfect work and that you abuse not patience to stupidity and sloathfulness but that it may leave its perfect work indeed to patience add godlyness in both a right worshiping of God as he hath discovered himself in Christ adoring him and calling on his name c. And conforming to him in Holiness Humility Meekness Mercies And as in this you will be moved so to this Godliness add Brotherly kindness in delighting in the Saints and ready shewing forth the fruits of Brotherly love to them and seeing there are imfirmities to be forgiven and covered and others besides them to shew love and mercy to that are yet enemies to you to Brotherly kindness add Charity which is the Bond of perfectness and full of good fruits and leads to constancy therein for if these things be in you that is as God in his word tenders and works them so you in beleiving receive them and abound that is have their perfect work so as you yeild up thereto to bring them forth they make you that you shall neither be barren not empty of good fruits in your selves nor unfruitful without some profits to others in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things as those that smother the motions in his teachings and yeild not to obey in doing them will soon die Is blind purblind and can not see a far off to the hope set before us in Christ and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins which when he first saw and beleived did work thus effectually in him but he hath forgot this he once so highly prized and so the efficacies are withered and his understanding darkened wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling that grievons operation of Christ in which you were brought out of darkness into his marvelous light to beleive in him and live to him and election that is that gracious operation of