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trary; for the certainty of the end does not hinder, but excite and encourage men in the use of all good means which conduce unto that end. Christ knew certainly that he should attain his end of mediatorship, viz. the salvation of men's souls; but this was no cause why he might be negligent in the means. Was there ever any more earnest in prayer, or more longing to finish his work, than our blessed Saviour, although he was infallibly certain that he should save and glorify man, and that God would glorify him? John xvii. 1. When Daniel knew certainly the time of deliverance out of captivity, he was not hereby carnally secure, and careless in the use of all good means to hasten it; but betook himself to fasting and prayers, that God's people might be delivered, Dan. ix. x. Because God assured David that he would build him a house, therefore, saith he, thy servant has found in his heart to pray, viz. that thou wouldest establish it, 2 Sam. vii. 27. What child is there, that has an ingenuous disposition, or any real goodness in him, will slight, and neglect to please his father, because he has assured him of a large inheritance, or because his inheritance is entailed upon him?

None but those who are indeed destitute of grace will ever wrest and pervert the doctrines of grace, making them to be unto them licences, and occasions of wantonness and sin, Jude 4; Rom. v. 21; so as to say, If where sin abounded, grace abounded much more; then, let us sin that grace may abound; and if we are not under the law but under grace, then let us sin, because we are not under the law but under grace, Rom. vi. 1, 15.

But as any man has truth of grace, the more he knows it, the more he reasons otherwise, Ezra having not only a hope, but the possession of that which God has promised; he does not say, Now we may live as we list, but saith, Should we again break thy commandments? Ezra ix. 13, 14. An honest heart makes the same inference from spiritual deliverances. The Scripture, from the abundance of God's grace, and from the certainty of it, does reason for grace and for