I\Ial.;.7. Spiritual PerfeClion. And in times of Temptation, when pledfing Lulls are imperious and violent, then 'tis necdfary to controul them by the fearful remembrance, that for all thtfe things God will hrtng m to 'JudgmtRt. ThiS will clear the Mmd from the eclipfes and clouds of the Carnal Paffions, and keep the Senfcs under the dommion of rhe fuperior and furer Faculties. Bleffed is the Man that /ears always, that is continually vigilant in (ecret and f•ciery . who confiders that God's Ey~sarcalways upon l11m, in ord~r ro]udgme~t, and whof~ Eyes are always upon God, m order to Acceptance. CHAP. X. Tht Prqm.ife, that Go~ wi(l be ottr Fat~er, a p01ver{ul ind,!cement tojlrive a(ur t he Ptrfdlion. of Holme/s. The dtgmty and happme{s of the Re/atton. The Pardon of Sin, an adop· twe Jrud~m m Pra7er, a~d tlltertjl m the Eternal lnhe~:ta»u, are zhe Priviledge 5 of God's Cluldren. The injlrun~e ofthis Relation to make tu en.tirtl] holy , co~{tderrd . .An In. guiry whether we are procttdtng to Per{eflion; the vantpti/btng Sin , ~n indicatiou of t!Je Power ofGrace. Tkc habitual frame of the Heart, and fixed regulantJofthe Life, dif- &overs o#r progre[s tn Holmefr. Accordrng I~ our Lov.~ to God, And thi»RI that h 4ve the neareft re(~mbUnu to ~im, we may jud~c _o( or~r Sp1ritutJ/Jty . The Spi;ilual Larv of God, the Sptrtftlltl Worfhtp of God, the Sptrtwal Image of God i11 the Saints, Are t!Jt pri, cipal Objec1s of the Love of the Spiritual/! minded. To pre/erve an erual temptr of Mmd in the changes of the prefent jlate, di/itYVer excellent degrees of Holinefs. J All~ivi'~~vaft~~~utr~ t~~l;~~1eaG~~~f~.~e~~~ t~;o~f;;vf;e~ffi!~fj~c~h~h:n~~!~e~: Chapter, That the Lord Almighty will receive m, and wr {ball be /Jis Sons and Daughters; that ht will dweO tn m, his ltving Temples, ar.d •palk in m. This.divine Relation, and Communion the co~fequent of tt, fhould keep the !late of PerfeCtion always in our de- ~~n :n,~i~·~~;fi~~~ :~~~pg~~~t;~~~ a~~~~~:r.b~r ;bf~ll'{~r~ti~~endeavour the obtaining 1. The Dignity. Secular Nobility that is transfufed from the Veins of Progenitors ~~~o}~~V:i~i~~~~~ft:!:ro~'}"Jhe ~;~{;: ~; ~~~:~{~fym~~:~a~~df~J~~;.; ald~:~fl;'{hft is difiinguifh'd by an illullrious Lineage, if not qualified with internal vertuous Difpo. fit ions becoming their Extraaion, is of no value, but in the vain fancies of ~1en : But the Relation to God as our Far her, confers an Honour fubllantial and durable, in com. parifon whereof all the magnificent Titles in this World arc but fhadows, and Smoak, an~ Dreams. We are in a ftare of Union with the incarnate Son of God, aod in that reij>eet dignified above the Angels; for their Lord is our bro!her. We are made par· takers of the Life and Likenefs of God, and Heirs of his Kingdom. This Dignity is tru ly divine, and of more value than Sov:raigmy over the Principalities and Powers of DarlwefS. Our Saviour fpcaks to his Difc1ples, ln this r~jQice not, that Spirits Are fob· jtfl to yorJ, b1# rather rejoice t hat f~ur na'!'es are writttn in Heaven. 2. The Happinefs of this Relation wtll appear in the Privileges that are confequenr and comprchenlive of all Bleffings. . ( 1.) The title of a Son has annex'd to it the promife of the Pardon of Sin. ThiS is declard by God himfelf, I 1vtll {pare th~m .u a Father fpam !Jis Son I hat [erves htm. There are fpots in the bell of God's Chtldre0 • 'Tis equally impoffible, there fhould be abfolutely pure Vertues in the !late of Grace, as unmixed Elements in the llare of Nature: But our Frailties lamented and llri ven againll, rather move his Corn· paffion, than fcverc Difplcafure. Sins of a heinous Nature prefumptuouJiy cam mine~, retraaed by Repentance, are not excepted from his pardoning Mercy. Of this rhere JS the moll comfortable atTurance in D:wid's cafe: For after his complicated Sin, when he was melted in Tears of Contrition, God fealed his Pardon, and fent the notice of it by /llatban the Prophet. God was fo entirely reconciPd to him, that after his Death he gave rh is Teflimony of him, That David did that tvhich IVtU right in the Jil.ht_ of ~hf Lord, and turned not {rom any tiJtng that he command~d hi'!', all th~ days of hu L_ife, except in the mAtter of ·vriah: He would not name that Sm of fo h1gh a Provocauon. The / /
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