VE R. i., Ephefians,Csap. t, care not to returncinto favourwith our husband, withGod,fromwhom we are molt difloyally eftranged. We muff hence be exhorted above all things, to feek Godsgrace ; the better k is withus, the more need we have to feek himwith reve- rence ; for, look as we haveno leffe need ofthe Sun to continue with us, that we may have light ftill continued, then we had need of it to rife over us, that our light maybe begun : So we want Gods gracious pre- tence, as much tocontinue our comforts, nowwe have them, as we did at the firfi tobegin them. Now, if you askeby what meanes we may T%2, wanes to grow up in favour with God ; I anfwer : Firft,we muff every day fhew vo"71h fa- unto God, that well beloved of his, inwhom he is well pleated, from God. whom favour floweth upon all his as the oyntment trickled down from the head, on the garments of vlaron. Secondly ; We muff provoke our hearts earneftly to petition for this ; Seek myface ; Lord, I will fake thyface. Thirdly ; Wemuffgrow up in confcience of our vilenefîe to be humble ; God refs fieth theproud, and .givethgrace tothe humble ; that is, fheweth favour : As the loweft vallies are bleffed with the happieft influence ofthe heavens ; fohere, the contrite humble fpirit, is the place Pfat.,os.. . Pfal.271 Ifay 57, Luke :. God delighteth to let his grace dwell in. Fourthly ; Wee mutt la- bour dayly more and more to depart from evill, and purge our hearts Mats: from all the corruptionswhich remaine in them ; The pure inheart /ball (ee God, even the light ofhis countenance, in grace and glory. Look as a cleare tranfparent thing , as Cryftall, bath the lightcomming through it,which cannotpierce throughgroffer bodies : So in thofe heartswhich are the pureft, (hall this light of Gods countenance diffufe it fell molt abundantly. Hell ez. And peace.] Obferve from this,thathe wi(heth them in the nextplace, Da£l Peace; that true peace is amQftfingular bleffrng. The Apoftle cannot fpeakof it,Phil.4.7. but he feifeth it forth with this commendation,that it paffëtball underffanding ; this is that goldenbequeath which Chrift did leave us, now ready to die ; c.0ty peaceI giveunto you, not as the world ivethyou, Iohn 14.22. That it may bethe better conceived, I will open three things. r. What it is. 2. In what kindes it may be confidered. Peacedctaibcd. 3. Whence theone and other peace floweth. It may thus bedefcribed ; Peace is a tranquillity or reit in themind, fpringing out ofChriftsdeath, wrought in us by theSpirit, through the word ofGod : it is a quiet, I fay,orheavenly tranquillity; for peace,in thefe fàlutations, is oppofed to feare, griefe, to any kinde ofperturbation, which breakerh the Tweet content andharmonyofthe minde ; tïiíypeace I leave with you, feare not, benot troubled : It isa fweetconcord,making joyin the minde,asthe concord of well compounded difcords begetteth a molt delightfullhar- mony, in whichthe care joyeth and triumpheth. Secondly, It corn- meth from Chrifts death; his chaflifement was the chafiifement ofour peace, his _Pripet our healing : Foras animprifoned debtors peace fpring- eth from fome fureries fattsfa4 ion, fo here, &c. Thirdly, I fay it is wrought through the fpirit, G4l.5.22. anybody may put an inftrument outoftune, but none can reduce it to true content, but he that hath the C skill
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=