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satan join their force together? Yet the Lord is stronger than all their force, we need not doubt.

If thy heart be hard, and full of corruption.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.a

"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."b

When thou feelest thine heart worldly carnal, apply, "I will circumcise thy heart: a new heart will I give."

When nothing will break thine heart, apply the powers of Jehovah, who hath promised to cure thee, in taking away thy stony heart.

If unbridled nature break out into violent passion and contention.

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."c Such shall be the power of the gospel, that those which are by nature like wolves and devouring beasts, shall dwell very peaceably. And if we find our na

a Ezek. xxxvi. 26. b Deut. xxx. 6. c Isa. xi. 6.

ture such, we must apply, "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb."

"He will subdue our iniquities, and will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea."a That which is cast into the sea, as it appeareth not in sight, so we cannot get it again, though we would: : so will God do by your sins,-cast them out of his sight, so as we shall not return to them Press him with his promise, and you

any more.

shall find more than you think.

If thou be in bondage to some sin.

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.b

"Sin shall not have dominion over you."c When thou feelest thy bondage, that thou canst not do good, or keep thyself from evil, apply, "The truth shall make you free.”

If thy sins often prevail against thee, apply, "Sin shall not have dominion over you."

"He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."a

If thou fearest the breaking out of some strong sin, to God's dishonor and the blemishing of religion.

"That your whole spirit, soul and body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our

a Micah vii. 19. b John viii, 32. c Rom. vi. 14. d Ps. cxxx. 8.

Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." That God which hath called thee, will keep thee blameless unto the coming of Christ: therefore use the means, and rest upon the Lord's faithfulness, which never faileth them who trust in him.

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from evil. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." By cleansing (as I think) is meant not only from the guilt of sin, but the power of it; that the filthiness of it shall not appear in our lives and conversations.

When sin pursues thee hard to make thee fall, do thou pursue the Lord with prayers for performance of this promise, and doubt not of the issue.

And to

"He will subdue our iniquities."d those add the prayer of Christ,-"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."e Now, what greater evil than sin? Therefore, though thy prayers be but weak against it, yet. He hath prayed that was always heard; therefore fight, and be sure of victory.

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When thou art stayed from sin by admonition.

"If thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned."a

When any admonish thee, obey, and it shall be life to thy soul; therefore receive the admonition, and apply, "He shall live, because he is admonished."

If thou fearest God will destroy thee for thy sins.

"Turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin.b

"He shall save his people from their sins."c When thou fearest the greatness or multitude of thy sins will be thy destruction, apply, "Iniquity shall not be your ruin."

When thou seest no means of safety, apply, "He (that is, Christ) shall save his people from their sins."

If thou be tempted to uncleanness.

"He shall deliver thee from the strange woman.d

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Thy body shall be kept blameless until the coming of Christ.e

a Ezek. iii. 21. b Ezek. xviii. 30. c Matt.i. 21. d Prov. ii. 16. c1 Thes. v. 23.

If thou canst not find out the sin for which God cor

rects thee.

"If they be tied with the cords of affliction, then will I show them their work, and their sins."a

A wise father will not correct his child, but he will show him wherefore: How else should he amend his fault? Much more will the Lord. But we enjoy not many promises, because we sue not for them.

CHAP. VII.

OF GRACE.

If thou doubt of salvation.

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that hath sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

"If any man keep my saying, he shall never see death,d

a Job xxxvi. 8, 9. b John iii. 16. c John v. 24. viii. 15.

d John

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