Life eternalLife eternall

Besides this, it will breed a notable fervency in prayer, when a man knoweth that there are such promises, it will make him never give over, it will make him watch and pray continually with all perseverance, though many times he prayeth, and hath no answer, as the woman of Canaan, yea, though he hath sometimes a contrary answer and effect to what he asketh; yet when he hath laid hold on the promises, he will not let go, he will never give over; he knows, He, who hath promised, is faithful; therefore he is not like a wave of the sea, tossed up and down with every wind.

Besides this, it will breed a notable fervencie in prayer, when a man knoweth that there are such promises, it will make him never give over, it will make him watch and pray continually with all perseverance, though many times hee prayeth, and hath no answer, as the woman of Canaan, yea, though he hath sometimes a contrary answer and effect to what he asketh; yet when he hath laid hold on the promises, he will not let goe, he will never give over; hee knowes, Hee, who hath promised, is faithfull; therefore he is not like a wave of the sea, tossed up and downe with every wind.

But it is not only a ground of all this, but it brings forth the effect: it doth exceedingly strengthen our faith in matters of justification; for it is certain, that the same faith, whereby we believe, and apply the promises of salvation, through Christ, it is the same faith whereby we ⟨p. 72⟩believe the Scripture, and that there is a God, that made both Heaven and Earth. There is no difference in the faith; yea, that justifying faith, by which thou art saved, it ariseth from the belief of these principles; as it was the same eye, whereby the Israelites did see the mountains and trees, and other objects, and by which they saw the brazen Serpent; No man believes justification by Christ, but his faith is mainly grounded upon this Word of God; for whereas in Scripture we find that JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh, and that he is a Lamb slain, for forgiveness of sins; that he is offered to every creature, that a man must thirst after him, and then take up his Cross and follow him. Now come to a believer going out of the world, and ask him what hope he hath to be saved, and what ground for it? he will be ready to say, I know that Christ is come into the world, and that he is offered, and I know that I am one of them that have a part in him; I know that I have fulfilled the conditions, as that I should not continue willingly in any known sin, that I should love the LORD JESUS, and desire to serve him above all; I know that I have fulfilled these conditions. I say, if the ground whereon our faith is builded be the Word, then it is builded on a sure rock, and the gates of hell, Satan, and all his temptations shall not prevail against it, but against a strong fancy it may.