comfortable walking with God. 307 thatwith quickneffe,and receives with joy : (and yet fo Both the ftony ground, Allatth. i 3.2o.) whofoever is able todif- claimegroffe fones, gives everymanhis due,fafteth, prayeth, and giveth aimes : (and yet fo did the Pharifee, Lake 18. ia.Matth.6. i.)Whofoever is illightned,taftesofthe heavenly gift,&c. ( andyet fuch may afterward fall away irrecoverably, Heb.6.&c.) is Pure enough to be favedat laft. But I, may thedeluded Pharafee, and formali Profeffor fay, finde andfeele all, or moft,or many of thefe inmy felfe : ( for what anyunregenerateman bath heretoforeattained, is isnot impoflible,but that any now, or hereafter, may attaine the fame.) Therefore doth hee conclude falfely out of Satans Sophi- ftry, I am fafe enough for falvation. And in all this, Satan, leafi bee fhould be wanting to his, labourrby a lying-refemblance, to imitate theworke of the holy Ghoft, in theheartsofthe faithfull. For that which the Devill, putting on the glory ofanAngell oflight, putsupon his followers in this kinde falfely and groundleffely ; That theblefled Spirit performer to thofe, who are true ofheart truely, andupongoodground. For it isnot the univerfalitie, and excellencieof all natu- ral], civili, meerely morali, politicke, and learned endow- ments, and fufficiencies : butabove and betides all thefe, a fupernaturall, heavenly, and fpeciall worke oftheSpirit, fan- &ifying them all for Gods glorious fervice. It is not a'bare taskeofholyduties, religious exercifcs,prefence at theOrdi- nances outwardly performed but the foule, as it were, of Caving grace, animating and informing themwith fpirituail life, reverent heartineffe, and fruitful] improvement.It is not the glittering; blaze of a vifible forward profeffion ofReli- gion :, but the power of godlineffe, and fincere pra&ife of worker ofjuftice, mercy, and truth. It isnot agenerali parti- cipation ofthe Spirit, the Spirit onely ofillumination,or lar- geft fpeculative comprehenfions of facredknowledge : butan humble,fruitfull,experimentall skill,anddexterity inthe my- fteryofChriil,, and ofwalking humblywith ourGod;which X doth
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=