hath promised absolutely to continue some grace in them ; which is all we desire. If conditionally, then would I know what that con- dition is on which God hath promised that believers shall so con- sider the things mentioned. And of the condition which shall be ex- pressed, it may farther be inquired whether it be any grace of God, or only a mere act of the rational creature as such, without any im- mediate in- working of the will and deed by God? AVhatsoever is answered, the question Avill not go to rest until it be granted that either it is a grace absolutely promised of God, which is all we desire, or a pure act of the creature contradistinct thereunto, which answers the first inquiry. Let it, then, be granted that the considerations in- timated are no other but such as a rational man who is enlio-htened to an assent to the truth of God may so exert and exercise as he pleaseth ; then is there a foundation laid of all the ground of perse- verance that is allowed the saints in their own endeavours, as men without the assistance of any gi'ace of God. Now, these considera- tions, be they what they will, must needs be beneath one single good thought, for as for that we have no sufficiency of ourselves; yea, vanity and nothing, for without Christ we can do nothing ; yea, evil and displeasing to God, as are all the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts that are only such.^ I had supposed that no man in the least acquainted with what it is to serve God under temptations, and what the work of saving souls is, but had been sufiiciently con- vinced of the utter insufficiency of such rational considerations, flow- ing only from conviction, to be a solid foundation of abiding with God unto the end. If men's houses of profession are built on such sands as these, we need not wonder to see them so frequently falling to the ground.
Secondly, Suppose these considerations to act their part uj)on the stage raised for them, to the greatest applause that can be expected or desired, yet that which comes next upon the theatre will, I fear, foully miscarry, and spoil the whole plot of the play, — that is, "men's vigorous inclination of their hearts to the good things pondered on to what height they plt^ase ; " for besides that, —
First, It is liable to the same examination that passed upon its associates before, or an inquiry from whence he comes, whether from heaven or men ; upon which I doubt not but he may easily be discovered to be " a vagabond upon the earth," to have no pass from heaven, and so be rendered liable to the law of God.
Secondly, It would be inquired whether it hath a consistency with the whole design of the apostle, Rom. vii. And therefore, —
Thirdly, It is utterly denied that men, the best of men, liave in themselves and of themselves, arising upon the account of any con- siderations whatsoever, a power, ability, or strength, vigorously or at * 2 Cor. iii. 6; John xv. 5; Gen. viii, 21.
I.] ISAIAH IV. OPENED AND EXPLAINED. 113
all acceptably to God, to incline their hearts to the performance of any thing that is spiritually good, or in a gospel tendency to walking with God. All the promises of God, all the prayers of the saints, all their experience, the whole design of God in laying up all our stores of strength and grace in Christ, jointly cry out against it for a counterfeit pretence. In a word, that men are able to plant in themselves inclinations and dispositions to refrain all manner of sin destructive to the safety of their souls, fuller of energy, vigour, life, strength, power, than those that are in them to avoid things ap- parently tending to the destruction of their natural lives, is an asser- tion as full of energy, strength, and vigour, life, and poison, for the destruction and eversion of the grace of God in Christ, as any which can be invented.
To shut up this discourse and to proceed: If these are the solid foundations of peace and consolation which the saints have concern- ing their perseverance; if these be the means "sufficient," "abun- dantly sufficient," affi^rded them for their preservation, that are laid in the balance, as to the giving of an evangelical, geniune assurance, with the decrees and purposes, the covenant, promises, and oath of God, the blood and intercession of Christ, the anointing and sealing of the Spirit of grace, — I suppose we need not care how soon we enter the lists with any as to the comparing of the doctrines under contest, in reference to their influence into the obedience and consolation of the saints ; which with its issue, in the close of this discourse, shall, God willing, be put to the trial.
Now, that I may lay a more clear foundation for what doth ensue, I shall briefly deduce not only the doctrine itself, but also the method wherein I shall handle it, from a portion of Scripture, in which the whole is summarily comprised, and branched forth into suitable heads, for the confirmation and vindication thereof. And this also is required to the main of my design, it being not so directly to convince stout gainsayers, in vanquishing their objections, as to strengthen weak believers, in helping them against temptations; and therefore I shall at the entrance hold out that whereinto their faith must be ultimately resolved, — the authority of God in his word being that ark alone whereon it can rest the sole of its foot. Now, this is the fourth chapter of Isaiah, of which take this short account : It is a chapter made up of gracious promises, given to the church in a calamitous season; the season itself is described, verses 25 and 26 of the third chapter, and the first of this, — all holding out a distressed estate, a low condition. It is, indeed, God's method, to make out gracious promises to his people when their condition seems most deplorable, — to sweeten their souls with a sense of his Jove in the multitude of the perplexing thoughts which in distracted times are ready to tumultuate in them.