V E R, 3, Epheflans, Chap. T. 2 Butthe faith offuckwhoare already bcleevers, is onely filch as we may perceive ( for there is no word revealing whom God will give faith to hereafter, I fay, fo revealing it that their perfons thereby are made evi- dent to us) ergo, we can fee none to be prede(tinate to falvation, unleffe wee can by fruits, behold him to bee in prefent a beleever. Again, our faith and grace, is the worke beginning our falvation ; till therefore faith is wrought, there is no workeofGodapparent, which Both let us fee he batha purpole tofave:This then is a truth,that the beleevingand holy perfon, is onely fuch, ofwhomwee may fay, that he is blellèdof God;yet this caution is to be taken,that as wee cannot fayany is bleffed; fo wee cannot fay anyman in particular, wanting faithand grace, (hall not bee blelled, or that he is not predeflinated. If a man up afore day fhould reafon thus ; Here is no Sunneup, ergo, nonewill rife to day, his fequell were frivolous ; fohere, &c. The Vfeof this Doétrine, is firft to comfort the Lords; whobeleeve fo on Chrift, that their hearts arepurified, and their define is towalke precifely; the vforld accounteth them, as theydid before ofSaint Paul, Yj.1; EPheí5,i5. Chrifti;ts,and Chrift himfclfe,asifthey were off. fcourings, r Cor.4.bafe, cuffed people, toh. 7. Curledand plagued of God, rather then bleffed, Ifa.53.4But this is our comfort,God thinketh,and pronounceth other- wifeofus. We fee the vaine judgement of worldlings, they giving fenrence according to fenfe,thinke often wicked oneshappy, t tat.3. r 4.To ride on afine Palfery, to havea cap and knee given them, to fat their hearts with laughter, andall earthly contentments; therethings our Epicure- like Chriflians countfelicity ; But ifthouhaft notfaith and grace, cien: rfi. fing thy heart and life, though thy excellency doth touch the clouds, and thou doeft feeme to make thy neaft in the flarres, yet fhalt thou perifh like the dung ; the higher thou haft beene lifted up, fo muchthe inure deadly down-fall (halt thou take into thofe hellifh tor- ments, that fcarefull deflruEtion.Tbue muchfortheperfons bleffed. Now for the bleffrngs. r .Thequality;With /'iritual.2.The quantity; With [all] f7,irituall bl flings. Firft ; for Paul, marke what kindeof benefits provoke him to bleffe God; even thofe which are fpiri. tuall. Obferve, what benefits make a regenerate man thankful!; thole that are fpirituall, thofe bellowedon himfelfe, oron hisbrethren or fillers do make him thankefull : There are naturali, civil!, and fpi- ritual! benefits : Whatfoever things live a natural!, or civili life, na- turall and civill benefits are w,!come to them ; fo are fpirituali, with fuch as have received a life fpirituall; the very Horfe will fcrape and neigh, and if he could fpeake, would fay, I thanke you, when you bring himhis prov ëder. Let a civill manbe taught skill in fomefaculties, givehimwealth , honour, and favour with thofe that are great, you win his love; give a voluptuous Gentleman a Dog, or Debt Hawke, you (hall have more thankes, then for a better matter; whenrhefe risingsbefall their friends, it rejoyceth them: This a fpiri- wallman ,when be feeth on himfelfe or other fpirituall thingsbellowed, D 2 it
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=