VE R. i. Ephefi4nf,Cilap. z. 203 This then confutethall D oátrines of free-will, or of fomc power in yr, I man, which holpen a little can help it felf: Dead men havenothing in Again( th. them to help them (elves towards this world ; fo it is with us towards r"' °R5 of nature. the other. Yea we fee hence, that it is not fuggeftions to the minde,nor SRarinerW9- exhortationsthat will doe it ; wedoe but tell a dead man a tale, and all recs. in vain, untill God create a new light in the minde, and take away the heartof(tone, and giveus tender newhearts; Let us confeffeour utter impotency, à.Í'twauta, and give glary to God. Hence alfomuff be enforced to the natural! man what is his eftate ; ye.2. dead in his foul, (as Tim. (peaks of thewoman that lived in Adultery : rakenotieeof We areeflrangedfromthe lifeofGod, Eph.4.1 8.) He heareth not the thun- `t, badeft,te der of Gods Law, nor his fweet promifes; he feeth no heavenly thing, neither God, nor any fpirituall matter,he tafteth no reli(h in any meat of the foule, he fpeakethnot awordpowdered with grace, he ftirreth not coi.4,6. hand nor foot ro that whichis good : The world is full of thefe dead ghofts, twicedead, as lade fpeaketh. Yea the reliques of this fpirituall Jndeer.io. death hangeth about us all. How fhould this humble us ! Oh what a griefe (hould it be to think, that God the life ofour foules is departed ! Ifthou fhouldeftfeelethy foule ready to flye out of thy body, would it not grieve thee a We areall ofus quickned but inpart, this death is (lill with us, webeareit in company, intrading, inperformanceofanyCM. than duty ; whither can we turn our felves, but itisprefent Mark afurther Ufefrom this point, Thatwe who are alive through Be not eneng- grace, mull not affociateour felves with tht*who are meere natural! led with the men. For we fee that no living thing will abidethat which isdead; the wicked. bruit beafts will (tart at deadcarrion; Our deareft friends weput from us, when dead : But,alas,the Lords children now goe handin handwith fuch who have not a fparkof grace inthem : Oh this death isnot terri- ble, weare fomuch in ir, that we fee not the filthineffeofir. As a black hueamong Blackamores is not reproachful! : So dead ones with us, whofegraces areready rodye, agree well enough. Labour every one tobecome fenfible ofour fpirituall death, which in rle 4. great part poffeffeth every one of us. This muft not be (haken hands After grace re- ceived,rcmem- with. It begettethmeekneffe: Itmakethus hafte after our full redem ber this death prion : Itmaketh us tafte the fweetneffeofgrace. We muft have Bares 'rum. therefore all to beamon this fide, bothwe that are called, and uncalled. Secondly obferve ; What is the life that is ledin finfull pleafure, in Dot$. vain fafhions ofthe world ;it is the very death of the foule. As S. Paul r r¿m.t.6. fpeaks ofthe'velaptuoua woman, that fhe was dead above ground, while liewas alive : So our Saviourfaith of the Church of Sardis, Ret'.3.I. Rev. ;,r. It had aname to live, butit was dead: And in the Proverbs, thofe that carne to Follies fraft, it is Paid they are dead. What is death e is it not Pto..9.1e. the abfenceof liferthe foul being gone with the entranceofcorruption And what is fin t isit nottheabfence of faving knowledge, righteouf- neffe and holineffe, withthe corruption ofthe minde, will,affedions,fo thatthefpirituall flinch ofit ftreameth outat the eyeluft,at the careitch- ing after vanity, atthe mouth rottenneffe is thebelt, I mean unfruitful! T 2 frech.
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