3 5:~ .OfEleClion. ~~------------~--~~- -~~--------------- ~of that Epil\le, both in the Doctrinals, bur efpecially in the Exhorrotory part BooK IV. all along mrerwcaved with thofe Doctrines, was to keep them ro hold Ja(\ rha; ~Profcffion:) his words in Heb. 12. u, q, 14- concerning fuch, are thefe : Wherefore Jzft ttp the ha11ds which ha11g down, and the feeble k11ees: /hzd make Jlraight paths for yottr feet; left that which u lame be t11rned ot~t of the W<!Y; but Jet it rathtr be healed: l:'ollow peace with all V!fm, mzd hoiz11ejs; wtthottt which uo Mmz jha/Jfee the Lord: And it is certain , that if his ExhortatioR were directed in fo fpecial a manner unto fuch, that this his Pray– er mu(\ be fuppofed to comprehend the cafes of fuch, in like proportionable 1nanner. And further there is one word inferted.in that Prayer, which cloth prompt no le!s; 'tis in the forepart, among what he makes the ground or orgument of his Prayer , which ai ways bath the force, and influence upon the matter pray– ed for, as upon confideration of which God grants it: As the Preface to a Sta· tu te law , hath upon the Body and matter of the Act commanded : The paf– fage is , The God that 6rottght back again .7tfiu Chrif/ from tht Vead, J He make yott perfeff, in everygood work: Which is in the effect, as in the Texr, that God, who at firfi calledyou our of an Efiare of death,and dead works, the fame God perfect you, if at any time after you wander and are gone afiray, (lead·hearted in good work;, he will bring you back again to the Btjbop ofyo11r So11Js ; by virtue of Chrifis R.efurrection from the dead, till he hath fully Per· feEiedyou il~tverygood work, the virtue of whtch bringing back of his, ex– tending not only unto his firfi begetting of Life in you, but in a lower and lef– fer comparative, it takes in all the after Revivals of Spiritual Life in us: For all fuch remiffneffes, (which are rhofe we are fpeaking of) are but as fits of Convuitions, Falling-Sickneffes, Apoplexies, Leffer deaths, and wider fleps of reeling towards death, as of that Angel, and Church of Sardu it is (aid; both that they were dead, Rev. l· I· and yet that there was life in them'; as rhofe words , but ready to dy·e, ll1ew : Which two Speeches compared can have no other meaning, than that they were not utterly dead, as they had been in their Unregenerate Efiate; but ~etained !\ill in them a true Principle of Life, continued from thetr regenerauon; only m refpect of energy, and operation, it was ~ut as a dying Life.; and fuch are all fwouning, fainting firs, that befall ChrtfitaAs: Such ts fpmtual jlupznefs, ( Stfier to death) which was the cafe of that Church : Therefore 'ris faid there, be watchful; that is, awake thou that Jleepefi: And it was not a metr drowtinefs out of weaknefs of Spirits, but a Lethargical Difeafe contracted, which, if not cured,wouid prove afleepi11g i11 death; (as the P(aimifls phrafe is, PfaJ 'l•l·) and in which thefe were even ready to explfe: And anfwerably, every recovery from forth of rhefe , is a fetching us again : And much ado God hath to keep many Saints Souls in Life, as the Pfalmi(/s word is: And further, the word itfelf, make perjeff, fignifying withal a Ref/attration, which refpects decays; C!ic, It mu!\ needs be fuppofed to comprehend , and reach to a making perfect in e– very good work, after a decay , as well as a keeping from declining: That our fir!l Calling is a bri11gi11g tu back from death to Life, bearing the Image of Chrifi's ll.efurrection, and wrought in us by the virtue thereof, none may deny: The Apoflle Peter doth exprefs both, in his fir!\ Epiflle: The former Chap. 1. l• BtejJed be the God a11d Fathrr of our Lord ']efeu Chrifl, which accordi11g le hu abtmdmtt mercy hath 6egottm tu agai11, rmto a J:ve!y hope, 6y the Reftu-reffio11 of Je[iu Chrifl from the dead: The Latter, Chap. 2. 25. For ye were M Sheep goi11g a~ray, but are 11ow retur11td 1111to the Shepherd, and Bijbop of J'ottr So11is. And the Apofile to the Hebrew! had m that Claufe in– fcrted in his Prayer, a refpect totignifie that their Calling: As if he had plead- ( ed thus; Oh God! Thou that hafi brought thefe Sheep of Chri(\ blck again from the dead , in calling them by venue of him that is thei·r Shepherd, and in him, of his being brought back again, fo at the firfi; And now that Chrift hath taken the charge of them, and that the virtue of his being brought back, continues after their being called , in the fame vigour, and with the fame ef– ficacy, to all like purpofes, as well as this; and that thefe his Sheep, rhy Children, are after calling, fubject to fuch difa!lers , and decays, as are fpt· ces
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=