This makes them to fast and Pray, and to be watchful over themselves in loose and untender company, and to eschew them as far as they can, and to hazard some loss, rather then to put themselves under a snare; watching and praying lest they fall into the sin of dealing falsely in Gods Covenant. 5. It appears in the sharpness of challenges, when any thing miscarries in their hand: They are soon challenged for the very first beginnings of a breach: a wrong look will affect them: therefore faith Job, Chap. 31. I made a covenant with my eyes, why then should I look upon a maid? And the heart, while tender, will loath and scare at the least thing that hath the remotest tendency towards a breach, were it but the appearance of evil: Any the least guilt soon toucheth and smiteth them, not only that which is their own, but even that of others: Thus good Ezra saith, Chap. 9. Should we again break thy Commandments, and Join in affinity with the People of these Abominations? And he lieth in the dust before God mourning, because of this. 6. It appears in respect of the exercise of a persons Faith: as It's an uptaking work and business to honest Souls, to get their Faith founded rightly in closing the Covenant with God, that they be well grounded in believing: So it is no less an uptaking and exercising work, to be improving their faith on Gods Promises, to make them forth-coming according to their engagement and for keeping Covenant: which is the Apostles exercise, Gal. 2.20. To live by Faith on the Son of God: I am (saith he) Crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ ⟨p. 281⟩liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, is by Faith on the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me: and try it who will, they shall find it to be an uptaking work, rightly to exercise Faith for entertaining of Spiritual life, and for preventing a Covenant breach with God. It may be, for as many Professed Covenanters as are here, that but few of you know much, if any thing at all, what it is to be taken up with being Answerable to the Covenant according to your engagements: this, no doubt, makes much unsound work, that ye do not singly and seriously design this: that ye reach not forward, that ye bear not down the b•dy, and bring it under Subjection lest ye come short here.
This makes them to fast and Pray, and to be watchfull over themselves in loose and untender company, and to eschew them as far as they can, and to hazard some loss, rather then to put themselves under a snare; watching and praying lest they fall into the sin of dealing falsely in Gods Covenant. 5. It appears in the sharpness of challenges, when any thing miscarries in their hand: They are soon challenged for the very first beginnings of a breach: a wrong look will affect them: therefore faith Job, Chap. 31. I made a covenant with my eyes, why then should I look upon a maid? And the heart, while tender, will loath and scare at the least thing that hath the remotest tendency towards a breach, were it but the appearance of evill: Any the least guilt soon toucheth and smiteth them, not only that which is their own, but even that of others: Thus good Ezra saith, Chap. 9. Should we again break thy Commandments, and Joyn in affinity with the People of these Abominations? And he lyeth in the dust before God mourning, because of this. 6. It appears in respect of the exercise of a persons Faith: as It's an uptaking work and business to honest Souls, to get their Faith founded rightly in closing the Covenant with God, that they be well grounded in believing: So it is no less an uptaking and exercising work, to be improving their faith on Gods Promises, to make them forth-coming according to their engagement and for keeping Covenan•: which is the Apostles exercise, Gal. 2.20. To live by Faith on the Son of God: I am (saith he) Crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ ⟨p. 281⟩liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, is by Faith on the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me: and try it who will, they shall find it to be an uptaking work, rightly to exercise Faith for entertaining of Spiritual life, and for preventing a Covenant breach with God. It may be, for as many Professed Covenanters as are here, that but few of you know much, if any thing at all, what it is to be taken up with being Answerable to the Covenant according to your engagements: this, no doubt, makes much unsound work, that ye do not singly and seriously designe this: that ye reach not forward, that ye bear not down the b•dy, and bring it under Subjection lest ye come short here.
