choice Bed of Spices. Thirdly, Becaufe grace is not only above nature, and contrary to nature, but it is even a hell to nature ; grace and holinefs is a hell to a natural man. Look as a glorified eft= would be a hell to every wicked perfon , C alum eft alters'' uebenna da-innatbrum, faith one of the Ancients ; Heaven is an- other hell to the damned) fo would a gracious eflate alfc. Grace puts a man to take up the Crofs of Chrift, to deny his natural felf, his finfal fell, his religious felf, his relative fe if, and to give up a mans fell to the ftriaeft and exkleft wayes of God, and to crucifie his lull's, and to pull out his right eye, and to cut off his right hand, &c. And oh what hard work is this, yea what a hell is this to nature ? &c. Fourthly, Wicked men don't, nor can't fo mach as truly and ferioully defire laving grace ; witnefs their daily.with- flanding,,and fighting the offers of grace. Compare there Scriptures, Prov. .2o.-14/t. Chap.8.1.-4.2 Etek.2.4. I 3. Ma. 23. 37. Luke 19. 41,42, &e. Fifthly, Wicked men don't, nor can't fo much as truly and fe,riouily defire faving grace ; witnefs their common, or- dinary, habitual provoking, vexing, quenching, refilling and grieving of the fpirit of grace. Turn to there Scriptures,; gen. 6. 3. Ifa. 63. z o. 4E . 7. 55. Eph. 4. 30. Sixthly, Wicked men don't, nor can't truly and feriouily defire faving grace; witnefs that enmity, hatred, rage and madnefs that is in them againft the Saints, whole hearts and lives are enamel'd with grace, Gera. 3. 15. PM. 34. 2 P f a i . 44. i c o. fob 31. 29. zim9s 5.1o, & c. I have read Or a defperate wretch, that when he came to die, he gave good portions to all his children but one, and to him he would give but twelve pence and being asked the reafon of it, he made anfwer, he was a Puritan; I have heard him fay, faid his wretched father, That he had a promife to live on ; let us now fee whether a promife will maintain him. or no. Certainly, wherever there are true ferious defires after, grace, there is a dear love to thofe upon whole hearts the 'Work, 175 3:-- See my-Treatile on holinefs, page 64, 6f,66.
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