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great_a fear_n of_o sin_n etc._n etc._n such_o thing_n as_o these_o be_v necessary_a in_o a_o ordinary_a way_n be_v it_o any_o wonder_n that_o few_o very_a feâ—_n attain_v it_o when_o grace_n be_v so_o weak_a where_o it_o be_v true_a and_o the_o knowledge_n of_o ourselves_o so_o little_a and_o most_o be_v so_o backward_o to_o self-examination_n or_o so_o little_a skilled_a in_o it_o and_o so_o little_o acquaint_v with_o satan_n temptation_n and_o their_o mind_n so_o confuse_v and_o their_o thought_n so_o ungoverned_a and_o their_o conscience_n have_v so_o little_a tenderness_n and_o be_v so_o often_o wound_v by_o wilful_a sin_n no_o wonder_n if_o the_o generality_n of_o christian_n have_v not_o assurance_n even_o of_o such_o as_o be_v sincere_a and_o accept_v of_o god_n there_o be_v many_o thing_n to_o be_v know_v and_o understand_v concern_v the_o nature_n and_o application_n of_o the_o promise_n of_o the_o gospel_n which_o every_o real_a christian_n have_v not_o attain_v and_o 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no._n to_o such_o of_o you_o my_o brethren_n who_o can_v true_o say_v this_o be_v your_o case_n that_o all_o or_o any_o thing_n considerable_a of_o this_o be_v a_o true_a and_o real_a part_n of_o your_o character_n i_o may_v say_v that_o peace_n and_o comfort_n belong_v to_o you_o the_o breathe_n of_o faith_n argue_v the_o reality_n of_o it_o as_o much_o as_o the_o loud_a voice_n to_o be_v able_a to_o creep_v be_v as_o true_a a_o evidence_n of_o life_n as_o to_o be_v able_a to_o run_v you_o may_v lift_v up_o your_o head_n with_o hope_n and_o avouch_v the_o lord_n to_o be_v your_o god_n you_o may_v come_v to_o the_o lord_n table_n with_o cheerfulness_n and_o thanksgiving_n i_o do_v in_o the_o name_n of_o my_o great_a master_n invite_v you_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o he_o will_v bid_v you_o welcome_n o_o let_v we_o all_o join_v in_o beg_v his_o gracious_a presence_n that_o he_o will_v meet_v we_o here_o and_o in_o every_o part_n of_o the_o city_n and_o country_n where_o this_o holy_a feast_n on_o the_o sacrifice_n of_o christ_n shall_v be_v celebrate_v to_o morrow_n o_o that_o he_o will_v display_v the_o banner_n of_o his_o love_n towards_o we_o and_o seal_v his_o covenant-promise_a with_o all_o the_o sweetness_n and_o joy_n of_o his_o salvation_n unto_o our_o soul_n o_o that_o he_o will_v speak_v by_o his_o holy_a spirit_n to_o our_o spirit_n with_o such_o a_o powerful_a voice_n as_o shall_v make_v we_o hear_v and_o feel_v it_o that_o it_o be_v his_o own_o say_n son_n or_o daughter_n be_v of_o good_a cheer_n thy_o sin_n be_v forgive_v thou_o i_o be_o thy_o god_n i_o have_v love_v thou_o with_o a_o everlasting_a love_n i_o have_v accept_v thou_o for_o i_o i_o have_v blot_v out_o all_o thy_o numerous_a heinous_a transgression_n and_o will_v remember_v they_o no_o more_o i_o enter_v into_o covenant_n with_o thou_o and_o thou_o become_v mine_n and_o i_o be_o not_o ashamed_a to_o be_v call_v thy_o god_n i_o will_v never_o never_o never_o leave_v thou_o nor_o forsake_v thou_o but_o guide_v thou_o by_o my_o counsel_n and_o afterward_o receive_v thou_o to_o glory_n amen_n finis_fw-la
a_o sacramental-question_n concern_v assurance_n a_o sacramental-question_n concern_v assurance_n how_o far_o necessary_a to_o a_o worthy_a communicant_a practical_o answer_v in_o a_o sermon_n preparatory_a to_o the_o lord's-supper_n saturday_n march_v 2._o 1699_o 1700._o london_n print_v by_o j._n brudenell_n for_o john_n falconer_n at_o the_o talbot_n on_o the_o bridge_n 1700._o to_o the_o reader_n have_v reason_n to_o believe_v the_o follow_a discourse_n be_v of_o some_o use_n to_o several_a who_o hear_v it_o to_o comply_v with_o their_o desire_n and_o in_o hope_n of_o do_v good_a to_o other_o it_o be_v now_o publish_a if_o it_o be_v object_v that_o the_o style_n be_v too_o negligent_a and_o copious_a and_o the_o same_o thing_n express_v over_o and_o over_o in_o different_a phrase_n and_o sometime_o the_o same_o repeat_v which_o may_v be_v well_o enough_o in_o preach_v to_o a_o mix_a auditory_a but_o more_o exactness_n shall_v be_v use_v in_o print_v i_o have_v only_o to_o say_v 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humble_a and_o thankful_a adore_v he_o and_o admire_v his_o rich_a free_a and_o glorious_a grace_n but_o abuse_v it_o not_o j._n s._n london_n april_n 17._o 1700._o a_o sacramental-question_n concern_v assurance_n how_o far_o necessary_a to_o worthy_a receive_v 1_o cor._n xi_o 28._o but_o let_v a_o man_n examine_v himself_o and_o so_o let_v he_o eat_v of_o that_o bread_n in_o this_o verse_n you_o have_v it_o plain_o suppose_v that_o it_o be_v a_o christian_n duty_n to_o partake_v of_o the_o lord's-supper_n the_o manner_n of_o the_o performance_n be_v regulate_v but_o the_o substance_n of_o the_o duty_n be_v presuppose_v viz._n to_o do_v this_o in_o remembrance_n of_o christ_n he_o ought_v to_o eat_v of_o this_o bread_n and_o drink_v of_o this_o cup_n and_o show_v forth_o the_o lord_n death_n this_o way_n only_o take_v heed_n not_o to_o rush_v hasty_o without_o previous_a self-examination_n â—_o that_o solemn_a preparation_n be_v necessary_a to_o the_o right_a performance_n of_o this_o 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fit_v for_o this_o ordinance_n he_o continue_v to_o disobey_v a_o order_n of_o christ_n it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o say_v you_o have_v no_o assurance_n or_o be_v afraid_a to_o come_v without_o it_o that_o will_v not_o excuse_v you_o from_o sin_n many_o keep_v off_o on_o such_o pretence_n lest_o they_o shall_v eat_v and_o drink_v unworthy_o and_o so_o sin_n but_o consider_v not_o the_o sin_n and_o danger_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n of_o stay_v away_o upon_o such_o ground_n as_o will_v not_o excuse_v they_o before_o god_n consider_v therefore_o what_o be_v the_o faulty_a cause_n of_o your_o ignorance_n of_o yourselves_o and_o of_o your_o true_a state_n towards_o god_n be_v it_o not_o sloth_n and_o carelessness_n negligence_n and_o remissness_n earthly_a care_n or_o the_o hurry_n of_o worldly_a business_n and_o if_o the_o doubt_n of_o your_o sincerity_n arise_v from_o a_o faulty_a cause_n you_o must_v not_o plead_v those_o doubt_n as_o a_o sufficient_a excuse_n for_o not_o come_v to_o the_o lord_n table_n there_o be_v a_o faulty_a carelessness_n in_o some_o good_a christian_n that_o they_o do_v not_o observe_v and_o record_v the_o working_n of_o god_n spirit_n upon_o their_o heart_n and_o so_o the_o time_n of_o his_o love_n be_v not_o take_v notice_n of_o nor_o remember_v to_o allude_v to_o what_o god_n say_v to_o ephraim_n hos_n xi_o 3._o when_o ephraim_n be_v a_o child_n i_o teach_v he_o to_o go_v take_v he_o by_o the_o arm_n but_o he_o know_v it_o not_o do_v not_o observe_v it_o you_o must_v reflect_v inquire_v and_o consider_v what_o god_n have_v wrought_v in_o you_o and_o do_v for_o you_o whether_o you_o have_v be_v bring_v humble_o to_o acknowledge_v your_o sin_n with_o shame_n and_o sorrow_n and_o self-abhorrence_a see_v your_o need_n of_o christ_n and_o his_o grace_n have_v be_v persuade_v thankful_o to_o take_v hold_n of_o the_o covenant_n to_o accept_v the_o offer_a mercy_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o yield_v yourselves_o to_o be_v the_o lord_n we_o lose_v 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saviour_n and_o bring_v you_o to_o heaven_n in_o god_n appoint_a way_n do_v you_o not_o make_v religion_n your_o great_a business_n in_o this_o world_n be_v not_o your_o be_v accept_v of_o god_n in_o christ_n your_o great_a concern_v be_v there_o any_o thing_n in_o all_o the_o world_n your_o heart_n be_v set_v more_o upon_o than_o that_o you_o may_v be_v save_v by_o jesus_n christ_n and_o not_o be_v find_v hypocrite_n at_o last_o will_v you_o not_o account_v the_o certainty_n and_o assurance_n of_o this_o a_o great_a privilege_n than_o to_o be_v owner_n of_o all_o the_o riches_n and_o treasure_n of_o the_o earth_n be_v it_o not_o your_o heavy_a burden_n that_o you_o fear_v you_o shall_v fall_v short_a of_o heaven_n and_o you_o dread_v nothing_o more_o than_o to_o be_v mistake_v about_o your_o interest_n in_o the_o special_a love_n of_o god_n whence_o have_v you_o these_o apprehension_n these_o desire_n this_o choice_n can_v the_o devil_n ever_o persuade_v you_o this_o be_v from_o 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ignorance_n pride_n selfishness_n carnality_n unbelief_n deadness_n dulness_n etc._n etc._n you_o groan_v under_o they_o as_o a_o continual_a burden_n and_o will_v rather_o be_v rid_v of_o they_o than_o of_o any_o outward_a affliction_n whatsoever_o do_v not_o all_o this_o argue_v true_a love_n to_o god_n and_o holiness_n true_a love_n to_o christ_n and_o hatred_n of_o sin_n and_o can_v you_o not_o infer_v from_o hence_o what_o he_o have_v do_v for_o you_o and_o wrought_v in_o your_o soul_n oh_o bear_v not_o false_a witness_n against_o yourselves_o but_o labour_n by_o such_o reflection_n to_o know_v your_o state_n that_o you_o may_v come_v to_o the_o table_n of_o the_o lord_n with_o joy_n and_o praise_n three_o as_o it_o be_v ordinary_o some_o sin_n that_o keep_v a_o man_n unresolved_a and_o in_o the_o dark_a which_o do_v not_o excuse_v he_o from_o the_o duty_n so_o for_o a_o man_n to_o mistake_v his_o true_a state_n and_o doubt_n and_o question_v his_o integrity_n towards_o god_n if_o he_o be_v sincere_a even_o that_o doubt_n be_v his_o sin_n he_o ought_v to_o endeavour_v to_o know_v himself_o and_o make_v a_o right_a judgement_n and_o then_o come_v to_o receive_v the_o seal_n of_o the_o covenant_n his_o mistake_n in_o judge_v of_o his_o own_o case_n be_v faulty_a and_o will_v not_o excuse_v he_o from_o the_o obligation_n of_o judge_v more_o true_o and_o just_o of_o himself_o upright_a christian_n be_v oblige_v to_o judge_v of_o themselves_o according_a to_o truth_n what_o real_o they_o be_v and_o so_o to_o receive_v what_o belong_v to_o they_o as_o the_o child_n of_o god_n and_o member_n of_o christ_n within_o the_o bond_n of_o the_o everlasting_a covenant_n four_o it_o be_v a_o common_a and_o dangerous_a mistake_n by_o which_o many_o be_v deceive_v to_o place_v the_o nature_n of_o save_v justify_v faith_n in_o the_o assurance_n of_o god_n love_n and_o the_o knowledge_n and_o persuasion_n that_o we_o be_v pardon_v and_o justify_v and_o accept_v of_o god_n whereas_o many_o true_o believe_v and_o have_v faith_n unfeigned_a and_o shall_v inherit_v eternal_a life_n who_o yet_o doubt_n and_o fear_n and_o dare_v not_o say_v all_o this_o and_o other_o may_v be_v persuade_v that_o be_v their_o case_n who_o do_v never_o yet_o believe_v in_o christ_n with_o all_o their_o heart_n the_o one_o shall_v be_v ashamed_a of_o their_o fear_n as_o the_o other_o of_o their_o hope_n to_o place_v faith_n in_o a_o mere_a assent_n to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v one_o extreme_a to_o place_v it_o in_o assurance_n of_o my_o good_a estate_n towards_o god_n that_o be_v another_o there_o be_v a_o blessedness_n pronounce_v to_o such_o as_o mourn_v and_o be_v poor_a in_o spirit_n and_o hunger_n and_o thirst_n after_o righteousness_n they_o may_v do_v so_o without_o assurance_n the_o unbelief_n that_o condems_n be_v not_o the_o not_o believe_v we_o be_v already_o justify_v therefore_o the_o faith_n which_o save_v man_n be_v not_o the_o believe_a that_o they_o be_v justify_v he_o that_o believe_v he_o be_v justify_v and_o pardon_v must_v be_v so_o before_o he_o can_v believe_v it_o by_o he_o all_o that_o believe_v be_v justify_v act_v xiii_o 39_o we_o have_v believe_v in_o jesus_n christ_n that_o we_o may_v be_v justify_v gal._n two_o 16._o assurance_n follow_v faith_n in_o who_o after_o you_o believe_v you_o be_v seal_v with_o the_o holy_a spirit_n of_o promise_n 1_o eph._n 15._o all_o that_o hear_v the_o gospel_n preach_v be_v command_v to_o believe_v on_o the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n but_o all_o be_v not_o command_v or_o oblige_v to_o believe_v their_o sin_n be_v already_o pardon_v and_o that_o they_o be_v in_o a_o justify_v state_n then_o many_o will_v be_v command_v to_o believe_v what_o be_v not_o yet_o true_a and_o to_o believe_v my_o sin_n be_v forgive_v that_o they_o may_v be_v forgive_v be_v very_o absurd_a and_o yet_o if_o faith_n be_v necessary_a to_o justification_n this_o will_v follow_v to_o believe_v i_o shall_v certain_o be_v 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age_n and_o rank_n of_o believer_n some_o whereof_z be_v yet_o short_a of_o assurance_n and_o must_v not_o the_o child_n be_v allow_v to_o be_v a_o child_n before_o he_o can_v speak_v for_o himself_o and_o say_v he_o be_v one_o how_o many_o of_o the_o child_n of_o god_n must_v we_o then_o turn_v out_o of_o door_n who_o he_o receive_v and_o love_v some_o of_o the_o first_o reformer_n who_o fall_v into_o this_o mistake_n be_v eminent_a for_o faith_n and_o holiness_n and_o joy_n and_o by_o what_o they_o find_v in_o themselves_o speak_v what_o they_o feel_v they_o describe_v faith_n by_o such_o a_o full_a persuasion_n of_o the_o love_n of_o god_n as_o many_o real_a christian_n have_v not_o attain_v by_o such_o assurance_n and_o joy_n of_o faith_n as_o they_o themselves_o experience_v but_o the_o lord_n know_v who_o be_v his_o when_o many_o of_o they_o do_v not_o know_v it_o themselves_o it_o be_v the_o reality_n and_o the_o sincerity_n of_o our_o faith_n that_o be_v necessary_a to_o 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