A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

But this Provision in the Covenant of Grace against peace-ruining, soul-perplexing sins, is not as to the administration of it, absolute. There are Covenant Commands and Exhortations, on the attendance whereunto, the administration of much Covenant-Grace doth depend. To watch, pray, improve faith, to stand on our guard continually, to mortify sin, to fight against temptations, with steadfastness, diligence, constancy, are every where prescribed unto us; and that in order unto the insurance of the Grace mentioned. These things are on our part, the condition of the Administration of that abundant Grace, which is to preserve us from soul-entangling sins, So Peter informs us, 2 Ep. 1. v. 3. The divine power of God hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. We have from it an habitual furnishment and provision for obedience at all times. Also saith he, v. 4. He bath given unto us great and precious promises, that by them we might be partakers of the Divine Nature; What then is in this blessed estate and condition required of us, that we may make a due improvement of the provision made ⟨p. 19⟩for us, and enjoy the comforting influence of those Promises? that he prescribes unto us, v. 5, 6, 7. Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity; That is carefully and diligently attend to the exercise of all the Graces of the Spirit, and unto a conversation in all things becoming the Gospel. What then shall be the issue, if these things are attended unto? v. 8. If these things be in you, and abound, ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not enough that these things be in you; that you have the seed and root of them from and by the Holy Ghost; but you are to take care that they flourish and abound; without which, though the root of the matter may be in you, and so you be not wholly devoid of spiritual life, yet you will be poor, barren, sapless, withering creatures, all your days. But now suppose that these things do abound, and we be made fruitful thereby: Why then saith he, v. 10. If you do these things ye shall never fall: What never fall into sin? Nay, that is not in the Promise;

But this Provision in the Covenant of Grace against peace-ruining, soul-perplexing sins, is not as to the administration of it, absolute. There are Covenant Commands and Exhortations, on the attendance whereunto, the administration of much Covenant-Grace doth depend. To watch, pray, improve faith, to stand on our guard continually, to mortifie sin, to fight against temptations, with stedfastness, diligence, constancy, are every where prescribed unto us; and that in order unto the ensurance of the Grace mentioned. These things are on our part, the condition of the Administration of that abundant Grace, which is to preserve us from soul-entangling sins, So Peter informs us, 2 Ep. 1. v. 3. The divine power of God hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. We have from it an habitual furnishment and provision for obedience at all times. Also saith he, v. 4. He bath given unto us great and pretious promises, that by them we might be partakers of the Divine Nature; What then is in this blessed estate and condition required of us, that we may make a due improvement of the provision made