Brooks - BT750 .B7 1669

A choice Bed of Spices'. 53 Fourthly, They bear falle witnefsagainft Chrift, his Spi- ri -, their own souls, and the work of Grace that is wrought in them. U how many dark, doubting, drooping Ckrifti- ans are there, who, if you could give them ten thoufand worlds, yet would never be brought to bear falfe witnefs acainft their pooreft Neighbour,* Brother, or Friend, and that out of Confcience, becaufe of that Commanii, Thom fhalt not tear fall? witnefs, &c. who yet make no Confcienee, no bones of it, frequently to bear witnefs againft the Lord je- fus Chrift, and his gracious works upon their own hearts? But, Fifthly, they joyn with Satan and his work, and his fugge- ftions, and with that thong party he has in them, against the Lord jefus Chrift and his work, and his weak party in them. Sin is Satan's work, and Grace is Chrilis work : Now how fad is it to fee a Christian fall in with Satans work in him, againft the work of-Chrift that is in him. Satan has a ftrong party in their fouls, and Chrifl has but a weak party ; now how unjufl is it for them to help the ftrong againft the weak, when they fhould upon many accounts be a helping the weak againft the ftrong; a helping the Lord -againft the mighty, a helping weak grace againft ftrong and mighty cor- ruptions : Ah how skilful and careful are many weak Chri,. aims to make head againfl the work of Chrift in their own Souls, and to plead hard for Satan and his works in them, as.if they had received a Fee from him to plead againft Chrift and their own Souls. CYChriflians, that you would be wife at hit, and let Baal plead for Baal, let Saran plead for himfelf, but do you plead for Chrift and that feed of God that is in you. Well, remember this, that as fire is often hid under the embers, fo grace is often hid under many foul diflempers ; and as a little fire is fire, though it be even frnothered under.. the 'embers, fo a little Grace is Grace, -though it be even fmothered under much -corruption -: Now by thefe short hints, you may eafily perceive how many Royal Commands thefe poor Chriftians tranfgrefs, who de- ny and bely the bleffed work of the Lord in them. But, Sixthly, 4. 1 See Mr. Dod on the Command. merits, p. 3 to, 3 !Land p 3%2,3239324 John 4.3, 9..

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