Alleine - BV4920 A44

.The Neceffity of.Converfion. S;3 tality in this-lower \VOrld, and carries the fian1p of · God, to become as avdfel.wherein there is no plea- -fure, :fer. 2 2:·18. (which is but an1odeft expreffion of theveffel men put to the moH: ford id t1fe.) ·0 in· dignity intolerable I Better ·thou ,wert·dallied in ·' a tboufand pieces, than continuetobe abufedto fo nl..: thy a fervice• II. Not only mt:tn, but the whole vifible creation is in vain -without thh. Beloved, God hath made all the vifib1e creatures in heaven and earth fo1-- the fervice . of n1an, and man only is the fpokef-rnan for all the reft. Man is in the univerfe, like the tongue in the body, which fpeaks for all the -metnbe-rs. The o– ther creatures cannot praife their ~1aker, but by dumb figns and hints to man, that he ibou}d ipeak for them. M:an is, as it were1 the High Prieft of God's creation, tooffer thefacrifice of praife for all his fellow-creatures, Pfal. 147. and 148, and 15.o: "the Lord God expeCteth a tribute of praife from ~11 hts works, p{al. 10 3. Z'2'. Now an the refi do bring.jn their tribute toman, and pay it in byhis hand. So . then, if manbe falie, and faithlefs, and felf1fh, God is wronged of all, and fuall have no aCtive glory fi·om his works; · · 0 dreadful · thought to think of I That God Jhoulctbuild fnch a world as this, and lay out foch . infinite ·power, and wifdom, and goodnefs there– upon, and all in vain ; and man iliould be guiky, at !aft, of robbing and fpoiling hirri of the glory of all. Oh, think of this! While thou art unconverted~ all the offices of the creatures to thee' are in vain : · Thymeat nourii11es the~ in vain; theSun holds forth his light to thee in vain ; the £tars, 'that ferve thee-in their courfes, by their mofi po·werful, though hidden influence, Judg.). :z. o. Ho[. 2.. "'1, 12.. do it in vain,; thy cloaths warm thee in vain; thy beafl: carries ~hee in vain : In a word, the unwearied labour, and D 3 continua\ .

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