Bible English, Scinta

A COLLECTION

OF THE

SWEET ASSURING

Promises of Scripture,

OR THE

BELIEVERS' INHERITANCE.

BY SAMUEL CLARKE, D. D.

Revised by J. J. Harrod.

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious

promises ; that by these ye might be partakers of the

divine nature.--2 Peter, c. i. v. 4.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he

shall bring it to pass.-Ps. xxxvii. 5.

BALTIMORE:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN N. LEWIS.

1840.

10-1-27

DISTRICT OF MARYLAND, SS. Be it Remembered, That on this 10th day of January, in

the fifty-fourth year of the independence of the

United States of America, JOHN J. HARROD, Seal.

of the said district, hath deposited in this office ******* the title of a book, the right whereof he clains as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: " A Collection of the Assuring Sweet Promises of Scrip

ture; or the Believers' Inheritance. By Samuel Clarke, D. D. Revised by John J. Harrod. "Whereby are givea unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter, e. 1. v. 4. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.'-Ps. Xxxvii. 5."

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, “ An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ;” and also to the act entitled, “ An act supplementary to the act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and atching historical and other prints."

PHILIP MOORE, Clerk of the District of Maryland.

THE BIBLE is a book of such transcendent worth, and so happily suited to all the parts and purposes of the Christian life*hui it can

never be too much recommended to the world: I every thing that allures the world to peruse

it, is a blessing to mankind. And though it is hard for our narrow capacities to grasp and take in the several distinguishing excellencies of it at one view, yet if we take a separate survey of the doctrines and duties, the promises and threatenings, the prophecies and histories which are contained therein, each of them will afford us an awful or a delightful pros. pect, with lessons for special improvement.

The worthy author of this collection, whom I have long known with esteem and honour, has chosen to reduce all the most useful and important Promises of the word of God into order, and set them before us here. These are the most powerful motives to duty; these are the constant food of a living Christian, as well as his highest cordials in a fainting hour. And in such a world as this, where duties perpetually demand our practice, and difficulties and trials are ever surrounding us, what can we do better than to treasure up the Promises in our hearts, which are the most effectual persuasives to fulfil the one, and sustain the other. Here are laid up the true riches of Christians and his highest hopes on this side of heaven.

The materials which are collected here are all divine, and the disposition of them is elegant and regular; so that it is an easy matter to find something suited to the frame of our souls, or our present wants, on every occasion; and that soul who knows what a suitable promise is worth in an hour of darkness or temptation, will never think such a work as this, and such a various treasure, can have sufficient value set upon it.

Those who have little leisure for reading, may find their account in keeping this book always near them, and with the glance of an eye, they may take in the riches of grace and glory, and derive many a sweet refreshment from hence amidst their labours and travels through this wilderness. It is of excellent use to lie on the table in a chamber of sickness, and now and then to take a sip of the River of Life, which runs through it in a thousand little rills of peace and joy.

May the Holy Spirit of God, who indited all these Promises, and our blessed Mediator, who, by his ministry and by his blood, has sealed and confirmed them all, render them every day more and more powerful and preve alent, to draw the hearts of men towards God, and to fit them for the enjoyment of these words of grace in their complete accomplishment in glory. Amen,

İ. WATTS. Newington, Jan. 19, 1750.

a

INTRODUCTION:

CONTAINING

Some Observations upon the Excellency and

Use of the PROMISES, and Directions for the right Application of them.

BESIDES the many other evidences the holy scripture carries in it, of a divine original, there are especially remarkable the sublimi. ty, excellency and reasonableness of the doc. trines it teaches; the wisdom, holiness, and perfection of the rules of life it lays down; and the strength and efficacy of those sanctions with which it enforces its precepts. As the Threatenings have the greatest tendency to strike an awe upon the mind, and to lay a powerful restraint upon every irregular inclination; so the Promises are of such a nature, as most strongly to excite to, and give the greatest encouragement in a course of piety and universal holiness. It is therefore with the highest reason the apostle says of them, That, there are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature,