cry Abba Father are f Ps 103. 13. pitied g Prov. 14 26. protected i 1 Pet. 5. 7. provided for and k Heb. 12. 6. chastned by him as by a Father yet never l Is 54. 8 9. Lam. 3. 31. cast off but sealed m Eph. 4. 30. to the day of Redemption and inherit the promises n Heb. 1. 14. ch 6. 12. as heirs of everlasting Salvation CHAP. XIII Of Sanctification 1. THey who are united to Christ Effectually called and regenerated having a new heart and a new Spirit created in them through the vertue of Christ's death and Resurrection are also a Act. 20. 32. Rom. 6. 5 6. farther sanctified really and personally through the same vertue b Joh. 17. 17. Eph. 3. 16 17 18 19. 1 Thes 5. 21 22 23. by his word and Spirit dwelling in them c Rom. 6. 14. the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed d Gal. 5. 24. and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakned and mortified and they more and more quickened and e Col. 1. 11 strengthned in all saving graces to the f 2 Cor. 7. 1. Heb. 12. 14. practice of all true holyness without which no man shall see the Lord. 2. This Sanctification is g 1 Thes 5. 23. throughout in the whole man yet imperfect h Rom. 7. 18 23. in this life there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part whence ariseth a i Gal. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11. continual and irreconcilable war the Flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh 3. In which war although the remaining corruption for a time may much k Rom. 7. 23 prevail yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ the l Rom. 6. 14. regenerate part doth overcome and so the Saints grow in Grace perfecting holiness in the fear of God m Eph. 4. 15. 16. 2 Cor. 3. 18. ch 7. 1 pressing after an heavenly life in Evangelical Obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King in his Word hath prescribed to them CHAP. XIV Of Saving Faith 1. THE Grace of Faith whereby the Elect are enabled to beleive to the saving of their souls is the work of the Spirit of Christ a 2 Cor. 4. 13. Eph. 2. 8. in their hearts and is ordinarily wrought by the Ministry of the b Rom. 10 14. 17. Word by which also and by the administration of Baptisme and the Lords Supper Prayer and other Means appointed of God it is increased c Luk. 17. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Act. 20. 32. and strengthned 2. By this Faith a Christian believeth to be true * Act. 24. 14. whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the Authority of God himself and also apprehendeth an excellency therein d Ps 19. 7 8 9 10. Ps 119. 72 above all other Writings and all things in the world as it bears forth the Glory of God in his Attributes the excellency of Christ in his Nature and Offices and the Power and Fullness of the Holy Spirit in his Workings and Operations and so is enabled to e 2 Tim. 1. 12. cast his Soul upon the truth thus beleived and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth yeilding obedience to the f Joh. 15. 14. commands trembling at the g Is 66. 2. threatnings and embracing the h Heb. 11. 13. promises of God for this life and that which is to come But the principal acts of Saving Faith have immediate relation to Christ accepting receiving and resting upon i Joh. 1. 12. Act. 16 31. Gal. 2. 20. Act. 15. 11. him alone for Justification Sanctification and Eternal Life by vertue of the Covenant of Grace 3. This Faith although it be different in degrees and may be weak k Heb. 5. 13. 14. Mat. 6. 30 Rom. 4. 19 20. or strong yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it as is all other saving Grace from the Faith l 2 Pet. 1. 1. and common grace of temporary beleivers and therefore though it may be many times assailed and weakned yet it gets m Eph. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. the victory growing up in many to the attainment of a full n Heb. 6. 11 12. Col. 2. 2. assurance through Christ who is both the Author o Heb. 12. 2. and finisher of our Faith CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation 1. SUch of the Elect as are converted at riper years having a Tit. 3. 2 3 4 5. sometimes lived in the state of nature and therein served divers lusts and pleasures God in their Effectual Calling giveth them Repentance unto Life 2. Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth b Eccl. 7. 20. not and the best of men may through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them with the prevalency of temptation fall into great sins and provocations God hath in the Covenant of Grace mercifully provided that Beleivers so sinning and falling c Luk. 22. 31 32. be renewed through Repentance unto Salvation 3. This saving Repentance is an d Zech. 12. 10. Act. 11. 18. evangelical Grace whereby a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his fin doth by Faith in Christ humble himself for it with godly sorrow detestation of it and self abhorrency e Ezek. 36. 31. 2 Cor. 7. 11. praying for pardon and strength of grace with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit to f Ps 119 6. Ps 119. 128. walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things 4. As Repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives upon the account of the body of death and the motions thereof so it is every mans duty to repent of his g Luk. 19. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 13. 15. particular known sins particularly 5. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the Covenant of Grace for the preservation of Believers unto Salvation that although there is no sin so small but it deserves h Rom. 6. 23. damnation yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that i Is 1. 16. 18. Is 55. 7. repent which makes the constant preaching of Repentance necessary CHAP. XVI Of Good Works 1. GOod Works are only such as God hath a Mic. 6. 8. Heb. 13 21. commanded in his Holy word and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal b Mat. 15. 9. Isa 29. 13. or upon any pretence of good intentions 2. These good works done in obedience to Gods commandments are the fruits and evidences c Jam. 2. 18. 22. of a true and lively faith and by them Believers manifest their d Ps 116.
John 2. 2. 20. 27. full perswasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts 6. The whole Councel of God concerning all things i 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Gal. 1. 8 9. necessary for his own Glory Mans Salvation Faith and Life is either expressely set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added whether by new Revelation of the Spirit or traditions of men Nevertheless we acknowledge the k John 6. 45. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12. inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the Church common to humane actions and societies which are to be l 1 Cor. 11 13 14. ch 14. 26. 40. ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence according to the general rules of the Word which are always to be observed 7. All things in Scripture are not alike m 2 Pet. 3. 16. plain in themselves nor alike clear unto all yet those things which are necessary to be known believed and observed for Salvation are so n Ps 19. 7. and 119. 130. clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other that not only the learned but the unlearned in a due use of ordinary means may attain to a sufficient understanding of them 8. The Old Testament in o Rom. 3. 2. Hebrew which was the Native language of the people of God of old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care and Providence kept pure in all Ages are therefore p Isa 8. 20 authentical so as in all controversies of Religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them q Act. 15. 15. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have a right unto and interest in the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read r John 5. 39. and search them therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every Nation unto which they s 1 Cor. 14 6 9. 11 12. 24 28. come that the Word of God dwelling t Col. 3. 16 plentifully in all they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the u 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. Act. 15. 15 16. Scripture it self And therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture which is not manifold but one it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly 10. The supream judge by which all controversies of Religion are to be determined and all Decrees of Councels opinions of antient Writers Doctrines of men and private Spirits are to be examined and in whose sentence we are to rest can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit into which x Mat. 22. 29. 31. Eph. 2. 20 Acts 28. 23. Scripture so delivered our faith is finally resolved CHAP. II. Of God and of the Holy Trinity 1. THE Lord our God is but a 1 Cor. 8. 4 6. Deut. 6. 4. one only living and true God whose b Jer 10. 10. Isaiah 48. 12. subsistence is in and of himself c Exod 3. 14. infinite in being and perfection whose Essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself d Joh. 4. 24. a most pure spirit e 1 Tim. 1. 17. Deut. 4. 15 16. invisible without body parts or passions who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto who is f Mal. 3. 6. immutable g 1 King 8. 27. Jer. 23. 23. immense h Ps 90. 2. eternal incomprehensible i Gen. 17. Almighty every way infinit k Isa 6. 3. most holy most wise most free most absolute l Ps 115. 3. Isa 45. 10. working all things according to the councel of his own immutable and most righteous will m Pro. 16. 4. Rom. 11 36. for his own glory most loving gracious merciful long suffering abundant in goodness and truth forgiving iniquity transgression and sin n Exod. 34. 6 7. Hebr. 11. 6. the rewarder of them that diligently seek him and withall most just o Neh. 9. 32 33. and terrible in his judgements p Ps 5. 5 6. hating all sin and who will by no means clear the q Exod. 34. 7. Nahum 1 2 3. guilty 2. God having all r Joh. 5. 26. life Å¿ Ps 148. 13. glory t Ps 119. 68. goodness blessedness in and of himself is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient not u Job 22. 2 3. standing in need of any Creature which he hath made nor deriving any glory from them but onely manifesting his own glory in by unto and upon them he is the alone fountain of all Being x Rom. 11. 34. 35 36. of whom through whom and to whom are all things and he hath most soveraign y Dan. 4. 25. and v. 34 35. dominion over all creatures to do by them for them or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth in his sight z Heb. 4. 13. all things are open and manifest his knowledge is a Ezek. 11. 5 Act. 15. 18. infinite infallible and independant upon the Creature so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain he is most holy in all his Councels in b Ps 145. 17. all his Works and in all his Commands to him is due c Rev. 5. 12 13 14. from Angels and men whatsoever worship service or obedience as Creatures they owe unto the Creator and whatever he is further pleased to require of them 3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences d 1 Joh. 5 7. Mat. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 14 the Father the Word or Son and Holy Spirit of one substance power and Eternity each having the whole Divine Essence e Exod. 3. 14. Joh. 14. 11. 1 Cor. 8. 6 yet the Essence undivided the Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding the Son is f Joh. 1. 14. 18. Eternally begotten of the Father the holy Spirit g Joh. 15. 26. Gal. 4. 6. proceeding from the Father and the Son all infinite without beginning therefore but one God who is not to be divided in nature and Being but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God and comfortable dependance on him CHAP. III. Of Gods Decree 1. GOD hath a Is 46.
unto him f Joh. 1. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4. mans nature with all the Essential properties and com mon infirmities thereof g Rom. 8. 3. Heb. 2. 14. 16 17. ch 4. 15. yet withou sin being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary the Holy Spirit coming down upon her and the power of the most High overshadowing her h Luk. 1. 27 31. 35. and so was made of a Woman of the Tribe of Judah of the Seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures So that two whole perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person without conversion composition or confusion which Person is very God and very Man yet one i Rom. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ the only Mediator between God and Man 3. The Lord Jesus in his humane nature thus united to the divine in the Person of the Son was sanctified anointed k Ps 45. 7. Act. 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. with the Holy Spirit above measure having in him l Col. 2. 3. all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in whom it pleased the Father that m Col. 1. 19 all fullness should dwell To the end that being n Heb. 7. 26. holy harmless undefiled and full o Joh 1. 14. of Grace and Truth he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and p Heb. 7. 22. Surety which office he took not upon himself but was thereunto q Heb. 5. 5. called by his Father who also put r Joh. 5. 22. 27. Mat. 28. 18. Act. 2. 36. all power and judgement in his hand and gave him Commandement to execute the same 4. This office the Lord Jesus did most s Ps 40. 7 8. Heb. 10. 5-11 Joh. 10. 18. willingly undertake which that he might discharge he was made under the Law t Gal. 4. 4. Mat. 3. 15. and did perfectly fulfill it and underwent the u Gal. 3. 13. Isa 53. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 18. punishment due to us which we should have born and suffered being made x 2 Cor. 5 21. Sin and a Curse for us enduring most grievous sorrows y Mat. 26. 37 38. Luk. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 46. in his Soul and most painful sufferings in his body was crucified and died and remained in the state of the dead yet saw no z Act. 13. 37. corruption on the a 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. third day he arose from the dead with the same b Joh. 20. 25. 27. body in which he suffered with which he also c Mark 16 19. Act. 1. 9 10 11. ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father d Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 9. 24 making intercession and shall e Act. 10. 42. Rom. 14. 9 10. Act. 1. 10 return to judge Men and Angels at the end of the World 5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself which he through the Eternal Spirit once offered up unto God f Heb. 9. 14. ch 10. 14. Rom. 3. 25 26. hath fully satisfied the Justice of God procured reconciliation and purchased an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven g Joh. 17. 2. Heb. 9. 15. for all those whom the Father hath given unto him 6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his Incarnation * 1 Cor. 4. 10. Heb. 4. 2. yet the vertue efficacy and benefit thereof were communicated to the 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the World in and by those Promises Types and Sacrifices wherein he was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head h Rev. 13. 8. and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World i Heb. 13. 8. Being the same yesterday and to day and for ever 7. Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according to both natures by each nature doing that which is proper to it self yet by reason of the Unity of the Person that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person k Joh. 3. 13. Act. 20. 28. denominated by the other nature 8. To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption he doth certainly and effectually l Joh. 6. 37. ch 10. 15. 16. ch 17. 9. Rom. 5. 10. apply and communicate the same making intercession for them uniting them to himself by his spirit m Joh. 17 6. Eph. 1. 9. 1 Joh. 5. 20. revealing unto them in and by the word the mystery of salvation perswading them to believe and obey n Rom. 8. 9. 14. governing their hearts by his word and spirit and o Ps 110. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty power and wisdom in such manner and wayes as are most consonant to his wonderful and p Joh. 3. 8 Eph. 1. 8. unsearchable dispensation and all of free and absolute Grace without any condition foreseen in them to procure it 9. This office of Mediator between God and Man is proper q 1 Tim. 2. 5. onely to Christ who is the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God and may not be either in whole or any part thereof transfer'd from him to any other 10. This number and order of Offices is necessary for in respect of our r Joh. 1. 18. ignorance we stand in need of his prophetical Office and in respect of our alienation from God s Col. 1. 21. Gal. 5. 17. and imperfection of the best of our services we need his Priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God and in respect of our averseness and utter inability to return to God and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries we need his Kingly office t Joh. 16. 8. Ps 110. 3 Luk. 1. 74. 75. to convince subdue draw uphold deliver and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdome CHAP. IX Of Free Will 1. GOD hath indued the Will of Man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice that it is a Mat. 17. 12. Jam. 1 14. Deut. 30. 19. neither forced nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil 2. Man in his state of innocency had freedom and power to will and to do that b Eccl. 7. 29. which was good and well-pleasing to God but yet c Gen. 3. 6 was mutable so that he might fall from it 3. Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost d Rom. 5. 6. ch 8. 7. all ability of Will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation so as a natural man being altogether averse from that good e Eph. 2. 1. 5. and dead in Sin is not able by his own strength to f Tit. 3 3 4 5. Joh. 6. 44. convert himself or to
probable perswasion grounded upon d Heb. 6. 11. 19. a fallible hope but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the Blood and Righteousness of Christ e Heb. 6. 17 18. revealed in the Gospel and also upon the inward f 2 Pet. 1. 4 5 10. 11. evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made and on the testimony of the g Rom. 8. 15 16. Spirit of adoption witnessing with our Spirits that we are the children of God and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both h 1 Joh. 3 1 2 3. humble and holy 3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith but that a true Believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be i Isa 50. 10. Ps 88. Psa 77. 1-12 partaker of it yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of means k 1 Joh. 4 13. Heb. 6. 11 12. attain thereunto and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the holy Spirit in love and thankfulness to God and in strength and chearfulness in the duties of obedience the proper l Rom. 5. 1 2. 5. ch 14 17. Ps 119. 32. fruits of this Assurance so far is it m Rom. 6. 1 2. Tit. 2. 11 12. 14. from inclining men to looseness 4. True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken diminished and intermitted as n Cant. 5. 2 3. 6. by negligence in preserving of it by o Ps 51. 8. 12. 14. falling into som special Sin which woundeth the Conscience and grieveth the Spirit by some sudden or p Psa 116. 11. Ps 77. 7 8. Ps 31 22. vehement temptation by Gods withdrawing the q Ps 30. 7 light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light yet are they never destitute of the r 1 Joh. 3. 9. seed of God and Life s Luk. 22. 32. of Faith that Love of Christ and the brethren that sincerity of Heart and Conscience of duty out of which by the operation of the Spirit this Assurance may in due time be t Ps 42. 5. 11. revived and by the which in the mean time they are u Lam. 3. 26. 27-31 preserved from utter despair CHAP. XIX Of the Law of God 1. GOd gave to Adam a Law of universal obedience a Gen. 1. 27. Eccl. 7. 29. written in his Heart and a particular precept of not eating the Fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal entire exact and perpetual b Rom. 10 5. obedience promised life upon the fulfilling and c Gal. 3. 10. 12 threatned death upon the breach of it and indued him with power and ability to keep it 2. The same Law that was first written in the heart of man d Rom. 2. 14 15. continued to be a perfect rule of Righteousness after the fall was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in e Deut. 10. 4. Ten Commandments and written in two Tables the four first containing our duty towards God and the other six our duty to man 3. Besides this Law commonly called moral God was pleased to give to the people of Israel Ceremonial Laws containing several typical ordinances partly of worship f Heb. 10. 1. Col. 2. 17. prefiguring Christ his graces actions sufferings and benefits and partly holding forth divers instructions g 1 Cor. 5 7. of moral duties all which Ceremonial Laws being appointed only to the time of reformation are by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only Law-giver who was furnished with power from the Father for that end h Col. 2. 14 16 17 Eph. 2. 14. 16. abrogated and taken away 4. To them also he gave sundry judicial Laws which expired together with the state of that people not obliging any now by vertue of that institution their general i 1 Cor. 9. 8 9 10. equity onely being of moral use 5. The moral Law doth for e-ever bind all k Rom. 13 8 9 10. Jam. 2. 8. 10 11 12 as well justified persons as others to the obedience thereof and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it but also in respect of the l Jam. 2 10 11. authority of God the Creator who gave it Neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve m Mat. 5. 17 18 19. Rom. 3. 31. but much strengthen this obligation 6. Although true Believers be not under the Law as a Covenant of Works n Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 2. 16. Rom. 8. 1. cha 10. 4. to be thereby Justified or condemned yet it is of great use to them as well as to others in that as a Rule of Life informing them of the Will of God and their Duty it directs and binds them to walk accordingly o Rom. 3. 20. chap. 7. 7. c. discovering also the sinfull pollutions of their Natures Hearts and Lives so as Examining themselves thereby they may come to further Conviction of Humiliation for and Hatred against Sin together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his Obedience It is likewise of use to the Regenerate to restrain their Corruptions in that it forbids Sin and the Threatnings of it serve to shew what even their Sins deserve and what afflictions in this Life they may expect for them although free'd from the Curse and unallayed Rigor thereof The Promises of it likewise shew them Gods approbation of Obedience and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof though not as due to them by the Law as a Covenant of Works so as mans doing Good and refraining from Evil because the Law incourageth to the one and deterreth from the other is no Evidence of his being p Rom. 6. 12 13 14. 1 Pet. 3. 8 -13 under the Law and not under Grace 7. Neither are the forementioned uses of the Law q Gal. 3. 21. contrary to the Grace of the Gospel but do sweetly comply with it the Spirit of Christ subduing r Eze. 36. 27. and inabling the Will of man to do that freely and chearfully which the will of God revealed in the Law requireth to be done CHAP. 20. Of the Gospel and of the extent of the Grace thereof 1. THE Covenant of Works being broken by Sin and made unprofitable unto Life God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ a Gen. 3. 15. the Seed of the Woman as the means of calling the Elect and begetting in them Faith and Repentance in this Promise the b Rev. 13. 8. Gospel as to
12 13. thankfullness strengthen their e 1 Joh. 2 3. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 5-11 assurance edifie their f Mat. 5. 16. brethren adorn the profession of the Gospel stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorifie g 1 Tim. 6. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 15. Phil. 1. 11 God whose workmanship they are created in Christ Jesus h Eph. 2. 10. thereunto that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end i Rom. 6. 22. eternal life 3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves but wholly from the Spirit k Joh. 15. 4. 6. of Christ and that they may be enabled thereunto besides the graces they have already received there is necessary an l 2 Cor. 3. 5. Phil. 2. 13. actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit but they ought to be diligent in m Phil. 2. 12. Heb. 6. 11 12. Isa 64. 7. stirring up the Grace of God that is in them 4. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life are so far from being able to superrogate and to do more then God requires as that n Job 9. 2 3. Gal. 5. 17. Luk. 17. 10. they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do 5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of Sin or Eternal Life at the hand of God by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come and the infinite distance that is between us and God whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfie for the debt of our o Rom. 3. 20. Eph. 2. 8 9. Rom. 4. 6. former sins but when we have done all we can we have done but our duty and are unprofitable servants and because as they are good they proceed from his p Gal. 5. 22 23. Spirit and as they are wrought by us they are defiled q Isa 64. 6. Ps 143 2. and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgement 6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of Believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in r Eph. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. him not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in Gods sight but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is s Mat. 25. 21. 23. Heb. 6. 10 sincere although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections 7. Works done by unregenerate men although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands and of good use both to themselves and t 2 King 10. 30. 1 King 21. 27 29 others yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by u Gen. 4. 5. Heb. 11 4. 6. faith nor are done in a right manner according to the w 1 Cor. 13. 1. word nor to a right end the x Mat. 6. 2. 5. glory of God they are therefore sinful and cannot please God nor make a man meet to receive grace from y Amos 5 21 22. Rom. 9. 16 Tit. 3. 5. God and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and z Job 21. 14 15. Mat. 25. 41 42 43 displeasing to God CHAP. XVII Of Perseverance of the Saints 1. THose whom God hath accepted in the beloved effectually called and Sanctified by his Spirit and given the precious faith of his Elect unto can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace a Joh. 10. 28. 29. Phi. 1. 6. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Joh. 2. 19. but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved seeing the gifts and callings of God are without Repentance whence he still begets and nourisheth in them Faith Repentance Love Joy Hope and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastned upon notwithstanding through unbelief and the temptations of Satan the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from b Psal 89. 31 32. 1 Cor. 11. 32. them yet he is still the same c Mal. 3. 6 and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto Salvation where they shall enjoy their purchased possession they being engraven upon the palm of his hands and their names having been written in the book of life from all Eternity 2. This perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own free will but upon the immutability of the decree of d Rom. 8. 30. ch 9. 11. 16. Election flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ e Rom. 5. 9 10. John 14. 19. and Union with him the f Heb. 6. 17 18. oath of God the abiding of his Spirit the g 1 Joh. 3. 9. seed of God within them and the nature of the h Jer. 32. 40. Covenant of Grace from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof 3. And though they may through the temptation of Satan and of the world the prevalency of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of means of their preservation fall into grievous i Mat. 26. 70 72. 74. sins and for a time continue therein whereby they incur k Is 64. 5. 9. Eph. 4. 30 Gods displeasure and grieve his holy Spirit come to have their graces and l Psal 51. 10. 12. comforts impaired have their hearts hardened and their Consciences wounded m Psa 32. 3 4. hurt and scandalize others and bring temporal judgements n 2 Sam. 12 14. upon themselves yet they shall renew their o Luk. 22. 32. v. 61 62. repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end CHAP. XVIII Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation 1. ALthough temporary Believers and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation a Job 8. 13. 14. Mat. 7. 22 23. which hope of theirs shall perish yet such as truely believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity endeavouring to walk in all good Conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured b 1 Joh. 2. 3. ch 3. 14 18 19. 21. 24. ch 5. 13. that they are in the state of Grace and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them c Rom. 5. 2. 5. ashamed 2. This certainty is not abare conjectural and