CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Lastly, Though all this be true, our godliness is no merit,¹ no ground of confidence, yet a faithful zealous performing of those duties God hath required of us may as a sign and evidence wonderfully comfort and embolden our hearts: As the Rainbow is not a cause but a sign that God will never destroy the world more by water, so this tenderness and diligence of thine in all the ways of God are not a cause but a sure sign that Gods eternal love is placed on thee, and that thou art in the number of those who are prepared for glory, our rejoicing is this, saith Paul, the testimony of a good conscience, 2 Cor. 1.12. and 1 Joh. 3.21. Hereby we are sure he heareth us, if our hearts condemn us not; Hezekiah and Paul did not mention their good life, as a cause or means; Neither did they put confidence in them, only they took this as a comfortable sign they were in the favour of God, and they looked upon these things as inseparable qualifications; Even as Rahabs thread hanging out of the window was not a cause but a sign that she was in the number of those who were exempted from destruction, and in this sense we maintain the doctrine, That it's a blessed thing at the end of our days to have this testimony, this cordial in our hearts.

Lastly, Though all this be true, our godlinesse is no merit,¹ no ground of confidence, yet a faithful zealous performing of those duties God hath required of us may as a sign and evidence wonderfully comfort and imbolden our hearts: As the Rainbow is not a cause but a sign that God will never destroy the world more by water, so this tendernesse and diligence of thine in all the waies of God are not a cause but a sure signe that Gods eternal love is placed on thee, and that thou art in the number of those who are prepared for glory, our rejoycing is this, saith Paul, the testimony of a good conscience, 2 Cor. 1.12. and 1 Joh. 3.21. Hereby we are sure he heareth us, if our hearts condemn us not; Hezekiah and Paul did not mention their good life, as a cause or means; Neither did they put confidence in them, only they took this as a comfortable signe they were in the favour of God, and they looked upon these things as inseparable qualifications; Even as Rahabs thred hanging out of the window was not a cause but a signe that she was in the number of those who were exempted from destruction, and in this sence we maintain the doctrine, That it's a blessed thing at the end of our daies to have this testimony, this cordial in our hearts.