The Soul's Conflict with Itself

Now these promises are 1. for their ¹spring from whence they proceed, fre• ing agements of God; for if he had not ⟨p. 297⟩bound himself, who could? and 2. they are for their value precious, and 3. for ²their extent large, even of all things that conduce to happiness; and 4. for their ³virtue quickening and strengthening the ⁴soul, as coming from the love of God, and conveying that love unto us by his Spirit in the best fruits thereof: and 5. for their certainty, they are as sure as the Love of God in Christ is, upon ⁵which they are founded, and from which nothing can separate us. For all promises are either Christ himself, ⁶(the promised seed) or else they are of good things made to us in him and for him, and accomplished for his sake; they are all made first to him as heir of the promise, as Angel of the covenant, as head of his body, and as our Elder brother, &c. for promises being the fruits of Gods love, and Gods love being founded first on Christ, it must needs follow that all the promises are both made, and made good to us in and through him, who is yesterday and to day, and for ever the same.⁷

Now these promises are 1. for their ¹spring from whence they proceed, fre• ing agements of God; for if hee had not ⟨p. 297⟩bound himselfe, who could? and 2. they are for their value pretious, and 3. for