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to Sin, as Chrift died for Sin, a violent Death, lingering, and painful, yet voluntary, Gal. vi. 14. above cited. Compared with Chap. v. 24. " And they that, are Chrift's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and tufts.' We are made conformable to him in his Refurrection, rifing from our Sins to a new Manner of Life, continued during our Abode in the World, and perfected in Glory; as Chrift rose from the Dead, to a new Manner of Life, continued till his Afcenfion: Rom. vi. 4. forecited. 2 Cor. v. 17. If any man be in Chrift, 'he is a new creature: old things are passed away, 'behold, all things are become new. Now, in applying of that Power and Virtue of Chrift's Death and Refurrection unto us, there must be a Communication of habitual and actual Grace from him unto us; and that because without it we cannot be fo conformed to him in his Death and Refurrection John xv. 4. 5. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are 'the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in ' him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: for 'without me ye can do nothing.' The Death and Refurrection of Christ come to have fuch a conforming Virtue and Power on his Members, inafmuch as he died and rofe again as a public Perfon, their Head, and merited this their Conformation to his Image: See Rom. vi. 4. to verf. 12. Wherefore, as there is in Adam's Sin and Death a Virtue conforming his natural Offspring unto him therein, to their Defilement; fo there is in Chrift's Death and Resurrection a Virtue conforming his Members unto him in them, to their Sanctifica

tion: 1 Cor. xv. 22. As in Adam all die, even fo ' in Christ shall all be made alive.' vers. 47. 48. 49. The firft man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, fuch are they also that are earthy and 'as is the heavenly, fuch are they also that are 'heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall alfo bear the image of the 'heavenly.' Gal. ii. 20. forecited.

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Queft. 36. What are the Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification?

Anf The Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification, are, Affurance of God's Love, Peace of Confcience, Joy in the Holy Ghoft, Increase of Grace, and Perfeverance therein to the End.

EXPLICATIO N.

These Benefits accompany or flow from Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification, with this Difference, That fome of them may proceed on the mere Reality of Grace, others of them require alfo the Evidence of Grace.

Thofe of them that require the Evidence of Grace, are, Affurance of God's Love, Peace of ConScience, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft.

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The Aurance of God's Love, that accompanies or flows from Juftification, Adoption, and Sancti fication, is, That whereby a true Believer is certainly affured of God's Love of Complacency in him, and that he is in the State of Grace, and fhall perfevere therein: Rom. v. 1. 2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Christ, By whom alfo we have accefs by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, ' and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' verf. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love ' of God is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghoft which is given unto us.' 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have paffed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.' Chap. v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.' A Believer may attain unto this Affurance, in the Use of ordinary Means, without extraordinary Revelation: 2 Pet. i. 10. 'Wherefore the rather, bre

thren, give diligence to make your calling and ' election fure.' Heb, vi. 11. ' And we desire that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end.' And the fpecial Means for that End, are, close walking with God, Self-examination, and the right Ufe of the holy Sacraments: John xiv. 21. He that hath

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my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is ' that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be ' loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeft myself to him.' 2 Cor. xii. 5. Exa'mine yourfelves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own felves: know ye not your own

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felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you, except ye be reprobates?' Rom. iv. 11. And he [Abraham] received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of 'the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcifed.' Compared with Acts viii.

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And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phi6 lip, that the eunuch faw him no more: and he 'went on his way rejoicing.' And 1 Gor. x. 16. "The 6 cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the com'munion of the blood of Christ? The bread which 'we break, is it not the communion of the body

of Chrift? The Grounds from whence a Believer may raise this Affurance, are, the infallible Truth of the Word of Grace to him in the Scriptures, and the Evidence of Grace in his own Heart: 1 John v. 13. Chap. iii. 14. forecited, verf. 18. 19. My little children, let us not love in word, neither ' in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall aflure our hearts before him.' And a Believer is enabled to difcern thefe Grounds of Affurance, fo as to be affured upon them, by the Spirit's fhining in his Heart, on the Word of Grace, and on the Work of Grace there: Luke xxiv. 45.

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Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the fcriptures.' 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.' For fo the Spirit attefts, and he fees the one to be the Spirit's own infallible Word to him, and the other his gracious Work in him: Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our fpirit, that we are the children of God.' Com

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pared with John ii. 22. When therefore he was rifen from the dead, his difciples remembered that ' he had faid this unto them: and they believed 'the fcripture, and the word which Jefus had faid.' And I Cor. ii. 12. above cited. True Affurance diftinguishes itself from Prefumption, by its humbling the Soul, making the Confcience tender, and the Heart heavenly: Gal. ii. 20. 'I am crucified® 'with Chrift: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but " Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live ' in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, 'who loved me, and gave himself for me? Cant. ii. 7. I charge you, Oye daughters of Jerufalem, 'by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ' ye ftir not up nor awake my love, till he please.' Gal. vi. 14. God forbid that I should glory fave ' in the cross of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the 'world.' And it is a neceffary Duty to feek true Affurance 2 Pet. i. 10. 'Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and ' election fure.' The Excellency of it in the Chriftian Life, is, That it fits Men to live most usefully for God, and most comfortably for themfelves: Pfal. cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.' And iv. 6. 7. There be many that say, Who will 'fhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou haft put glad'nefs in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increaseds' But there may be true Faith, Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification, without this Affurance: 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on 'the name of the Son of God, that ye may know

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