z Having thus commended them, to fhew he did not flatter them in it, he diſcovercth what was wanting in them, and introduccth it with the Particle, But, we defire you; 677290 (45 1451, properly fi-nineth the inward Afffeitimm and flrong defire of Heart that the Apoſtle had of their further Profit, The Spirit Juſted in him for this, Gal. 5. 17. winch was not only convenient for them, but neceilary for ther Perfettion. And this Deſire of his was not for all promifcuou!!y, but that each finsle Perſon, who ras a Lover of God ard his $.nts, ſhould uſe all means diligently, as they had in degree done to have this perfe&cd to the end of their Life, 2 Pet. 1. 5, / [t 15 an earneſt agitation and haſtening of Spirit within, and a dc- monſtrative Diſcovery of the ſame without to the utmoit, Ro. 2. 7. k Their Souls with full Sails conſtantly making out after this moſt certain and tull Afurance of Faith, to the excluding of every doubtful Thought of the Truth of God and his Promiſes, and q Hope, ſhutting out all Wavering, Unſcttledneſs, or Impoticrce n waiting tor the Accompliſhment of the Good, which is {ccured y the Merit and Interceſſion of Chriſt, the Purpoſe, Promite and O.it' of God to them, Chap. 10. 22, 23. COMP. Rom. 4. 21. Colof. 1. 24+ Hope here 1s not ſynonimous with Faith, yet its certain concomt: tant, and 1s a vehement defire and longin/z after, with a piticnt expe@ation of what is poſſible, and ſure to be enjoyed, vecaule God hath promiſed and ſwore it, though it be at never fo {-reat a diſtance, yet to be communicated by kim to his in his 4cft time, Chap. 11. 1- comp. Rom. 4. 13. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 3,13, 21 This Chriſtian Dilizence muſt continue to the end of their own Days, and the PerteGtion of their Grace in Glory, until they come unto tne intire Poſleſſion of what they believed, hoped for, and were tully ailured of, 1 Pet. 1. 9, 13. Rom. 6. 22, : |
i2 That ye be not flothtul / but folMwers 0: them 7, who through taith and patience inhuiit ts promiles 77. | ;
1 Tf you will be diligent, away with f2th, you are inclined to it, Chap. 5. 11. and though you be guick in Affettion, yet flow in un- derſtanding the Myſteries of God ; and though you have [2oured, yet not with that intenſe Labour to which he here prefſeth them, even to an utter Abolition of all the degrees of Sloth, m Mmm ſtritly Imitators in Diligence and Pains-taking of the Believers, who have performed this Duty before you, n In their Graces imifate them, as in Faith, by which they reſted on, as credited God's Pro- miſes revealed to them of things inviſible, excellent, and diftant,and which by no Creature-power, but only God's, could be attained, Chap. 11. 1, 9, 10, 15. and 13. 7. In Patience, becauſe the tings promiſed are future, and at 4 great diſtance from them, waiting 10r them, ſuffering many Evils from many, paſſing through Fire and Water, Iſa. 43. 2. and ſtaying God's leiſure to obtain them, C247.
d1i2.1. Rom. 18%. 4,8. James 1.3, Thoſe they were
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Siantincation, Aloption, and Salvation by Jefus Chriſt ; thete they received, as is evident, chap. 1. 10, 14, 16. and Rom. 4.2. to 26. ſuch Promiſes as were of ſpecial Conſideration, and reſerved to a 1ct time, as the Pofleflion of Canarn, and Chriſt's Incarnation, John 8. 55, Theſe they did not receive, tho' they ſaw them ſure to their Seed by Faith; but for Salvation, and Glory, and Heaven, carried in the Covenant of Grace, they did perſonally enjoy; of the others they were Heirs, as given by God to them. |
13 For when God made promiſe to Abraham 0o, becauſe he could ſwear by no greater p, he ilware by himſelf g.
9 Fr is a confirmation by inftance, thar Faith and Patience had made ſome to inherit the Promiſes, as Abraham, and what was 1n- fluencins of him in the exerciting them, viz. God's Promiſe and Oath. Gid Almighty, who was as able to perform, as to make a Promiſe, Gen. 17. 1. having made a Promiſe to Abraham the Fa- ther of Believers, that he would communicate ſome Temporal and Spiritual Good, which by it He gave him a right to, and bound hinfelf to perform, which ſummarily was Chriſt the Redeemer to lhe of his Seed, and J/aac his immediate Seed to be a Type of Him; this * Promiſe at the Offering up of his Son T/aac God confirms to him by Oath. þp An Oath is to be made by the-greateſt, who 1s able to make good all, and to judge after his Will ; by nothing un- der or beneath God muſt there be any Swearing. -q As the belt and greateſt, Jehovah Himſelf confirming that which was evident | and certain, by that which was moſt fo: A ſtrange condeſcention ot God the Son, the Angel of the Covenant, to a Creature, to litt up his Hand to Eternity, and to lay it on the Altar of his Infinite and Unchangeable Being, to pawn and pledge His Deity, That He might give the higheſt Affffurance ; and tis willing that 1t ſhall be forteited and loft, if Abraham tall ſhort of what. He hath pro- miſed to him ; ſee the Oath, Gen. 22. 15, to 19. An Oath con- firming the Covenant of Grace to all Believers, as firmly as to Abraham.
14 Saving, Surely, bleffing I will bleſs thee, and
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