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CHA P. XXV.

Of Affurance of SALVATION.

HE fixth Benefit, which Chrift hath purchafed for us, is an Affurance Salvation. The Certainty of attaining Salvation depends on the Certainty of our Perfeverance in the true Faith. For Salvation is promised only on Condition of Faith and fincere Obedience to the Gospel. And as long as we continue in the Obedience of Faith, fo long we have good ground to hope for Salvation. The State of our Souls is always answerable to the Courfe of our Lives. If we obey the Will of our heavenly Father, we fhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. vii. 21. But if we continue in any wicked way, we are under the Wrath of God, and have no right to the Promife of Salvation. For without holiness no man fball fee the Lord, Heb. xii. 14.

AND when we understand the Precepts of the Gofpel, if we compare our Actions therewith,we may certainly know whether we obey them in Sincerity or not. And if we find that the Temper of our Heart, and the Course of our Life, is agreeable to the Precepts of the Gofpel, then we may be affured that at prefent we are in favour with God, and have right to Salvation. For hereby (even by

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Deeds of Love) we know that we are of the truth, and fhall affure our Hearts before him, 1 Joh. iii, 19. And when we are led by the Spirit, and do bring forth the Fruits thereof, the Spirit it felf beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the children of God, Rom. viii. 16. The Teftimony of the Holy Spirit is agreeable to the Word of God. And that Spirit doth no longer witness that we are Sons of God, than while we perform the Duties of Sons according to the Word. And fo long as we continue in well-doing, we may have found Joy and Comfort in believing, and know certainly that we are in a State of Grace, and rightly qualified for Salvation.

Bur though we may certainly know our good Eftate at prefent; yet we have no infallible Affurance, but only found Hope of future Happinefs. For Salvation is promised only on Condition of Holiness, and Perfeverance therein. And no longer than we perform this Condition can we be affured of Salvation. For we can be no more certain of Salvation, than we are certain of our Perfeverance in Holiness. And our Perfeverance in well-doing being at moft but highly probable to us, we cannot be infallibly affured of Salvation. But all the Affurance we have here of Salvation is an Affurance of Hope. For we are faved by hope, Rom. viii. 24. And Hope refpe&teth not only the Promise of Salvation, but also our Performance of the Condition required in order to obtain it: For our Right to Salvation is founded on our Holiness and Perfeverance in well-doing: And the Degree of our Affurance of Salvation ufually holds Proportion to the Degree of our Graces. They that are Beginners in Grace, may have a probable Hope of their Sal

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vation

vation. And they that are well grown in Grace may have a full Affurance of Hope, that nothing fhall be able to separate them from the Love of God.

BUT yet they that have the greatest Hopes of Glory, have alfo fuch Abatements, as are proper to preferve Humility and godly Fear. And fome that are grown towards Perfection, may be troubled with Doubtings about their Condition. So Job, who was a perfect and upright Man, was fometimes fo perplexed with inward Temptations, as well as outward Troubles, that he bitterly complained that the Arrows of the Almighty were within him, and that the Terrors of God fet themselves in array against him, Job vi. 4. And holy David alfo was often troubled in Mind, and fometimes bewailed his Condition, as if he had been forfaken of God. Lord, (faith he) why cafteft thou off my soul? Why hideft thou thy face from me? Pfal. lxxxviii. 14. And many that are in a State of Grace may be fearful of their Condition at fome times, especially when they are under Temptation. For to be certainly affured of Salvation is not a Duty; nor is it always in our Power to be free from Trouble and Dejection of Spirit.

NOR is our Condition the worse, when we are doubtful of it, if we continue to do our Duty. For our fpiritual State is not to be judged by our Confidence, but by the Temper of our Heart, and the Course of our Life. If our Confidence out-runs our Growth in Grace, it may prove a dangerous Delufion. And our Condition is the more miferable, if we flatter our felves with hopes of Peace and Bleffednefs, when we are deftitute of good Works. For 'tis

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not a good Conceit of our felves, when we have no ground for it, will make us bleffed. But when we have fmall Comfort and Encouragement in well-doing, if notwithstanding we proceed therein, our Virtue is the greater, and our Condition bleffed. And we are as high in God's Favour, when we are deprived of thofe Joys, which usually attend his Service, as when we we have them, if we continue ftill holy and obedient to him. For while we cleave close to God, and endeavour the best we can to walk in his Ways, our Condition is fafe and bleffed in it felf, though there be a Damp upon our Spirits at prefent, and our Confidence of Happiness be fmall. For as a strong Perfwafion of Mercy, when we are wicked, cannot make us happy: So neither can Dejection of Spirit, when we are holy, render our Condition bad.

CHAP. XXVI.

Of the RESURRECTION of the DEAD.

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HE feventh Benefit, which Christ hath purchased for us, is the Refurrection of our Bodies. As Chrift arofe from the Dead by the Power of his Godhead: So in and by him we have good ground to hope that we alfo fhall be raised from the Dead. For Chrift is the refurrection and the life: he that believeth

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in him, though he were dead, yet shall he lives Joh. xi. 25. For Chrift by his Death hath redeemed our whole Man: And because he is rifen from the Dead, 'tis evident that he hath gotten the Victory for us over Sin and Death; and there is nothing now that hinders our Refurrection. But fince by man came death, by man came alfo the refurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift shall all be made alive, 1 Cor. xv.20,

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AND fure God, who hath purposed in Chrift to raife the Dead, is fufficiently able to do it: For God knoweth exactly what Duft and Afhes belong to every Body; and he is able in a Moment to quicken the dead, and to call thofe things which be not, as though they were, Rom. iv. 17. Though our Bodies be diffolved into Duft, and our Parts be variously fcattered, yet they are all within the Knowledge and Power of God; and they can have no Impoffibility by their Separation to be re-united, where and how he pleafeth. For God, that made all things of nothing, and the Body of the first Man of Earth, can as eafily re-make the Bodies of Men of that Duft into which they are diffolved. And though we cannot well conceive how the fame Bodies of Men, which fuffer fo many Changes, fhould be fafely reftored; yet God is able to do far more than we can understand. We know not how Seed that is cleanfed and purified brings forth a Stalk · and Corn mixed with Chaff. We know not how Roots yearly fend forth Flower of like Form and Quality: But yet we fee that God hath implanted fuch a Nature in thefe things, that they never fail to produce their expected Fruits.

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