116 V z. vBASà 16. Dona. Ephefians,Clap.I. VER.I6,' truely holy, but others inwhomholinefre is apparent, they cannoten- dure ; it is to be feared they love thofe whom theydoe,not becaufe they fee holinefl'e, but for fome by-refpeóts which within thenìfelves they have conceived. Some who are all for a found juft dealingwell natured man, though he be never fuch a ftranger from matter of religion : Yea, I would many of the Lordschildren, through felfe-love, did not love too well perlons who can humour them, and finde the length oftheir . foote, better then fuchwho Phewmore confcience ofobeying God. Let us not be in the number of thefe 3 Ifthou haft any love to God, love hischildren thou doeft fee like him: Howcant(: thou take pleafure, and out of thy voluntary, converfe with them who are not fanétified Were the Wifethat lyeth in thy bofome without that bodilylife thou liveft, couldit thou take pleafure to converfeby her t and canft thou having the life of God, delight thy felfe in fuch who are dead in their Gnnesand trefpaffes 1 ceafenot to give thankesforyon, makingmention ofyou inmyprayers. Now he comes unto the fad, which ftandeth ofthankefgiving and prayer; his prayer being firft generally mentioned,then moreparticular- lydeclared to the end. Inthis r6.verfe, markethreethings. r. That on heare-fay oftheir faithand love, he is thankful! to God. z. That he doth pray for them. 3. Themanner thathedoth it, without ceafing. Obferve from the firft, the GracesofGod in others mutt move Chriftians,efpecially Minifers, to be thankfull to God ;Pau/ doth it every where, looke the begihnings of his Epiftles ; yea Chriftiansdid no leffe for Paul, Gal. r. ult. theydid glorifie God in him. The nature ofenvie maketh a man like thofe who have fore eyes, they are grieved at the fpirituall goodof others, as the loare eye is tofee this corporall light : An example we have of it in Cain to t4bel: but love doth congratulate, rejoyceth with thankfulne/feto fee truthof knowledge, ofgrace,ofholy pradife, z Cor.a 3. Befides,the third commandement doth bindeus togive honour to God,by praifing him for thefe his workes of grace in others. Ifa Schoole- Mafter bring a rude untoward Boy to behaviour and forwardneffe in learning, we much commend him, that he bath wroughtfo farce on fu-undifpofed a fubject: But howmuch more is he to be magnified who Both worke fuchalterations in (inners, dead in their finnes and trefpaffes Secondly, the natureofjoy is to inlargethe heart to thankfulnelre: Now true Chriftians, efpeciallyMinigers, can fee nothing which doth more glad them then men walkingas the truth is, in Chrift. 3 Jahn, verfe 4. Ihave nojoy like to this,when Ifee my childrenmake inthe truth. Wherefore let us all labour to finde this in our felves; that we are thankfully affeEted to God in the comming on ofother,it isan evidence oftruegrace in our hearts: Every thing rejoycethto fee the encreafeof thofewhoare like to itfelfe efpeciallyMinifers mutt praife God in the towardnefre ofthofe who belong to them.What natural( Parent can fee the outward profperitie ofhis children, but that he is delighted in it,and thankful( to the authors ofit Secondly,
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