5 28 Book. IV. Looking tmto :Jefus. ----------------~--- thou art the fountaine of all grace, an head of influencr, as well aJ ofeminmce; thou art not only above me, but t~u haft >~ll grace for me, and therefore 0 ,give me fome portion of thy meektuffe, lowlineffe, ' heaven!y-mindedNejJe, and ofall other the graces ofth] Spirit. Surely thou art an heaven ofgrace, full of bright jhining {f~tr.r, , Oh that ofthat fulneffe thou wou!dft give me to receive even grace for grace ; I pray Lord with t~n humble expe.Etation of receiving from thee; Oh " let me frele the droppings Gf the two olive trees into the golden candle. ftick.J, yea even into my foul. . tPet.t·l~. :t.,Cor. 3,18, I s. Be we aifurcd that our prayer (ifit be in faith) is even now heard; never any came to Chrift with ftrong expectations to receive grace, or any benefit prayed for, that was turned empty away ; belldes Chrift ha[h engaged himfelfe by promife to write his Jaw in our hearts; to make us like himfelfe ;· as he which hath called tU is holy,fo fhould (yea and fo fball) we be holy in all manner -of converfation. Oh let us build on his gracious promife; heaven and earth fhall paffe away · before one jot or tittle of his Word {ball faile; onely underftand we his promife in this fenfe, that our conformity muft be gradual, not all at once, we all with open face, beholding as in aglaj[e, the glory of the Lord, are changedintiJ thefameimagefromglorytoglory. (i.) fromgrace to grace; or from glory inhoate in obedience, to glory confummate, in our heaveFJly inheritance. 6. Ifnotwithfranding all this, we feele not for the prefent this conformity in us, at leat\ in fuch a degree; let us aet over the fame particulars againe and againe; the guifts of grace are therefore .communicated by degrees, that we might be taken off from living upon a received frock of grace ; and that we might frill be running to the fpring, and drink in there; why alas we have a continual need of Chr.iil:s letting out himfelfe, and grace into our hearts, and therefore 'Ye mufr waite at the wellhead, Chriil:; we mull: look on Chrift as appointed on purpofe by his Father to be the-beginner, and finiilier of our holineffe; and we muft be!eeve that he will never leave that work :imperfeCt, whereunto he is ordained of the Father. We may be confident (faith the Apoftle) of this v ery thing, that he which hath fegun a good. work.)n UJ, will performe it, or fmifh it., until/ th: day of {efm Chri.ft , Phil. I · 6. Oh then be
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=