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upon them to do them good. For the propositions of the word are easily assented unto; but all the matter lies in the application to the wound. It is still put off with, This is true which you say, but it belongs not to me, for I do not fulfil the condition required on my part.

Wherefore that I may, by God's help, fully satisfy this doubt, and quite remove this scruple of scruples, it must be carefully observed, that God makes some promises with condition; and that he makes some absolute promises, without any condition on man's part. Would you know what promises only are made with condition to be fulfilled on man's part, and what promises are absolute?

Know that many promises in the word concern the end of man's faith, which is salvation itself, and the recompence and reward of well-doing, whether corporal or spiritual, whether it be temporal or eternal. These are made with condition; namely, to those, and only to those who believe in the name of God, and that love, fear, and obey him. For it does not consist with the wisdom and holiness of God, to bestow heaven and his good blessings upon any, until they be thus qualified and made meet to receive them.

Know secondly, and observe it diligently, that there are many promises in the word which concern God's free giving the said grace of fear and obedience, required as means to obtain the former promises of good things, even an ability to perform the condition in the fore-mentioned promises; I mean not such a power as that they may fulfil the condition if they will, or if they will not they may choose. But God has made absolute promises to give men power actually to will and to do the things required in the conditional promises, in such a manner that he will accept both will and deed, and in some cases the will for the deed, so as to fulfil those his conditional promises of salvation, &c. Heb. viii. 10; Phil. ii. 12.

That you may understand me fully, I will instance in some of the chief promises in this kind, made to every member of Christ, without exception. This is