A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Reason 1. To show us the Certainty of our Privileges in Christ. The World makes it a Controversy and doubtful matter whether Christ came to die for Sinners, yea or no? whether God will save those that take Sanctuary at Christ? God saith, Ay, and we say, No; and how shall the matter be decided? Observe it, and you will find, that there are two things which we are apt to suspect in God; his good Affection in making the Promise, and his Truth in keeping the Promise. We suspect his good Affection, especially when we are in Pangs and Gripes of Conscience; and we suspect his Truth in Straits and Difficulties, whenever in the Course of God's Providence we are cast into such a Condition, that we think he hath forgotten his Promise. Now the Lord might be highly offended with us for those wicked Thoughts we entertain of his Majesty; but in a gracious Condescension he is pleased to put an End to the Controversy by an Oath. As if the Lord had said, Do you doubt of this? Will you put me to my Oath? Here I am ready to take it; and that the matter may no longer remain in Suspense, I sware by my Life, by my Holiness, by whatever you count sacred and excellent in me, That whoever among you, whatever he be, that is touched with a Sense of his Sin and Misery by Nature, if he will run to Christ for Refuge, take Sanctuary in Christ, if he doth belong to my unchangeable Purposes of Grace, I will surely without miscarrying bring him to a sure and eternal Possession of Glory; and for the present I will be a Father to him, and guide him and keep him as the Apple of mine Eye, I will be his present Help, his Guardian, his Counsellor, during the whole time of his Abode in the World, where he is only liable to Dangers. This was the matter in Controversy, and this is the Substance of God's Oath. And I shall show you how apt we are to distrust God in all this. We suspect (as I said) either his good Affection in making the Promise, or his Truth in keeping the Promise; so that we need this solemn way of Assurance. Therefore,

Reason 1. To shew us the Certainty of our Privileges in Christ. The World makes it a Controversy and doubtful matter whether Christ came to die for Sinners, yea or no? whether God will save those that take Sanctuary at Christ? God saith, Ay, and we say, No; and how shall the matter be decided? Observe it, and you will find, that there are two things which we are apt to suspect in God; his good Affection in making the Promise, and his Truth in keeping the Promise. We suspect his good Affection, especially when we are in Pangs and Gripes of Conscience; and we suspect his Truth in Straits and Difficulties, whenever in the Course of God's Providence we are cast into such a Condition, that we think he hath forgotten his Promise. Now the Lord might be highly offended with us for those wicked Thoughts we entertain of his Majesty; but in a gracious Condescention he is pleased to put an End to the Controversy by an Oath. As if the Lord had said, Do you doubt of this? Will you put me to my Oath? Here I am ready to take it; and that the matter may no longer remain in Suspence, I sware by my Life, by my Holiness, by whatever you count sacred and excellent in me, That whoever among you, whatever he be, that is touched with a Sense of his Sin and Misery by Nature, if he will run to Christ for Refuge, take Sanctuary in Christ, if he doth belong to my unchangeable Purposes of Grace, I will surely without miscarrying bring him to a sure and eternal Possession of Glory; and for the present I will be a Father to him, and guide him and keep him as the Apple of mine Eye, I will be his present Help, his Guardian, his Counsellor, during the whole time of his Aboad in the World, where he is only liable to Dangers. This was the matter in Controversy, and this is the Substance of God's Oath. And I shall shew you how apt we are to distrust God in all this. We suspect (as I said) either his good Affection in making the Promise, or his Truth in keeping the Promise; so that we need this solemn way of Assurance. Therefore,