II. In regard of the Faithfulness and Promise and Covenant of Gods Grace. Adam had that Covenant: If he did do, he should live: But he had no absolute Promise he should do, or continue to do; but the Faithful have; and hence they stand, not by the strength of Grace, but by the strength of the Covenant of Grace. And hence that which to reason is incredible, to nature impossible, is brought about by Faith; not by virtue of any power of Faith, but by virtue of the power of a promise. God hath said it, and Faith believes it; and hence Abraham's dead body begets, and Sarahs barren womb brings forth Isaac. Hence through all the Word, when the Apostle perswade• himself of their continuance, he ever puts in Gods Faithfulness, 1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. 1 Thes. 5. 24. 2 Thes. 3. 3. Hence Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them. Answ. True, if they do not from the Lord. No, but they shall not turn away from me. Object. But we see many do fall. Answ. But if he doth, he shall not be broken, but taken up again, Psal. 37. 24. Yea for a time the Lord may do thus. But will this continue, having sinned against such mercy, and my sin being now greater? Now the Lord will depart. Answ. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Yea, he will confirm you to the end. Yes, it may be he will, as he hath done, while I am out of temptation: But I may meet with it before I die. Answ. 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will not suffer you to be tempted above measure, &c. Yea, if I was such a one as Abraham or David, that had such hearts, and did the Lord so much honour. Nay, but Isai. 55. 3. Even the sure mercies of David. This is the Faithfulness of God.
II. In regard of the Faithfulness and Promise and Covenant of Gods Grace. Adam had that Covenant: If he did do, he should live: But he had no absolute Promise he should do, or continue to do; but the Faithful have; and hence they stand, not by the strength of Grace, but by the strength of the Covenant of Grace. And hence that which to reason is incredible, to nature impossible, is brought about by Faith; not by vertue of any power of Faith, but by vertue of the power of a promise. God hath said it, and Faith believes it; and hence Abrahams dead body begets, and Sarahs barren womb brings forth Isaac. Hence through all the Word, when the Apostle perswade• himself of their continuance, he ever puts in Gods Faithfulness, 1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. 1 Thes. 5. 24. 2 Thes. 3. 3. Hence Ier. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them. Answ. True, if they do not from the Lord. No, but they shall not turn away from me. Object. But we see many do fall. Answ. But if he doth, he shall not be broken, but taken up again, Psal. 37. 24. Yea for a time the Lord may do thus. But will this continue, having sinned against such mercy, and my sin being now greater? Now the Lord will depart. Answ. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Yea, he will confirm you to the end. Yes, it may be he will, as he hath done, while I am out of temptation: But I may meet with it before I die. Answ. 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will not suffer you to be tempted above measure, &c. Yea, if I was such a one as Abraham or David, that had such hearts, and did the Lord so much honour. Nay, but Isai. 55. 3. Even the sure mercies of David. This is the Faithfulness of God.
