Persons that are predestinated, are called; and the very same that are called, are justified; and the very same who are justified, are, or shall be glorified: — There∣fore the Hope that Believers have, is both sure and stedfast.
Thirdly; Christ's Death is a sure Ground of Hope. Who is be that condemneth? It is Christ that died. I lay down my Life for my Sheep. Christ in an especial manner laid down his Life for those which the Father gave to him, with an absolute Purpose and Intention eternally to save them; and he shall not lose his Purchase, nor miss of the Merit of his most precious Blood: Therefore the Saints Hope is both sure and stedfast.
Fourthly; Christ's Resurrection is a sure Ground of Hope. Christ rose again from the Dead, to justify all those who truly believe in him. Who shall condemn? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again. — Who was delivered for our Offences, and was raised again for out Justification. Thus Christ, by his Resurrection, doth actually justi∣fie all that believe in him; therefore the Saints Hope is both sure and stedfast.
Fifthly; The Intercession of Christ is a sure Ground of Hope. Who is he that con∣demneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh Intercession for us. Seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for us. Father, I will that those also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, &c. I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not. If any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Christ prays the Father, that all his Chil∣dren may be kept from falling, that their Faith fail not, that they may have their Sins pardoned, and may be where he is, &c. And he is always heard and answered by the Father: I know thou hearest me always. Therefore the Saints Hope is both sure and stedfast.
Sixthly; The Covenant of Grace is a sure Ground of Hope. Although my House be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my Salvation, and Desire, tho he make it not to grow. For the Mountains shall depart, and the Hills be removed; but my Kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy upon thee. The Covenant stands in Christ, it was made in him, he undertook to perform the Conditions of it by his Spirit, in behalf of all true Believers, as their Surety. We stand not in Christ, in the New Covenant, as we stood in Adam, in the Old. Adam was a Person, that might, or might not stand, it was in his own power to stand or fall; but the Covenant of Grace is more firm and sure in many respects, especially in regard of the Excellency, Power, Ability, and Immutability of Jesus Christ, who, as the second Adam, and publick Person, hath undertaken for all his Seed. If our standing was in the New Covenant, as Adam's was in the Old, doubtless we should not continue in our stedfastness one moment: For if he was overcome by Satan, that had no evil or depraved Nature in him, for Satan to fasten a Temptation upon, how should we escape him, that have such a Body of Sin and Death in us, even the Seed or Root of all Corruption, our Hearts being like Tinder, ready to take with every Spark of the Devil's kindling. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them Good: But I will put my Fear into their Hearts, that they shall not depart from me. As God will not turn away from us, so he will not suffer us to depart from him. This is not like the Covenant he first made. Therefore the Saints Hope of Salvation is both sure and stedfast, an Anchor that will hold, and cannot be broken.
Seventhly; The Fulness of Grace, which is treasured up in Christ for Believers, is a sure Ground of Hope. It pleased the Father, that in him should all Fulness dwell. And of his Fulness have we all received, and Grace for Grace. Hence it is that all the Wants of Believers are supplied: But my God shall supply all your Needs, according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Insomuch that when ever any, tho the meanest and weakest Saint, is in need of Support or Help, in time of great and imminent Danger, he may have not only Supply in one respect, but a full and compleat Supply in all respects, answerable to the various Exercises that Believers meet with in their Christi∣an Course, to the end they may not miscarry, or suffer Shipwrack; for that in Christ they have a Fulness of Wisdom to instruct and counsel them, a Fulness of Love and Care to guide them, a Fulness of Power and Strength to hold them up, that they may be safe, and to stay them from sinking, as he did Peter, who, when under the fear of miscarrying, cries out to Christ for help; a Fulness of Pity and Comp••ssion, to commiserate them in all their Distresses; and a Fulness of Grace and Mercy, to
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