~piritual PerfoCiion. and · fpiritual Comfons , by the Illumination, and Infufion of the Holy Spirit. The fir(i fo rt of Bleflings v. e arc not to pray for abfoluttly, for they may be prrnicious by our abu.(c of th~m, to our Souls, and are often bcfiowl.'d upon reprobate finners. Bu~ PCJl. 106 · 4· :~~~~~~~: o!~r:dc~u~a~~~fs~~~~,f~t(:fr:r~~~ Ta~~u~r~f~o~e;fi:~sd f.:~~~f;i~~rdr:~~: ct:~~g~~ hb 'f ~d1 1mony and .e ffect of It. Wemufi pray for them ~nfatl~ftedly, n?t conrem \.\ith any rl11ng ellc, nor Without excelle~t dtgrees of them. D.1vtd breaks out h1s :udcnt defires ~bt:;~~~ 1~1~fie:: \~:;~~~~e:'~~~~:f~: ~~ds::~~~~e?r~~a~~~;o~~o~~~h~: ~:~~~d r:~~~ , Noma: tm" 1, from a ve in of Earth, rece1ves fuch a lufire from tbe Fire, as if 1t were the foie prcdud of ;,_,; rrflq111t. Fire, (o rny renovation by the Spirit may be fa imire, that all Carnality may be aboltfh'd. Tert. Our Pr.1ycrs lhould be for our perfeverance in well-doing. Pedcvera nce is a mofl: free , gift of God, a new Grace fuperadded .to what we have received, without it we lh:~ll for fake God every Hour. God promifes to gtve the fancbfying Spirit as a permanent Principle of Ezek. 36 . 2s holinefs in his Prople, to caufe them to walk in his Statures, and declares, for thiJ J wiO be l-6,19, Jo, ' enquired cf by tbe houfe of if"'ael. We mufi imitate ']acob, who wrefilcd with the Anoe: and would not let him go till be badblefl him. This is an Emblem of fervent Prayer, wh;re~ in we flrive with the fir cr.g1h and fi ncws of our fouls, and as it were offtr violence to the Ki ng of Heaven to beliow !pi ritual Bltflings upon us. <:;1rnal Men are i ~temperate, gr~edy and pafi!onate~ in their dclircs cf rempara! B!effings; tho Rt afon , ~ehgton, and Exp~neocc of their Van1 ty, flwuld regulate rbem : They arc impattent and '?fattable, and wtll ~ear no denial ~~rdtlay but with regrer, and re luCtancy. But bow remtfs and cold are their de fires for fpmtual and eternal £3ldfings. they invirc 3 demal. Their Prayers arc defective in the Principle, they do not undedland rhe value, and their want of them. Divine Grace, the gift of God's favi~g Mercr, the dear purcha!e of the Suffcrings of Chrifi, the precious fruit of his holy Spim, are of little price in their eft~em. Our Saviour .tells the San:aritan Woman, If tiJou l:newefl the gift of God, and wb~ it tJ tbat rJJks thee, Grue me to drtnK; thou wo~tldf/ ha'Ve asked of him, and he would b47Jt given thee living water. We arc encouraged to be earneli and refolved Suppliants for the Graces of God's Spirit, becaufe we are alTur'd he is moll: .willing to befiow them. Our Saviour fometirnes cncou. rages us from the refemblance of a Fat?er, who cannot fo unnaturalize himfelf, and divefi: his tende r Affections, as to renounce h1s own off..fpring, to deny a Child nccelTary Food for ~:i;,u ~~~:~~:',o~:~.h~!:;~if;, ~!;::,~~;~;~;:,· ~:: ~:~z·:~; P,!!! ;,.:~,;;v::;;·f::~;; gi'Ve the bolJ Spirit to them that ask it? Sometimes he excites us to pray 1 and not to faint, from the Parable of an incompaffionate Stranger, a Judge tha t was overcome by imponu.. nity to afford relief to one in dilirefs. God delights to hear and anfwer thofe Prayers that are for his befi Blelli•gs. When Solomon prayed for Wifdcm to rule his people, God •·as fo pleas'd, that he g~ve him Wifdo~ in an eminent degree, and as an accellion, Riches and Honour. If we Imitate Solomon tn his Prayer, we lhall have his Acceptance. St.']amo direds us, lf any man wants wifdbm. let IJim mk it of God, IVhO gi"Ves liberally, and upbraid; no man : the Wifdom ~o manage A.ffiid:ions, that may be for his glory, and our fpiritua l ad· vantage. He gives hberally, wh1ch either refpetls the Affection of the giver, or the mea· fu re ot the gift, or the repeated Ads of givmg: and upbrards not 1 neither with their un· worthincfs, nor the frequency of their AddrefiCs. Libera lity among Men is a cofily Venue, 1 and but few have a natural generofiry, or Chrifiian Mercy and Means to exprcfs ::~nd ex.crcife ir. The NeceiTiries of others do not affed" Men with fo quick a fenfe, as the partmg with their Money to relieve them. As the Balfam..Tree doc:s not drop its hea ling Liquor, till the Bark is Cur. Sometimes the great number of Suiters is a pretence ro excufe from the exercifc of Bounty. None of rhefe cao be conceived of God. There is nothing more divine in the Deity, and becoming his Nature, than his inclination to do good. As r~e Mother with equal pleafure nourithos the Child with her Milk , as the Child draws"· For the Breal't is uneafy till emptied. God much more rejoices in doing good, than we m receivingit. . We are al(o affur'd of obtaining fpiritual Bl ellings by the intercrflion of the Mecmtor. The dignity of hi s Perfon, who JS higher t han the Heavens, the Son of Ius Love, the Merits of his Obedience and Sufferings, a~ure us of his Power with God. He takes us by the hand, and brings us to the Father, perfumes and prefentsour Re~u<;fi ro obtain a fowourabl.e Reception. When we are under impreffions of fear, that God will deny our Prayer~ for (p~p ritual Bletiings, 'tis as if there were no Love in t he Mediator, nor preva lency in h1s Mediation. Befides,
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