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And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him; we will be glad, and rejoice in his salvation". Faithful is he that hath promised ".

SECT. 8. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we have an interest in the richest promises; and by him the most illustrious hopes are fully ascertained.

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord: according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world'. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Who against hope believed in hope; he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God'. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. For when God made promise to

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Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing, I will bless thee; and multiplying, I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail".

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God'. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance; that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. For all the promises of God, in him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us'. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life". What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things"?

SECT. 9. Through him we may confidently hope for all that is truly necessary for us in this state of mortality.

And Jesus said unto his disciples, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens ;

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for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith*? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed? neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth you have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things. shall be added unto you".

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee'.

SECT. 10. For aid and support in duties and trials.

Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how, or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you*. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And lo, I am with you

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alway, even unto the end of the world. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you: let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world'. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory". Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward; for ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise'. Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation'. Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in welldoing, as unto a faithful Creator". For therefore we both labour, and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe". My grace is sufficient for thee. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your

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hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work". And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ".

SECT. 11. For final salvation, and eternal life.

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Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, to wit, we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, even the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord'. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith'; looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,

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