Calamy, Horton, Manton - BX9327 .F28 1663

'1'52 fir. Wdtfon's fore-noon Sermon. imbroidery and.curious workmanfhip of the Holy -Ghoft, here is enough to entice and draW out our love : and beloved, if we love the Saints for their gyaces, then we love all the Saints. And here I beCeech you confider thefe fix particulars. Fill, we ought to love the Saints in what condition foever they are, although they be poor in theworld, low in their condition; for commonly Co it is. They that have the loweft hearts, have the towett condition too. I read of the King of the moors, that he was offended at the Chriftians becaule of their poverty ; and truly When wicked men (hi fleece the Saints, it is no wonder if they be poor : methinks grace in a poor man, is like a pearl that lies in the &ft, or like cloth of gold that is hid under rags : you mutt love the gold, that is, the grace, notwithftanding the rags. The poor- aft Saint alive, bath the Angels riches ; the poorett believer is a member of Chriff, and we not love him : we love the Piartre 01 a friend, although it he hung in a mean frame : we Inuit love a rich Chritt in a poor man. Secondly, We are to love the people ofGod, although they have many weak infirmities: thew me the man that is perfe6t, and let hiM throw the fiat (lone, even the ,eft. Saints like the Stars they have their twinkling, they have their blemithes and their failings in force t.lere is too mac.' pride, in others too much cenforiouf- net's, in °thus too much rath auger and paffion, but we mull love the grace that is in them, notw ithitanding the infirmities that are them, you love gold though in the cane, and mixed with much impurity; a Saint on earth, is like a Diamond that hath its flaw, like to theaole that is fweet and perfumed, but yet hath its pric- kles. The belt Saints have Come mixture and infirmity, and we mutt love them for the goodthat is iii them : this is our great fault, weave apt to overlook all the good, and fo take notice oftheRains and blemifhes in them, as thole that fee a little Rain in a piece of Scarlet,defpife the Cloth. for theRains fake;Co do we. But God doth not do fo by us, he is pleafed to overlook many fad failings, he feel thefaith,& winks at the failings ofhis people: you that cannot love abrother becaufeyou fee an imperfeEtion in him would yen haveGod do fo by you,would you have him damn you for every blemilhoffin? Thirdly,We mutt love the children of God though weak in parts, all arenot born Politicians; But though the Saints of God have not always Co good Intelleauals asothers, yet ifthey have good vi- tals, and the lifeof faith in them, love them for that grace : you do not derpiCe your Children becaufe they are, weak, but you love ;.them becaule they are yourChildren. 0 do not defpife a Saint becaute

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=