These comfortable Notes being in the hands of a friend to the Author, who commending the worth and excellency of them, thought not good to smother them by burying them in oblivion, but to expose them to public view, for the general good and establishment of troubled souls, that they understanding their right and title to this sure and everlasting Covenant, may take comfort to themselves, and be supported against all the tempestuous storms arising from Satan and the world without, or the distempers of their own hearts within: David was unsettled, and his family disordered, yet Gods Covenant is everlasting, ordered, and sure. The condition that is required of us as part of the Covenant, is the performance of these things; to believe, repent, and serve the Lord in newness of life: But the power and ability by which we do them, is a part of the Covenant on Gods part, to have new hearts, and new spirits, whereby we come to repentance, and bringing forth fruit worthy of amendment ⟨image 3⟩of life; this inward ability, and new frame of heart, by which we are renewed in the spirit of our minds, the writing of his Law in our inward parts, that is a branch of Gods Covenant: but the bringing forth the fruits of these inward abilities and graces that are engrafted in us by Christ, is required in us: As for example; the grace and power of believing that God hath promised (to give it belongs to him) but to believe, to take hold of the promises, to accept of Jesus Christ, to receive him as our Lord and Saviour, and the gift of righteousness by him is required as a condition on our part: As we are to make use of the Covenant in the matter of our justification against the gilt-of-sin; so it will be good for us to make use of it for sanctification against the power of sin; when we are troubled with any strong lust or violent temptation, which is too hard for us to overcome, know this for thy comfort, that it is a part of the Lords own Covenant, to deliver thee from all thine enemies, that thou mayest serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of thy life; he hath promised to give the Holy Ghost, and to create a new heart and a new spirit in us, and to cause us to walk in his ways: He hath promised, that if we be in trouble, and call upon him, he will deliver us;
THese comfortable Notes being in the hands of a friend to the Authour, who commending the worth and excellencie of them, thought not good to smother them by burying them in oblivion, but to expose them to publique view, for the generall good and establishment of troubled souls, that they understanding their right and title to this sure and everlasting Covenant, may take comfort to themselves, and be supported against all the tempestuous stormes arising from Satan and the world without, or the distempers of their own hearts within: David was unsetled, and his family disordered, yet Gods Covenant is everlasting, ordered, and sure. The condition that is required of us as part of the Covenant, is the performance of these things; to believe, repent, and serve the Lord in newnesse of life: But the power and ability by which wee do them, is a part of the Covenant on Gods part, to have new hearts, and new spirits, whereby wee come to repentance, and bringing forth fruit worthy of amendment ⟨image 3⟩of life; this inward abilitie, and new frame of heart, by which we are renewed in the spirit of our mindes, the writing of his Law in our inward parts, that is a branch of Gods Covenant: but the bringing forth the fruits of these inward abilities and graces that are ingraffed in us by Christ, is required in us: As for example; the grace and power of believing that God hath promised (to give it belongs to him) but to believe, to take hold of the promises, to accept of Jesus Christ, to receive him as our Lord and Saviour, and the gift of righteousnesse by him is required as a condition on our part: As wee are to make use of the Covenant in the matter of our justification against the gilt-of-sin; so it will be good for us to make use of it for sanctification against the power of sin; when wee are troubled with any strong lust or violent temptation, which is too hard for us to overcome, know this for thy comfort, that it is a part of the Lords own Covenant, to deliver thee from all thine enemies, that thou mayest serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of thy life; hee hath promised to give the Holy Ghost, and to create a new heart and a new spirit in us, and to cause us to walk in his wayes: He hath promised, that if we be in trouble, and call upon him, he will deliver us;
