5 12 How may we know when our activity Serin. 2 * Claudimini serle mei, clau- dimini : nihil enim pulcbriut jam videbitiì. I may truly fay of it as Keckerman Pays of Mer- curies motion, Yaldè varus 6. map,' ex parte incognitWif . put the lambs in my bofome which cannot go,or but flowly; and gently lead them that are with young, l fa.4.o. t I. I Beak this to them that are upon the llaves of ?acobs Ladder in their afcending to heaven, to be a loadf one to draw them up, not a milllone to drag them down. But to anfwer more appofìtely. z. I intend it in oppofition to them who live in a courte of fn, yet now and then in a duty do feel a flafh of joy, and thereupon prefume of their good ellate,and not to thofe who with Zachary and Elizabeth walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of God blamclefs, Lesk, r.7. and yet do not obtain this confiant favour. 2. I lay it down a pofitive fign and inclssfiv'e ; that thofe,and all thofe that have confiant activities, (though differing for the altitudes and degrees) may be certain of the Spirit, as thofe that have Trade winds from Port to Port may be fure they fail by the wind ;or as thofe that have the Organ, medirstrl,and objet rightly difpofed,may be Pure they fee. Bellarmine tells a flory of an old man,that alwaies arofe from duty with thefe words,'" Be you fhut,0 my eyes, be fbut, f or I fhall never behold any fairer ObjeU than Gods face, which I have now beheld. But not a negative fign exclufsvè, as if thole (that repent of fin, rn,.: ditare on the Promifes, poure out Prayers, walk with God,wait on Ordinances) who have it nor, were caft.awäies. I am confident many that lye wind- bound in the harbour íhall in due time get to the Haven. 3. There are four things belong to a Chrifìian : r. A habit. 2. An Ad. 3. Degrees of that Ad. 4. Sede of all thefe. He may have the three firfi, and yet want the fenfe of them. A fhip may fail,and yet the Mariner not fenfible of it. 4. There is no Rule but hath force Exception, no Experience in one Believers heart but a contrary Experience may be found in anothers. Various are the workings of Gods Spirit in the heart, Le blows when, where, how he pleafes, Job.3.8. He is called even pits, Rev. 1.4.. be- caufe of his various influences. He cloth, 71; =ñú, blow in a duty,if the {hip be ready, but to then he is agent liberrimum, he will fometime fufpend his Ad, and leave the common Road. To conclude this, take this counfel,Stay thy felf upon thy God, lfa.5o. io. Remembring he will fend forth judgment unto vidiory,Mat.12.20. And take this f ©r a cor- dial, which is a fpiritual Riddle, It is a comfort to have no comfort ; The delires of Tome are as acceptable to God, as the deeds of others. 5. When we are enlarged, and yet we are not elated ; high in Gods Spirit, low in our own fpirit. True Chriftians are like Canes, the fuller they are of Sugar, thr lower they bend. unto fublirmior, tanto fub- mior 3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=