The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 5 · Section 12
SECT. 12.
12. The Preſumption of Intereſt in the Promiſes, is a cauſe Sect. 12. preſumption of Intereſt in the promiſes, cauſeth abuſe of Grace.why Grace is abuſed, as unreaſonably do fooliſh Goſpellers fancy a part in the great Charter of the City of God the gra cious covenant of promiſes, as fools o… madmen imagine the Immunities and Priviledges of the City of London, belong to them who were never Apprentices there, nor in any other regular way got their Freedome. This glorious Intereſt a part in the Promiſes, too many vain walkers in the Chriſtian name, no leſs falſly then boldly do aſſume. Tis …ith falſe Chriſtians as Jewes, thoſe made this their vaunt and proofe, That the Promiſes belonge dunto them, Rom. 9. 4. And thoſe at every turne, after renewed diſhonour to the Grace of God, can ſhelter themſelves in the Promiſes; but where in the word, is there a title of a promiſe made to the wrongings of Grace? Hath the word of Promiſe made a ſoft bed for effeminate, delicate, lazy, luſtfull, carnall ſecurity to ſleep in? the promiſe of life to unreturning ſinners, ſtrengthens the hands of the wicked, and is a lie, Ezek. 13. 22. The God of Truth never promiſed life, ever threat neth death to the impenitent: The Devill, the flattering world, the wicked promiſe themſelves life in the wayes of Death. The word doth note ſoure things, will diſcover the wickedneſſe of their Preſumption, that impudent, unmortified chriſtians, lazy convictions, have a right to the promiſes.
1. They have not, while the Abuſe of grace raignes in them, a right to Chriſt, therefore not to the promiſes, Chriſt is the great goſpel Promiſe, the great moving Wheel, by which all the Whee's of the promiſes move. In him all the promiſes are …ea and Amen, 2 Cor 1. 20. To him they were made, therefore he is called The covenant of the people, Iſa. 42. 6. ſo then no part in Chriſt, none in Promiſes, no taking of the perſon of Chriſt, no child of promiſe: Now its evident, that unreformed abuſers of the grace of God, Luſts-ſervers, Fleſh-pleaſers, have no part in Chriſt, for they that are Christs have crucified the fleſh with the Affections and Lusts, Gal. 5. 24. and therefore as yet, are ſtrangers to the promiſes, and children of Wrath under the curſe, every moment in danger of Hell, the promiſes have not a good word for them. The confidence of being armed with the promiſes, will not keep ſuch black markes, as are carnall wantons, ſhot free, from the mortall charges of the Lawes threatnings.
2. The promiſe is an holy promiſe, pſ. 105. 42. Now an holy promiſe was never made to encourage and bolſter up unholy hearts & lives: Tis true, immediatly before the ſinners taking Chriſt, the promiſe found him unholy, but it doth not leave him ſo. In the firſt moment of taking Chriſt and right to the promiſes, an holy nature is infuſed, and its impoſſible that ſuch a one ſhould infuſe the Grace of God and make void the promiſe.
3. The Spirit that ſeales the promiſe to the beleevers Soule in an holy ſpirit, Eph. 4. 20. Now as the ſeal leaves its owne print on the Wax, ſo the holy ſpirit ſeales the holineſſe of the promiſes on the Soul: Where the heart is ſtill unholy, the Devill ſeals his falſe promiſe, the ſpirit ſeals not his true one, the ſpirits applications of promiſes, are purifying and fortifying.
4. The uſe of the promiſe, is the improovement of Grace, not diſhonour, it is for Gods ſake & ſervice, not the ſinners, not barely to comfort, but mainly to cleanſe; Having theſe promiſes, let us Impii rapiunt in ſui conſolation em promiſſiones grutiae Luther in Gen.cleanſe our ſelves, 2Cor, 7. 1. Luſt and the devill ſaith, having theſe promiſes, we may boldly ſin, the promiſe will help in caſe of ſin, guilt, and diſquier. Moſt true is that of Luther, The wicked filch and take the promiſes of Grace to themſelves, for their carnall comfort.