A little to inform you about making us of and improving promises, I shall (to prevent a mistake) enlarge further on this head: Some persons do think that the chief if not only way of improving promises is by believing (as they call it) than which I think there is scarce a greater mistake, that is in this sense; when they read or hear a promise (as that God will be a Father, that all things shall work together for good, &c.) they think there is to more required but to believe that God will make this good, and do as he hath promised; there is no question but he will, for he is faithful that hath promised and cannot lye; but beloved let me tell you (lest you deceive your selves) that 'tis not so much Faith as obedience and practice which is necessary to the enjoyment of these promises: if you practise the duty to which the promise is made, God will make it good, whether you believe it or no, 2 Tim. 2.11,—13. but if you believe it a thousand times over and do not do the duty, God is under no obligation to make good the promise. If you love not God, how can you expect that all things should work together for good to you, when the promise is made to none ⟨p. 245⟩but lovers of God: so if you separate not from uncleanness, how can you expect God will be a Father to you, when 'tis promised only to them that separate, &c. Take heed then of an idle and dead Faith: 'tis true, Faith is a duty, but not Faith alone, Faith that's idle and dead; what ever promises are made to Faith, shall be made good to Faith; and what ever promises are made to Love, to Humility, to Patience, shall be made good when these graces are acted. Saith the Apostle, Heb. 10.23, 24. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of Faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold fast (this) profession of our Faith without wavering, for he is faithful that hath promised: by which we see that there can be no Plerophory or full assurance of Faith (without the other qualifications therewith mentioned, viz. a true heart, &c.) by which we can expect the performance of promises, This I thought good to hint, that none might think Faith enough in relation to the promises without obeying in that very particular to which the promise is made. But to proceed.
A little to inform you about making us of and improving promises, I shall (to prevent a mistake) inlarge further on this head: Some persons do think that the chief if not only way of improving promises is by believing (as they call it) than which I think there is scarce a greater mistake, that is in this sense; when they read or hear a promise (as that God will be a Father, that all things shall work together for good, &c.) they think there is to more required but to believe that God will make this good, and do as he hath promised; there is no question but he will, for he is faithful that hath promised and cannot lye; but beloved let me tell you (lest you deceive your selves) that 'tis not so much Faith as obedience and practice which is necessary to the enjoyment of these promises: if you practise the duty to which the promise is made, God will make it good, whether you believe it or no, 2 Tim. 2.11,—13. but if you believe it a thousand times over and do not do the duty, God is under no obligation to make good the promise. If you love not God, how can you expect that all things should work together for good to you, when the promise is made to none ⟨p. 245⟩but lovers of God: so if you separate not from uncleanness, how can you expect God will be a Father to you, when 'tis promised only to them that separate, &c. Take heed then of an idle and dead Faith: 'tis true, Faith is a duty, but not Faith alone, Faith that's idle and dead; what ever promises are made to Faith, shall be made good to Faith; and what ever promises are made to Love, to Humility, to Patience, shall be made good when these graces are acted. Saith the Apostle, Heb. 10.23, 24. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of Faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold fast (this) profession of our Faith without wavering, for he is faithful that hath promised: by which we see that there can be no Plerophorie or full assurance of Faith (without the other qualifications therewith mentioned, viz. a true heart, &c.) by which we can expect the performance of promises, This I thought good to hint, that none might think Faith enough in relation to the promises without obeying in that very particular to which the promise is made. But to proceed.
