Answ. That's no good Objection. It makes me think of the man whom ⟨p. 19⟩Luther speaketh of, that had made many Vows to God, but broken them all; and therefore he resolved, that for the future, he would live at a loose end, and covenant no more, that so he might be at the more liberty to sin. Is it so with any of your souls? Then in the Name of God, how can you, how dare you approach unto the Table of the Lord? I solemnly declare unto you in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that if any man or woman amongst you, be secretly in league with sin, and therefore unwilling to be further engaged to the holy and glorious God, you will eat and drink Judgement to your selves, and the oftener you come to that […]. Ordinance, the greater will your Damnation be at the last day. Let us every one be sincere and watchful, then shall we Keep Covenant. 1. Be Sincere: let us not give up our Names only, but our Hearts unto God in Jesus Christ. It is recorded concerning the Lords People in the days of Asa, that they entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 2 Chron. 15. 12. Let us be sure that our hearts be in this work: then shall we be like to keep Covenant when we have done; otherwise not. Good Josiah, when he renewed Covenant, he did it with […] his […], 2 Chron. 34. 31. And thence he performed what he promised. But the People too generally did what they did, out of compliance with him, but their hearts were not in it, Jer. 3. 10. And therefore they quickly broke their Covenant with God, O then let us be sincere in this matter. 2. And Watchful. For a sincere godly man may be guilty of great violations of the Covenant, and by his iniquity in that respect, Fall under the heavy judging hand of God; and all this for want of due Watchfulness. How have the Lords Servants come to Fall after such a fearful manner, as some of them have done, and that soon upon the most solemn Engagements unto God? But because they did not duly Watch, and take heed to their spirits lest they should deal treacherously. Peter renewed his Covenant with the Lord Jesus, when he promised never to forsake him, but to dye rather; and yet he presently acted contrary to that Engagement, because he depended too much upon his own strength, and was not humbly watchful as he ought to have been.
Answ. That's no good Objection. It makes me think of the man whom ⟨p. 19⟩Luther speaketh of, that had made many Vows to God, but broken them all; and therefore he resolved, that for the future, he would live at a loose end, and covenant no more, that so he might be at the more liberty to sin. Is it so with any of your souls? Then in the Name of God, how can you, how dare you approach unto the Table of the Lord? I solemnly declare unto you in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that if any man or woman amongst you, be secretly in league with sin, and therefore unwilling to be further ingaged to the holy and glorious God, you will eat and drink Judgement to your selves, and the oftner you come to that 〈…〉. Ordinance, the greater will your Damnation be at the last day. Let us every one be sincere and watchfull, then shall we Keep Covenant. 1. Be Sincere: let us not give up our Names only, but our Hearts unto God in Jesus Christ. It is recorded concerning the Lords People in the dayes of Asa, that they entered into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 2 Chron. 15. 12. Let us be sure that our hearts be in this work: then shall we be like to keep Covenant when we have done; otherwise not. Good Josiah, when he renewed Covenant, he did it with 〈…〉 his 〈…〉, 2 Chron. 34. 31. And thence he performed what he promised. But the People too generally did what they did, out of compliance with him, but their hearts were not in it, Jer. 3. 10. And therefore they quickly broke their Covenant with God, O then let us be sincere in this matter. 2. And Watchfull. For a sincere godly man may be guilty of great violations of the Covenant, and by his iniquity in that respect, Fall under the heavy judging hand of God; and all this for want of due Watchfullness. How have the Lords Servants come to Fall after such a fearfull manner, as some of them have done, and that soon upon the most solemn Ingagements unto God? But because they did not duely Watch, and take heed to their spirits lest they should deal treacherously. Peter renewed his Covenant with the Lord Jesus, when he promised never to forsake him, but to dye rather; and yet he presently acted contrary to that Ingagement, because he depended too much upon his own strength, and was not humbly watchfull as he ought to have been.
