1. For the Trial of Believers; the Doctrine of Christs certain and sudden appearance to Judgment, is a m•st dreadful Doctrine to sinners, which are in sin; and it is a most comfortable Doctrine to believers, which are in Christ: but because many sinners, which are still held fast in the ••ond of iniquity, and are under the reigning power of some ••ns, are art to mistake, and without good ground do persuade themselves that they are believers, who at the last day will be found to be hypocrites; and through their mistake of their state do ward off those strokes of Gods threatenings which are made at them, and themselves hereby from those terrible apprehensions of Christs appearance to Judge and condemn them, which did they entertain, might be a means to startle them, and awaken them to take an effectual and speedy course for the salvation of themselves from future vengeance; and because many true believers, who are really united unto Christ by faith, are apt also through the temptation of Satan, and their own ignorance, and doubting misgiving-heart, to mistake themselves, and look upon themselves to be hypocrites, and therefore fear ⟨p. 207⟩that when Christ doth appear, that they shall be condemned by him, being so ready to condemn themselves, and therefore gather matter for trouble from this Doctrine, which indeed is matter of the greatest comfort; therefore it will be needful for the undeceiving of the former, that they may not falsely apply comfort, and the rectifying •he mistakes of the latter, that they may not put off comfort, to make some trial of true believers: It would be too large to present to you all the character which we may find in the Word of God of true believers: therefore I shall make mention but of one, which the Text holds forth, and is the second Doctrine observed from the Words, in the beginning of our Discourse.
1. For the Tryal of Believers; the Doctrine of Christs certain and sudden appearance to Judgment, is a m•st dreadful Doctrine to sinners, which are in sin; and it is a most comfortable Doctrine to believers, which are in Christ: but because many sinners, which are still held fast in the ••ond of iniquity, and are under the reigning power of some ••ns, are art to mistake, and without good ground do perswade themselves that they are believers, who at the last day will be found to be hypocrites; and through their mistake of their state do ward off those strokes of Gods threatnings which are made at them, and themselves hereby from those terrible apprehensions of Christs appearance to Judge and condemn them, which did they entertain, might be a meanes to startle them, and awaken them to take an effectual and speedy course for the salvation of themselves from future vengeance; and because many true believers, who are really united unto Christ by faith, are apt also through the temptation of Sathan, and their own ignorance, and doubting misgiving-heart, to mistake themselves, and look upon themselves to be hypocrites, and therefore fear ⟨p. 207⟩that when Christ doth appear, that they shall be condemned by him, being so ready to condemn themselves, and therefore gather matter for trouble from this Doctrine, which indeed is matter of the greatest comfort; therefore it will be needful for the undeceiving of the former, that they may not falsly apply comfort, and the rectifying •he mistakes of the latter, that they may not put off comfort, to make some tryal of true believers: It would be too large to present to you all the character which we may finde in the Word of God of true believers: therefore I shall make mention but of one, which the Text holds forth, and is the second Doctrine observed from the Words, in the begining of our Discourse.
