An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Let us discover this Doctrine. And

First, We see the Apostle rejoicing in the sincerity of his heart, and yet ¹acknowledging all to the grace of God, so that these two may well stand together to take comfort from our holiness, yet to put our trust in nothing but the grace of God. It is true, this is a very hard lesson to perform, there is required much skill and prudence herein; for we are apt to run into extremes: Either through unbelief and peevishness, we nourish doubts and perplexing thoughts in our selves, not taking notice of the grace of God in us: Or else, if we do behold it, and rejoice in it, we are presently in a secret manner lifted up, and confident thereby. But we see by the Apostles practice, both are consistent together: So that the people of God are diligently to labour after this heavenly frame of heart. To be in doubts and fears about thy condition, is to live in the jaws of hell, and to be presuming or carnally confident of thy graces, is the next door to a sad and miserable downfall.

First, We see the Apostle rejoycing in the sincerity of his heart, and yet ¹acknowledging all to the grace of God, so that these two may well stand together to take comfort from our holinesse, yet to put our trust in nothing but the grace of God. It is true, this is a very hard lesson to performe, there is required much skill and prudence herein; for we are apt to runne into extreames: Either through unbelief and peevishnesse, we nourish doubts and perplexing thoughts in our selves, not taking notice of the grace of God in us: Or else, if we doe behold it, and rejoyce in it, we are presently in a secret manner lifted up, and confident thereby. But we see by the Apostles practice, both are consistent together: So that the people of God are diligently to labour after this heavenly frame of heart. To be in doubts and fears about thy condition, is to live in the jaws of hell, and to be presuming or carnally confident of thy graces, is the next door to a sad and miserable downfall.