CHAP. XIII. 7.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 541
occasions of, all temptations leading unto, these sins are to be avoided as we take care of our souls) 14, Although the state of men may be changed, and divine wrath due to those sins be finally escaped by repentance, yet it may be observed, that of all sorts of sinners those who are habitually given up unto those lusts of the flesh are of all others the most rarely called and brought to effectual repent- ance. _15. Many of those persons, by reason of their convictions, received in the light of a natural conscience, do live in a kind of seeming repentance, whereby they relieve themselves after some acts of uncleanness, until, by the power of their lust, they are hurried again into them.
Ver. 5, 6.—1. All covetousness is inconsistent with a Christian conversation according to the gospel. 2. Covetousness in any de- gree is highly dangerous in a time of persecution or suffering for the gospel. 3. All the efficacy, power, and comfort of divine promises, arise from and are resolved into the excellencies of the divine nature. 4. The vehemency of the expression, by the multiplication of the negative particles, is an effect of divine condescension, to give the utmost security to the faith of believers in all their trials. .5. Divine presence and divineassistance, whichare inseparable, arethespringand cause of suitable and sufficient relief and supplies to believers in every condition. 6. Especially the due consideration of them is abundantly sufficient to rebuke all covetous inclinations and desires, which with- out it will be prevalent in us in a time of straits and trials. 7. The cheerful profession of confidence in God, against all opposition and in the midst of all distresses, is that which believers have a warrant for in the promises that are made to them. 8. As the use of this confidence is our duty, so it is a duty highly honourable to the pro- fession of the gospel. 9. Believers may use the same confidence that David used, seeing they have the same grounds of it that David had. 10. All believers, in their sufferings and under their persecu- tions, have a refreshing, supporting interest in divine aid and assist- ance. 11. It is their duty to express with confidence and boldness, at all times, their assurance of the divine assistance declared in the promises, to their own encouragement, the edification of the church, and the terror of their adversaries. 12. Faith duly fixed on the power of God, as engaged for the assistance of believers in their suf- ferings, will give them a contempt of all that men can do to them. 13. The most effectual means to encourage our souls in all our suffer- ings, is to compare the power of God who will assist us, and that of man who doth oppress us. 14. That which in our sufferings deéli- yereth us from the fear of men takes out all that is evil in them, and secures our success.
Ver. 7—1. This is our best, this is our only way of remembering
542 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. XIII. 8.
them who have been our guides, leaders, and rulers in the church, whether they have been apostles, or evangelists, or ordinary pastors, —namely, to follow them in their faith and conversation. 2. This ought to be the care of the guides of the church, namely, to leave such an example of faith and holiness as that it may be the duty of the church to remember them and follow their example. 38. The word of God is the sole object of the faith of the church, the only outward means of communicating the mind and grace of God unto it. 4, A due consideration of the faith of those who have been before us, especially of such who were constant in sufferings, and above all, of those who were constant to death, as the holy martyrs in former and latter ages, is an effectual means to stir us up to the same ex- ercise of faith when we are called to it.
Ver. 8.—1. The due consideration of Jesus Christ, especially in his eternity, immutability, and indeficiency in his power, as he is always the same, is the great encouragement of believers in their whole profession of the faith, and in all the difficulties they may meet withal upon the account thereof. 2. As no changes formerly made in the institution of divine worship altered any thing in the faith of the church with respect unto Christ, for he was and is still the same; so no necessitudes we may meet withal in our profession, by oppression or persecution, ought in the least to shake us, for Christ is still the same to protect, relieve, and deliver us. 3. He that can in the way of his duty on all occasions retreat to Jesus Christ, and unto the due consideration of his person in the discharge of his office, will not fail of relief, support, and consolation. 4, A steadfast cleay- ing unto the truth concerning the person and office of Christ will preserve us from hearkening to various and strange doctrines, per- verting our souls. 5. Jesus Christ from the beginning of the world, that is, from the giving of the first promise, was the object of the faith of the church. 6. It is the immutability and eternity of Jesus Christ in his divine person, that renders him a meet object of the faith of the church in the discharge of his office.