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OF BELIEVING.

"loitering in the ditch till omnipotence pulls us from "thence. He created us at first in a happy condi "tion, and now, when we are fallen from it, he hath "committed the care of our souls to no meaner person than the eternal Son of his love. It is He "that is the captain of our salvation; and what "enemies can be too strong for us, when we are 'fighting under his banners?"1 Again, says he,My dear Friend, let us encourage ourselves with "those mighty aids we are to expect in this spiritual 'warfare; for greater is he that is for us, than all that can rise up against us. 'The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting "arms.' $2 Let us be strong in the Lord, and the 'power of his might, for he it is that shall tread "down our enemies."3

From which I would observe a few things to the serious reader :

I.--Here is no room for Unbelief.

II. Our help is placed on Christ, enabling by his Holy Spirit.

III. The certain success, "He [the Lord] shall tread down our enemies."

Come, then, and let all that have rested in empty forms, now look to Christ, on whom our help is, who is spoken of as our Light in various texts of Scripture.

Let men turn their minds inward to this light, there to see those enemies that are of their own house, which heretofore broke their peace with God,

(1) Scougal. (2) Deut. xxxiii, 27. (3) Scougal.

and wait to hear his voice in their souls, as of old by the Prophet,-"Let the wicked forsake his way.' Cease to do evil; learn to do well." The willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land.”1

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Learn, therefore, to obey his will, in whatsoever is made known by him, to be thy duty either to do or to forsake; be a disciple of Jesus, and deny thyself, and follow his requirings; taking up a daily cross to what he calls thee from.

Here some may say, "Oh! I now see an enemy near, the flesh; and that 'lusteth against the spirit.' The spirit leads to self-denial; the flesh leads to gratify self, to continue its former sinful or vain delights. Well, consider now which is safest for thee to follow, and remember the Apostle, in this case, hath given a notable warning, saying, "If ye live after the flesh ye shall die, but if ye through the spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."4 He advises farther," Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affections, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience."5 Mortify, therefore, the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof, through a pure subjection to that spirit that works all our works in us and for us.

Like as in time past, the evil one and his temptations were hearkened to, now hearken diligently [to God], hear and your souls shall live;"6 hearken to the counsel of that holy Spirit that calls to holiness, "to fear God and eschew evil."7 Herein,

(1) Isa. i, 16, 17, 19. (2) Luke xiv, 26, 27. (3) Gal. v, 17. (4) Rom. viii, 13. (5) Col. iii, 5, 6. (6) Isa. lv, 2, 3. (7) Job i, 1.

G

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THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

indeed, you may be disciples [learners] of the Holy Jesus, who teaches to know what is the good and acceptable will of God, and to practise it when known.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of the Scriptures; and that they ought to be read, with our minds turned to that Spirit by which they were given forth.

SOME may say, is not the certain duty of man, in this great case, found in the Holy Scripture?

I answer, by the help of the Holy Spirit, which gave forth the Scriptures, men may find expressed in them the general duties they owe unto God:"Thou shalt be holy, because God is holy;" "Thou shalt not kill, steal, commit uncleanness," &c. But it is the Holy Spirit which shews thee when thou art tempted to any particular eyil, and which reproves thee when thou hast committed it; and when thou art convicted in thyself, and findest also a testimony against thee in Scripture, thou hast a double evidence: thou art a transgressor, and oughtest to repent and turn from thine iniquities, as thou art warned to do, both by the Holy Spirit in thyself, and also in the Holy Scripture, lest endless wrath from God, who is just, become thy portion.

Likewise those who love and fear the Lord, being led by his Spirit in the ways of holiness, they have the evidence of his Spirit in themselves, that they are accepted of God, and the promises thereof in Holy Scripture are to them a comfort also.

ARE READ WITH EXCEEDING PROFIT. 39

Besides, as the Scripture shews the general duty of men, so it is the Holy Spirit which is our strength and help in the performance thereof, which is the great point of religion wanting among men.

The Scripture teaches we should deny ourselves, the Holy Spirit shews us wherein, and only can enable us thereunto; therefore we earnestly recommend men to the guidance and help of it, that they may be led into all truth by it.

Wherefore we neither neglect nor despise the Scriptures, which are certainly of great advantage and encouragement to serious people, and the more as they are read with the mind turned to that Spirit that gave forth the Scripture, which alone can open prophetic testimonies, concerning Christ and his sanctifying work.

The Scriptures contain many profitable accounts of the faith, hope, and experiences of the people of God before and under the Mosaical dispensation; and to the true Christian they are comfortable to read, and observe how several of them had a foresight of the glorious day of salvation, "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."1

They prophesied "of the grace that should come unto us," ," which grace is come by our Lord Jesus Christ, to teach to deny ungodliness, and to live godly in this present world.3

(1) 1 Peter, i, 10, 11. (2) John i, 16, 17. (3) Titus ii.

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TESTIFYING OF GRACE, ETC.

The Spirit of Christ was in them who prophesied beforehand of this grace, and of the sufferings of Christ, and of the glory that should follow. And in this following glory shall any suppose the Spirit Christ to be absent from his people, seeing those, as aforesaid, under the law had the enjoyment of it.

"3

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And as they were enabled by it to hope in the Lord, and do his will, so we now have our ability to serve the Lord, and resist the devil through his Spirit. It is thereby that men may "Mortify the deeds of the body and live."1 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his."2 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." So that it is to the Spirit that we ascribe these blessed enjoyments and operations; yet we are truly thankful to the Lord for the Scripture testimonies of the Spirit, and for his providential mercy that he hath preserved those holy writings to our day, believing "all Scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and able to make wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."4 We also believe they were "written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,"5 to experience the blessed fruits of the Spirit, thereby to be regenerated, sanctified, justified, and made meet to be glorified among the saints in our eternal state; and all this not by

(1) Romans viii, 13. (2) - viii, 9. (3) (4) 2 Tim. iii, 16, 17. (5) Rom. xv, 4.

viii, 11.