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rational_o wrap_v up_o in_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n indeed_o gross_a scandalous_a sin_n nay_o infirmity_n when_o they_o be_v give_v way_n to_o and_o not_o resist_v may_v keep_v the_o soul_n from_o the_o fruition_n for_o a_o time_n of_o god_n covenant_n but_o never_o from_o the_o eternal_a jus_o and_o right_n unto_o it_o for_o as_o the_o habit_n of_o faith_n or_o grace_n give_v a_o man_n a_o constant_a right_n to_o the_o promise_n and_o covenant_n which_o seed_n ever_o remain_v which_o habit_n ever_o last_v jer._n 3._o 9_o so_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n or_o grace_n give_v a_o man_n fruition_n of_o the_o covenant_n and_o the_o benefit_n of_o the_o promise_n and_o hence_o by_o the_o act_n and_o vent_v of_o some_o sin_n wherein_o there_o be_v include_v the_o neglect_n of_o the_o exercise_n of_o grace_n he_o that_o be_v real_o in_o covenant_n with_o god_n may_v be_v deprive_v of_o the_o fruition_n of_o it_o yet_o see_v the_o seed_n of_o god_n and_o the_o habit_n of_o grace_n ever_o 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say_v it_o be_v thy_o mercy_n lord_n that_o i_o be_o not_o consume_v for_o they_o as_o you_o write_v you_o may_v upon_o the_o same_o ground_n say_v so_o if_o the_o lord_n shall_v desert_v you_o or_o you_o for_o take_v the_o lord_n and_o so_o fall_v into_o the_o foul_a sin_n which_o i_o suppose_v corrupt_a conscience_n dare_v not_o be_v so_o bold_a as_o to_o think_v or_o allow_v of_o 2._o second_o i_o say_v the_o least_o sin_n or_o infirmity_n do_v break_v the_o first_o covenant_n of_o work_n and_o hence_o you_o do_v not_o only_o deserve_v but_o be_v under_o the_o sentence_n of_o death_n and_o curse_v of_o god_n immediate_o after_o the_o least_o hairs-breadth_n swarve_v from_o the_o law_n by_o the_o small_a sin_n and_o most_o involuntary_a accidental_a infirmity_n according_a to_o the_o tenor_n of_o the_o law_n the_o soul_n that_o sin_v shall_v die_v and_o curse_a be_v he_o that_o continue_v not_o in_o all_o thing_n of_o the_o law_n gal._n 3._o 10._o the_o least_o sin_n be_v ex_fw-la parte_fw-la objecti_fw-la in_o respect_n of_o god_n against_o who_o it_o be_v commit_v as_o horrible_a and_o as_o great_a as_o the_o great_a for_o it_o be_v a_o infinite_a wrong_n be_v the_o dishonour_n of_o a_o infinite_a majesty_n there_o can_v be_v no_o great_a wrong_n than_o a_o infinite_a one_o unless_o you_o can_v imagine_v a_o thing_n great_a than_o that_o which_o be_v insinite_a and_o therefore_o in_o this_o respect_n there_o be_v as_o much_o venom_n and_o mischief_n do_v against_o god_n in_o the_o least_o as_o in_o the_o great_a sin_n and_o therefore_o it_o and_o whosoever_o commit_v it_o deserve_v death_n for_o it_o as_o if_o they_o have_v commit_v the_o foul_a sin_n in_o the_o world_n and_o therefore_o after_o the_o least_o and_o small_a infirmity_n you_o may_v from_o hence_o see_v what_o cause_n you_o have_v free_o to_o be_v humble_v and_o to_o confess_v for_o they_o how_o worthy_a you_o be_v to_o be_v destroy_v yea_o even_o to_o look_v upon_o yourself_o as_o lie_v under_o the_o sentence_n of_o the_o law_n and_o death_n immediate_o after_o the_o commission_n of_o they_o and_o so_o to_o mourn_v bitter_o for_o they_o object_n but_o you_o will_v say_v a_o christian_n that_o be_v under_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n be_v not_o within_o the_o covenant_n of_o work_n that_o bond_n be_v cancel_v the_o last_o will_n must_v stand_v and_o therefore_o he_o be_v out_o of_o that_o covenant_n no_o sin_n of_o he_o can_v be_v say_v to_o break_v the_o covenant_n for_o no_o man_n can_v be_v say_v to_o break_v that_o law_n under_o which_o he_o be_v not_o and_o which_o he_o be_v not_o bind_v to_o keep_v answ_n i_o answer_v every_o believer_n have_v a_o double_a be_v or_o stand_v and_o so_o there_o may_v be_v put_v upon_o he_o a_o double_a respect_n 1._o first_o he_o may_v be_v consider_v as_o unite_v to_o and_o have_v a_o spiritual_a be_v on_o christ_n and_o so_o it_o be_v true_a he_o be_v under_o grace_n and_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n and_o not_o under_o the_o law_n nor_o the_o covenant_n of_o work_n and_o hence_o not_o be_v under_o the_o law_n nor_o bind_v to_o keep_v it_o as_o a_o covenant_n of_o life_n though_o it_o be_v a_o rule_n of_o life_n no_o sin_n can_v condemn_v he_o there_o be_v no_o condemnation_n to_o they_o that_o be_v in_o christ_n jesus_n rom._n 8._o 1._o but_o as_o christ_n be_v above_o condemnation_n and_o law_n and_o death_n and_o curse_v so_o be_v he_o and_o this_o true_o understand_v be_v the_o foundation_n of_o a_o christian_n joy_n and_o peace_n and_o glory_v every_o day_n yet_o so_o as_o though_o sin_n do_v not_o condemn_v he_o yet_o he_o have_v good_a reason_n to_o say_v it_o be_v mercy_n and_o mere_a mercy_n lord_n that_o i_o be_o not_o consume_v that_o i_o be_o condemn_v for_o sin_n be_v the_o same_o nay_o grace_n and_o god_n love_n aggravate_v sin_n for_o to_o sin_n against_o the_o law_n deserve_v death_n without_o recovery_n but_o to_o sin_v when_o grace_n have_v receive_v i_o and_o love_v i_o when_o the_o blood_n of_o christ_n have_v be_v shed_v abundant_o to_o deliver_v i_o from_o sin_n oh_o this_o make_v the_o most_o secret_a silent_a sin_n a_o cry_v one_o so_o that_o if_o you_o do_v consider_v this_o well_o you_o may_v see_v what_o little_a cause_n there_o be_v to_o have_v your_o heart_n rise_v against_o the_o deep_a humiliation_n for_o the_o least_o sin_n though_o you_o be_v in_o christ_n and_o under_o grace_n for_o as_o daniel_n when_o he_o be_v put_v into_o the_o lion_n den_n have_v not_o the_o cause_n to_o wonder_v that_o he_o be_v not_o tear_v in_o piece_n by_o they_o and_o why_o because_o it_o be_v not_o from_o any_o defect_n on_o their_o part_n to_o tear_v he_o in_o piece_n but_o from_o the_o omnipotent_a power_n and_o mercy_n and_o grace_n of_o his_o god_n that_o muzzelled_a their_o mouth_n so_o though_o no_o lion_n can_v â—ear_v though_o no_o sin_n can_v hurt_v or_o condemn_v a_o christian_n as_o he_o be_v consider_v in_o christ_n yet_o have_v not_o he_o cause_n to_o confess_v and_o wonder_v and_o say_v lord_n it_o be_v thy_o mere_a grace_n and_o mercy_n that_o it_o be_v not_o so_o which_o be_v the_o act_n of_o humiliation_n your_o letter_n say_v you_o can_v hardly_o come_v unto_o and_o why_o not_o because_o god_n grace_n put_v any_o less_o evil_a in_o sin_n but_o because_o it_o be_v mere_o grace_n that_o keep_v it_o from_o spit_v that_o venom_n which_o otherwise_o it_o will_v second_o a_o christian_a may_v be_v consider_v in_o respect_n of_o his_o natural_a be_v in_o himself_o and_o thus_o he_o be_v ever_o under_o the_o law_n and_o as_o oft_o as_o he_o sin_v under_o the_o sentence_n of_o death_n and_o as_o the_o apostle_n speak_v by_o nature_n even_o we_o justify_v quicken_v be_v the_o child_n of_o wrath_n as_o well_o as_o other_o and_o thus_o after_o the_o least_o involuntary_a accidental_a sin_n you_o may_v easy_o see_v what_o cause_n you_o have_v to_o lie_v down_o deep_o humble_v mourn_v under_o the_o sentence_n of_o death_n and_o god_n eternal_a curse_n as_o a_o condemn_a man_n go_v to_o execution_n to_o feel_v that_o fire_n that_o shall_v never_o go_v out_o look_v upon_o yourself_o as_o you_o be_v in_o yourself_o a_o forlorn_a castaway_n every_o moment_n and_o this_o true_o understand_v be_v the_o foundation_n of_o a_o christian_n sorrow_n shame_n and_o confusion_n of_o face_n self-loathing_a self-forgetting_a self-forsaking_a and_o condemn_v every_o day_n and_o believe_v it_o sir_n it_o be_v no_o small_a piece_n of_o a_o christian_n skill_n and_o work_v to_o put_v a_o difference_n between_o himself_o and_o himself_o himself_o as_o he_o be_v in_o christ_n and_o so_o to_o joy_n and_o triumph_n and_o himself_o as_o he_o be_v grow_v on_o
be_v a_o presuppose_a faith_n its_o god_n absolute_a promise_n that_o first_o beget_v faith_n for_o faith_n be_v not_o assurance_n but_o the_o come_n of_o the_o whole_a soul_n to_o christ_n in_o a_o promise_n john_n 6._o 3_o 5._o and_o then_o the_o soul_n believe_v in_o christ_n when_o it_o come_v to_o christ_n now_o this_o god_n work_v in_o the_o gospel_n 1._o the_o soul_n be_v raise_v up_o by_o hope_n and_o be_v raise_v it_o second_o come_v to_o christ_n which_o be_v faith_n by_o vehement_a unutterable_a desire_n and_o be_v come_v to_o he_o it_o 3._o embrace_v christ_n by_o love_n and_o thus_o the_o match_n be_v make_v and_o the_o everlasting_a knot_n be_v tie_v now_o as_o you_o have_v hear_v the_o absolute_a promise_n work_v hope_n of_o relief_n from_o christ_n and_o if_o it_o work_v hope_n it_o also_o work_v a_o desire_n or_o come_v to_o christ_n by_o desire_n oh_o that_o thou_o lord_n will_v honour_v thy_o grace_n thy_o power_n thy_o love_n thy_o promise_n in_o help_v i_o a_o poor_a castaway_n and_o thus_o faith_n be_v create_v as_o it_o be_v by_o this_o absolute_a promise_n for_o it_o can_v but_o move_v the_o heart_n of_o any_o one_o that_o ever_o feel_v his_o want_n to_o cry_v mighty_o to_o the_o lord_n for_o help_v if_o he_o have_v any_o hope_n see_v the_o lord_n have_v promise_v to_o do_v it_o for_o some_o oh_o say_v the_o soul_n that_o thou_o will_v do_v it_o for_o i_o and_o sure_o be_v it_o not_o for_o this_o absolute_a promise_n of_o god_n no_o soul_n will_v desire_v because_o he_o will_v have_v â—o_o hope_v to_o be_v save_v or_o to_o seek_v for_o any_o thing_n as_o from_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n and_o thus_o you_o see_v to_o what_o end_n god_n make_v and_o to_o what_o use_v a_o christian_a may_v put_v these_o absolute_a promise_n 2._o for_o the_o second_o thing_n viz_o how_o and_o promise_n how_o to_o apply_v absolute_a promise_n when_o a_o christian_a may_v apply_v these_o promise_n i_o answer_v every_o christian_a be_v either_o 1._o within_o covenant_n with_o god_n and_o know_v it_o or_o 2._o within_o covenant_n with_o god_n and_o know_v it_o not_o or_o 3._o out_o of_o covenant_n indeed_o for_o his_o present_a estate_n and_o condition_n yet_o he_o be_v in_o fieri_fw-la or_o make_v towards_o it_o 1._o if_o he_o be_v in_o covenant_n and_o know_v it_o than_o you_o may_v easy_o perceive_v how_o and_o when_o he_o ought_v to_o apply_v promise_n unto_o himself_o for_o he_o may_v bold_o conclude_v if_o god_n be_v his_o god_n than_o all_o the_o promise_n of_o god_n shall_v be_v make_v good_a unto_o he_o if_o he_o be_v a_o son_n of_o god_n he_o may_v bold_o challengeatall_a time_n at_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n nay_o if_o in_o some_o respect_n at_o the_o hand_n of_o justice_n itself_o the_o fulfil_a oâ—_n god_n the_o father_n will_v deliver_v in_o the_o several_a legacy_n of_o the_o promise_n buy_v by_o the_o blood_n &_o seal_v by_o the_o same_o blood_n of_o jesus_n christ_n that_o they_o may_v and_o shall_v be_v make_v good_a unto_o he_o that_o be_v clear_a 2._o second_o if_o he_o be_v in_o covenant_n and_o know_v it_o not_o and_o question_n hence_o whether_o god_n be_v he_o or_o not_o and_o consequent_o whether_o the_o promise_n belong_v unto_o he_o then_o the_o rule_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v let_v he_o so_o sue_v and_o seek_v for_o the_o good_a of_o the_o absolute_a promise_n until_o by_o reflect_v upon_o his_o own_o act_n herein_o he_o perceive_v himself_o adorn_v and_o dignify_v with_o the_o qualification_n of_o some_o conditional_a promise_n and_o then_o if_o he_o can_v find_v the_o condition_n or_o qualification_n within_o himself_o then_o as_o you_o judge_v and_o write_v he_o may_v conclude_v that_o the_o conditional_a promise_n belong_v to_o he_o &_o if_o one_o promise_n than_o all_o god_n promise_n and_o therefore_o that_o absolute_a promise_n be_v his_o own_o because_o at_o least_o one_o condional_a promise_n be_v for_o no_o unregenerate_a man_n be_v within_o the_o compass_n of_o any_o one_o conditional_a promise_n of_o grace_n unless_o you_o will_v say_v he_o be_v under_o the_o everlasting_a love_n of_o god_n the_o promise_n of_o grace_n be_v but_o the_o midway_n between_o the_o eternal_a purpose_n and_o decree_n of_o love_n and_o the_o glorious_a certain_a execution_n of_o that_o love_n in_o time_n the_o promise_n be_v the_o break_n day_n of_o god_n most_o glorious_a love_n which_o must_v shine_v out_o in_o time_n object_n but_o here_o you_o will_v say_v be_v the_o difficulty_n viz._n how_o i_o shall_v so_o seek_v for_o the_o good_a of_o absolute_a promise_n as_o therein_o to_o find_v may_v self_n within_o the_o compass_n of_o some_o conditional_a one_o i_o answer_v it_o be_v do_v chief_o by_o three_o act_n 1._o by_o be_v humble_o content_v that_o see_v the_o lord_n have_v absolute_o promise_v to_o work_v and_o do_v all_o for_o the_o soul_n he_o intend_v for_o to_o save_v even_o when_o it_o can_v do_v nothing_o for_o itself_o and_o that_o he_o have_v take_v the_o work_n into_o his_o own_o hand_n so_o that_o it_o be_v his_o promise_n offer_v office_n and_o honour_n to_o do_v all_o that_o therefore_o you_o lie_v down_o not_o sluggish_o but_o humble_o at_o the_o foot_n of_o god_n and_o content_v to_o have_v he_o to_o be_v your_o god_n and_o for_o ever_o to_o be_v dispose_v of_o in_o any_o thing_n by_o god_n if_o he_o will_v fulfil_v his_o covenant_n in_o you_o content_v to_o part_n with_o any_o sin_n if_o he_o will_v rend_v it_o from_o you_o content_v to_o know_v any_o truth_n if_o he_o will_v reveal_v it_o to_o you_o content_v to_o do_v any_o duty_n if_o he_o will_v enable_v you_o content_v to_o shine_v bright_a with_o all_o his_o glorious_a grace_n if_o he_o will_v create_v and_o maintain_v they_o in_o you_o content_v to_o bear_v any_o evil_n if_o he_o will_v lay_v his_o hand_n under_o your_o head_n and_o thereunto_o strengthen_v you_o and_o so_o see_v the_o lord_n promise_v to_o undertake_v the_o work_n for_o some_o put_v out_o the_o work_n and_o put_v over_o your_o soul_n to_o he_o that_o he_o will_v fulfil_v the_o good_a that_o his_o covenant_n promise_v in_o yourself_o now_o when_o you_o do_v thus_o which_o no_o question_n you_o and_o many_o a_o soul_n do_v many_o time_n reflect_v upon_o this_o act_n and_o see_v if_o you_o can_v or_o may_v not_o find_v yourself_o by_o it_o under_o the_o condition_n of_o some_o conditional_a promise_n and_o if_o you_o do_v then_o be_v you_o bind_v to_o believe_v all_o god_n promise_n be_v and_o will_v be_v yea_o and_o amen_o unto_o you_o now_o that_o you_o do_v so_o by_o this_o act_n itself_o speak_v plain_o for_o how_o many_o conditional_a promise_n be_v make_v to_o the_o meek_a bless_a be_v the_o meek_a mat._n 5._o and_o to_o the_o humble_a who_o god_n will_v raise_v up_o for_o this_o be_v not_o save_v meekness_n to_o be_v quiet_o content_v to_o be_v or_o to_o do_v or_o to_o bear_v any_o thing_n that_o the_o lord_n will_v have_v i_o from_o my_o own_o strength_n and_o feeling_n but_o to_o be_v to_o do_v or_o to_o bear_v any_o thing_n that_o the_o lord_n will_v have_v i_o if_o the_o lord_n enable_v i_o many_o a_o stout_a heart_n will_v glad_o have_v christ_n but_o if_o he_o can_v have_v he_o in_o his_o own_o term_n viz._n christ_n and_o his_o lust_n christ_n and_o the_o world_n too_o or_o by_o his_o own_o strength_n and_o power_n he_o will_v have_v none_o of_o he_o but_o desperate_o cast_v he_o away_o and_o say_v what_o shall_v i_o look_v after_o he_o any_o more_o i_o can_v pray_v i_o can_v believe_v i_o can_v break_v this_o vile_a and_o unruly_a will_n this_o stony_a adamant_n hearr_o thus_o the_o pride_n of_o a_o man_n heart_n work_v now_o he_o that_o be_v true_o meekn_v and_o humble_v he_o be_v content_v glad_o to_o have_v god_n his_o god_n and_o christ_n his_o redeemer_n and_o that_o upon_o jesus_n christ_n his_o own_o term_n first_o on_o his_o own_o covenant_n now_o what_o be_v that_o why_o it_o be_v this_o i_o will_v give_v you_o the_o good_a and_o work_v in_o you_o the_o condition_n to_o i_o will_v give_v you_o myself_o and_o therefore_o will_v not_o stick_v to_o give_v you_o a_o eye_n to_o see_v and_o a_o heart_n to_o receive_v too_o this_o be_v the_o covenant_n now_o hereupon_o a_o humble_a soul_n accept_v of_o christ_n according_a to_o his_o covenant_n on_o his_o own_o term_n thus_o viz._n upon_o that_o condition_n lord_n that_o thou_o will_v humble_v i_o teach_v i_o persuade_v i_o cause_v i_o to_o believe_v and_o in_o every_o thing_n to_o honour_v thou_o lord_n i_o be_o content_v glad_o and_o joyful_o to_o have_v thou_o do_v therefore_o what_o thou_o will_v with_o i_o just_o as_o