A. 4. The promises of mercy arc annex- ed only to perseverance. Rev. iii. 5., " He that overcometh, ^hall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name • out of the book of life," Non pngnanti sed vincenti dmihitur corona, Aug. The promise is not to liiin that fights, but that overcomes, Luke xxii. 28., " Ye are they which have continued with me, and I ap]»oint inito you a kingdom " The promise of a kingdom, saith Chrysostom, is not made to them that heard Christ or followed him, but that con- tinued with him. Perseverance carries a- way the garland ; no man hath the crown set upon his head, but he who holds out to the end of the race. O therefore, by all this, be persuaded to persevere ! God makes no account of such as do not persevere. Who esteems of corn that sheds before har- vest, or fruit that falls from the tree before it be ripe ?
Quest. 2. What expedients or means may be used for a Christianas perseverance ?
Ans. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you desist and fall a\\ay. Ist^ Take heed of presumption. Do not pre- sume upon your own strength ; exercise an holy fear and I'ealousy over vour own hearts, Rom. xi. 20., " Be not high-minded, but fear," 1 Cor. x. 12., " Let him tliat think- eth he standeth, take heed lest he fall." It was Peter's sin, he leaned more upon his grace than upon Christ, and then he fell. A Christian hath cause to fear lest the lust and deceit of his lieart betray him ; take heed of presuming ; fear begets prayer, — prayer begets strength, — and strength be- gets steadfastness. 2dly, Take heed of hy- j)ocrisy. Judas was first a sly hy])ocrite. and then a traitor, Ps. Ixxviii. 37., " Their heart was not right with CJod, neither were they steadfast in his covenant." If there be any venom or malignity in the blood, it will break forth into a p!ague-sore. The venom of hypocrisy is in danger of breaking out into the plague-sore of scandal. 3r////, Be- ware of a vile heart of unbelief, Heb iii 12., " Take heed lest there he in any of you an evil heart t)f unbelief, in dej)arting from the living God." Whence is apostacy but from incredulity? Men do not believe 'the truth, and then they fall from the truth. Unbelieving and unstable go together, Ps.
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OF PERSEVKRANCE.
Ixxviii. 22., " Tliey believed not in God;" ver. 41., " They turned back."
A. 2. If you would be pillars In the tem- ple of God, and persevere in sanctity,
Fi7'st, Look that you enter into relij^ion upon a right ground; be well grounded in the distinct knowledge of God ; you must know the love of the Father, the merit of the Son, and the efficacy of the Holy Ghost. Such as know not God aright, will by de- grees fall off. The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Jews when they were in fa- vour, but afterwards disclaiuied all kindred with them, when Antiochus persecuted the Jews ; and no wonder the Samaritans were no more fixed in religion, if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans, John iv. 22 , " Ye worship ye know not what :" thev were ignorant of the true God. Let your knowledge of God be clear, and serve him ])urely out of choice, and then you will persevere, Ps. cxix. 30, 31., " I have chosen the way of truth, I have stuck unto thy tes- timonies."
Seamr/ft/, Get a real work of grace in your heart, Heb. xiii. 9., " It is a good thing that the heart be established with gnice." No- thing will hold out but grace; it is only this anointing abides ; paint will fall off. Get an heart-changing- work, 1 Cor. vi.ll., " But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified." Be not content with baptism of water, without baptism of the Spirit ; the reason men persevere not in religion, is for want of a vital principle ; a branch must needs wither, that hath no root to grow upon.
Thirdlij, If you would persevere, I e very sincere. Perseverance grows only upon the root of sincerity, Ps. xxv. 21., " Let in- tegrity and uj)rightness preserve me." The breast|jiate of sincerity can never be shot through. How many storms was Job in ? the devil set against him, — his wife tempted him to curse God, — his friends accused him of being a liyjjocrite, — here was enough one would think, to have made liim to desist from religion : yet for all tiiis, he perseveres. Wliat preserved him ? It was his sincerity. Job xx^^i. 6., " My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go ; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."
Fourlhhf, If you would persevere, be hum- ble, St. Chrvsostora calls humilitv the mo-