The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

1. The first he doth by bringing to mind the things, that Jesus Christ hath left in store for their supportment. Our Saviour Christ informing his Disciples, how they should be upheld in their tribulations, tells them, that the Comforter, which should dwell with them, and was in them, (Joh: 14. 16, 17.) should bring to remembrance, what he had told them. v. 26. Christ had said many things, things gracious and heavenly, to his Disciples: He had given them many rich and precious Promises, to uphold their hearts in their greatest perplexities; But knowing full well how ready they were to forget, and to let slip the things that were spoken, ¹and how coldly his Promises would come in to their assistance, when retained only in their natural faculties, and made use of by their own strength; to obviate these evils, tells them, that this work he committeth to the charge of another, who will do it to the purpose: When ye are ready to drive away the Comforter (saith he) who is in you, he shall bring to Remembrance, & apply to your souls, the things that I have spoken, the Promises that I have made, which will then be unto you, as Life from the dead. And this he doth every day; How often, when the Spirits of the Saints are ready to faint within them, when straits and perplexities are round about them, that they know not what to do, nor whether to apply themselves for help or supportment, doth the Spirit, that dwelleth in them, bring to mind some seasonable, suitable Promise of Christ, that bears them up quite above their difficulties and distractions, opening such a new spring of Life and Consolation to their souls, as that they, who but now stooped, yea were almost bowed to the ground, do stand upright, and feel no weight or burden at all. Often times they go for Water to the well, and are not able to draw; or if it be poured out upon them, it comes like rain on a stick, that is fully dry. They seek to Promises for refreshment, and find no more ⟨p. 202⟩savour in them, then in the white of an Egg: but when the same Promises are brought to remembrance by the Spirit the Comforter, who is with them, and in them, how full of Life and Power are they?

1. The first he doth by bringing to mind the things, that Jesus Christ hath left in store for their supportment. Our Saviour Christ informing his Disciples, how they should be upheld in their tribulations, tells them, that the Comforter, which should dwell with them, and was in them, (Ioh: 14. 16, 17.) should bring to remembrance, what he had told them. v. 26. Christ had said many things, things gracious and heavenly, to his Disciples: He had given them many rich and pretious Promises, to uphold their hearts in their greatest perplexities; But knowing full well how ready they were to forget, and to let slip the things that were spoken,