Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

Chap.z.Sed-.9 .Looking unto 1if~*1, BooM: IV,Pan.4 8&s7 fuch in-~ome; Aman.before his converfion might heare, q.nd ·pray, and do all duties; but alas! he feeles no_fweet, no power, no vercue no communion with Chriit If I m1ght appeaJe unto fuch, I befeech you tell me, you have been often at prayer, what h~veyou gotten there? what in-come h.ath appeared? if you anfwer truely you cannot but fay, I wtnt to prayer, and I wtU. fatilfied that J had praJed; I neverobferved whether I hadlot any power, or ftrength, 11ny thing of mortification, or .vivif!cation; I never jDund any Lively work.. of <;jod on my f oul, ttther tn prapr or after prayer; or you have been often at this ordin~nre of hear• ing the Word, what have you gotten there ? what m-come hath appeared? why truely nothing at all; it t11t'.J be a little more k..,newledge, but nothing that I can fe~y wa-s a fa vi;?g work of God; (ome one that {att with me in the famefeate founa much/fin·ings of God ·~ Oh what meltings, chearings, warmingsof thefpirit hadfuch a om? andfuch a one ? the Word wa-s to them tU honey, and a-s the Eoit7- · .combe, but to me it 18'& a-s dry bread; I found no fweet, 1 got no good at all. Or you have been often roiling the Bible, and you haveobferved this orthat promife; but 0 what in-come hatb appeared? furely nothing at all; I wor;der at Saints t.h.tt tell of fo muchfweetnejfe, and comfort, and ravifhing of heart, that with . joy they fbould draw wattr out of theft wells of falvation, whereas I ftnde thmin no joy, nrJ refrefhing at all; ah poore foul chou art in a fad cafe, thou art not yet vivified, thou ha!l: not the Jife ofGod · in thee. After vivification thou wilt in the ufe of ordinance.s (at leail fometimes,if not frequently) feele the faving in·comes of God . In prayerthou wilt feele the Spirit breathing in, and car- . rying up thy foul above it felfe, plainly declaring tnere is another power than thy own, which makes thee not only to exceed others, but thy felfe alfo; in hearing of the Word thou wilt fee the windows ofh~aven fet wide open, and all manneroffpiritual COt!Jforts fbowred down upon thee; thou wilt heare the ricll . t ceafury ofever!afting glory and immortality unlocked and opened, fo that thou may£t tumble thy felfe amidft the mountaines of -. heavenly pearles .and golden pleafures, joyes that m heart can comprehend buc that which is weaned from all worldly pleafures a-s it is written, how beautiful are the feet ofthem thttt pre11ch th; Rom. IO.J $• Go(pel ofp eacr, andbring glad-tyding.rofgood t hings? in meditation ot the promifes, or ofdivine love, thou wilt finde melrings, L1111 quick-

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=