Asser. 5.1 Those are not moral preparations which we perform before conversion, nor have they any promise of Christ annexed to them; as, He that is humbled under sin, shall be drawn to Christ: He that wisheth the Physician, shall be cured, and called to repentance: We read of no such promise in the word. 2. A man not in Christ, is without the sphere or element of Christ, at the wrong side of the door of the sheep-fold, he is not in Emmanuel's land; and all the promises of God are in Christ, Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. The whole stock of Gospel-promises are put in Christ, as the first Subject;2 and believers have them from Christ, at the second hand. Christ keeps, as the true Ark, the book of the Testament, the believers Bible. Its true, the new heart is promised to the elect, even while they are not in Christ, but they cannot make claim to that promise till they be first in Christ: but those promises are made, in a special manner, to Christ, as to the head of the redeemed, to be dispensed by Christ, to those only whom the Father gave him before time. And as the promises are peculiar to Christ, so the persons and grace promised, both the one and the other, are due to Christ, and result from the Head, to those who in Gods decree only shall be members; as righteousness, life eternal, and perseverance, are made to those that are members. 3. Many run, and obtain not, 1 Cor. 9.24, 25, 26. Many strive to ⟨p. 242⟩enter in, and shall not be able, Luk. 13.24. Many lay a foundation, and are not able to finish, Luk. 14.29. Many hunt, and catch nothing: Many have storms of conscience, as Cain, and Judas, who go never one step further. When therefore Antinomians impute to us, that we teach, That to desire to believe, is faith: To desire to pray, (a)is prayer. (b)They foully mistake; for raw desires, and wishes after conversion, and Christ, are to us no more conversion, and the souls being drawn to Christ, then Esau's weeping for the blessing, was the blessing; or Balaam's wish to die the death of the righteous, was the happy end of such as die in the Lord. But the sincere desires and good will of justified persons, are accepted of the Lord, for the deed:
Asser. 5.1 Those are not morall preparations which wee performe before conversion, nor have they any promise of Christ annexed to them; as, Hee that is humbled under sinne, shall be drawne to Christ: Hee that wisheth the Physician, shall be cured, and called to repentance: Wee read of no such promise in the word. 2. A man not in Christ, is without the sphere or element of Christ, at the wrong side of the doore of the sheep-fold, hee is not in Emanuels land; and all the promises of God are in Christ, Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. The whole stock of Gospel-promises are put in Christ, as the first Subject;2 and beleevers have them from Christ, at the second hand. Christ keeps, as the true Ark, the book of the Testament, the beleevers Bible. Its true, the new heart is promised to the elect, even while they are not in Christ, but they cannot make claime to that promise till they be first in Christ: but those promises are made, in a speciall manner, to Christ, as to the head of the redeemed, to be dispensed by Christ, to those onely whom the Father gave him before time. And as the promises are peculiar to Christ, so the persons and grace promised, both the one and the other, are due to Christ, and result from the Head, to those who in Gods decree onely shall be members; as righteousnesse, life eternall, and perseverance, are made to those that are members. 3. Many runne, and obtaine not, 1 Cor. 9.24, 25, 26. Many strive to ⟨p. 242⟩enter in, and shall not be able, Luk. 13.24. Many lay a foundation, and are not able to finish, Luk. 14.29. Many hunt, and catch nothing: Many have stormes of conscience, as Cain, and Judas, who goe never one step further. When therefore Antinomians impute to us, that wee teach, That to desire to beleeve, is faith: To desire to pray, (a)is prayer. (b)They foulely mistake; for raw desires, and wishes after conversion, and Christ, are to us no more conversion, and the soules being drawn to Christ, then Esau's weeping for the blessing, was the blessing; or Balaam's wish to die the death of the righteous, was the happy end of such as die in the Lord. But the sincere desires and good will of justified persons, are accepted of the Lord, for the deed:
- 1There be no Mo•all precepts before conversion to which any promise i• annexed.
- 2No promises out of Christ.
- (a)Saltm•rsh •ree-grace, c. 2. pag 1•, 18.
- (b)M Den Co•f•ren•e •etw•e•e the Sick man and a […]. p 3. In what se•se a desire to pray and to believe is prayer and faith.M Denne Co•f•ren•e •etw•e•e the Sick man and a 〈…〉. p 3. In what se•se a desire to pray and to b•leeve is prayer and faith.
