1V&R. I2. Ephefians, Chap. 4. I 489 I in hearing the Word; for ifthis be the end ro repaire us,thenwe muff Andpropound fec this before us, the amendmentof our frnfuil foules, that fomething ct omming co ir. may be fupplyed which is wanting , fomething reformed which is amiffe, foinching ftrengthened which is weake : wemuff not come to while away anhoure, or to continuea cuftome taken up, much leffe curioufly to cenfure and defcaut on what we heart ; The tribes ofGod nfal'z,. r4. goe up to the Teflimony ofIfraeI topraife the Lard; they came to joyne in Pfalmodiesand prayers,and to hearewhat God (hall teftifie to them for the further informing or reforming ofthem. 2. Ic is faid for the Perfons, not to repaire all, but the Saints : »ca. Obferve, Not all arebenefited by the Word, boot theSaintsonely : that is, God, people fuch as are called already, or have thisgrace given them before all onely are bc- neficed bythe worlds, in thepurpofe of God: as Chrifl diftinguifheth íheepe ; fome word. entred, fome toenter ; rsslat.1ÿ. II. Toyou it isgiven, to othersnot : John ro. x6. As many as were ordained to life,beleeved. All the Prophets and Chrift Ais :3.48' himfelfe, their preachinggatherednot all ; Nay, themolt that heard them, remained a gain-faying and rebellious people. Many heard Paul, but it is Paid ofone Lydia ,her heart was opened, veils 15. For even as theraine maketh that part of the earth onely fruitefull which is 6íkí edofGod : So the fame minifterie is fruitfull to Salvation in them onely that are chofen of God, to whom God intendeth this mercy. So we feeby experience every one is not betteredby the Word:Some are refiners ofthe Holy Ghofi, mockers and fcoffers at it : fome have their faceonely tanned with the funfhine of the Gofpell, their hearts are not reformed, though their outwardman be changed. Some like mackrellin fait waters, haveno'relifhof this fait of the earth where- with they are feafoned, I meane of the Minifterie under which they live: fome like Termers, feeme togoeup a while, but foonecome homeagaine. Whichmuft make us thankefull that have received grace. Gods TIC 1: grace the more it is reftrained, the more it muff conffraine us to thankfgiving. And it muff provoke us that havenot benefit by it, to thinke thatfuch and fuck find fweete in ir. Ifall of us were ficke, fhouid we ftill continue in our fìckeneffe, when fome recovered, we would then fee that Gods hand wereon us : and fhall we not, when fuch and fach are reftored in regard of their fpirituall eftate ? /hall not we that have no change in our mindes, fee Gods judgement on us e canwe judge of theface of the skieand not difcerne things fpirituall Mat. z6.3: and heavenly 2. That the Saints are repairedby the Minifterie, it Both teath us , yfe 2. that ifwe livefill under the Miniflerie,andhavenot health reflored to our it is anillfgñè Pules, it is aJhrewd prefumption we are not Saints; nay, which is more ifl;v ng under thervümCely fearefull, that this grace /hall never befliewedus : ifour Gofpell behid, it we finde nor u hid to them thatperi/h. Looke as if a ficke man fhould have beetle our toutes with all our Phyfitians, if they fhould all give him over it were á he'l`d' thoufand to one,he is not aman of this world : So ifour Spirituali Co.:, ¢;. Phyfitians cando us no good, ourefface, we may well feare is irreco- verable. V v 3 The
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=