The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Secondly, wherein, and ⟨p. 244⟩how they do exert that efficacy that is in them. For the First, the Apostle acquaints us, on what account alone it is, that they come to be useful in this or any other kind: Heb: 4 2. the word of the Gospel, the Promise Preached to them of old, did not profit them, did them no good at all; And the reason of this sad success in the Preaching of the Gospel, and Declaration of the Promises, he gives you in the same words; It is, that the word was not mixed with Faith in them that heard it; It is the mixing of the Promises with Faith, that renders them useful and profitable; Now to what ever Faith is required, the more firm, strong, and stable it is, the more effectual and useful it is; That then, which is apt to establish Faith, to support and strengthen it, to preserve it from staggering, ¹that renders the Promise most useful and effectual for the Accomplishment of any work, whereunto it is designed. Now Faith in the Promises, respects the Accomplishment of the things promised; as the Apostle tells us in that commended, and never enough imitated Example of the Faith of Abraham. Rom 4. 19, 20, 21. Being not weak in Faith, he considered not his own body, now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb he staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in Faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform; Laying aside all considerations that might tend to the impairing of his confidence, he firmly believed, that it should be to him, as God had promised. That the Doctrine we insisted on, is clearly conducing to the establishing of Faith in the Promises, cannot tolerably be called into Question. Whatsoever is in those Promises, whatsoever Considerations, or concernments of him whose they are, as his Faithfulness, Unchangeableness, & Omnipotency, that are apt to strengthen Faith in them, it preserves entire and exalteth; It is a wild Assertion, which men scarce search their own hearts, (if indeed men know what belongs to believing in sincerity) when they make: that the efficacy of the Promises unto our Obedience, should arise from hence, that the things promised may not be fulfilled:

Secondly, wherein, and ⟨p. 244⟩