Spiritual Perjef1ion. · This is not a dead Objed: propofed to our view, but has a viral efficacy to rn10sform us into his Jikcnefs; as the fight of the Brazen Serpent conveyed a healtng venue to rhe wou~deJ Jfratlitn The Apofile tell-s us, tha~ we a/J with open Face, beho!di11g ar in a glafs , _!bP. Cdo•} 1 , r{ the L f)rd, arechar.g~dinto the(amelm~ge, from Gl~Jr) to Glory, . t1J 6.r t!Jt ~pu~t of tbe Lt;rd, 1 Cor. 3. t!. TheGofpel is the Glafs , where10 there ts a permanent Jmage ot Chrt~ tn h111 Ltfe ~nd D :Jrh, a full mJnife~ation of all his Vertucs; and this fig~t, by the operauon of 1heSp1rir, c. f~ngcs us into hts li.kencfs, from Glory to ~lory; ~hat IS, by_ feveral degrees of. Grace to a lu l~ conformity to lum in Glory. As. a Pamter ott~n fixes Ius Eye_ upoo the ObJe<..-'l:, to fo r.ll1Hl his Imaginat ion the Idea , that gUlcks hh Hand in the dcf1gn: ~g and colourirg the Facet that the Copy may refemble the truth of Natu re in the Origtnal: So ~<e lhould ccnfider t he Holinefsand Perfection of our Saviour's AC:bons, and draw the lirll Lines of HeloJunori to imitate him, and every day endt:::a\·our to fill and corn pleat them in Actions, till Chrifl be form\) in us. Let us often compare our Lives with the Life of Chri!l:, that we may f,.e our Imperfcdions in his Excellencies, which will difcovcr them, and how to corre& them. Now, in that particula rs are mofi infirudivc, I \\ill confider two Examples of our Saviour for our imitation, in Duties of difficult practice. The firfi is, the Duty of Admonition; where in great prudence is requifite, mix'd with tender Lc;we, 1c0:: the Reproof be tal.;en for a Reproach, and the perfon be provok'd and not reform'd; an~ with z~n l t hat may give efficacy to our Counfel. A Reproof rnufi be managed like btnding ot a wounded parr, which mufi be neitjlcr too flrair, nor ~oo flack, lef\: it ~10uld opprefs and exafperate rhe Wou:td, or ldl: there be nota cloft: app!tcation of the Mt!dicine. Of this mixwre of A ffe~ dions we have ll clear difcovery in our Saviour's carriage towards his Enc:mies. 'Ti~ related !~)~~~~e~~~:~~~vr:::,:o':tJ1h~~/~}~::~:;~:;:;fa;~:.Ja;:~~;:,:~e ;;;~~~o::C:(e ah£,/:j~~~%~~:~ Mark~. r• it: Andwhen h~ propounded t~e que/lion, w~ether it were i:Jwful '?do good or ev~J ontbe Sabha~IJ~ day? they maliCJoufly beld tbetr peace: wluch occa[ton'd his lookmg on them !Ditb a~ger, h'."b grievetljorthe bardnefs of theirl;earts. 'This exad Panern we fhould follow, jotning mtld Severity with melting: Compaffion, in reproving offenders. The other in!l:ance is, how to cornpofe our Spirits, and refign our Wills to God, in the app roaches of very affliCti ng Evils. Our Saviour in the appreheofion of his impendent Suffering, exprefs'd a great perplexity, Now is my Soul trouhled, aJJd what ,lhlf!i I [a7l The fearful expethtion of <he jufl and heavy punilhrnent due fo r our Sins, pernltx'd his holy and humane Nature: he addref5'd a RequeO:: to God, Father fa1Je me from tiJis hour, but it was wirh a Revocation, hut for tbis cauftcame !to tl;is hour: it was (ubordinate to his main de fire, Fatber, gloriflethy Name. When he was fei zed by his bloody Enemies, and Peter ]oh. 1 ~. 17,'18, firuck with his Sword one of them, he reprelfed his rafh Zeal with that Conflderati on, The C11p which mJ Fatberha;_given, /hall I not drink of it? He regarded his So~erc1_gn Wi ll SJ.:"' (rriQn in giving it, and with fubmtffion drank of the Dregs of it. How infirudive IS this to us, .t7, :~~~:~:!~ }~r ~!~c rhe hotte!l and binereft Potion that G.od our Father and P~yfician prepares ~~::J;E:~- 2. Prayer is an Effcc:tual Means to obtain an increafe of Spiritual Bleffings.'Iis the Law of urhtb.u. Aug. H eaven, that Ble!lings are to be obta in'd by Prayer, fo r this Is rnofl honourabl e to God, and Beneficial to us. 'TJStheSupreme Act of Religious Worlhi p, difcover'd by the Light of ~ature w the Heathens. Prayer is the H_omage due to hts Eternal ~reatnefs, t~e moll g lo· nous acknowledgment of his All-fulliciency; that he is able and wrlling to relreve our Pove rty from his immenfe Trcafures, notwithfiailding our unwonhine1S: for we are left ~ifogufmn ;t~~ ~~~ ~a~ t 0 t 17:: ~~~,:~~~ · ~~~~ ~;f:::ed:J £:;;:;g ~~~;~ns,~fs ~~:,~u~~~:·ficiJi:o ~~e: r;:; i~~ ~;;:~~::~ It engages us to receive his Benefits with adorauon and thankfulnefs, and prepans us to tpu r•gM, 1/lt receive new Favours; and by our obtaining Blc.::tlings in this way, we have a more clear f,wr, and comfortable fenfc of his Love, that gives the twee re!l TinCture and rel ifh to them. 'fis true, Prayer . is not requir'd to inform God, or to incline him to be gracicus; arid fomctim~s from his c?'ubtrant Goodoefs he prevents our deftres; but we cannot rt·gularly expeCt hts Bleilingo; wuhout the fenfe of our Wants, and Prayers to fupply thtm. Now all Ble!lings are ori ginally from·God, but fome are immediately from him. As th ~ Sun i~lightens the World by its prefence in the Day, and t he Moon and Stars inlighten it m the Ntghr, by Light borrowed from the Sun. St. James tells us, E'llerJ good and per· f dl gift defcends f"mabo'Ve,from the Fathu of lights ' .~ll131ellings in the O:der of NJture, the l.l...u ahues of the Body, Ueauty, Strength, Hcah h ; or the hndowmenrs of t he l\Imd1 Kno'W ledgc, \~it, Eloquence, arc his Gifts; all Temporary Talents, Riches, Power, Digni~ ty, ar~ fr om htm, by the mediation of fecond Caufes : but [here are more precious and per.; feet Gtfts that co.n e from him immediately as the Fatber of ligbts, £anctif) ing Graces, Pppp ud
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=