Serm. 2 8. of the ordinances may abide iipon them ? 633 The people of God fhosrld endeavour to keep the influence of the Ordi- nances abiding upon their fouls. I muff noc profecute this Do&rine in the ufuall method, but men- tion it only, as leadi¡ g us to the Practical Cafe at this time to be refol- ved. A conicientious hearer obferving w'c.at his duty is, v ill be pre - fenrly inquificive how he may performe it, the duty is 'Tilde known in the O':,fe : vation, the inquiry is in the Cafe before us. LVh. r muff be done :bathe influences of the Ordinances may aside upon us ?By the Ordinances we underftand thofe principally which are publick,the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer. The Text and this exercife leads us to have a more fpecial refpec`} to the Word, which we fhall a little obferve, fo as not ro exclude the refl. By the influence of the Ordinances,is rr ant the effect they have upon us, while we are imploy- ed in them ; their gracious or comforting efficacy, that which tends to make our hearts and lives more holy or more comfortable; that whereby our fouls are quickm.d, ftrengthned reflored or refrefh- ed. By its abiding on au, underfland the continuance of this effedt af- ter the duty is done, that fo the Ordinances of God be not like thofe humane Ordinances (the Apoflle fpeaks of) which peri(h in the ußng,. Col, 2,20,22. if you wou'.d have it fated clearly and more at large, take it thus; What courfe muff we take that the gracious and comfor- tini efficacy of public Ordinances may not onely reach au while we are imployed in them, but may continue on us afterwards; fo a we may walk under the fenfe and power thereof all along ? To refolve this without further preamble, the courfe you mull take for this purpofe, lies in the practice of fome things ; and the avoiding of others. The things to be practifed take notice of in thofe feverals : z. Get new hearts, and get them daily more and more renewed ; an old heart is a heart of ftone, Exek I ï. 19. and the hardnefs of it is not removed but by degrees. Now that which will fink deep into a tender heart, a heart of fleth, (Ezek 36.26.) will glide off from an old heart as water from a aone, without leaving any im- pretiion : and where none is left none can continue. The good feed Which fell on ftony ground, it (prang up indeed, but it conti- nued not, it withered away re loon as it rang up, Luk. 8. 6. but. they which with an honeft and good heart .heard the word, the kept it, and brought forth fruit with patience (i. e. with ,perfe- verence,) ver. i y. the fruitfull influences of the word abode upon them : A good and honeft heart not onely bears the word , but keeps
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