cept and reward that which is fincere, although accompanied with many weaknefles and imperfections.

VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others'; yet because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith,

are done in a right manner, according to

nor

x 2 Cor. 8. 12. For if there law of the Lord God of Israel, be first a willing mind, it is with all his heart: for he deaccepted, according to that a parted not from the fins of Jeman hath, and not according roboam, whieh made Israel to to that he hath not. Heb. 6. fin. Phil. 1. 15, 16, 18. Some 10. For God is not unrighre- indeed preach Christ even of ous to forget your work and envy and strife; and some al. labour of love, which ye have so of good will. The one fhewed toward his name, in preach Christ of contention, that ye have ministered to the not sincerely, supposing to add faints, and do minifter. Mat. affliction to my bonds. What 25. 21, 23. His lord faid then ? notwithstanding every unto him, Well done, thou good way, whether in pretence, or and faithful servant; thou in truth, Christ is preached; haft been faithful over a few and I therein do rejoice. things, I will make thee ruler z Heb, II, 4, 6. By faith over many things: enter thou Abel offered unto God a more into the joy of thy lord. excellent sacrifice than Cain, by

VII. y 2 Kings 10. 30, 31. which he obtained witness And the Lord said unto Jehu, that he was righteous, God Because thou hast done well testifying of his gifts: and by in executing that which is right it he being dead, yet speaketh. in mine eyes, and hast done un- But without faith it is impos. to the house of Ahab, accordo fible to please bim : for he that ing to all that was in mine cometh to God, must believe heart, thy children of the that he is, and that he is a refourth generation shall fit on the warder of them that diligently throne of lfrael. But Jehu seek him, See Gen, 45. took no heed to walk in the

the word”; nor to a right end, the glory of God'; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God".

a 1 Cor. 13. 3. And:hough and so is this nation before me, I bestow all my goods to feed faith the Lord, and so is every the poor, and though I give my work of their hands, and that body to be burned, and have which they offer there is unnot charity, it profiteth me clean. Tic. 1. 15.-Unto them nothing. Isai. 1. 12. When that are defiled and unbelievye come to appear before me, ing is nothing pure, but even who hath required this at their mind and conscience is your hand, to tread my courts? defiled. Amos 5. 21. 22.

I b Mat. 6. 2, 5, 16. There- hate, I despise your feaft-days, fore, when thou doeft thine and I will not smell in your alms, do not found a trumpet solemn assemblies. Though ye before thee, as the hypocrites offer me burnt offerings, and do, in the synagogues, and in your meat-offerings, I will not the streets, that they may accept tbem, neither will I rehave glory of men, Verily, I gard the peace-offerings of say unto you, They have their your fat beasts. See also Hof. reward. And when thou 1. 4. Rom. 9. 16, and Tit. prayeft, thou shalt not be as 3. 5. the hypocrites are: for they d Pfal. 14. 4. Have all the love to pray standing in the workers of iniquity no knowsynagogues, and in the corners ledge ? who eat up my people of the streets, that they may be as they eat bread, and call not feen of men: Verily, I say unto upon the Lord. Pfal. 36. 3. you: They have their reward. The words of his mouth are Moreover when ye fast, be iniquity and deceit: he hath not as the hypocrites, of a sad left off to be wise, and to do countenance; for they disfigure good. Job 21. 14. Therefore their faces, that they may ap- they say unto God, Depart pear unto men to fast. Veri- from us, for we de fire not the jy I say unto you, They have knowledge of thy ways. See their reward.

also Mat. 25. 41, 42, 43, 45. c Hag. 2. 14. So is this people, and Mat. 23. 23,

CH A P.

XVII.

Of the Perseverance of the

Saints.

THE

THEY whom God hath accepted in his Be

loved, effectually called and fanctified, by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally faveda.

II. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father"; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Chrifto ; the abiding of the

I. a Phil. 1. 6. Being con- II. b 2 Tim. 2. 19. Never. fident of this very thing, that theless, the foundation of God he which hath begun a good standeth sure, having this feal, work in you, will perform it The Lord knoweth them until the day of Jelus Christ, that are his; ----Jer. 31. 3. John. 10. 28, 29. And I give The Lord hath appeared of unto them eternal life; and old unto me, saying, Yea, 1 they shall never perish, nei- have loved thee with an everther hall any pluck them out lasting love ; therefore with of my hand, My father loving-kindness have I drawn. which gave them me, is greater thee. than all : and none is able to c. Heb. 10. 10, 14. By the pluck them out of my Father's which will we are fanctified, hand. See also a John 3. 2. through the offering of the and 1 Pet. 1. 5, 9. Job 17. 9. body of Jesus Christ, once for

Spirit and of the feed of God within them"; and the nature of the covenant of grace' : from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereoff.

III. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the pre

own

all. For by one offering he But the anointing which ye hath perfected for ever them have received of him abideih that are fanctified. John 17. in you, and ye need not that II, 24 And now I am no any man teach you, but as more in the world, but there the same anointing teacheth are in the world, and I come you of all things, and is to thee. Holy Father, keep iruth, and is no lie: and even through thine

name, as it hath taught you, ye shall those whom thou hast given abide in him. i John 3. 9, me, that they may be one, as Whosoever is born of God, we are.-Father, I will that doth not commit fin; for his they also, whom thou haft feed remaineth in him; and he given me, be with me where cannot sin, because he is born I am; that they may behold of God. my glory, which thou hast

e Jer. 32. 40. And I will given me: for thou loveft make an everlasting covenant me from the foundation of with them, that I will not the world. Heb. 7.25. Where- turn away from them, to do fore he is able also to save them good ; but I will put my them to the uttermost, that fear in their hearts, that they come unto God by him, seeing shall not depart from me. With he ever liveth to make inter. Heb. 8. 10, 11, 12. ceffion for thein. Heb. 9. 12, f 2 Theff. 3. 3.

But the 13, 14, 15. Rom. 8. 33. to Lord is faithful, who shall the end. Luke 22. 32. stablish you, and keep you from

d John 14. 16, 17. And I evil. 1 John 2. 19. They went will pray the Father, and he out from us, but they were fall give you another Com- not of us : for if they had been forter, that he may abide with of us, they would no doubt you for ever ;– Even the Spirit have continued with us; but of truth; whom the world they went out, that they might canoot receive; because it seeth be made manifest, that they

valency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous fins"; and for a time continue therein": whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit"; come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts'; have their hearts hardened", and their

III. g Mat. 26. 70, 72, 74. The became his wife, and bare Bat he denied before them all, him a fon; but the thing faying, I know not what thou that David had done displeased fayeft. And again he denied the Lord, with an oath, I do not know k Eph. 4, 30, And grieve the man. Then began he to not the Holy Spirit of God, curse and to {wear, saying, 1 whereby ye are sealed unto the know not the man.

day of redemption, h 2 Sani, 12.9, 13. Where- i Psal, 51, 8, 10, 12. Make fore haft thou despised the me to hear joy and gladness ; commandment of the Lord, to that the bones which thou haft do evil in his fight? Thou hast broken may rejoice. Create killed Uriah the Hittite with in me a clean heart, O God, the sword, and hast taken his and renew a right spirit within wife to be thy wife, and hast me. Restore unto me the joy flain him with the sword of the of thy salvation ; and uphold children of Ammon. -And Da. me with thy free Spirit. Rev. vid said unto Nathan, I have 2. 4. Nevertheless, I have finned against the Lord. And somewhat against thee, because Nathan said unto David, The thou hast left thy first love, Lord also hath put away thy m Mark 6. 52. For they fin; thou shalt not die.

considered not the miracle of i Ifa. 64. 7, 9.--For thou the loaves, for their heart was haft hid thy face from us, and hardened. Mark 16. 14. Af. haft consumed us, because of terward he appeared unto the our iniquities.-Be not wroth eleven, as they sat at meat, and very fore, O Lord, neither upbraided them with their un. remember iniquity for ever; belief and hardness of heart, behold, see, we befeech thee, because they believed we are all thy people. 2 Sam. them which had seen him, 11. 27, And when the mourn- after he was rifen, Psalm ing was paft, David fent and 95. 8. fotched her to his house, and

not