God is oft put for his Service or Obedience If then I be a father where is mine honour and if I be a master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 1.6 ye offer the blind for sacrifice the lame and sick is it not evil offer it now unto thy governor will he be pleasod with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord v. 8 14. It 's termed a fearing of the Commandment Prov. 13.13 That they may fear thee to walk in thy ways 2 Chr. 6.31 It 's all Grace and true Piety in the Root Spring and Principle of it I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 to walk in the fear of God and in his Commands is one and the same thing Only that it connoteth the inward respect that the Soul hath unto God in the keeping of his commandments it's eye to him and deference of all to his Glory which is it that specifieth every instance of obedience and renders it truly Religious Then had the Churches rest walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 the words of David speaks out the sense of those I have set the Lord always before me Psal 16.8 this works holiness into the very frame of the Soul Oh that we might never forget it but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 2.17 as in the sight of God This is indeed to walk with God which was the Encomium of Enoch and of Noah they walked with God in their Generation No man dare to call God to Record for a Witness when he is about to commit any notorious sin Let him but dismiss the thoughts of God and shake off his fear and then he hath let himself loose to all manner of Abominations And Abraham said because I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will slay me Gen. 20.11 he could have no security whilst the fear of God was not before their eyes nor God concerned in their actions contrariwise as the Fear of God whereof I am now speaking doth seminally and virtually contain in it all obedience to his will so doth it run through every line of it and preserve the Soul in it A Prince that feareth God ruleth Justly and that because he feareth God For the former governors had been chargeable to the people yea and their servants bear rule over them but so did not I because of the fear of God Neh. 5.15 such a one is a Conscientious a Dutiful Subject Rom. 13.5 subject for conscience sake Such a one is a Just and Righteous Judg in his place VVherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you with him there is no respect of persons nor receiving of reward 2. Chr. 19.7 It maketh good and faithful Wives Col. 3.18 as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands v. 19. Children v. 20. Fathers v. 21. Servants v. 22. Obeying in singleness of heart fearing God Masters ch 4.1 knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven It influenceth the most secret Actions and runs through all Obadiah feared the Lord greatly 1. Kings 18. and he hid the Prophets of the Lord v. 4. I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth v. 12. There was a good beginning and example unto such as are young Eccl. 12.1 The Midwives feared God and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them but saved the Men-children alive Exod. 1.17 and therefore God made them houses v. 21. Such a one feareth an Oath Eccl. 9.2 or to do any injustice 1 Thes 4.6 It 's the fountain of life Prov. 14.27 It sets all a work and whilst it keeps the Dominion it keepeth the Soul steddy to God throughout the whole course of its life It 's not so much one single Grace as it is the habit of all Further instance of its effectual Operation in whosoever it is the next Branch of the Text will furnish us with which is the other Character of a Person accepted with God of a Person I say accepted with him not only of a working saving Faith as some would have it which is to read the Scripture backward but immediately of a Person accepted to Life For it hath the Promise thereof connected with it as well as Faith its self as the Text witnesseth Nor indeed can any evidence of a mans Justification or Acceptance be fetcht from that which hath no Promise of it 2. But in every nation he that worketh Righteousness is accepted with God That is the other Character to be opened what it is to be a worker of Righteousness Righteousness is the Commensuration or answering of what a man doth to the Rule or Standard of it which is the Law of God even as sin to which it is opposed is defined by its Transgression of the Law as containing its whole formal nature Look then as he that doth any thing which in the matter or circumstance thereof the Law of God forbiddeth and so for omissions he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make or work sin 1 Joh. 3.9 The illegality of the action is its obliquity and that can never be separated from the entity of the action or the being of the same so long as the Law doth abide that prohibiteth it so he that doth what is conformable to the same Law of God he doth or worketh Righteousness He that doth righteousness is righteous even as God is righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 For the more distinct understanding of what we are upon it is necessary in the first place that we enquire into the Rule or Standard of this Righteousness whereof the Text speaks The Mosaick Law strictly such as it was peculiar to the Jews to be sure is not it The Gentile Nations then knew it not nor was Cornelius proselited to it Among the Jews whilst some of the Highest pretenders to it and to an absolute conformity to it Phil. 3.6 misinterpreted it to a subversion of the ancient Faith of the Gospel and neglect of Christ they fell short of so much as a sincere obedience unto it in its spiritual interpretation Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven Matt. 5.20 When the Gentiles attained unto it Rom 9.30 Wherefore let it be considered that there hath been a twofold Law or Rule of Righteousness enacted by God and given to mankind the one to him whilst innocent the other to fallen man the one termed the law of Works of perfect sinless obedience the other the law of Faith Rom. 3.27 Tho neither did the former exclude all Faith nor yet the later all Works To the former there is none righteous now no not one Rom. 3.10 Some are more atrocious sinners than others but none that doth good and sinneth not Eccl. 7.20 1 John 1.10 No work done measured by that
Forgiveness with God or that he is a rewarder thereof The entrance of sin had laid man under the curse and so unhinged all Adam and his wife hid themselves to no purpose neither from the presence of the Lord God Gen. 3.8 It was the revelation of pardoning Mercy that retrieved and brought back again the fear of God or his worship into the world Take away the assurance of that namely that God is placable and there is no foundation of hope or encouraging motive left for service or obedience for the future If any of the sons of men were left as remediless as the Devils why then God would not expect this fear from them the belief of the contrary is the very first notion that God requireth our assent unto next to his Being in all our Addresses unto him Heb. 11.6 If the Lord were pleased to kill us be would not have received a burnt-offering at our hands Judg. 13.23 It was a good Argument the very prescription of worship to fallen man is a most sure Indication that he will deal with him upon new terms of Mercy This was the Faith of Cornelius and that which induced him unto the fear of God whilst as yet he little understood that without the Blood of God there is no remission Heb. 9.22 Or that the Offering of Christ at Jerusalem was the only way to it And are not they near as wide from the truth of the Gospel who admitting the Death of Christ to enter the Covenant Grant of Forgiveness would limit his Sacrifice only to the Elect saying that he obtained not remission for any more on any terms VVhat hath been said carrieth in it a demonstration to the contrary and reflects light into the extent of the Death of Christ It 's most certain that God hath prescrited his fear unto every sinner and as certain it is that he expects no love fear or new Obedience from them who antecedently thereunto can have no particular assurance that there is any forgiveness or acceptance with God for them much less would he exact of them to believe it if it were not so or thereupon to bottom their service or to return unto him on that supposition Either then Christ by the grace of God did taste death for every man Heb. 2.9 pro singulis generum or there is not forgiveness with God for them which yet was the Faith of Cornelius as short as it was that he might be feared or we must say that there is forgiveness with him for some men without respect to Christ or a Conditional Covenant grant thereof unto them never Ratified by or Founded in his Blood which is not the Christian Belief This then is the first sense to be understood of the fear of God it 's to pay Worship and Homage unto him nor can the fear of God be without it 2. It imports further an awe and reverence of his Divine Majesty reaching the mind and affections Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread Isa 8.13 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence Jer. 5.22 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him Psal 89.7 let all the earth fear the Lord and let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him Psal 33.8 stand in awe and sin not meaneth not a bare dread of his wrath a meer passion or fright or anguish of conscience respecting the guilt or danger of some atrocious sin or wickedness This may serve to restrain or to impel to some partial acknowledgment of God but serves not to any heart-change They feared the Lord and served their own Gods 2 King 17.33 unto this day they fear not the Lord v. 34. that is aright No! they were none of those that tremble at the commandment of God as it 's said Ezra 10.3 It imports a tenderness of Heart Because thy Heart was tender 2 Chr. 34.27 How shall I do this thing and sin against God saith Joseph It 's an habit of mind and Soul disposing to an aweful regard unto God aversation unto sin and jealousy of offending him The affections are the Wings and Feet of the Soul and have need to be ballanced with the awe of God in order to its flight from sin They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days Hos 3.5 In a Pious Soul this fear hath in it a Contemperation of Love It 's no Bondage-fear 2 Tim. 1.7 It 's Conjugal without amazement So far as Love is perfected it casts out tormenting fear 1 Joh. 4.18 it brings into the liberty of the Gospel Rom. 8.15 And Moses said unto the people fear not for God is come to prove you and that his fear may be before your faces that ye sin not Exod. 20.20 Fear not yet fear and love him Deut. 10.12 Neither yet doth this filial fear of God Exclude the fear of everlasting Destruction from him in case or on the supposition of a Covenant breach or presumptuous finning against him Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell saith our Saviour to his Disciples Mat. 10.28 Let us serve him with reverence and Godly fear for our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy 1 Cor. 3.16 17. the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5.17 now the works of the flesh are manifest of which he gives a Catalogue v. 19. of the which saith he I tell you before as I have told you also in time past that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God v. 21. nor of Christ Eph. 5.5 To be sure what ever God threats it behoveth every Pious Man to fear Be not high minded but fear Rom. 11.20 let him that standeth do so 1 Cor. 10.12 Obj. But it 's here Objected by many That all this is the voice of the Law of Works that such threats belong not to believers only that of Fatherly chastisement in case they sin If his children forsake my law c. I will visit their transgression with the rod my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him Psal 89.30 how then can the fear of Destruction in such case belong to a Believer or enter the Character of a true Fearer of God Ans The Objection lies deep and involveth in it a mistake in the whole Tenour of the Covenant of Life as it is the Instrument of Gods Government over Mankind one and other It proceeds upon these following false suppositions Namely 1. That Faith alone enters the condition of the New Covenant the Covenant which God hath Enjoyned unto us as the Apostle Phraseth it Heb. 9.20 contrary to Gen. 17.1 2. Psal 103.17 18. Exod. 24.7 8 c.
2. That all such Texts as those forenamed belong to the Original Law of Works or of Innocency such as 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither fornicators nor Idolaters c. shall inherit the kingdom of God And if so then no man dying impenitently in those sins can be barred Eternal Life for the Penalty of the first Covenant is not conclusive but of those whom the New Covenant doth not Relieve And it alike commandeth spotless Innocency also and threats all sin alike with damnation as well as such Or 3. That if such Texts with the threat contained in them do belong to the Gospel yet as soon as any one believeth he is priviledged with a special exemption there-from Tho he violate the precept the threat can take no place not for any time to hold him under the same The Sum of the Hypothesis or Supposal which is by those who make the objection defended or must be is viz. That the Gospel Commands or Counsels rather obedience to the whole Law of God and Obedience thereunto is necessary by Precept unto every Soul under the pain of sin But that it hath but one single Precept which is that of Faith belonging to it qua foedus as a Covenant or in Conjunction with the promise nor yet but one that belongs to it qua lex as a Law i. e. in Conjunction with its Sanction or Threat And then let a Mans Faith work or not work to his escaping of all or any the sins or pollutions enumerated still it will save him What should bar his acceptance with God when the whole condition of the Covenant is performed and kept What need of the fear mentioned if all this be true Or how can it consist That it 's more than possible for a believer to relapse into the sins mentioned which are threatned with death by the Gospel or Law of Christ is not nor can be denied Most dreadful instances we have upon Record attesting the same Neither let any one that girdeth on his harness yet boast himself as he that putteth it off What shall we now say in such case was there not cause to fear destruction To give but one instance David upon an affront given him by Nabal contrives to murder him with all his Family 1 Sam. 25.22 was he now Pardoned I ask all that while that he was upon his March with his four Hundred Men to put the same in Execution Repent him for that time he could not nor can that be true without reformation which is of its Essence either now he had forfeited his acceptance with God and lay bound under the guilt of his sin unpardoned or our Saviours Doctrine to his own Disciples could not be words of truth but a meer scarecrow Mat. 6.15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses So again expresly ch 18.35 the forgiving of others is made the indispensable condition of our obtaining pardon from God yea and a recognition thereof enjoyned us in our prayers to God for it and forgive us as we forgive them v. 12. and this David himself very well knew and feared it in cases of that Nature Psal 32.1 5. Rom. 4.6 8. And if that be not pardon in the most proper and strict Sense it 's not spoken of in all the Scriptures so 1 Joh. 1.9 To that Text alledged Psal 89. I answer It 's of the final event whereof it speaks it belongs to Gods Will of Purpose or his Decree which speaks not the Tenour of Gods Covenant with us It 's spoken of Christ v. 19. and of his Seed v. 29. and belongs to the Doctrine of Gods Decrees wherein the perseverance of the Elect is founded not to his legal Constitution with man There it runs v. 30 if his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my Judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments Here directly contrary If thy Children will keep my Covenant and my Testimony Psal 132.12 So it ran with David and so it does with us Psal 103.17 18. Rom. 8.11 13. The meaning of the former is no more but that he will secure a seed unto Christ Isa 53.10 who they are belongs to his secret purpose only to know whilst they are out of his way But whoever they be if they belong to him such Prophesies or Promises do evermore include in them Gods Will or Purpose to recover them from their sin or sore relapses and that sometimes by their sufferings too in pursuance of his decree Phil. 1.6 to the end that they may not perish by his Law 1 Cor. 11.32 34. in the mean while they are to fear Heb. 4.3 and to take heed Heb. 12.15 17. 2 Pet. 1.5.9 yea the best of Gods People For destruction from God was a terror to me Job 31.23 that is to awe him from sin v. 24.26 28. so it was with David Psal 119.120 so with St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 neither is it inconsistent with Faith Nay it is the genuine product of it By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith Heb. 11.7 Nor yet is it inconsistent with a filial free obedience to be governed by a Law and to be influenced by the fear of it whilst there is a love to the duty prescribed by it 1 Pet. 1.17 nor yet with true Gospel Consolation and security whilst man keeps within the Bounds of Gods Covenant not to violate the same 1 John 3.21 and to others it belongs not No man holds his Estate by a Title so Indefeazible but that by the Guilt of any Capital Crime it may be forfeited yet an honest Man may remain comfortably secure for all that in his possession The law is not made for a righteous man saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.9 he saith not for a Believer only but for a Godly man in his walk against such there is no law Gal. 5.23 that is it cannot hurt him continuing such it hath nothing against him Yet will not God for the sake of any mans peace reverse his law the Law of Christ now I am speaking of 1 Cor. 9.21 nor yet invalidate it by severing the Precept from the Sanction or threat of it so to render his Government meerly Precarious Nor can any Believer make it good that the Law of Christ abiding his Relation thereunto is altered that it hath nothing to say to him if he break it So much for the second instance of the fear due unto God which yet remains unshaken as belonging to the Character of a true fearer of him namely the Awe and Reverence of his Majesty and dread of Offending him 3. Yet further the Fear of God here Importeth an Habitual Inclination of Heart and Soul unto a regard to God with a due respect to all his Commands Hence the fear of
respect of persons If sin not only rebels but proceeds for any time or in any single instance thereof that is properly against the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Reign or to Lord it Rom. 6.12 sus-spending the government of Grace conscience it may be reniting but served as the Prophet was by Asa 2 Chr. 16.10 put in prison for reproving him acceptance with God as hath been said is that while suspended be it in any one whomsoever The Law of God as it belongs to the first Covenant condemns for every the least transgression of it as well as the greatest and the greatest is as pardonaable with respect thereunto as the least is by the Gospel Acts 13.39 But the Gospel relieves none whilst they remain uncleansed from wickednesses Ps 119.133 1 Cor. 6.9 11. or that violate its own proper obligation This new Law of God is immutable as stable as the Pillars of the Heavens and of the Earth What it once saith it always saith to any one whosoever It 's a most dangerous in let to prophaness to suggest or harbour such a notion that a believer or convert let me add is from under the threat of the Gospel in case of disobedience to its commands I mean the threat of eternal destruction binding over the person immediately to it or rather leaving him to the Law not relieving him tho it be not peremptory save in the case of its finallity The proper penalty of the Gospel abides indeed only on the finally impenitent and disobedient and then it is remediless Non est distinguendum ubi lex non distinguit Either the Gospel threats no man with Exclusion out of the Kingdom of God and of Christ for such acts of sin as those Eph. 5.5 or it doth all men Either it never did or still it doth after believing as well as before The Law is not changed nor hath any man a patent of Exemption from under the Gospel Sanction or if any have who is there but will put in for it Believers are as often cautioned in the case of Sin to fear and take heed of ruin as others are as hath been before instanced in Scripture To look to themselves that they lose not those things they have wrought 2 Joh. 8. and to hold that fast which they have that no man take their crown Rev. 3.11 21. to fear not the way of sin only but themselves if they start aside into it Mat. 10.22 28. 1 Cor. 3.16 17. as belonging to the true fear of God Neither doth all this at all interfere with the Doctrine of perseverance duely stated which has its rise and foundation only in Gods decree the Execution whereof is regulated by his standing Law or according to it Gods purpose of bestowing his favour in or continuing of it to any one is so far forth and no further than as the subject shall according to his Law be found meet or competent for it Every unconverted person is condemned notwithstanding Gods secret purpose to convert or call some that they may be justified So his purpose to recover his elect from Apostacy or lying in Sin in order to their recovery to his favour secureth none from forfeiture thereof in the mean while Nor has he decreed that no elect person shall ever so fall as to forfeit it and it were well that some mens heads were exercised less about the Decrees and that they attended more to the Law The Leper under the law Lev. 14. upon his cleansing atonement being made was in statu quo restored to his rights but not before Nor was Peter upon his denial of Christ till his particular repentance or his new conversion Luke 22.32 the threat took place to put a bar in his way unto life if Christ may be believed who expresly had told him that it would Mat. 10.33 and had he died without a change which yet the seed of God remaining did propend towards he had been undone Whom God elects to the end he does to the means which may fully serve to remove that part of the objection out of the way respecting the Saints perseverance And for what is further insinuated touching believers obligation only to fear the hiding of Gods face or loss of former peace in case they relapse into conscience-wasting sins It 's obviated before in the doctrinal part What the word of God threats in such a case that is it they are called to fear and that we have proved to be eternal destruction the fear whereof is twofold Either 1 Suppositive which is antecedent to any sin and is required only to awe them from it or prevent it Such was Jobs chap. 31.23 and Pauls 1 Cor. 9.27 and such ought to have been Davids fear and Peters when no other motive or inducement of the Gospel unto holiness could or did hold them fast to their duty A manifold cord is not so soon broken Love to God and Christ is indeed the most genuine spring of obedience but it may also well consist with this fear Nay it 's an essential ingredient into the whole of that fear of God all along insisted on love I say in sincerity is so Eph 6.24 Yea and it must under the same penalty of an Anathama Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 For God will not leave his goverment precarious He knows our frame and what is necessary to us we are not yet perfect as Adam nay much less confirmed 2. Or Positive this is only under such relapses as intrench on sincerity and is necessary in order to a recovery from under them and imports the sense of present actual danger of destruction upon the fall into and lying in such sin And to admit the former to be a duty but not this is to grant the premisses and then to deny the conclusion to oblige a man to fear that which when it comes can't hurt him nor touch him It is indeed the Prerogative of God to create Peace in any Soul Is 57.19 2 Thes 3.16 and he may possibly for some time vail the light of his countenance from an upright walker with him that he may wrongfully conclude against himself Job 33.23 24. Is 50.10 which yet is not ordinary neither Is 33.17 whilst God in and by his Gospel speaks Life and Peace to him And clear evidence and strong consolation is another thing accompanying not alway the being and sincerity of Grace but its growth and gradual perfection rendring it discernable Ps 92.14 It 's not the portion of the negligent unthrifty Christian however But our inquiry is not only about Consolation but safety not touching Gods arbitrary withdrawings whilst his word speaks peace all that while if the Soul could read it but of what the Gospel speaketh not of what the Soul will lose but of what it ought not to keep and of that active fear which is necessary in the point of duty to it in case of notorious decays or relapses Shall we think that David for instance not to name many
suspended Accordingly then if thou hast no other standard of Righteousness to measure thy living Faith by than I have before insisted on to measure and delineate the fear of God and true Piety in any person by the issue at last is brought to the same Now then to come to the business suppose thou shouldest neglect the fear of God and not bring forth the fruits of Righteousness mentioned or relapse into any one of those gross wickednesses enumerated by the Apostle Gal. 5.19 With a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and such like v. 21. that the flesh carrieth it in the combate against the Spirit which was none of Paul's own case Rom. 7. he speaks not there of the perpetration of any gross sin the thief can't say when he takes a purse that it is no more he that what he would not do that he doth c. v. 17.20 Suppose I say the government protempore of Grace to be suspended and sin to usurp the rule and dominion for any time notwithstanding the vanquished dissent of thy mind to the presumptuous conrtivement and harbouring of some notorious impiety which yet is no impossible supposition if thou lookest not to it as I might give instances once and again were it a thing grateful to stay upon What now wouldest thou think of thy condition in such case Thou must say either 1. That the Faith which is alone whether it worketh or not worketh if it be not lost doth continue to justifie thee or that through it rather to speak in the Scripture dialect thou continuest still justified accepted and meet for eternal life tho it be no operative Faith which is to eat thy own words Or 2. that such works of Righteousness as have been insisted on or thy being cleansed from such sins as the Apostle gives a catalogue of for the fruits of the flesh in its regency belong not to the works thou meanest or the holiness or obedience which thou takest for necessary to qualifie or inform thy working faith as not belonging to its essential Character In the point of duty thou holdest them required but that if they be wanting and the flesh prevail yet that at the same instant of time it 's no dead Faith which thou hast tho it worketh not as it should do yet it doth so far as is necessary to thy Justification and acceptance with God If so here then thou speakest out Or 3. If thou hast any misgiving that such fruits of Righteousness brought forth in the fear of God and abstinence from the contrary fruits of the flesh do belong to the Character of a living working Faith thou must grant that if it be otherwise with thee or should be thy case thy Faith can't be it that will save thee but that at such time being alone thy title to acceptance with God will be suspended and discontinued which is that I have been urging upon thee to consider that thy Soul lies at stake upon thy obedience as well now as before thy reception to favour with God but to the continuance I have proved that they are which as yet remains unshaken and it therefore behoveth thee to look to it As for the other foot of the Objection respecting the Saints Perseverance that belongs to the Doctrine of Election or the Decrees which can never run cross to the standing Law of God neither Know then 1. That such is the connexion between continuation in the fear of God and working Righteousness and continuance in his favour and title to blessedness that he has not decreed to preserve any one in the latter without the former 2 Thes 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 and so runs his Law Job 15.10 1 Joh. 1.7 of which before So that perseverance in the favour of God and his love of acceptance and perseverance in holiness run parallel and there can be no pretence to the one without the other 2. We have a law or establishment which God hath made with his people touching their preservation and progress in grace which is to be attended unto The dispensation of more grace and help in time of need is conditional unto them in and by the Gospel There is no promise no provision made in the Covenant of Grace struck with man the administration whereof is absolute to preserve any one from the greatest and most enormous sins nor yet from Apostacy it self if he attends not to the duty prescribed in order to it nor hath God promised that he shall so do Grace is in its own nature loseable the best of men are mutable or defectible here it 's actuation and conservation depends on new supplies from him that gave it 2 Cor. 12.9 which God communicates through Christ who is become the head of influence John 15.4 5. Gal. 2. â—0 But the dispensation thereof is connected in the promise with a diligent heeding and attending on the duties prescribed in order to it which man through the talents received and help availing him is in an immediate capacity unto such are watching 1 Cor. 16.13 Prayer unto God Mark 14.28 Unite my heart to fear thy name faith David Psal 86.11 and take not thy holy spirit from me Psal 51.11 12. To shake off sloth and use diligence Heb. 6.11 12. not to cater or provide for the flesh Rom. 13.14 to avoid the occasions of evil and abstain from the appearance of it and resist its first motions 1 Thes 5.22 to put on and keep in use the whole armour of God Eph. 6.11 and in exercising his Grace received Joh. 5.2 adding thereby Grace to Grace with all diligence 2 Pet. 1.5 If ye do these things ye shall never fall saith the Apostle v. 10. i. e. into your old sins v. 9. which will blur your evidence for life or stain your acceptance with God Hence it is that the faithful are cautioned to take heed of falling 1 Cor. 10.12 Heb. 3.13 and of Apostacy from God Heb. 10.25 38 viz. in the diligent use of the means Connected with the promise of their preservation the which while some have attended they have been in a flourishing posture God-ward Cant. 7.12 John 3.2 whilst other some have pined away grace in them hath languished and been ready to die Rev. 3.2 and they if in a saved state yet saved so as by fire hardly and not without loss 1 Cor. 3.15 and who might they thank but themselves all is not to be resolved into the inevitable consequent of the Lapse or first transgression They might have helpt it Nor doth the prerogative of God here also reserved for the recovery of any one after Relapses or preventing the same in pursuance of his hidden purpose derogate at all from this his standing law No promise has God made on any other terms than as afore mentioned Jude 20.21 23 24. Jam 4 5 6. 3. If then through any mans wilful neglect as before the precept of the law of grace becomes violated I say again the Sanction or Threat takes place without all