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

3. Desire after continuance of the Covenant-state: many a sweet soul cannot deny but that the Lord hath showed mercy on him, but he fears that he shall not hold out: he feels within such a Power of corruption, such strong temptations, so many lusts, that now he doubts, O what will become of my poor Soul? what will be the issue of this woeful work? why come now and desire after perseverance: when Peter was ravished on the mount, it is good being here (says he) let us build three Tabernacles; ¹his desire was to have continued there for ever; and it was the prayer of Christ in Peters behalf,² I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; what was this Prayer but Christ's vehement desire of Peters continuing in the faith? shall Christ desire, and will not thou desire after thy own perfection? O come with these Pantings, and Breathings after God; put forth thy desires in these or the like expressions, O Lord thou hast said I will betroth thee unto me for ever; ³and what means this but that the conjugal love of Christ with a gracious soul shall never be broken? what means this but that the bond of union in a believer to Christ is fastened upon God, and the spirit of God holds the other end of it, and so it can never be broken? 2. O Lord thou hast discovered in thy Word, that th s union is in the Father, who hath laid a sure foundation, ⁴the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his: ⁵and that this union is in the Son, who loves his to the end: and that this union is in the spirit who abides in the elect for ever. 3. Thou hast discovered, that the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, ⁶neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. 4. Thou hast said that the Saints shall be kept by the Power of God. q. d. The special Power I mean to put forth in this world,