Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

And when God engageth to continue his Favour unto any, he engageth to continue them in a fit disposition to receive his Favour. Thus to the Posterity of David, ¹which in a Type were the Representatives of the spiritual Seed that should be raised to our Elder Brother-Christ Jesus, whom David typified, it was promised that they should endure for ever; but then in case of forsaking of God's Law, he would visit their Transgressions with a Rod, ²or he would use such means (tho irksome for him to do, and grievous for them to bear,) as might bring them back unto himself by Repentance. Nay were the Promise of God never so plain and full in any case unto ⟨image 55⟩any Person, yet there is always a Subintelligitur of such a demeanour as may be fit to receive the mercy promised, as we may see in the case of Eli and his Family, which God doth acknowledge that he had promised the Priesthood to; and yet upon the provocations of Eli and his Sons,³ God says, Be it far from me, that I should perform it: Neither is God unrighteous, or his Veracity to be excepted against, for so long as we have to do with so Hol• a God, all Covenants are to be understood so, as may agree with his Holiness, and not otherwise.

1. 1Psal. 89.32.
2. 2Vers. 29.
3. 31 Sam. 2.30.

Thou sayest, But they are but vain words, that thou hast such Mercies promised unto thee, and treasured up for thee, whereas unless thou beest sanctified and born again, thou canst not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven,