1. The undoubted verity of Gods promises, proveth an inseparable connection ⟨p. 311⟩between sincere grace, and eternal glory. Faith is the eye of the soul, & with it, through a promise, as through a perspective-glass, can the soul have a view of Heaven and glory. What greater certainty or security can a man have, than the infallible promise of that God who is truth it self; who will not deny his Word, but the same Love and free Grace that moved him to infuse Grace into thy heart, and to make the Promise, will move him also to give the thing promised, Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh. 5.24. He that believeth hath everlasting life: He hath it in the Promise, he hath it in the first-fruits, Rom. 8.23. — But we our selves also which have the first-fruits of the Spirit. — The Jews by offering their first fruits, did testify their thankfulness to God for what they had received, and hopes of the full crop in due time. He hath everlasting life, then it must not end, Mark 16.16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: He that believeth not shall be damned. As certainly as the unbeliever shall be cast into outer darkness, so certainly shall the believer be partaker of the glorious Inheritance of the Saints in Light. The Promise is as true as the Threatening, Act. 16.30, 31. There you see a poor convinced, wounded sinner, under the load of guilt, that had a sight of his lost, undone, deplorable condition coming to the Apostles, and speaking after this manner, Ye men of God, ye servants of the Lord, if there be any way for me, who have been so great a sinner, that have done enough ten thousand times over, to damn my own soul; if there be any certain way to avoid damnation, I beseech you tell me, if there be any means by which I might certainly be saved, as you pity my sinful soul, my bleeding heart, my wounded conscience, tell me what it is, declare it to me. What is the Apostles answer? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The Apostles speak not doubtingly, perhaps thou shalt be saved, perhaps thou mayest be damned. If thou get Faith, it may be thou mayest get Heaven. Alas! what relief, peace, satisfaction would this have been to his wounded conscience?
1. The undoubted verity of Gods promises, proveth an inseperable connexion ⟨p. 311⟩between sincere grace, and eternal glory. Faith is the eye of the soul, & with it, through a promise, as through a perspective-glass, can the soul have a view of Heaven and glory. What greater certainty or security can a man have, than the infallible promise of that God who is truth it self; who will not deny his Word, but the same Love and free Grace that moved him to infuse Grace into thy heart, and to make the Promise, will move him also to give the thing promised, Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world, that hee gave his onely begotten Son, that whosoever beleeveth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh. 5.24. Hee that beleeveth hath everlasting life: Hee hath it in the Promise, hee hath it in the first-fruits, Rom. 8.23. — But wee our selves also which have the first-fruits of the Spirit. — The Jews by offering their first fruits, did testifie their thankfulness to God for what they had received, and hopes of the full crop in due time. Hee hath everlasting life, then it must not end, Mark 16.16. Hee that beleeveth and is baptized, shall bee saved: Hee that beleeveth not shall bee damned. As certainly as the unbeleever shall be cast into outer darkness, so certainly shall the beleever be partaker of the glorious Inheritance of the Saints in Light. The Promise is as true as the Threatning, Act. 16.30, 31. There you see a poor convinced, wounded sinner, under the load of guilt, that had a sight of his lost, undone, deplorable condition coming to the Apostles, and speaking after this manner, Yee men of God, yee servants of the Lord, if there bee any way for mee, who have been so great a sinner, that have done enough ten thousand times over, to damn my own soul; if there be any certain way to avoid damnation, I beseech you tell mee, if there be any means by which I might certainly be saved, as you pitty my sinful soul, my bleeding heart, my wounded conscience, tell mee what it is, declare it to mee. What is the Apostles answer? Beleeve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The Apostles speak not doubtingly, perhaps thou shalt be saved, perhaps thou mayest be damned. If thou get Faith, it may be thou mayest get Heaven. Alas! what relief, peace, satisfaction would this have been to his wounded conscience?
