Spiritual PerfeElion. Mraru•q ptD· 'Tis a kind of Mirac_le in Nature , tha t a Si encc of a good Tree grafted into a fown: 'VIIt/ro,du,& Stock, draws rhe vttal ~oillurc from the Root, and conve_rts it for the producing "M f""P~'h". gcne r~us and pleafa nt Fru1t: T he ingra f~ed Wo~d being~ Divine DoCtrine, over-rtoles the Carna l Na ture, and makes the .Mmd.' W1l~ Alfea10ns and Aaions, holy and h~avc~1ly, an ~ anfwe ra~!e to Its quali ty.' fhc_ .Lommand~ of It arc clear and pure, d1reB1ng us m our umverfal Duty; ti.te Prom_lf<.:s arc preciOus, encourag~ng us by the proDxEt of the R t:: ward ; the Threatmngs tcrnblc, to prefe rvc us from sm. There i ::~ an 1nHrumcnral firnefs in the \Vprd preached, ro perfect th_e Image of God in us; for the ma m1c~ ~f com•eymg the Reve~auon t~ us, ha~ a congruay to worl< upon the fubje[t to whom t 1s rcvea l ~d . The fir fi mfi nuanon of Sm was by the Ear ; the firll infoira tion 0 ~ Grace is by it : 1 hrough the ·Ear was the corrancc of .Death ; ' ris now the 'gate .of L1fe. In .H~avm we fba/1 kno:v God by fight, flOW by hearmg . \Vhen a Mini fi e:- of the Gofpc.l is lfl !Jgh. tned ~rom Heaven, and zeal_o~s ~o r the. ?al~atio: of Souls, he is fitt er fo r th1 s \Vork, than 1f an Angel were a m1mflrmg Spmt m th1s Cc nfe, an? imployed in th is holy Office: For he that Preaches has the fame imerelt in the Doa nne Jeclar 'd by him ; his everla!ling Happ~nefs is .nearly . c J~Ce rn'd ; an.d rh.cre.fore is man likely to alfeB: others. When a holy hre IS kind led 10 toe Breall, 1t <nil mflame the Lips; the Mind convinces the Mind, and the Hea rt per{Wade, the H:an. Bur we mufl:conlider t hat as the I nlh umcnt cannot effea that for wh ich 'tis made> without 'ris dirc{1ed and appli ed for that end ; fo wit hou t a fuperiour influence of the Holy Spirit, that g i"·es vua l Power w the preaching of the \Vord , 'tis without efficacy. What our Sa. viour fpca l< s of the Natural Li fe, is applicable to the Spi rirua l, Ma~ Jiv~s 11~t by Brtad alone, hut by ~very ~11ord that proceeds from God's mor~th. A Mimllcr, w 1th a!l his R ea fOn and Rherori c:k, cannot wrn a Soul from Sin to Holinefs, without tlJe Omni- !'a'::~":~~:r~~;;',;; ;~f~~;d 8!'~~:· bT}~tfo~~o~~~v!:~'s.:~~h1;%!1;:;;"'!Jhoft1;a~~; g:: then comes on ly in Word, when it p1crces no further than the Ear, that is the fcnfc to try Words, and di ll inguifh different Sounds and Voices: Bur the Truth of God dircaed and animated by the Spi rit, doth nor ltop at the Ear, the door of the Soul: but pa ffes into the Underllanding and the Hearr, that mal<e a change fo real and great in the qualiries of Me n, as is cx pref~'d by f~bltamial produ8ions: 'Tis therefore fa id, "I'Ve are btgotttn_ and horn .1gain by the mcorrr#pllble [ud of tJ;~ J.tVord. The Word becomes effc:Cl:ual for rhe increafe of Holint:fS when 'tis mix'd with Fairb which binds the Confcicnce to enti re Obedience. 'Tis the Word of God, o11r l()ng: LaJV·giv~r , and Jut.tge; the Rule of our prefcnr Duty, and of future Judgmenr, in rhe g rea t day of decifion. The Divine Law is un iverfal and unchangeable, and rbe Duties of it are not ncceffarr for fame, and needlcfs for others, but mull be obeyed "ith· out partial it}' , notwithllanding the repugnance of rhc Carnal P~ ffions: When 'tis ferioufly be li eved and conli de red, the h ea r~rs are induced to r~cctve it wi~h preparation and refolution of yid ding to it. T here IS no Tr~rh more evident nor inJur'd than this, that perfta Obedience is due to the Will of God, declar'd in his Word: This all profe fs in the gen<; rnl, but contradi Ct in particulars, when a Temptation crolfcs rhe Pre. cept. Now rhe lirlt aa of Obedience t0 the Truth, is the believing it with fo fledfall an aff~m, wrought by the Sp1rir, t ha t it purifies the Heart, and reforms the whole M an. 2 • With Faith there mull be joyn'd an carnc(l ddi re to grow in Hoiinefs. This i s declar'd hy Se. Peter, As ne1v born babes dtjire the Jince,.~ milk of the Ttflord, th4t Jl may gro:;, tb:rtbj . In the Narm:ai Life th~re is an infeparable Appetite of Fo~ ro maintain it ; the inward fenfe of 11.s neccffitles, caufes a hunger and rhirfi after fmtable fi.Jpplics eo prdCrve and improve ir. This is experimented in every one that is born of the ,.pirit; they attend and apply the Word of God to them, not merely to preveor the !harp rcflcaions of Confcience, for the impious negleB: of their Duty , fo r that proceed;; from Fear, nor from Defire, but to grow in Knowledge and Holinefs; nor m an aicry fl•fhy Knowledge, that is only fruitful to increafe Guilt and Punifhment; bur fUbi~Jnt i al and Cving Knowl edge, t hat ts InAuenual upon praCbce. Heanng ts to ordtr to doiop:, and Joi ng is the way to H.appi nefs. 'Tis not tb~ forgrt{tJi hrare_r, but t!Je doer of ''" Word fbaD be bieffed in lm dfCd. T he bare know ledgeof Evil does no burt, nor rhc ba re Jmowledge of our Duty wirhour praB-icc, does no Good. Feedin;, without digcfi ing: the Food, and ru.r~i ng it into Blood and Spi rits , affords no Nouri!11mt.:nc nor .':>trenor h. T he moll dthgent hcan ng, and comprchcnfi vc lmowlcdge Of our Dury, without Pt·aB: icc is nor profit ab le.. Th~ enemy o~ our Souls i~ content thd t Di \·inc l' ruchs fhall be in our Undcrlhndmgs, tf he CJO mtcrcepc rhetr pa!Tage imo our Hcans and Converfations. Hl.: praCli c~,;s over cont inua ll y rhc fir ft Temptat io[~
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