--;j--6---·--- ~btnmcei d-ar 7:S~: Pfal. 116. 12. - worlt man living, but he·n;;y--thank-his own negligence, his own dulnelfc, his! not flirring up of the graces of Gods fpirit in him; 0 therefore it i5, thot he hangs the wing upon every petty c:olfe, upon every _petty ocqfion: labour tohave an heart ready to exemfe grace [Uitable to everycondltJon,for then grace w1ll reflect fweetl"y,then we fhall maintain and continue our comforts. The foul that is bell: furnifhcd with grace when it is not in aCtion, is like a lute well £hinged and tuned , which while it lieth fiiii doth make no more mufick than a common piece of wood, but when it is taken up and handled by a skilfullutamfi the melody IS mo!i delightful. ·-------------~------------------- "SECT. ,+· Of the improving of Eviaww. 1GOr the improving of Evidences, we muft endeavour to produce that fruit, that ~~~ frame, that difpofition of heart which the Lord requires, direCts and looks for in fuch a cafe, as the admiring of Gods unfearchable grace in Chrifl: Jefus; a fober, moderate and felf-denying ufe ofour Evidmce-ro,iforts; a fiducial pleading of all the precious promifes of the Gofpel; a chearful bearing of croffes, a holy contempt of Creature-comforts, a bold approaching to the Throne of Grace upon all occafions , • valiant adventuring for Chri!l, longings for the appearings of the Lord Jefus; a con– fident contell: with fin, a couragious rdill:ing of temptations; I may adde humility,love to God , fear of offendmg, zealous labours to advance Chrifl in the power of grace, &c. all which are the fruits oflegible Evidences in true Chrifl:ian hearts: And our Evidences rhus improved, then is the whole bufineffe Chrifhanly managed indeed. But ofthefe in the next SeCtion. SECT. 5. Ofthe SanElijication of Evidences in their fcveralufcs. ,...f He SanCtification of Evidences is maRifefl:cd (as we faid) by feveral DiJPofitions: To inlarge my felf; No fooner is the Soul fetled in its Scripturc-perfwafions, and Spirit-perfwafions, that God hath trannated it unto Chrifl: , but immediately there follows.- ! .A deep admiring of Gods unfearchablc grace in the LordJefus Chrifl:: Hath the Lord ajfurcd me that I am his? 0 my Sout,;fandamaud at this endlefs boJmdl•fs love ofthf Lord; it is ofhis grace that ever I did bethink.Pt} filf ofthe danger ofmy finful courfe I w.ufor· 1mrlyin; it is ofmeergrace that the Lord Clmfl dyed for my fins, and rofe againforrny Jujl-ijicat ion; i t is ofhu JPecial grato, that the Spirit •fChrijf Jhould thw whijpcr to my JPtril, ThyJim arc jorgiwn thee. 0 the bounrifulncjfe and love of God ta man! 0 I am Jwallowed up in this depth! It is a m)Jfery which may ajfonifh Angels, and Orient Pearl. which ottt jhincs all theJParkfing Jewels of the 1vhole Creation. When the Jews heard of the Proclamation of King Cynu, by which they were fet free from their long and tedious captivity; they were rapt with joy, they were like to men that rather dKe_amed, than poffdfe9 the thing that their fouls longed after: · How much more will AJ!u~ce that we are fet free from the perpetual bondage of fin, and reftored to the everlat1ing freedom of righteoufnefs and life, make us wonder at the infinite wifdom, and unfpea– kabk goodnefs of our heavenly Father? The Saints confidering the goodnefs ofGod towards man in his creation, break forth into holy admiration, Lord, what is man, that thou ar' mindful ofhim ? The Prophet calling to m.indc long after, what God had done for his foul, cannot paffe it over without fervent praife, What fha/1 I render to the Lord for .Ut his bmejits towards me? How much more ought and will'that man that is alfured of Gods favor and love towards him, for ever admire the mighty power, unfpeakable goodnefs, and rich mercy of God, who hath delivered him from the pit of hell, from the power of Satan, from the curfc of the law , and from the waiting for ofall the wicked Devils, and damned fpirits; and withal, hath trannated him into the kingdom ofhis dcarcfl: Son?" 0 ! needs muft his heart be inflamed with love, and inlarged in praifes! 2. A fober, moderate, and felf-denying ufe of Evidehce-comforts; I fpeak not herein againfl the frequent actings of graces, or againft the fimpl.y looking on them, or com– forting our fclves in them, cfpecially under fad hours, but againll: the exceffive, over– tlo'.'iing, over-loving way of Evidrnce-comforrs, againll: the abufes thereof: whichmaY be
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