Ambrose - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .A49 1674

124 $elf;l)enpaU. Chap.fSeet.5. -----6:-If;~ave the Spirit, then let us walk._m the Spmt ; do the actions of the GJ!. 5 , ''· new man: We know fome Phyfick is for re!roring, fame to prefervc the t!rength of the body, and fuch is this walking. in the a-:!ions of the new man ; it preferves the ll:rcnoth of the foul, it prcfervc, fpmtual hfe ma man, 1t enables him to light againlt corr;ptions and lutis, Wail<._tn the Spmt, addye }hall not fulfil thelttjis ofthe jttjll. G>l. s. J6. But the Saints may obje~l; all th1s we have done in owr meafure, but tbll we find a body of death, many lulls yet remaining and rifing up in us,and rtb<iling agamflthe law of our mmd, yea foJuetimes rapm.:atmg and lutaing us away to the mindmg and feeking of our fclves, anJ ferving our own bafe affe:lions. I anfwcr, it may be fa, nay I told you it would be fo in the firll: caution ; and yet if we pray againll: them, if by an holy, gracious, and con'l:ant conteihtion we fight and w1r again!! them, if by a godly grief and farrow of heart, we mourn and are troubled for them, then here is our comfort, though we are not fully freed from them, yet we have truly denyed them. There the lufts •f a man are dmyed, wlure they do not reign, andbrar dominion, where they have not rhe full and peaceable poffcjfion. p,.,.t was one that had in a very high meafurc denyed himfelf, and though he complained of fin, and of a Law in bis members nbctlmg agamjr rhe LalV 6f hu mmd, and bnr.g wg hzm itJto captwity • Cor."' 9 11 the Law cf fli', y .t this being his trouble, t he Lord thereupon comforts him with the· fufficiency of his groce, /viy grace" fujpcient for thee. ipher. 2. 2. S E C T. 5· Of the manner of Denying our perfoual corrHptionJ·.. 2. w £ are abfolutely to deny thofe perfona/1 corntptions which we in our particu– brs are more n< tably carryed unto. Now for the denymg and mortifying ofthis fin (whatfoever it may be) obferve thefe directions, - , 1. Labour we to fee the difeafe ; No man will fcek for cure, except he fee the cifeale ; the fight of the difeafe is half the cure of it. 0 then endeavour we to find out, what is our fpccial finne, our Daldah finne,lc& us be perfwaded and convinced ofit, See the markes whereby to difcover it in Cnap. ". Sect.+ z. Obferve the bafeneffe ofthis condition, which appears partly in the nature of it, and partly in the evil it bring•. 1. For it's nature, it is the bafeil: flavcry in the world. ffi~els bondagein Egypt \Vas but a fhadowtothis ; Mcnthatwill notdenytheir corruptions, they are fervants to fin, and fervants to Satan, they walk_nfur the prmce of th~ power •f the atrc ; nay thty are fervants to their own corrupt minds, rhey are led by tl,eir lufts as a f ooL to thdhckJ. 2 . For the evil that comes by it, it deprives us ofGod~ favour and brings upon us infiuite forrows, as blindeffe of minde, hardneffe of[u:art, deadndfe of fpirit, horrour of confcience, and without repentance, all the terrors of hell. • 3. Abil:ain we from all beginnings artd occafions of this fin: quench it at firll: ; if we cannot put out a fpark, how lhould we put out a flame? If we get not the mafl:ery over the firit motion to finne, how fhall we overcome it when it is brought to maturity in ac'tion ? As a ilream rifeth by little and litrle, one fhowcr cncreafing it fomewhat, and another making it bigger ltill; fo fin rifeth by degrees, Jarnes I. q., I 5. And therefore take heed to the beginning of our affections, look we to the beginning of this inordinate lull:; if we perceive but a glimpfe of it,let us quench and refill it; if we hear it knocking at the door of our hearts, do not prefently let it in, but ask his errand, plead the caufe with it, confider th~ hindrances and inconveniences that come by it. 4· Proporti0n the remedy to the difeafe : As the Iufl: is greater, f<> ufc we greater abil:inence; make ll:ronger vowes againll: it ; if the tyde beadl:rongly, keep the bank good ; repaire it by fweet renewalls of our graces in us ; 1.nake we new Covenants againll: it : what though we are weak, and frail, and fubjeQ to break our promifes 10 this kindc? Yet remember that they arc Gods Ordinances,and he will put to his helping hand to enable us. . · 5. Turn we our delights to God, and Chrifl:, and heavenly things ? There is no true Self-denyaL, that is only privative ; a man cannot leave his earthly·mindedneffe, but prcfently h~ mull: be heavenly-minded ; as a man cannot empty a vcffel of water, b~t prefently atre will come in its place: fo a man cannot deny finfrdfelf, but grace wrll immediately

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