Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

In the disquisition of these grounds, say not in thine heart who shall ascend into Heaven? ¹or who shall descend into the deep? seek not above or below: it is not possible for thee to go bodily into Heaven, to see the Records of Eternity, and to read thy name in the Book of Life, but search into these fruits and effects of thy election As—

1. 1Rom. 10.16

1. If thou beest within Gods decrees for salvation, then, sooner or later, God will cause the power of his Word to come with authority and conviction upon thy conscience: knowing brethren, beloved your election of God, for our Gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power. The Apostle speaks thus of others;¹ he might know they were the Elected of God, either by his judgment of charity, or by a spirit of discerning, which was vouchsafed to some in the Apostles times; but how comes he immediately to know this truth? by this glorious effect, our Gospel came not in Word only, but also in power. Oh 'tis good to consider with what power the Word preached falls into thy heart; doth it convince thee, humble thee, mollify thee, soften thee? this argues thou belongest to God. The Word preached will be more than the word of a man, more than a mere human Oration, or verbal declamation, where it comes in power: Oh! it will be like fire in thy bowels, like a two edged Sword in the secret places of thy heart; thou wilt cry out, verily God is here: Oh the power! the conviction, the meltings of my soul that I feel within me!

1. If thou beest within Gods decrees for salvation, then, sooner or later, God will cause the power of his Word to come with authority and conviction upon thy conscience: knowing brethren, beloved your election of God, for our Gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power. The Apostle speaks thus of others;