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OF PERSEVERANCE.

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the world, let us trust in him, and go on in his service, doing his will. It is not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.1

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Those thus established become as pillars in the House of God.

In this established state, the faithful in Christ Jesus become pillars in the house of God, to go no more forth; these eat of the hidden manna, 3 these have the white stone, and therein the new name which no man knows but he that hath it; yet those stand not by any strength in the earthly man, but their establishment is in him, who is the rock of ages, against whom the gates of hell cannot prevail; by faith these stand.

And now I desire of all that have known true beginnings, and a gladsome travel in Zion's way, that they watch carefully on the one hand, and do not presume, or suppose themselves farther in their journey than really they have gotten; nor on the other hand to suppose none have attained, because themselves have not.

But let the sincere Christian bless the Lord, who hitherto hath been his helper, and watch through his help to be preserved in the new nature to grow and increase therein, and experience that promise, They go from strength to strength, till every one of them appear before God in Zion."

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(1) Matt. vii, 21 (2) Rev. iii, 12. (3) — ii, 17.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Of the union of the soul with God.

HERE is, indeed, the union of the soul with God, treated of by the aforesaid author, "They may be said to have God dwelling in their hearts, and Christ formed within them."1

These have, indeed, put on the Lord Jesus; these abide in him in whom there is no occasion of stumbling; those who stumble are short of this state; but those that abide iu him, know their concern to walk even as he walked; and though they are hated and despised, and many be persecuted as he was, yet their reward is with the Lord, and their recompence sure here and hereafter.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Those not hereunto attained, are recommended to watch to the Light.

MANY may have attained an estate in some degree blessed, that are not arrived unto the high attainment aforesaid, who still have great need of the armour of light on the right hand and on the left; lest, having escaped the [common] pollutions of the world, they fall into more secret snares of the devil, who may desire to winnow these, to try if he can find chaff among them; 3 anything whereby they may, by any of his winds, be driven from the rock wherein alone is security.

(1) John ii, 6. (2) 2 Peter ii, 20. (3) Luke xxii, 31.

OF RELIGION BY EDUCATION.

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We read of the dragon drawing, with his tail, one third part of the stars from heaven,1 whom he had not destroyed by his teeth. So that the armour of light ought to be had regard to by them as well as when they first entered into the spiritual warfare, that by that light which sees all the snares of satan, they may see them, and resist them steadfast in the faith.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

They who experience this inward work aforesaid, discern between the Christian indeed, and him who only hath the name.

THOSE who understand the inward work of the Lord, by his Spirit in its enlightening, bringing to repentance, regeneration, and the growth therein, they discern between the true Christian and him who hath only the name, but not the nature of a Christian indeed.

Such may boast themselves of being believers, and may have some form of religion by education, or may have imbibed some opinions and notions learned of men; yet if they know not the Spirit of God, and that to lead them, their religion is cold and scanty, as saith the aforesaid author :-" Heavy and languid, like the motion of a weight forced upwards; whereas the spirit of true religion is frank and liberal, and he who hath given himself entirely unto God, will never think he doeth too much for him, whilst he is doing what God requires of him."3

(1) Rev. xii, 4. (2) 1 Peter v, 9. (3) Scougal.

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CHAPTER XL.

Whose charity is generally scanty, and bounded to their own party.

THESE, whose religion is barely by education, without the work of God upon their hearts, their charity is too generally bounded to their own party; whereas, those who have religion from the work of God within, in serving him, do so partake of his love, that their hearts are enlarged thereby with love to all men, and loving all men, can injure none, much less destroy them.

The increase of this love in the world tends to bring on that excellent gospel-prophecy (not yet fulfilled in the general), "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;"1 the fields no more be stained with blood, but the earth enjoy its sabbaths.

Whereas, too many are envying and hating, spoiling and destroying one another; calling themselves Christians, but not taking Him for their example, who died for us whilst we were enemies in our minds to his meek and self-denying spirit.

(1) Isaiah ii, 4; Micah iv, 3.

CHAPTER XLI.

Whom they are apt to suppose are the elect, and in no possibility of falling away, notwithstanding the Apostle's testimony, Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6.

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Too many also there are, who, although they break not out always to such violence towards others, yet are cold in their love, unless to those of party with themselves, and such they are apt to conclude are the elect; and these they think cannot miss of salvation, believing they are in no possibility of falling away, especially if they can give an account of having known some work of true grace, as if they had never read, what the Apostle writes, of some "who were once enlightened, and had tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and had tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come." Yet the Apostle plainly allows it possible for such to fall away, yet impossible to renew them again unto repentance, (which renewing them again implies they had been renewed before), and he shews this reason for the impossibility, "seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame." They had once partaken of the benefit of his sufferings, had been enlightened by him, they had once repented, they had tasted of the heavenly gift, they had been partakers of the Holy Ghost, which Christ prayed his Father to send; yea, they had tasted the good word of God and powers of the world to come, and yet, by the Apostle's words, these might fall away.

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(1) Heb. vi, 4, 5, 6. (2) Heb. vi, 6.

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