Ammmen.11111111111 A Box of precious Ointment : Or, eilate is without,' Eph. 2. 12. There are five withouts, i. Without Chrift, 2. Without the Church, 3. Without the Promife, 4. Without hope, 5. Without God in the world. Now every natural man being under thefe five with - oats, how is it poClible that he ihoUld have any ferious defires after grace ? Such is the corruption of our nature, that if you propound any divine good to it, it is entertained as fire by water, or wet wood with hiffing ; propound any evil, then 'tis like fire to flraw, 'tis like the foolifh Satyr that made haft to kifs the fire, 'tis like that unaious matter which Na- turalifts fay fucks and fnatches the fire to it with which it is confumed. The contrariety and enmity that is in every na- tural mans heart, again{} God, and Chrift, and grace, and holinefs, may fufficiently fatisfie us, that the natural man is a meer firanger to ferious and fincere defires after God, or Chrift, or grace, or the great things that belong to his ever- lafling peace. Such fincere and ferious defires as thefe, Oh, that Chrift were mine, Oh, that I were tarried to his per- fon, Oh, that I were cloathed with his righteoufnefs, Oh, that my foul were adorned with his grace, Oh, that I was fil- led with his Spirit, Oh, that he would be my King to rule me, and my Prophet to teach and inftruee me, and my Prieft to make an atonement for me ; Oh, that I might enjoy choice and high communion with him, Oh, that I might fin no more, againft him , Oh, that I may do nothing unworthy of him, Oh, that after death I might live for ever in the enjoyments of him, &c. I fay fuch ferious and fincere defires are not to be found in the natural mans breaft. 2. Secondly; Becaufe grace is contrary to nature. The oil.- dom of the fie,4 is enmity dgaknit rG a I Rom. 8., 7.' Fire cannot define water, tor water firej: ecaufe they are contrary,, one expelling the other ; -,for' ther water will quench the fire, or elfe the fire vti iP1:10k, ttp the water : So here, nature would have a man love hirnfelf,,'and feek himifelf, and exalt himfelf ; but grace will haye: a Man` love God, and feek God,. and exalt God, &c. Take nature when 'tis molt adorned, enriched, raifed, elevAted, &c. yet the you {hall find it at amity with God andgrace. Er99 &c. Third-
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