A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

¹Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy: To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever, Amen. Doth God in these places promise to protect us against foreign enemies, not against domestic perfidiousness? The texts do respect no condition, as the cause of fulfilling these promises, but plainly affirm, that God himself doth promise and will give the condition which he requires. For to what end doth he write the Law in the heart, uphold with his hand, and give a good issue to the temptation, but that the will, prone to wickedness, should not yield, and altogether start back from grace received? Whosoever is borne of God, ²doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is borne of God. And if the seed abide in the faithful as an indelible character and pledge of their inheritance, that they cannot sin in the Apostles sense, then are they fenced against the treachery of their own hearts remaining in them.³ Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst: but the water that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life: where thirst is opposed to a total want of grace, not to the earnest desire of increase in grace. The thirst of total indigency is taken away by the participation of grace,⁴ the thirst of complacency or more ample fruition of grace, is increased. The Holy Spirit who is sent into the hearts of the Sons of God, is not there as a guest to tarry for a night or two: but as an inhabitant to dwell and remain for ever: yea, as an earnest of their inheritance,⁵ until the redemption of the purchased possession. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is, God, ⟨p. 284⟩who hath also sealed us, ⁶