1. A sound persuasion upon good ground by the Spirit, is ever agreeable and answerable exactly to the Word. The inward testimony of the Spirit, and outward testimony of the Word, do alway sweetly accord, and one answers to the other, as face to face in water. And therefore, if that thy present state, wherein thou conceivest thy self to be sure and safe enough for salvation, be disabled and condemned by Gods Word; thy confidence is vain, and Satan deludes thee. The Scripture tells us, ⟨p. 330⟩That whosoever is borne of God, doth not commit asin, 1. Joh. 1. 3, 9. which is not to be understood simply of the act of sinning; For who can say, My heart is clean? But in this sense: He makes not a trade of sinning; he sinneth not with bpurpose, pleasure and perseverance; he doth not live, lie, and delight in sin; he suffers it not to reign in him. If then thou allowest any lust in thy heart, or go on in the willing practise of any one known sin, or sensual course, and yet be well conceited of thy self for comfort in the World to come; the Devil cozens thee: God will not chear the prayers, but dwound the hairy scalp of every such a one. For instance: If thou lyest in lying; (for its one thing to be overtaken that way out of fear, or ere thou be aware, another thing to continue in it habitually and resolutely against an enlightened impenitent conscience) and yet look for Heaven, thou art deceived; thou hast made a lye thy refuge, and hid thy self under falsehood. And why? because Gods Word saith, that the Fearful, and Unbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Liars, shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, Revel. 21. 8. Conceive proportionably of lying in any other sin damned in Gods Book in the sense I have said. If thou abidest in the state of mere civill honesty, and yet thinkest with thy self, that thou art thereby furnished sufficiently for future happiness, it is but a false flash. And why? Because the Word saith; Without holiness no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. Which necessarily implies; That no mere ecivill man can possibly be saved. If thou be a luke-warm Laodicean, and yet conceivest thou art rich enough spiritually, and lookest to be saved; thou art deceived: And why? Because the Word saith;
1. A sound perswasion vpon good ground by the Spirit, is euer agreeable and answerable exactly to the Word. The inward testimony of the Spirit, and outward testimony of the Word, doe alway sweetely accord, and one answeres to the other, as face to face in water. And therefore, if that thy present state, wherein thou conceiuest thy selfe to bee sure and safe inough for saluation, bee disabled and condemned by Gods Word; thy confidence is vaine, and Satan deludes thee. The Scripture tels vs, ⟨p. 330⟩That whosoeuer is borne of God, doth not commit asin, 1. Ioh. 1. 3, 9. which is not to be vnderstood simply of the act of sinning; For who can say, My heart is cleane? But in this sence: He makes not a trade of sinning; he sinneth not with bpurpose, pleasure and perseuerance; he doth not liue, lie, and delight in sinne; he suffers it not to reigne in him. If then thou allowest any lust in thy heart, or goe on in the willing practise of any one knowne sinne, or sensuall course, and yet bee well conceited of thy selfe for comfort in the World to come; the Deuill coozens thee: God will not cheare the prayers, but dwound the hairie scalpe of euery such a one. For instance: If thou lyest in lying; (for its one thing to be ouertaken that way out of feare, or ere thou be aware, another thing to continue in it habitually and resolutely against an illightned impenitent conscience) and yet looke for Heauen, thou art deceiued; thou hast made a lye thy refuge, and hid thy selfe vnder falsehood. And why? because Gods Word saith, that the Fearefull, and Vnbeleeuing, and the Abominable, and Murtherers, and Whoremongers, and S•rcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyers, shall haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, Reuel. 21. 8. Conceiue proportionably of lying in any other sinne damned in Gods Booke in the sence I haue said. If thou abidest in the state of meere ciuill honestie, and yet thinkest with thy selfe, that thou art thereby furnished sufficiently for future happinesse, it is but a false flash. And why? Because the Word saith; Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord,
- aSancti non operantur peccatum; & tamen non sunt sine peccato. Aug. in Psal. 118.
- bUbi regnat propositum peccandi; ibi fidueia mis•icordiae exulat.Vbi regnat propositum peccandi; ibi fidueia mis•icordiae exulat.
- cPsal. 66. 18.
- dPsal. 68. 21.
- eSit licet ille Fabricius; sit licet Fabius; sit licet Scipio; sit licet Regulus; quorum me nominibus tanquā in antiquâ Romanâ curiâ loqueremur, putâsti esse terrendum. August. contra Julia. Pelag. lib. 4. cap. 3.Sit licet ille Fabricius; sit licet Fabius; sit licet Scipio; sit licet Regulus; quorum me nominibus tanquā in antiquâ Romanâ curiâ loqueremur, putâsti esse terrendum. August. contra Iulia. Pelag. lib. 4. cap. 3.
