VERS.I9· .An Expo/itto'll, with Notes pretence of having grace, neglea: the means of grace, lha.lllofe that . which they feemed to have; that is, lhall appt;ar to be juf\: nothing in Religion : Blaf\:ed ingifts, as well as decayed ingrtflce. 3· They are ignorant of the jfate of their ownhearts: Are there no graces to be perfetl:ed and increafed? no corruptions to be mortified ? no good refolutions to be firengthned ! no affecti– ons to be quickned and fl:irred up .? Is there no decay of vigour and livelihood ? no deadnefs growing upon their fpirits ? Certainly noneneed Ordinance.sf'o muchas they that do not need them·: The Spirit is a tender thing, foon difcompofed: Things that are mofl delicate, are moft dependant: Brttmb!t?s grow of themfelves. but the Vine needeth props : Wolves and dogs can romage and feek abroad in the vVildernefs, bu t the fheep need aPa{}:or. They that lool< into their hearts, would find a double need of Ordinances. I. ]( nowledg u impt'r_feft : ~ris fomt good degree of Knowledg ~o be fen!ible of our own ignorance ; none fo proud and cont~nt· ed as they that know leaf\:: 1 Cor. 8. 2. lf lllnJ man thin/zetb he k._nowcth any thing, he k.Jtoweth nothing as he o:tght to iz.now. At firfl: Truths (eem few, and foon learned; .and 'tis fome good pro– grefs in any learning, to be fenGble, and humbled with the imper– fections of knowledg; and •cis fo in divine matr~rs: We fee little in the Word, till we come to be more deeply acquainted with ir, and then Pjal. 1 I 9· 18. Open mineeyes, that I m~y fee Wonders in thy, Law·i then we come to difcern depths, and fuch wifdom a~ we never thought of: The Word is an Ocean, without bottom and banks : Aman may fee an end· of other things; and get the maficry over an Art; 1havefeen an end of all perfe£tion, but the Commandme~t u exceeding brMd, Pfal. I 19. 96. We can never exh~ufi all the treafure and worch that is in the Word. 2· · ~ffeaions needanew excitement: Commands muft be repeated toa dull fervant ; fuch is our will : We need frdh enforcements of duty upon us : Live coals need blowing, and a good Souldier the trumpet to fiir up Lliswarlike rage: I Cor. 14! 3 I. ;1./l'may learn, · er tt!l be comforted: The Apofile there fpecifieth the two ends of Prophecy, which is either that we may learn, or be comfor-ted, or exhorted ; the word is indifferent to both tho(e !ignifications, either the improving of knowledg, ot the excitiog of languiiliing affections. , · ; · o/J[ervat. 3 • 3• !rot? that [ Le·t ~very 1ne] This is~ duty that is univer;~J
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