Certain select cases resolved specially tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…

Here upon the Soul thinks thus; These promises are made for some that are filthy, for why should God pour clean water upon them, for some that be hard-hearted, for why should he promise to take away the stony heart from them, &c. and if unto some such, and I being such a ⟨p. 30⟩one, why may not the Lord possibly intend and include me, seeing he hath not by his promise excluded nor shut me out? Indeed I dare not say he will, but yet how do I, or men, or Angels know, but yet I may be one? Hereupon Hope is raised to life again; seeing God hath undertaken the work for the vilest, it is possible he may do it for me, now when I am vile and can do nothing for my self. And thus you may see the first end and use of absolute promises, to be as it were, twigs to uphold the sinking Spirits of hopeless, helpless, distressed Souls.

Here upon the Soul thinkes thus; These promises are made for some that are filthy, for why should God poure cleane water upon them, for some that be hard-hearted, for why should hee promise to take away the stony heart from them, &c. and if unto some such, and I being such a ⟨p. 30⟩one, why may not the Lord possibly intend and include me, seeing hee hath not by his promise excluded nor shut me out? Indeed I dare not say he will, but yet how do I, or men, or Angells know, but yet I may be one? Hereupon Hope is raised to life againe; seeing God hath undertaken the worke for the vilest, it is possible he may doe it for me, now when I am vile and can doe nothing for my selfe. And thus you may see the first end and use of absolute promises, to be as it were, twigges to uphold the sinking Spirits of hopelesse, helplesse, distressed Souls.

2. The Second End and Use of them is this. To create and draw out faith in Jesus Christ in the promises. For as the Law begets terror, so the promises beget Faith. Now no conditional promise firstly begets Faith, because he that is under any condition of the Gospel, in that man there is a presupposed faith. Its Gods absolute promise that firstly begets faith, for faith is not assurance, but the coming of the whole Soul to Christ in a promise,