s310 f!f fl .·d~a_{l R~{igian , All this is for wallt of a l'iving fpring within thee i The SuTine and fiars they are c,onftant in their motions and operations becauf~dixed by ·Ged, hut blaziag_fiarres ani meteors they a~e. w:lwlly· U!JC~rtain, bec,au,fe of the various matt~r ofwhich t ·heyare cq~_p0,91'J.ded. Con{hncy and imrnoveahl~ncffe ia godly dpties is a good FVidence of life, The hypocrite will not 1ray 11lmayu ; The cifiern witl not alwaies have water in it. TheLand-floodwill at ldl dry up. The herb. that wants a root will quickly wither ; and thus it is here, where thereare not living fprir;tgs of gr~ce witbin, y.ou fhall fee the outward flreams dry up ; fometimes Family·duties, and then no Fa– mily-dutie's; fometimes private praier, and thennone again. Thefeunevenand uncertain motions argue all thy Religion is not' ptir[e but per accidens, as we fay. Thoupraietl and feek– dl: GQd, .as aman,that un~xpecledly fiodes a treafure, or u Bal11~ms.Affe fpake upon an extraordinary oppreffion, which made her fay, Did I enr fo before? S~ thou under fome ex– traordinary calamitie~ or occa!iom,, Wilt thou call to pray, have thy family pray, but didfi thou fo ever before? Or i!i this thy coofiant andHedfafi courfe, as tbe Sunnc every day rejoyceth like a Giant to run its race? . , · (;. . Si.x}hly, DutiaandReligionfnm no life within; are{uch \tU Arul when~ey k,.ecp tJrJM,n in the J'ame pojfurc he ·w.u in m~tnJ ;ear J Ago. His k:e~aman mmind is no more enlighcned, his heart is no more fanctified,his - ~ e ah~e po-. graces have not atcainc:d eo one cubic higher then ..chey were uurc e was 1n . • many yearsagobefore; and I know no _parttcul:tr a furu evidence ofa name, or form without life and power, then this. There is no cn– creafe or growth, no hungrings and d'elires after an higher fiature in Chrift, but as the piClores in the houfe are alw~ics of the fame length and b~;eadth they were; fo are:thefe: But growth in grace, the .;Scripture doth ofcen command; and . for this end is the Mi.niary as well as for converfion, Ephef.4· 1 l• And for this endare thofe afflictions God laieth u.pon us. Ever) branch is p;rged, that it may 6ring forth more fruit, John I 5. And we fee the Apofile He/;. 6. terribly rtproving thofe belitv'ers, that fiill fiaid in their firft prilfciples, arid were not carried afcer ·perfection! Therefore caft up th)' ac– counts, fee how all thy duties funhcr thee , ~nd make thee increafe ' '
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