A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect…

26.12, 13. This is the first Difference in the Root of their profession.

2. There is difference also in the Rule by which they walk: though both seek to the Word, and delight in that, you shall not difference them there; yet this difference you shall find in their apprehensions; the one is confident of his comfort that he hath in the Word, the other seeth need that the Lord should maintain his comfort for him, 1 Chro. 29.18. David prayeth thus: O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our Fathers, keep this for ever in the thoughts of the hearts of thy people, and prepare their hearts unto thee. As being sensible that this their comfortable frame of spirit would soon fail them, and they would quickly grow listless unto such spiritual work, as then they had been about: & this is the nature of true consolation in Jesus Christ, it maketh a man to have recourse unto the Author of it, to preserve it. Now though both attend unto the Word, yet here they differ: The one hath enough if he can see the Rule, like to the Israelites, Deut. 5.27. All that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee, we will hear it, and do it: they have enough if they have the Rule: but a Christian attending rightly unto his rule, findeth it far off from him to walk according to it; unless the Lord be pleased so to set ⟨p. 61⟩it home unto him, as that by his power he may be carried an end in obedience unto it: for though he know, and see his Rule, yet he wanteth some body to rule his heart, according to his Rule; otherwise, though the Rule be straight, his walking will be crooked; as a child will write crookedly, though his line be straight: so a Christian man is sensible how his feet and hands will shake, when he cometh to walk or do any thing by a rule; therefore he doth wholly look unto Christ, as being sensible of his own inability, unless he find help and strength from him.