Am. Imo A Box of precious Ointment : Or, work of grace is pall.. Now by thefe fhort hints, 'tis evi- dent enough, that wicked men don't, nor can't fincerely, fe- rioufly defire grace ; certainly fuch that are poor in fpirit, and that mourn for their fpiritual deeds, and that hunger and thith after grace and holinefs, after a righteoufnefs im- parted and a righteoufnefs imputed, muff confefs themfelves to be in a bleffed eftate, and confequently in a Rate of grace ; (for what true happinefs is there out of it ?) or elfe they mull contradia our Saviour, and charge truth it felf with untruth, who hath pronounced them bleffed that are fo qualified, fo affeaed. Were this well weighed and ferioufly confidered of, how would it comfort,refrefh,fupport and flay up many a troubled foul ? and what a 1,vell-fpring of life would this be to many a wounded fpirit ? Doubtlefs the greateft part of a Roni.73 5'0,8,19, Saints perfection in this life (witnefs 'Paws own ingenious 24,ak confe(fion after fourteen years converfion, fay fame; and who ever went beyond him ? and how exceedingly do molt fall fhort of him ?) confifieth rather in will than in work, and in defire and endeavour more than in deed. There is fo much pled in good defires, that it is the main that the godly have to fpeak of, and to reckon of; make an inventory of a Chriflians eflate,and fnrch every room, if you find not thefe you find nothing ; and if you fet thefe down an the inventory,_ you fet down even all he is worth for another world. Daniel is called a man of defires, and fo_ is every gracious man, a Dan. IAIII, man wholly made up of gracious defires. Mark, God makes a judgment upon the fons of men, according as their defires Rand ; he that defires to (teal, he is a Thief in the account of.God; and he that defires to commit adultery,he is an adul- terer in the account of God ; and he that defires to opprefs, he is an oppreffor in the account of God ; and he that de- fires to deceive, he is a deceiver in the account Of God; and he that defires to perfecute, he is a perfecutor in the ac- count of God ; and he that defires to prophane the 'Sab- baths of God, he is a prophaner of the Sabbaths of God in the account of God, &c. Look, as every wicked man is as bad in the account of God, as his defires are bad; fo every godly man iS2S' good in the account of God, as his defires are
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