Chapter 155
VII. > 2 Kings X. 30. And the
I-ord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall »it on the throne of Iiirael. Ver. .11. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart : for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. 1 Kings xxi. 27. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth up- on his flt-bh, and fasted, and lay ia sackcloth, and went softly. Ver. 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before mc ? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days : but in his soti's days will I bring the evil upon his liouse. Phil. i. 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and stiife; and some also of good wilL Ver. \6. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincen.ly, supposing to add afflic- tion to my bonds. Ver. 1 8. What then ? notwithstanding every way, whether in pcetence or in truth, Christ is preached ; and 1 therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
£ 3 ^ Gen.
100
The Confession of Faith. Chap. XVI.
Cciiise they proceed not from an heart purified by fahh ^ ; nor are done in a right manner, according to the word ** ; nor to a right end, the glory of God ^ ; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God S And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God*^.
CHAP.
2 Gen. iv, 5. But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel ojSered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts ; and by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. Ver, 6. But without faith it is im- possible to please him : for he that cometh to God must beUeve that lie is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
^ 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Isa. i. 12. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your J^and te tread my courts .''
b Matth. vi. 2. Tlierefore, when thou doest thine aln s, do not sound a trumpet before tliee, as the hy- pocrites do, in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of m-en. Verily I say un- to you, They have their reward. Ver. 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say uiito you. They have their re\vard. Ver. IG. More- over, when ye fast, be not as the hy- pocrites, of a sad countenance : for they diciigure their faces, that they
may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their re- ward.
*■' Hag. ii. ] 4. Then answered : Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Tord ; and so is every work of their hands, and that which they offer there is unclean. Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure : but unto them that are defiled and unbeheving is nothing pure ; but even their mind and conscience is de- filed, Amos V. 21. I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Ver. 22. Though ye offer me burnt-offerings, and your meat-offerhigs, I will not accept them ; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts, Hosea i. 4. And the Tord said un- to him. Call his name Jezreel; for yot a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel, Rom. ix. 1(5. So then, it is not o* him that willeth, noi of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Tit. iii. 5 Not by works of righteousnes: which v.'e have done, but accord- ing to his mercy he saved us, b) the vk^ashing of regeneration, anc renewing of the Holy Ghost.
^ Psal. xiv. •4. Have all the work ers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they ea- bread, and call not upon the Lord PsaL xxxvi. S. Ihe words of hi; mouti
r
ap. XV I L The Confession of FaUh.
101
CHAP. XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints.
'T^HEY whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, efiec:. -■- tiially called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace ; but sliall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eter- nally saved \
