Bates - HP BX5200 B3 1700

-~._ XjV. _Of H E_!l V E lj. between what is Tem{'oral, and Eternal; how defpicably light all the Vanities of this ::.o~~~t~re f~uO~rc~~~~~~ fe~~~~~~af~~~~tit~~~~~-:!1:,~:~:o~l~f~~~u~! and ~alities, believes,. efteems, and determines that they are of eternal moment, and abfolucely nece!fary for the Happinefs of M>w- And as wheh the natural Faculty of fee- , :~ ;s F:~h~;~;e;:~Jri:t~:~~:; ~:~nd~~~~edngywJ~ 1f~~'lu~:·a~~,~~~;~~~rr~~e~~~~ power of the Spirit, can never knmu Sp:ritttal Thmgs as they ought to be known. Therefore as the blind Men in the Gofpel who defpair'd of help from the Phyficians, hearing of the miraculous Power of Chrift, importunately begg'd his healing Mercy ; fo Jet us pray to the Light and Saviour ofche Wor.Jd, but in a more noble and higher Senfe, Lord, that we may recewe our Jig!Jt. Let us with the moft zealous Afleaions call upon the God of our Lord'JefusChrifl, the Fatherof Glory, thathewou!dgive rmtoustheSprritof Wifilomand Revelation iiJ: tl/e knorvledg of him, the Eyes of .ottr tmde~jldnding being inlig!J~ned, tf~at we may knorvrvhat is the hope of his Calling; ltnd wh<t the Rzclm of the Glory of lm lnherttan" in-theSamts. 2. The efficacious Influence of the Holy Spirit is requifite to change the Will, that with a free and full confent it may defire and profecute tlie Spiritual Eternal Good. ~~h~: l~~~~;~'~ew~:~:0~o0:h~~fe~:ve~.noTh~~~%~~ b~0~Jll~lf~h~~~~e~ot~tci;~~~ without a renewed Heart.. Tho the Judgment a!fents chat God is the Supream Good, yet till the Heart be circumcifid, the fenfua licy of the AfleB:ions taken away, divine Love tbat direB:s the Life to God as our ble!fed End, can never polfefs it. Suppofe that Men had a fenfible and ftrong a!furance of the Eternal State hereafter, if all thofe who Jived godly in a vifible manner afcended with E!ias eo Heaven, and if all who continued in their Sins vifibly defcended into Hell, as Corah and hi• Company were fwa llowed up alive by the Eart!l b~fore the I[rae!ites ; if Men could hear the joyful Exultations of the Saints above, then· h1gh Pra~fes ofGod, and hear the defperate Cnes and deep Complaints of che Damned : if one according to the defire of the rich Man, were fent from Hell, and with his Fiery Tongue lhould relate what he had feen and fuf!er'd, andexhibir a fenfible demonftration in himfelf of thofe Torments, yet this alone were not fufficient to draw off their Ream from the deceitful Happinefs of this World, and fallen them on the perfeB: and Eternal Happinefs in the next. Indeed they could not then indulge their Lufts fo fecurely, but they would be Strangers to the Life of God, fuch an inveterate aliena. tion of Heart is in Men from real Holinefs. Till the fanB:ify ing Spirit by a direCtive perfwafive Light, chat reprefents the Truth. and Goodnefs of Spiritual Things, transforms the Soul, and makes it Spiritual in its Valuations and AffeB:ions, 'cis inwardly averfe from Gr~~eand Glorf . The Lord direc1 our Reacts into t~e ~O'l.Je ~f God, and iNto the patient wattmg for Chrijl, when he fhal! come to be glorified m lm Samts, and Admired in aU them tb.atbelieve. Z 7.Z 2 0 F

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