I. That it is the commandment of God that we should believe in Christ. 1. Joh. 3.22. This is then his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment.
II. That the Evangelical promises are indefinite, and do exclude no man, unless peradventure any man do exclude himself. Isaiah. 55. 1. Ho, every one ⟨p. 133⟩that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that have no silver, come, buy, and eat: come, I say, buy wine and milk without silver and without money. Matth. 11.28. Come unto me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you. Joh. 3.15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Also the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, do to every one severally apply indefinite promises, and therefore are very effectual to enforce particular assurance or plerophory of forgiveness of sins.
III. That doubtfulness and despair are most grievous sins.
IV. That contrary to hope, men must under hope believe with Abraham. Rom. 4.18. Which Abraham above hope believed under hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, so shall thy seed be.
V. That the mercy of God, and the merit of Christs obedience, being both God and man, are infinite. Isaiah 54.10. For the mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down: but my mercy shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace fall away, saith the Lord, that hath compassion on thee. Psal. 103.11. For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 1. Joh. 2.1. My babes, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not: and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just. 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Psal. 130.7. Let Israel wait on the Lord: for the Lord is mercy, and with him is great redemption.
VI. That God measureth the obedience due unto him, rather by the affection and desire to obey, then by the act and performance of it. Rom. 8.5. For they that are after the flesh, savour the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. 7. Because the wisdom of the flesh, is enmity against God:
I. That it is the commandement of God that we should beleeue in Christ. 1. Ioh. 3.22. This is then his commandement, that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and loue one another, as he gaue commandement.
II. That the Euangelicall promises are indefinite, and doe exclude no man, vnlesse peraduenture any man doe exclude himselfe. Esay. 55. 1. Ho, euery one ⟨p. 133⟩that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that haue no siluer, come, buie, and eate: come, I say, buie wine and milke without siluer and without money. Matth. 11.28. Come vnto me, all ye that are wearie and laden, and I will ease you. Ioh. 3.15. That whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but haue eternall life. Also the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper, doe to euery one seuerally applie indefinite promises, and therefore are very effectuall to enforce particular assurance or plerophorie of forgiuenes of sinnes.
III. That doubtfulnes and despaire are most grieuous sinnes.
IV. That contrarie to hope, men must vnder hope beleeue with Abraham. Rom. 4.18. Which Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, so shall thy seede be.
V. That the mercie of God, and the merit of Christs obedience, beeing both God and man, are infinite. Esai 54.10. For the mountaines shall remooue, and the hills shal fall downe: but my mercie shall not depart from thee, neither shal my couenant of peace fall away, saith the Lord, that hath compassion on thee. Psal. 103.11. For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth, so great is his mercie toward them that feare him. 1. Ioh. 2.1. My babes, these things write I vnto you, that ye sinne not: and if any man sinne, we haue an aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the iust. 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes: and not for ours onely, but also for the sinnes of the whole world. Psal. 130.7. Let Israel wait on the Lord: for the Lord is mercie, and with him is great redemption.
VI. That God measureth the obedience due vnto him, rather by the affection and desire to obey, then by the act and performance of it.
