Serm. 2 r. itn duty is from the Spirit of God ? 513 i ifior The loftier,the lowlier.Every true Saints Motto: True acclivity is not Leaven to puff us up, but Lead to pull us down. What Bede wi- íhed fume to obferve of Ratjtine the Monk, tent over a Legate from the Pope to his Brethren the Prelates and Bifhops of England,I may advife you to obferve, that if he carried himfelf humbly he came from the Lord ; high in duty, and humble after duty comes from the Lord, When D:evid and his people' had been on the Mount in their offerings to the building of the Temple, fee what a low Valley they are in the opinion of themfelves, 1 Chron.29.14. Who am band what is nu people, that we fbould be able to offer fo willingly afterthia fort ? For all things cone of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Here is no haughty Pharifee, Who but I ? But an humble Pub:ican, Who am I ? 6. When adivity in duty is expreffed in ad ivity in doing ; when ac`five Prayers are turned into aftive Prac`tif s. The Emperour Sigif- "Rae. sy1.ii.2. mend having made fair Promifes in a fore fit of ficknefs of amend- Co' ment of lifer asked Theodoricus, Archbilbop of Collen, how he Promptiores ('unt bomines know, whether bis repentance were (incere : Who replied, If you are promittendo as careful to perform in your health, as you are forward to promife in gttam exegNan- your fickn:-fs. i Pet.2. 2. As new -born babes defire the /incere milk.. of the do.Dion,1.3 ?. Word ,that you may grow tbereby.When our being high in duty makes us grow high in grace and knowledge, 2 Pet.3,18. Even as Cedars of Le- banox,untill ( caput inter nu6ila) we lodge our heads in heaven, 2 Pet. 1.10,1 1. We may be fure it is from the Spirit when enlargement iv duty, laies on us an engagement to duty. 7. When we give God the glory of all our Aaings and activities. if it be returned to his praife, it was received from his Spirit. When Rivers return to the Sea,it argues they from thence proceeded, Ecclef.. 1.7. When David and bis people had ¡hewed their activity in their Prefent towards the e ee ing of the Temple, they fhut up all with a moll gracious and grateful Doxology, i Cbron. 29.13. Now therefore our God, we thank, thee, and praife thy glorious nhme, Pfal. i 15. t . Not un- to tu, O Lord, not unto urs but unto thy name give the glory. He doubles non nobla, to lay down man, to lift up God. When we unfeignedly give God the glory, God bath undoubtedly given us the grace. 8. When we have the Teflimony of the Spirit witnefiing with our fpirir, that this a&ivìty is from himfelf. G4/.4. 6, God bath feat forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba,Father. When we are fo enlarged in a duty that we do cry, Abba, Father, this the fpirit witne: fes is his work, The Spirit doth not witnefs by a clear and diftind}, ei. Cher outward or inward voice, totidem verbs , this I have wrought in thee;
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