The Sincere Convert

Secondly,¹ use duties as evidences of Gods everlasting love to you when you be in Christ; for the graces and duties of Gods people, although they be not causes, yet they be tokens and pledges of salvation to one in Christ: they do not save a man, but only accompany & follow such a man as shall be saved, Heb. 6. 9. Let a man boast of his Joys, feelings, gifts, spirit, grace, if he walks in the commission of any one sin, or the omission of any one known duty, or in the slovenly ill favoured performance of duties, this man, I say, can have no assurance without flattering of himself, 2 Pet. 1. 8, 9, 10. Duties therefore being evidences and pledges of salvation, use them to that end, and make much of them therefore, as a man that hath fair evidence for his Lordship, because he did not purchase his Lordship, will he therefore cast it away? ⟨p. 261⟩no, no, because it is an evidence to assure him that it is his own, and so to defend him against all such as seek to take it from him, he will carefully preserve the same: so because duties do not save thee, wilt thou cast away good duties? No, for they are evidences (if thou art in Christ) that the Lord and mercy is thine own. Women will not cast away their love-tokens, although they are such things, as did not purchase or merit the love of their husbands, but because they are tokens of his love, therefore they will keep them safe.

Secondly,¹ use duties as evidences of Gods everlasting love to you when you be in Christ; for the graces and duties of Gods people, although they be not causes, yet they be tokens and pledges of salvation to one in Christ: they doe not save a man, but onely accompany & follow such a man as shall be saved, Heb. 6. 9. Let a man boast of his Ioyes, feelings, gifts, spirit, grace, if he walks in the commission of any one sin, or the om•ssion of any one knowne duty, or in the slovenly ill favoured performance of duties, this man, I say, can have no assurance without flattering of himselfe,