510 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP, X. 24.
18. It is a great work, to draw nigh unto God so as to worship him in spirit and in truth. 19. There is an internal principle of saving faith required unto our profession of the doctrine of the gospel, with- out which it will not avail. 20. All that believe ought solemnly to give themselves up unto Christ and his rule, in an express profession of the faith that is in them and required of them. 21. There will great difficulties arise in, and opposition be made unto, a sincere profession of the faith. 22. Firmness and constancy of mind, with our utmost diligent endeavours, are required unto an acceptable con- tinuance in the profession of the faith. 23. Uncertainty and wavering of mind as to thetruth and doctrine we profess, or neglect of the duties wherein it doth consist, or compliance with errors for fear of persecu- tion and sufferings, do overthrow our profession and render it useless. 24, As we ought not on any account to decline our profession, so to abate of the degrees of fervency of spirits therein is dangerous unto our souls. 25. The faithfulness of God in his promises is the great encouragement and supportment, under our continual profes- sion of our faith, against all oppositions.
Ver. 24.—1. The mutual watch of Christians, in the particular societies whereof they are members, is a duty necessary unto the preservation of the profession of the faith. 2. A due consideration of the circumstances, abilities, temptations, and opportunities for duties in one another, is required hereunto. 3. Diligence, or mu- tual exhortation unto gospel duties, that men on all grounds of rea- son and example may be provoked unto them, is required of us, and is a most excellent duty, which in an especial manner we ought to _ attend unto. :
Ver. 25.—1. Great diligence is required of us in a due attendance unto the assemblies of the church, for the ends of them, as they are instituted and appointed by Jesus Christ. 2. The neglect of the authority and love of Christ in the appointment of the means of our edification, will always tend to great and ruinous evils. 3. No church order, no outward profession, can secure men from apostasy. 4. Per- fection, freedom from offence, scandal, and ruinous evils, are not to be expected in any church in this world. 5. Men that begin to decline from their duty in church relations ought to be marked, and their ways avoided. 6. Forsaking of church assemblies is usually an en- trance into apostasy. 7. When especial warnings do not excite us unto renewed diligence in known duties, our condition is danger- ous as unto the continuance of the presence of Christ amongst us. 8. Approaching judgments ought to influence unto especial diligence in all evangelical duties. 9. If men will shut their eyes against evi- dent signs and tokens of approaching judgments, they will never stir up themselves nor engage into the due performance of present du-
CHAP. X, 29.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 511
ties. 10. In the approach of great and final judgments, God, by his word and providence, gives such intimations of their coming as that wise men may discern them. 11. To see evidently such a day ap- proaching, and not to be sedulous and diligent in the duties of divine worship, is a token of a backsliding frame, tending unto final apos- tasy.
Ver. 26, 27.—1. If a voluntary relinquishment of the profession of the gospel and the duties of it be the highest sin, and be attended with the height of wrath and punishment, we ought earnestly to watch against every thing that inclineth or disposeth us thereunto. 2. Every declension in or from the profession of the gospel hath a proportion of the guilt of this great sin, according unto the propor- tion that it bears unto the sin itself. 3. There are sins and times wherein God doth absolutely refuse to hear any more from men in order unto their salvation. 4. The loss of an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, on what account or by what means soever it fall out, is absolutely ruinous unto the souls of men. 5. There is an insepar- able concatenation between apostasy and eternal ruin. 6. God often- times visits the minds of cursed apostates with dreadful expectations of approaching wrath. 7. When men have hardened themselves in sin, no fear of punishment will either rouse or stir them up to seek after relief. 8, A dreadful expectation of future wrath, without hope of relief, is an open entrance into hell itself. 9. The expectation of future judgment in guilty persons is, and will be at one time or an- other, dreadful and tremendous. 10. There is a determinate time for the accomplishment of all divine threatenings and the infliction of the severest judgments, which no man can abide or avoid. 11. The certain determination of divine vengeance on the enemies of the gospel is a motive unto holiness, a supportment under sufferings in them that believe. 12. The highest aggravation of the greatest sins, is when men, out of a contrary principle of superstition and error, do set themselves maliciously to oppose the doctrine and truth of the gospel, with respect unto themselves and others. 13. There is a time when God will make demonstrations of his wrath and displeasure against all such adversaries of the gospel as shall be pledges of his eternal indignation, 14. The dread and terror of God’s final judg- ments against the enemies of the gospel is in itself inconceivable, and only shadowed out by things of the greatest dread and terror in the world.