A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

11. Comforts against Feares of their falling from GOD, who labour to work out their salvation with feare and trembling.

1. In regard of GOD.

• * 1.11. His Counsell, on which mans salvation is foun∣ded, is sure and un∣changeable, and his calling without repen∣tance, Rom. 11.29.
• 2. His Love is everla∣sting and inviolable, Ier. 31.3. Rom. 8.35. ult.
• 3. His Mercy (like his Lov••) is ••verlasting, Psal. 103.17. Psal. 100.5.106.1. & 107.1. Luke 1.50. It is itera∣ted 26. times in 136. Psalme.
• 4. His Will is for such, Luke 12.32.* 1.2 Iohn 6.39. His Grace, and that is all-sufficient, 2 Cor. 12.9.
• 5. His Power is for such, and that is Almighty, Ioh 10.27, 28, 29. Iude 24.2 Tim. 1.12.
• ...

• 6. His faithfullnesse and truth make both for this, 2 Thess. 3.3.

2. In regard of CHRIST.

• 1. Because of our union with him:* 1.3 He is the Head, we the members. and he will not suffer any to perish that are ingraffed into him, Ioh. 6.39. Ioh. 17.22, 23, 26.
• 2. From the perpetuall efficacie of his inter∣cession, Rom. 8.34. Heb. 7.21. Hee is a Priest for ever, and alwaies intercedes for his. What he said to Peter,* 1.4 I have prayed that thy faith faile not, Luke 22.32. Hee perfor∣meth for all. He is the Author and finishe•• of our faith, Heb. 12.2.

3. In regard of the HOLY GHOST.

• 1. His continuall assi∣stance,* 1.5 Hee shall abide with us for ever, John 14.16. And hee which hath begun a good work, will finish it, Phil. 1.6.
• * 1.62. His Obsignation which is irrevocable: every one that beleeveth, is sealed by the holy Spi∣rit of promise, Ephes. 1.13, 14. sealed for ever, 4.30. 2 Cor. 1.22. an honest man will not break his bargaine, when there is earnest and evidence for it; therefore Chrysostome saith elegantly, if GOD having once given this earnest, should not also give the rest of the in∣heritance, He should undergo the losse of his earnest.

4. The lasting power of the Word once rooted in the good and honest heart, Luke 8.15. It is called immortall seed, 1 Pet. 1.23, 25. The engraffed Word, James 1.21. The seed remaining, 1 Joh. 3.9.

5. The certainty and sweetnesse of the promises to this purpose.* 1.7 GOD hath promised that his people shall not be mooved from the state of grace,* 1.8 Psal. 15.5. & 16.8. Psal. 37.24, 27, 28, 31. Psal. 55.22. & 102.28. Pro. 10.30. Psal. 125.1. Hee will not cast off his people nor forsake his inheri∣tance, Psal. 94.14. 1 Sam. 12.22. And hee will put his feare into their hearts, that they shall not de∣part from him. For this is his Covenant with his people. Ier. 32.39, 40, 41. Hosea 2.19, 20. Hee upholdeth them with his hand, that they shall not fall away. Hee will confirme them unto the end, that they may be blam••lesse in the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST,* 1.9 1 Cor. 1.8, 9. the like

is, 1 Thess. 5.23, 24 GOD hath made more promises to hold up his children, then ever he made to hold up the pillars of the world.

6. The prayers of the whole Church of GOD which are ve∣ry prevalent and powerfull, Ioh. 16.23. the daily sacrifice of be∣leevers, is, ne inducas in tentatio∣nem.

7. The force and might of faith, 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4, 5.

8. The durable vigour of saving graces, John 4.14. our Saviour hath promised, Iohn 16.22. that he will give unto the faithfull such constant and permanent joy, as no man shall be able to take from them: He hath prayed that our faith may not faile, Luke 22.32. It is a stable grace, 1 Ioh. 5.4. 1 Pet. 2.6.

Comforts to the Godly, who are troubled with many and strong corruptions, and like∣wise

want the meanes of grace,

• either
  • 1. Altogether.
  • 2. In the power of them.
  • 3. Or having them so, yet profit not by them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 9 11. Mat. 25 23, 24. 2 Tim 2 19.

  Singula ve••ba po••du•• habem, certi¦tudo haec ni∣titur •• sun∣damento, 2 non quo∣cun{que} sed sir∣mo, 3 non ho¦minu sed Dei, 4 non vacillan••e s••d stante i••l{que} o••signa∣to, ••d{que} no∣titia Dei, non si••pl••••u sa¦tum inspe∣ction••, sed disce••nen••e sum a non sun. O. Pri∣deaux.
• * 1.2

  1 Pet. 1.5. Kept by the guard of Gods power unt•• salva∣tion, Phil. 4.7. Keepe with a guard as Kings are kept, Ps. 132.11.
• * 1.3

  Our assu∣rance is not in o••r sel••e, b••t in Chri••t; as we la•• hold of Man, so he fa•••• holde••h u••; and as he hath prayed that our faith faile not us, so neither will he let go his hold Ioh 10 27, 28, 29 Heb 7 25 Phil •• 7.
• * 1.4

  S. Austen saith, A mighty man will not loose that which hee hath bought for his mo∣ney, and will Chri•••• loose ••h••t which He hath bought with his blood?
• * 1.5

  Esay 59.21. 1 Cor 3.16.
• * 1.6

  The nature of a seale is to make things sure, Dan 6.8. Mat 27.66. a writing in firme a∣mongst men, when the seale is put to it.
• * 1.7

  Zach 10.12 Iohn 8.12. 2 Sam. 7 14 15.
• * 1.8

  The booke of Psalmes is full of ••he••e com∣fortable promises. Psal. 1, 3. & 9.10.18. Ps 112.6.19. & 73.24, ••6. Ps. 103.17. & 145.14. Ps. 8••.33.
• * 1.9

  Ioh. 6.35, 37 51, 53. & 5.24.