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of eminent support to believers; especially in difficult cases: it also evinceth matter of duty on the believer's part; and from the examples fore-quoted, something of direction in reference to both; which I shall here put intermixedly.

Infer. I. Stand still, and behold the salvation of the Lord! and at the sight of this great thing, say in your hearts, with a holy astonishment, "What hath God wrought!" Let your souls be filled and enlarged with everlasting admirings of that grace (that sovereign grace) which has so impregnably secured the salvation of his chosen, that no manner of thing, whether within them or without them, shall be able to defeat it, or hinder them of it; 66 no, not the gates of hell:" nay, not so much as one of the stakes thereof shall be removed, and that for ever. Shaken you may be, and tossed with a tempest, but not overturned, because ye have an eternal root. Electing love is of that sov ereignty, that it rules and overrules all, both in heaven and in earth: Christ Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, the Holy Ghost, our sanctifier, counsellor, and comforter, in all they have done, do, or will do, do still pursue that scope. All ordinances, providences, temptations, afflictions, and whatever can be named, whether good or bad in itself, life, death, things present, and things to come, are all made subservient to the decree of election, and do all work together to bring about its most glorious designment. If the course and conduct of common providences were lively delineated, it would yield an illustrious prospect: how much more the conduct, order, and end, of those special providences, which are proper to, and conversant about election! when all the pieces thereof shall be brought together, and set in order, how beautiful will it be! angels and men shall shout for the glory of it! then it will be evident God hath done nothing in vain, or impertinent to your blessedness: that whatever hath befallen you here, however contrary to your present sense and opinion of it, was dispensed in very faithfulness to you: that if any of those manifold, and seemingly cross occurrences, you have been exercised with, had been omitted, it would have been a blank in your story, a blot in your escutcheon of honor. When you shall see what contrivances have been against you; what art, subtlety, malice, and power, they were agitated with; how unable you were, of yourselves, to foresee,

prevent, avoid, or repel them; and how all the attributes of God and his providences, each one in its time and place, which was always most seasonable, came in to your rescue, retorting on your adversaries, and safeguarding you; yea, how that which was death in itself, was made to work life in you; how amiable and admirable will the story of it be! that when your faith was weak, the Lord did not withdraw from you; that when it was at its height and strength, he then did for you above all you could believe or think, and through an unspeakable press of difficulties and contradictions, he carried on his work in you; even bearing you on eagles' wings, until he had brought you to himself: how will you magnify his work, and admire it then! Begin it

now.

Infer. II. Let us study more the knowledge and contents of this great truth of believers' invincible perseverance; the rise, progress, and tendency of it, and what advantages it yields to us; which are indeed many, and very considerable.

1. As it is a part of the doctrine of election which teacheth, that nothing in us, but grace and love in God, was the only original cause of our salvation; the knowledge whereof will work in the soul an holy ingenuity and love towards God, whom nothing offends but sin. Simon answered right when he said, "He that had most forgiven him, would love most," Luke 7: 45. whence it follows, that he who believes the free remission of all his sins, from first to last, must love God more than he who believes only the pardon of those that are past; and that so, as that they may all be charged upon him again: or if not, that yet he may possibly perish for those to come, perhaps in the last moment of his life: for he is not sure, nay, it is very doubtful, if dependant on his own natural will, that faith and repentance shall be his last act. Now this grace of love being the strongest and most operative principle, he that is led by it must act accordingly; that is, vigorously, and without weariness, as Paul did. And Joseph, having received large tokens of God's love to him, and expecting more, yet argues against, and, with an holy disdain and slight, puts by the tempta tion: "How can I do this, and sin against God," who hath dealt, and will deal, so bountifully with me! Divine love is of infinite efficacy.

2. As it teacheth the soul to depend upon God for its keeping, as having his almighty power absolutely engaged for it. Whereas, if the efficacy and event of all that God doeth for me, should depend upon something to be done by myself, who am a frail creature, and prone to revolt, I should still be in fear, because still in danger of falling, and losing all at last: and this fear being an enfeebling passion, must needs render my resistance, and all my endeavors, both irregular and weak; whereas a magnanimous and fearless spirit, who sees himself clothed with a divine power, shall have his wits (as we say) more about him, to discern dangers and advantages, and, consequently, how to eschew the one, and improve the other.

3. As it gives assurance, 66 our labor shall not be in vain." This made these believing Hebrews to "endure that great fight of afflictions, and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods; because they knew they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance." All manner of accomplishments put into one, and made your own, would not so invincibly steel your foreheads, and strengthen your hearts, as to be sure of success, and to come off conquerors at last: the apostle, therefore, brings it in as the highest encouragement in our christian warfare, Rom. 6:14. chap. 8: 37. And our blessed Lord himself, who, of all others, had the hardest task to perform, it made "his face as a flint, because he knew he should not be confounded,” Isa. 50: 7.

Infer. III. Make it one, and that a main part of your bu. siness, to foil and disprove the objections that are brought against this doctrine; and your nearest way to it is, by "growing in grace,' ," 2 Pet. 3: 18. with chap. 1: 5-10. 1. Lay aside, and cast away every weight; especially the sin that doth most easily beset you; your hosom sin, whatever it be; cast them to the moles, and to the bats; they are not fit mates for daylight creatures, 1 Thess. 5: 5, 6. It is a noble prize you run for; therefore clog not yourself with any thing that may hinder or retard your pace. 2. Keep yourselves in the love of God; maintain a spiritual. sense of his love to you, and a lively answer of holy affections towards him. Whatever may tend to obscure or lessen your sense of it, have nothing to do with it; keep yourself from idols; let nothing have an interest in your love but

God, and all things else, but in subordination, and with respect to him only. 3. Watch against the beginning and very first motions of sin; nip it in the bud; abstain from all appearance of evil; and walk not on the brink of your liberty. It is easier to keep out an invader, than to expel him when entered, to keep down a rebel, and prevent his rising, than to conquer him when he is up. Great and black clouds have small beginnings; the bigness of your hand, at first, may rise and spread so as to cover the whole heavens; therefore, keep off sin at staff's end. 4. Be diligent and industrious in it. Think not, because it is God who performeth all things for you, that therefore you may sit still, or be remiss in your duty; your arms and armor were not provided to rust in your tent. There may be, indeed, such a juncture in providence, that it may be your duty, and, consequently, your strength, to sit still, as was theirs at the Red Sea, Exod. 14: 13. this is, when all further motion is shut up to you; and then the Lord will do his work without you: but usually there is something to be done on our part. Though the Lord would go forth before David, and smite the Philistines, yet David must bestir himself, 2 Sam. 5: 24. This thing is constantly to be affirmed, that they who have believed in God, be careful to maintain good works," Tit. 3: 8. and do it the rather, to "cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we," 2 Cor. 11:22. 5. Cleave to Jesus Christ, and to him only; and trust not to your holding of him, but to his holding of you. This did David, when he says, "Thou holdest me by my right hand," Psal. 73: 23. Follow him, as men follow the court, whose dependance is upon it. While following him, you cannot do amiss; nor want any good thing, whether for counsel, strength, or otherwise. 6. Forget what is behind, and press on towards perfection; that, if possible, you may attain to the resurrection of the dead, that is, to be perfectly holy. Though perfectness, in the perfection of it, is not attainable here; yet the higher you aim, the higher shall your attainment be, and the farther off from losing what you have got. Keep the mark still in your eye, and shun whatever` might intercept your sight of it. These are some of the ways to make your calling and election sure: and if ye do these things, ye shall prove this doctrine

to be true; and either prevent or retort those carnal and groundless calumnies that are brought against it.

Infer. IV. Since there are such arguments for believers' perseverance, let us all so demean ourselves, that we may have them all stand on our side, for proof and evidence that we are of that happy remnant, whom the great God hath set apart for himself, and whom he hath made and wrought for this self-same thing: and as it was his purpose, so let it. be our spirit and practice, to glorify the riches of his grace. 1. If born of God, let us shew forth the virtues of our Father, and bear ourselves as his children, both towards him, and towards the world. Let us live upon him, and live to him; rejoicing always before him; first, for his own blessedness, and then for ours, as derived from his, and by him. reserved in heaven for us; and all, as designing to honor. him as our Father. 2. If we have faith, let it appear by our works. It must be some singular thing that must distinguish us from other men: it is not profession, nor words, nor actions neither (as to the matter of them, and so far as visible to men,) that will approve us believers; but the principle whence they grow, and the end they drive at: the re-. sult of Abraham's faith was, " to give glory to God," and so will ours, if Abraham's seed. 3. Let us carry ourselves, under all dispensations, not only quietly, but thankfully,. and so as to answer God's end: walk humbly; hate the thing that is evil; have the world under your feet; esteem preciously of Christ; honor his ordinances; let every grace have its perfect work; and rejoice in hopes of that glory, which all these things are preparatory to. 4. If one with Christ, and he our Mediator, then let us walk as he walked, who held his own will always subject to his Father; reckoning it “his meat to do his will, and to finish his work:" let us also wait his advice and counsel in every business, and follow it; commit our cause to him, and interest him in all our concernments. 5. Apply yourselves to every attribute of God, according to the present occasion; and dwell upon them, and leave them not until you have the grace and help intended by them. They are all made over to the heirs of salvation, to live upon: let it not be said, that in the midst of our abundance we are in straits! 6. If made for the glory of God, make good your end: he is glorious in holiness, and by holiness only can you glorify him. Bear,

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