m Upon the account of which Promiſe of God, all the true Sub- jet 2; Chrift's Kingdom, together with the Apoſtle, may with an undauatcd holdnels of Heart above all tears and doubtings, and with a dering conndence, protetling that which they believe, nor ſtag- £cring nor ſhrinking, nor being aſhamed of their Faith, but openly owning it, to all the World, own n that the Lord in the infinitenelſs of his P-v..r, Wiſdom and Goodneſs, is 2 real, preſent,univerſal and perm:nen* Holp againit all Tron, and forall Supplies in all caſes, and 2t ali timc.," vevery one 0; tn, Thewmay fay as Moſes, Exod. 12.4. as David, Pj.27,9. and 40. 19. and 56.4,11.and 118.6. o And theretore Faith expelleth feartulneſs of, and introduceth fearlcſneſs of any created Evils incident to a Believer ; and of which Man may be an Infirament inflicting, /.45.2,3. Implying in it an unſhaken ſet- lſedneſs ot Mind, fudgment and Thoughts on God's Help,a fixed frame of Heart, without tumultuous PaſMons or Perturbations, with an un- moyecable Reſolution to keep clofe to God and his Word;both in Word and D:ed, amidſt all Oppoſitions and Perſecutions of Men for it,
7 Remember p them which || have the rule over
vou, who have ſpoken to you the word of God :
whoſe qg taith follow, conſidering 7 the end of their converſion.
p Inmitatin of their Godly Miniſters, is another Duty that Chriſt's Liw charzeth on his Subjefts, both here and v. 17. Be mindful of our ſpiritual Guides and Rulers, firmly and conſtantly to retain their Exccilencies in Memory, efteeming of them, and thanking God for them, which were ſent to them, and ſet over them by the Holy Gio0it, who were guidins of them by Chriſt to God, and enjoy- ment of Eternal Life with him, which they did by preaching to them, and writing to them the Goſpel of Chriſt for their Edifica- tion, by the Inſpiration of the Spirit. Some of which Guides v'cre removed by Death, ſlain and martyred for the Truti of Jeſus, and aſcended unto Heaven, and others were alive among them ; tiey were to remember all of them, but eſpecially their Spiritual Fathers that had begotten them to God by the Goſpel, 1 Cor.4.15. 2 Cor, 2. 17. I Tim. 5. 17. and 2 Tim. 3. 14,15, 15,17. 1 Pet. 4. ti.and 5. 2, 3. 9g The beſt way of remembring ſuch, 1s by iniria- ting them, to beheve the Dottrine which they taught and-pradtiſed, and to be as ftedfaſt in the Faith as were they, and holding of it out tootners, how eminent Believers they were, 1 Tim.4.12. and 6. TI. 2 Tim. 2.22, Yr Suchas their Doctrine was, ſuch was their Life, con:ormable to Chriſts, 1 Cor. 11.1. It was honeſt, upright, and blamelcis, much in Heaven, 2 Cor. 10. 3. Phil.3.20. All their turn- ings and motions in the World, their very Life was hid with Chriſt in God ; all agreeable to; as ordered by his Will, and ſuch was the Iifrze an4 Egreſs of this Life, which it is their concernment to re- view, they having by it an out-let from the remainders of Sin and
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bliery, which did defile and opprefs them, Rev. 14. 12, and a Vitto- | is written, Lev. 5,
ry over the World and all its Oppoſitions to them, ſealing 'he Truth with their Blood, which they had preached and praiſed aniong them, and were more than Conquerours over all by beart having an 1n-let into Life, and Peace, and Eternal Glory, in the In. heritance 1ncorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away. rc. ſerved for them in Heaven, Rom. 8.37. 2 Tim.4.8. 1 Pet.1.4-and 2...
$ Jeſus Chrift / * the ſame yeſterday, and ro diy. and for ever. o”
/ Though this hath no term of conneQion, yet it may he refer- red either to what precedeth or followeth it; tor the Apoſtle 1 not here dropping Aphoriſms, but prefſing on the Subjects of Chriit's Kinzdom known Dutics. It is here interpoſed as a weighty Reaton of the Duty foregoing, to remember their Guides, imitate their Faith, and confider the end of their Converſation, tor they taught, belzeved in, converſed with, and at laſt were perfetted by Jeſus Chriſt; fo that they might be ſaved by him as their Guides were there being no other way to Blefledneſs, but ty Jeſus Chil the ſame, SC, John 14. 6. Or a Reaſon inforcing what tolloweth, That ſince 7eſus Chriſt is the ſame, as in his Perſon, fo in his De@rine, Faith and Converſation, which he enjoineth on his Subjefts, they ſhould n1; be carried about with ſlrange Dofrines. Jeſus Chriſt Perfmal is im- mutable in his care and love to his myſtica! Body, and all the Mem- bers of it, throughout all Times and Ages ; he never leaves nor forſakes them ; ſo Chriſt's Do&rinal in his Fiith, Law, and Rule of Converſation, Fpheſ. 4. 20, 21 The pure, full, and intire Reli}jon ot Chriſt .is unchangeable, being ſimply, indivifibly and conttant!y the ſame throughout-all meaſures of Time, Matth.5.18. 2 Cor.t.g, 4. Gal.1.6,7. Epheſ.4.4,5. 1 Pet.1.23,25. |
9 * Be 7 not carried about with divers and ſtrange Doctrines : For x 77 zs a good thing thar the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace, + not with ow meats, which
have not - prohted them that have been occupiz !
therein.