448 Book. IV. Lookingu?Sto :Jcfus. ------- ----------- .' Gen. 6. 6. .hath the Go~pd.a trut!, and full, and graCious work upon the hea! t, when 1t ytelds to t_h~ proffers ofthe Gofpel, as finding that all that the world can b1d 1s now out.bidden, you know, when ene comes to off~r fo much for a commod~ty, and another outbids him, he carries it away; fo wh~n the world and lufr .and , fin proffers to the foul fuch a!'1d fucb contents, th~n comes Chrift and out· bids all, and fo the bargaine is made up·, and Chrifr carries the hc:art a\va·l ; finners ! it may be as yet you feele none of thefe things, but in time you may do, and in the meane time you fee here is a word for it, beholdJ,wil/ allure her, &c. . 3 They objed, the Saints rllemfelvcs fec le no fuch things- foraught appeares to rheworld; whofe fpirits are more heavy~and fad? ~sit is faid of~hrifr himfe\fe that he fi(!Ver!aughed, ana as David faid ofhimfelfe, why art th6u caft dolvn 0 mj F ttl , ttnd whr art thou difquietedwithin me? fo it may ~e faid of fome Chrifrians, if they are frriet, that they are !ddome merry, or pleafane.--- But I anfwer- x. Chrifria·ns that keep indeed dofe to the rule, are for the rnofr part ferious, and the world may fuppofe them,as fad. - ' -2. It may be they are not in their element , in the aet3ofReligion, and therefore they cannot expreffc: their fpiritual cheerfulneffe; a fi!h cannot delight it felfe on the earth, but when it is in the water; a bird doth not fing on the ground, but when it is got up into the ayre; Gods people cannot rejoyce in fin, as drunkards and revellers do, but when their hearts are in Religious exercifes, a.nd in communion with God, they are merry and • ple'afant. , 3. It may be they are in fuch company as may make them fad : the men of the world objeCt againft Saints, that they are heavy, and foure and melancholy men, but in the mean t;me they con- . fider not ~hat their fwearing, revelling, and di!honouring ofGod hath made thelll fo penfive. Why £inner;! yourcarriage gri_eves the very Spirit ofGod, you griev e qod at the h~art , as it isexpreffed, Gen. 6 6. and therefore no wonder ifthegodly c-annot rejoyce in your finful fociety; you are the caufe of their fadnefs; but admit them once into the company and fellowib ipof the saints, and they know how to_be joyful.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=